I hope that the clouds did not obscure your view of last night’s Super Blue Blood Moon. If you missed out, mark your calendar for another Blue Moon on March 31st. If you manage to view both of them, consider yourself fortunate — we won’t see two blue moons in one year again until 2037.
My wife likes to point out that I spend a lot of time looking up. Not a surprise, given that I grew up in Aroostook County’s open, rolling landscape, where the unobstructed views of the sky represented a significant percentage of my field of vision.
Maine is blessed with magnificent skies. Perhaps without even our conscious recognition, they are a big part of its attraction. Birds, bats, and insects keep many a Maine Audubon member looking skyward, but so do our splendid sunrises, moonrises, and sunsets. And who can’t be awed by viewing a meteor shower playing out against the backdrop of the Milky Way? Those binoculars you bought for birdwatching? Your bonus round begins when you bring them out after dark.
While I’m on the subject of the sky, notice how the angle of the sun transitions as we move further away from winter solstice. By the end of February, the noontime sun sits 70 percent higher in the sky. Daylight today is an hour longer than it was at the winter solstice, and it will be another hour longer by the end of this short month. With that much light, the sun pocks pond ice enough that skating starts to feel like driving over potholes on a country road.
Sure, we have plenty of winter weather ahead. But as you tune into the unmistakable shift in seasons, it’s a good time to ponder your plans for spring and summer. Where are the places you love to return each year? Which of those places on your “someday-maybe” list will you finally set your eyes on for the first time? What new ways of enjoying Maine’s seemingly endless options for outdoor exploration will you add to your activity list?
Then, try working wildlife into the equation. What birds do you want to be sure to see this year? What native plants will you add into your yard when the ground thaws? What Maine Audubon programs will you attend to bolster your capacity to make a difference for wildlife?
Maine is a place where people and nature thrive together. Our mission at Maine Audubon is to help you enhance your connection with nature — and to inspire and empower you to ensure that future generations have at least as much of that amazing experience as we do.
As we begin to develop and announce our summer plans, please keep an eye out for all of the fun that lies ahead. Visit our website often, look for our next issue of Habitat magazine (sporting a great new design!), and subscribe to our email list. We’re here for you, naturally.
