Happy Holidays from me and Rainier! While “Flip, Flap, Try . . . A Cardinal’s Journey” takes place in warmer weather, did you know cardinals stick around for the winter? And it’s not just Rainier that stays during the colder months. Let’s see what the real life animals are up to during December.
Cardinals
Unlike some birds in the region, cardinals do stick around for the cold winter months. If you’re trying to spot a cardinal there are a few things to look for. It’s easy to spot the bright red males, especially when there’s snow on the ground. They like to put their nests in bushes, especially evergreens, so be sure to take a look at your bushes. Finally, if you have a bird feeder, put out bird feed and some say sunflower seeds are the cardinal’s favorite to eat. If you keep your eyes open, you might catch Rainier and his family.
Squirrels
Squirrels also hang around for winter but they do a few things differently than when it’s summer. One thing they typically do is fatten up a little to stay warm during their foraging trips outside. They also go out to forage, keeping food they find stashed around in little holes in the ground. It’s true they forget where some of their stashes are which can lead to some bushes, trees, and other plants coming up in the spring. Also, they try to stay warm by staying in their nests more. So while he might be a little bigger, you might see Mr. Gray.
Ants
While the others are still out and about, you won’t catch many ants in winter. They are easily cold so as soon as the temps drop the ants go hiding deep in their colony, keeping close to each other to stay warm. They too bulk up a bit for winter as their body slows down in the cold. So you might have to wait until spring to see Aunt Patty.
Let’s not forget the little boy!
Our little boy stays around during the winter. He enjoys sled riding and going for a skate on the rink. As we all know, most of us stay around during the winter, and we all have different traditions and activities we like to do during the winter months. What are some of the ways you make it through the winter? Do you celebrate Christmas with your family? Do you go out to your friend’s for New Year’s Eve? Do you make lots of soup? Do you curl up with a good book?
There are so many things to do during the winter but remember to stay warm, have fun, and be safe.
Merry Christmas
Happy Hanukkah
Happy New Year