TRR photo by Scott Rando This ring-bill gull, showing first-year plumage, experiences a short float downstream on frazil ice, or ice just forming on the surface and clumping together in the river current. Some areas of the river became icebound in mid-January.

The return of winter

After a brief thaw during the first part of January, cold weather reasserted itself the middle of the month with nightly lows near zero degrees in some areas, along with just enough frozen precipitation to make the roads hazardous for short periods.

For those who braved the cold temperatures and went outdoors to observe sky, earth or water, there likely was a change evident on the face of nature, whether it was the increased traffic at bird feeders or the multitude and variety of tracks in the fresh snow.

It’s winter. Enjoy!

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Neighboring landowners protect property in Wayne

WAYNE COUNTY, PA—Earl and Susan Lory of South Canaan Township in Wayne County have placed 51 acres of their 53-acre property into a conservation easement through the Delaware Highlands Conservancy. The 38-acre property right next door, owned by Helen and Walter Hauck, has been protected since 2004.

The easements protect the land from ever being subdivided or developed.

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Student vote chooses New York State official butterfly

NEW YORK STATE—Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D,C-Forestburgh) has announced that the Red Spotted Purple/White Admiral butterfly will be the official New York State Butterfly, thanks to 35,000 student voters who participated in the statewide contest to give New York its own butterfly.

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Also in this issue:

• Free ice fishing contest for kids at Mitchell Pond
• Winter birding with PEEC