Happening
at the Crossroads
February 16,
2009
by Coggin
Heeringa
At Crossroads at Big Creek, we offer adult education classes through the wonderful The Clearing in Winter
program. It is no coincidence that we offer our bird behavior class
before Valentine's Day and after, we offer a class called "Why Mammals
Do What They Do."
While bird courtship seems amorous, mammals are shortchanged when it
comes to romance. In many cases, the only thing warm about mammal
courtship is the weather which triggers it.
During our February thaw, we found tracks in the melting snow.
Raccoons and skunks are coming out for a midwinter snack, and no
wonder. They lose much for their body fat during their long winter
naps. Skunks become carnivores in winter, feeding on small mammals such
as meadow voles. Raccoons will eat anything they can find.
But starting long before the end of winter in the Great Lakes region, many males are on the prowl, in search of mate.
Raccoons already may be in mating mode. A male shacks up...or should
I say, dens-up with a female. He crawls in [provided she finds him
acceptable. She can be choosy.] and spends a few days with her.
The pair bond lasts a couple days before she drives him out and goes
back to sleep. But when he wears out his welcome with mate number 1,
the promiscuous male just moves on to mate two, and then mate three and
even four.
By late March or April, male skunks may wander several miles a
night, trying to sniff out females. [Sniffing out female skunks is not
all that difficult.] Male skunks are also the "love-em, leave-em"
type, though the term "love" is hardly appropriate. Skunk courtship and
mating lasts about a minute before he moves on to the next receptive
female. The female with fight off any subsequent suitor. I guess once
is enough for her.
Male rabbits behave much like buck deer or bull elk, fighting among
themselves for the right to breed...except large mammals are in rut
once a year. Female rabbits come into heat once a week from March
through September. It is not at all unusual for a cottontail to have
three litters in a year.
Rabbit mating involves hopping and urination, but not a lot of
tenderness. As soon as breeding takes place, the male is on his merry
way, hopping down the bunny trail. To be fair, I have to mention that
the males departure is hastened by the female's tendancy to bite him
until he leaves.
Chipmunks? Here's another single-parent family. Lots of "boy chase
girl," but the courtship itself is brief. The pair might do a bit of
mutual grooming,but the female apparently can take only so much
togetherness. She drives him away after about an hour.
Fidelity is not a trait of most furry animals. Beavers are an
exception to this rule. On Sunday, at 3:30, Crossroads will offer a
family program called "Meet the Beaver" in which films and activities will focus on mammals which actually seem to have family values.
Speaking of The Clearing in Winter, Crossroads will host a one session program titled "What in the World (and Beyond) Are They Talking About" on
February 25 from 12:30-2:45 [time change to accommodate Ash Wednesday
services.] This class was inspired by a comment of a Crossroads
volunteer who claimed that she avoided astronomy programs because she
was afraid she wouldn't know "what in the world they were talking
about."
First, I must share that the members of the Door Peninsula
Astronomical Society are delighted to help novice amateur astronomers
get started, and they have infinite patience in answering even the
most basic questions. Please feel welcome to attend any of their
programs.
Because 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy. newspapers,
magazines and programs will focus on the wonders of the cosmos. Your
enjoyment of the year-long celebration will be enhanced if you are
familiar with some of the basic terms used by astronomers. This
non-threatening class will introduce astronomy with gorgeous images of
space explained in layperson 's language. The tuition is $22.25. For registration information, see www.theclearing.org or call 854-4088
Crossroads is located at the intersection of Highway 42/57 and
Michigan in Sturgeon Bay. For more information call 746-5895 .
February 17, 7:00 Master Gardener Lecture:
What makes it Invasive?
How well do you know your invasive plants? Do you feel comfortable
with your plant ID to control them? Which plant(s) should you focus
on? Guest speaker Carolyn Rock will share the knowledge
andtechniques to help battle these invasives. Learn tips, tricks and
easy to use control techniques that everyone can do. Free and open to
the public. Collins Learning Center.
Sunday, February 22, 1:00-3:00
Community Ski
When snow conditions are good and wind chills are above minus 13
degrees, Friends of Crossroads loan out cross country skis and
snowshoes. Participants twelve years old and under must be accompanied
by an adult. Explore nature on our groomed trails. Free. Equipment is
located in the Collins Learning Center.
3:30
Family Program: Meet the Beaver
Following a visit to the Wisconsin Wildlife Exhibit, families will
learn about the lodge life of a family of beavers. Games and
activities. Lecture hall of the Collins Learning Center. Free.
Wednesday, February 25
Clearing in Winter Class: What in the World (and Beyond) They Are Talking About.
Because 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy. newspapers,
magazines and programs will focus on the wonders of the cosmos. Your
enjoyment of the year-long celebration will be enhanced if you are
familiar with some of the basic terms used by astronomers. This
non-threatening class will introduce astronomy with gorgeous images of
space explained in layperson 's language. The tuition is $22.25. For registration information, see www.theclearing.org or call 854-4088
Many of
the Past News articles may be retrieved from this directory,
indexed and named in the following manner: 080101-news.htm
where
the first two numbers are the year, the second two the month and the
last two the date.
