The soil has warmed and the photoperiod has increased. We have a humongous ball of hydrogen and helium to thank for this reliable phenomenon. And the 23.5 degree axial tilt we enjoy. You might not know that this tilt is what gives us our seasons, not our distance from El Sol. In fact, we are closer to the sun in our winter here in the Northern Hemisphere, but in our annual trip around the sun we are tilted toward it when most distant. This tilt towards the sun means direct sunlight for us in spring and summer and man, are we thankful!!!
Lots of wildlife time their migration in large part by the photoperiod (amount of light in a given day), which is very consistent from year to year. This allows wildlife watchers to predict with pretty good reliability when the first wood thrushes will return to their breeding grounds. Of course, temperature, precipitation, and other factors influence migration as well.
We have some really fun outdoor outings coming up, starting with:
Then on Saturday, May 21 we are heading down on the range! The rangeland of Eastern Washington that is. Join us as we study stream and rangeland ecology, cattle grazing, and wind farming all at the same amazing place with Tip Hudson, Washington State University Associate Professor of Rangeland & Livestock Management.
By the time June rolls around we have even more good stuff for you!
- Idaho Master Water Stewards Certification Workshop, Saturday, June 11, Moscow, 9am-5pm. This is an awesome educational program for your teens and you! You can implement your own water monitoring and contribute real data after being certified.
And even more discovery and exploration of the wonderful abundance of plant life we have been blessed to have dominion over!
- UI Pitkin Forest Nursery Tour and Scavenger Hunt, Friday, June 24, 10am-1pm. Fun for the whole family! We will be touring the recently improved world class nursery and having lunch under the trees. Bring a lunch and learn how this nursery grows 400,000 seedlings a year!
And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
– Genesis 1:11-12
