Nature  / Fun Happenings

  • December is Universal Human Rights, National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention, AIDS Awareness and Safe Toys and Gifts Month
  • Dec. 1: New Moon, Dec. 8: First Quarter Moon, Dec 15: Full Moon, Dec 25: Last Quarter Moon
  • Dec. 1-31: Project FeederWatch continues
  • Dec. 1-7: National Hand Washing Awareness Week
  • Dec. 10-17: Human Rights Week
  • Dec. 14-Jan 5: Christmas Bird Count
  • Dec. 1: Rosa Parks, World AIDS and Playboy Day
  • Dec. 2: National Mutt, Special Education
  • Dec. 4: World Wildlife Conservation and National Cookie Day
  • Dec. 6: St. Nicolas Day and Bartender Appreciation Day
  • Dec. 7: National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and National Play Outside Day
  • Dec. 8: Toilet Paper Appreciation Day
  • Dec. 10: Human and Animal Rights Day
  • Dec. 12: National Cocoa and Our Lady of Guadelupe Day
  • Dec. 13-14: Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks
  • Dec. 15: National Cupcake Day
  • Dec 17: A Christmas Carol Day
  • Dec. 21: Winter Solstice - 4:21 AM EST. The sun is at its lowest point in the sky. It’s the shortest day of the year and the beginning of winter.
  • Dec. 23: Festivus
  • Dec. 24: Christmas Eve
  • Dec. 25: Christmas Day
  • Dec. 25-Jan. 2: Chanukah
  • Dec. 26: Boxing and National Candy Cane Day
  • Dec. 28: Endangered Species Act Day
  • Dec. 28 & 29: National Chocolate Days
  • Dec. 30: Bacon Day
  • Dec. 31: New Years Eve
  • Sumac, Bittersweet, Poison Ivy and other berries remain throughout the winter, providing food for many species of birds.
  • Winter raptors may show up, including Snowy Owls and Northern Goshawks.
  • Chipmunks and raccoons hole up for the winter, but may reappear with mild winter weather.
  • If conditions are right, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls and crossbills visit feeders now through March.
  • Eastern Monarch Butterflies finish reaching their central Mexican overwintering sites starting in late-December.
  • Bald Eagles arrive from the North to overwinter.
  • This is a great time to teach chickadees and titmice to feed from your hand.
  • Watch for late waterfowl migrants such as Northern Shovelers, Mergansers, Ruddy Ducks and Common Goldeneyes