While it may seem frozen and silent on land, much life goes on below the ice, with many fishes and the larvae of dragonflies, midges, blackflies, deer flies and craneflies swimming or wriggling about, albeit sluggishly in some cases. Later in summer, if you’re lucky, you can watch dragonfly larvae haul themselves out from the mucky deep onto sun-warmed rock faces. There they will dry out, shed their old skins, sprout wings and fly away in a thrilling metamorphosis.
Month: February 2010
Chickadees marking territory
It’s not quite mating season yet, but even in mid-winter the birds are getting ready… listen for chickadees whistling their high, clear songs — often rendered as “fee-bee” or “fee-bee-ee”. They are establishing their territorial dominance within the winter flock.
Fox and coyote breeding season
Fox and coyote breeding season comes in late January and early February. Competing male foxes go nose to nose in screaming matches until one backs down. Mates remain together to raise their young born in March or April. The family stays together until the fall. Foxes typically live up to 12 years in the wild, or 19 years in captivity. Coyotes mate for live, but those lives may be short, with few living more than four years in the wild.
Up North Guides 