Today's entry: January 3 << previous       next >>

The ravine in winter

Come back to this page each day to read another entry from Frederick R. Gehlbach's almanac of suburban natural and unnatural history, "Messages from the Wild," which chronicles the world of a forested ravine in central Texas.

Mildness, cirrus clouds, and a south wind signal change. The screech owl from nest box one looks out in early afternoon, soaking up the sunshine. His eyes are closed, his head and breast feathers fluffed up. Despite their nocturnal habit, screech owls do like the sun, just like the rest of us, and especially in winter when there is less of it. I wonder if he has any food stored away for the coming norther. It wouldn't be unusual to find a robin or cedar waxwing stashed inside. Small birds are feeding furiously. We are due for a blast of winter, but how soon? I promise myself to see what food if any the owl has stored after he leaves at dark.

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Frederick R. Gehlbach is Professor Emeritus of Biology and Environmental Studies at Baylor University. His ecological studies have taken him from New Zealand to Slovakia and, in the Americas, from Alaska and Newfoundland to Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. His research interests include the life-history strategies of small owls, small burrowing snakes and urban wildlife ecology.

From MESSAGES FROM THE WILD: AN ALMANAC OF SUBURBAN NATURAL AND UNNATURAL HISTORY by Frederick R. Gehlbach, Copyright © 2002. Courtesy of the University of Texas Press.