It’s a winter wonderland! The snowstorm in late January dumped a remarkable amount of snow throughout Massachusetts, with Melrose receiving almost 2 feet of snow. Snow drapes over the trees and frozen lakes like a fluffy blanket, transforming the Fells into a magical winter landscape. Many hikers have utilized the snowfall to their enjoyment – you’ll catch glimpses of snowshoers and cross-country skiers zipping across the snowbound paths.
‘Tis the season for critter winter tracking! My personal favorite has been seeing the tracks of scampering field mice across the snow. Field mice are active all winter and keep themselves warm by burrowing in the ‘subnivean zone’ of the snow. This zone is the narrow space between the ground and the bottom of the snow that provides an insulated habitat for mice, voles, and other tiny critters. Even when outside temperatures dip below freezing point (brrr…), the subnivean zone remains around 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
There’s plentiful opportunities to see other wildlife tracks in the Fells. Visit the MassWildlife page to learn how you can identify various animal tracks.
Our flighty friends continue to ring our ears with their songs and calls. A common year-long resident that you’ll see in the Fells is the black-capped chickadee. Their notable 2 to 3 note, whistle song and dee-dee-dee chirps makes them distinguishable. How does a bird so small sustain itself through such a cold winter?
The black-capped chickadee has several behavioral and physiological adaptations, including the ability to enter a daily state of ‘torpor’ each night. Torpor conserves energy expenditure of an animal by lowering metabolic rates and internal body temperatures. With a high body temperature of 107 degrees F, the black-capped chickadee’s temperature can drop to almost 20 degrees cooler! Other fun winter resident sightings include the tufted titmouse, red-bellied and downy woodpeckers, brown creeper and red-tailed hawk.
Do you have any fun sightings, stories, or photos in the Fells that you’d like to share? Please send them to friends@fells.org!
Resources:
- Photo by Margaret Weber from Eliza Howell Nature Walk WordPress
- MassWildlife for winter wildlife tracking
- Maine Audubon Winter Wildlife Tracking Facts
- White Footed Mouse for field mice in the winter facts
- Black Capped Chickadee Facts