January 21

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 1 degree and no wind.  The frigid overnight temperature covered everything with crystalline hoarfrost. On this hike, I planned to focus on the sounds of winter, both natural and man-made. As I started out, my questions were: How quiet was the Nature Area in the depths of winter? What sounds would Mother Nature offer today? How would these sounds compare to a similar hike I made last June? Before descending the hill, I looked west over the landscape and heard a motor running from the dairy farm next door. Beginning my hike, I paused at Mallard March where silence replaced the familiar songs of perching Redwing Blackbirds that I remembered from last summer. Walking through a serene Bobolink Meadow, I picked up the rhythmic crunching sound of my boots walking over the frozen snow. Hiking through peaceful North Woods, I saw a squirrel run up a tree and was reminded of the crunching noise this creature made last June as it ran over the dry leaf litter. Also, I noticed some fresh deer tracks while listening to a few crows off to the north. I exited the woods and circled the far western edge of Succession Field where I saw a couple of Downy Woodpeckers perched against trees while hearing one of them call out. This was the spot where I remembered hearing the beautiful song of an Indigo Bunting last summer. Entering a very quiet South Woods, I moved off the trail and walked onto the ice of secluded Swanson’s Swamp where I found some fresh rabbit and raccoon tracks. I paused, closed my eyes and recalled last June hearing the drumming sound of a Bull Frog coming from this location. Exiting the woods, I hiked toward Artist Overlook where I recalled the melodious sound of a Song Sparrow last June. I continued along the south trail where I spotted a male and female Cardinal while hearing the familiar sound of a lone Chickadee. Turning north at Frog Fen, I climbed Reflection Hill where my ears perked up to hear the distant drone of a passenger jet high above giving off a white vapor trail against a clear blue sky.  I paused to gaze at a silent Grebe Pond. Next, I descended the hill where I noticed how the additional inch of snow would help make the hill prime for sledding next week. Also, I was pleased to see several old Xmas trees that some of the guides had piled up to make a rabbit habitat. Next, came the sounds of chirping birds at the feeders where I spotted Buntings, Goldfinch and Juncos. Finally, I arrived at the van, listened one last time to nature’s quietude and headed for home.

The leaves drop to earth

Leaving the trees bare and gray

No shield from the cold

The animals hide

And they sleep for the winter

Now the land is bare

Strong gusts of wind blow

As white snow swirls everywhere

The world is blinded

The blizzard settles

Leaving the landscape pure white

There is no color

The snow is gentle

As it drifts slowly downward

And the world sparkles

Unknown