Nature Passages
January 2012

Eastern Bluebirds are one of the most common and showy of the songbirds, during Twinsburg’s long winters. Yet, surprisingly, few residents notice them. They occasionally visit feeders, to dine on a bit of suet or drink of water, if a dish is kept ice-free for them. Today, after a January thaw, bluebirds are “hawking” the fields of Liberty Park. Just like miniature hawks, they fly just above the soil surface, looking for tiny creatures, their primary diet, when warmer temperatures allow. During freezing weather, they, like their robin cousins will seek out fruit bearing trees, shrubs and vines. Some folks buy dried currents for their bluebird friends. Expensive but the satisfaction of having 10-20 bluebirds at their patio feeder is worth the price. People living in a wooded setting away from conventional homes are not plagued by the “piggy” feeding actions of European Starlings, so can afford to offer these nutritious foods to the native birds.

The natural areas preserved within and surrounding Twinsburg are largely responsible for the large population of bluebirds in the area. Certainly tagging the city with the admirable title of the “bluebird city” would not be out of line. There is some confusion with other blue birds, such as the Blue Jay but a quick peek in any bird guide will show the difference. Jays are related to crows, while bluebirds are members of the more musical family of thrushes.

Late January brings forth the first perfumes of territorial animals as they prepare to find others of their kind and mate. Mink and fox musk is often confused with that of skunk and perhaps the most descriptive way of describing it is to say it doesn’t bring tears to the eyes like the powerful aerosol of the “woods kitten.” Fox musk is often sensed during the daytime, when skunks are less likely to be moving about. Mink odor is usually associated with streams or pond edges.

As January ends, especially a mild January month, the Great Horned Owls have probably already stolen a heron or hawk nest for their use and egg incubation is normal by early February. Even the modest Eastern Bluebird will be checking into tree cavities with its mate. Cavity nesting birds tend to begin nesting earlier than their open-air nesting kindred and will have more than one clutch of eggs per season. So taking a chance on early season nesting works for the bluebird. If that nest fails, there will be another.

Already, invertebrates like the tiny springtails are emerging, on slightly warmer, sunny days. The stoneflies and crane flies too, drift by over melting snow, mating, laying eggs and providing larger species, like our songbirds, a source of protein. Perhaps no invertebrate is more interesting to see in the winter woods as is the springtail or “snow flea.” Springtails are not fleas but one of the creatures, which elementary school children know as a “decomposer.” Well suited to children, who can see these tiny creatures on the surface of the snow, especially on a sunny day. They amuse by tossing themselves into the air, using a spring-like apparatus at their tails.

Winter is difficult, sometimes oppressing for humans but for these creatures adapted to the climate, it’s already spring and time to get about their business. A fox barking on a cold, crisp night, while stars dot the sky, or a mink swimming from one icy stream island to another, are events not often realized when vegetation obscures in spring and summer. January offers special gifts to the observer who dons warm clothing and observes in nature.

"There are many stories in nature, but only experience allows us to read them all.


Stanley Stine, Naturalist for the City of Twinsburg

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