PEEC: Pocono Environmental Education Center

Vernal Equinox

Natural Events
March:

Who does not like pancakes and maple syrup on a frigid March morning? Beginning in the month of March the alternating pattern of freezing nights and sunny thawing days cause sap to rise in sugar maple trees, which is where we get our sweet tasty maple syrup treat. Red squirrels have also discovered the sugar maple’s sweet secret…look for their teeth marks in the bark.
During the second week of March be sure to keep your eyes and ears open. Migratory birds are returning, look for Canada geese, blackbirds, bluebirds, robins, flickers, phoebes and fifteen species of raptors.
During the third week of March look to the wet overgrown fields of yesteryear for the usual and entertaining evening courtship ritual of the woodcock. Also listen for a nasal “peeeent” call of the woodcock.
The last week of March the first rains begin causing thousands of amphibians to emerge from the thawed forest soil migrating back to their watery birth places to breed. Keep your eyes peeled for: spotted salamanders, wood frogs, spring peepers, green frogs and American toads.

April:

Resurfacing reptiles greet the warmth of spring. Look for painted turtles, eastern garter snakes and black racers all basking in open sunlight.
With the second week of April millions of shad leave the Atlantic Ocean and return to the Eastern Rivers such as the Delaware to spawn. Also during this time the shadbush or downy service berry begins to bloom in masses of white flowers.
On warm April days be sure to scan the sky over mountain ridges for the thousands of raptors; Hawks, Falcons, Eagles, Vultures riding the thermals as the return from their southern wintering grounds.
By the last week in April the showers have started to produce flowers. Spring ephemerals or flowers lasting only for a very short time start popping up every where. Look for colorful woodland wildflowers such as hepatica, trailing arbutus, bloodroot, spring beauty, trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches and red trillium and a dozen species of violets!!

May:

Dastardly defoliators have hatched just as tree foliage is in full force. Look for Gypsy Moth Caterpillars and tent caterpillars as well as Swallow Tail Butterflies and Luna Moths.
Insects are also back in full force and hungry songbirds returning from their tropical wintering grounds are in hog heaven. Be sure and look for returning warblers. Listen for flute-like songs of Wood Thrushes and Veery at dawn and dusk.
During the third week of May check out the beeches around Delaware Bay. Thousands or Horseshoe Crabs come ashore to mate and lay eggs. The eggs of the Crabs make up a smorgasbord for hungry shorebirds returning from migration.

Late breeding amphibians can be heard at this time. Listen for these loud mouths at dusk near water. Common species heard include Fowlers Toads, Green Frogs, Gray Tree Frogs and Bull Frogs.

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Celestial Events
March:
Cancer is very dim and is supposedly supposed to resemble a crab, which it does not! In Greek mythology Cancer is plays a small part in the twelve labors of Hercules. As Hercules was battling the beast Hydra, Cancer was sent to distract Hercules. Cancer pinched Hercules’s toe and proceeded to be squished. The best time to see this squished crab like constellation is around 9.00pm in the marry month of March.

Canis Minor translated into English means smaller dog. Canis Minor is one two hunting dogs owned by Orion and is composed of mainly two stars, Procyon and Gomeisa. Procyon means before the dog, rising one hour before the Dog Star, Sirius.

April:
Ursus Major, translated as The Greater Bear contains the most recognizable symbols in the night sky, the Big Dipper. The Big Dipper makes up Ursus Major’s hind quarters and points the way to the North Star. If one follows the top of the Dipper strait out they shall arrive at Polaris, the North Star. This particular constellation can be seen throughout the year, however the best time to observe Ursus Major is in April around 9.00 pm.

Grrrrr! Leo is the Neaman Lion, one of the creatures killed by Hercules during one of his twelve labors. Leo is also one of the thirteen signs of the Zodiac, representing masculinity and fire, which is odd considering that the best time to view Leo is in the Southern sky at 9.00pm during the month of April.

May:
Virgo is one of the largest constellations in the night sky and when translated means, the maiden. Throughout history Virgo has been associated with just about every prominent goddess (Isis, Athena, and even Mary mother of Jesus). The best time to view Virgo is during the month of May around 9.00 pm.

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