Nature  / Fun Happenings

December is Universal Human Rights, National Drunk & Drugged Driving
Prevention, AIDS Awareness and Safe Toys and Gifts Month

• Dec. 4: Full Moon, Dec. 11: Last Quarter Moon, Dec 19: New Moon, Dec 27: First Quarter Moon
• Dec. 1-31: Project FeederWatch continues
• Dec. 7-13: National Hand Washing Awareness Week
• Dec. 10-17: Human Rights Week
• Dec. 14-Jan 5: Christmas Bird Count
• Dec. 14-22: Chanukah
• Dec. 1: Rosa Parks, World AIDS and Playboy Day
• Dec. 2: Giving Tuesday, National Mut and Special Education Day
• Dec. 4: World Wildlife Conservation and National Cookie Day
• Dec. 5: Bartender Appreciation Day
• Dec. 6: St. Nicolas Day
• Dec. 7: National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
• Dec. 8: Toilet Paper Appreciation Day
• Dec. 10: Human and Animal Rights Day
• Dec. 12: National Cocoa, Poinsettia 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 - 4:03 PM 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. 26: Boxing and National Candy Cane Day
• Dec. 28: Endangered Species Act and Holy Innocents 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