Now that we're well past the start of meteorological winter and only a few days away from astronomical winter (the winter solstice is December 22nd this year) we had our first taste of real winter weather.
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The Lakes Region was just north of the rain-snow line and we picked up about eight inches of dense snow, perfect for forming a solid base for winter activities. The snow however will complicate the issue of knowing when the ice is safe for winter activities because the lake was largely open water when the snow fell.
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| Mostly open water just before the snow fell. |
Heavy snow falling on thin ice and open water creates highly variable conditions which makes it difficult to assess the ice thickness. Cutting a hole and finding six inches of ice doesn't mean that 20 feet away there isn't an area with much thinner ice disguised by the snow. I'll wait for several consecutive days of temperatures well below freezing before attempting to even assess the ice. By then the ice fishermen will have probably ventured out and will provide reports.
Fox must have another way of assessing ice safety - either that or they're willing to take the risk of getting wet. Early in the week after a light snow the fox were already taking advantage of easy travel where ice had formed around the edge of the lake.
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| Fox tracks on the thin ice. |
I observed this fox's tracks a long ways, passing on and off the ice multiple times on its hunting excursion around the lake.
Another animal doesn't have any issue with falling through the ice and getting wet. On a walk after the storm I saw strange marks on the snow-covered ice and studied them to try to determine what was going on.
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| A track far out on the ice. |
I finally decided they were the tracks and slides of a river otter - or several river otters. It looked like there were four holes at a boundary in the ice where they came up from the water and/or went back down.
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| The hop-hop, sliiide track of a river otter. |
I'll guess there were at least two otters traveling together. If the ice were safe I would have gone out to confirm my conclusion, but there's really no other animal that would leave a trail like this. And that picture displays just how treacherous the ice is right now.
I had hoped the storm rolling in on Friday would drive our loon chick off the lake, but alas, it appears she rode out the storm because a loon was seen still hanging out in open water yesterday by Amy Wilson, one of our ace loon observers. Every year the Loon Preservation Committee has to rescue loons that have overextended their summer vacation in the Lakes Region; we'll keep a close eye on this loon as the lake freezes over, and we have alerted the LPC of the situation. If you are a subscriber to the LPC emails you saw that our little Maddie made their latest issue! You can read the issue here.
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| Outreach Intern Kaila Hodges holds a loon chick during a night of banding on Lake Wicwas. (Loon Preservation Committee Photo from the December 14th issue.) |
It's sad that we never know if we see our chicks again after they leave the lake. After spending four or five years on the ocean loons usually return to the lake where they hatched (or one nearby if there's no room on their birth lake), but without bands we'll never know if Maddie returns to Wicwas. It's even possible that one of her parents were born here on Wicwas some number of years ago - Maddie may be the grandchild of one of our long-term nesting adults! Amy suggested that the LPC band her if they have to do a rescue - that would be great!
If you followed this journal over the summer you know that we had two loon deaths on the lake this year, one certainly killed by another loon, and the second most likely as well. These beautiful birds with their calming nighttime calls give the perception they are gentle, peaceful creatures, but when it comes to territory and mates, they will brutally protect what they consider theirs. This year the LPC shared a video that provides insight on the extent to which loons will fight over territory. It's possible that a fight like this led to the demise of the second loon casualty on Wicwas, which was weakened to the point it could not survive. Be prepared for a somewhat disturbing event if you choose to watch it: Territorial Fight Recorded by LPC.
Finally, there will be an impressive cosmic light display in the early night sky for the next few weeks. If you look to the south shortly after sunset on a clear night you will be able to see five planets lined up near the horizon: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury and Venus. Because Mercury and Venus are closer to the sun than Earth, they are always seen at sunrise or sunset. There is more information about this astronomical event here, including when the crescent moon will be added to the show.
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