November, like March, can be a fickle month in the American Heartland; though known for blustery weather and gray skies, both months offer a fair number of mild, sunny days. But an unsettled jet stream, tugged by summer and winter, produces intermittent showers and storms, some of which harbor snow.
Many prefer the stability of January or July but, for the naturalist, these transition months have much to offer. The weather patterns, themselves, can be fascinating, prompting adaptation by a wide variety of creatures, including humans. And, for birders, these months host the peak of the waterfowl migrations, offering some of the true spectacles in nature's year.
Following the splendid month of October, November has a rougher edge and generally brings the first significant round of winter weather; for those who dread the cold and snow, its value is redeemed only by the prospects of football and the beloved Thanksgiving holiday. But, for the rest of us, November offers crisp, invigorating weather, active and conspicuous wildlife, the inspiration of migrant geese and the reassurance that nature's cycle will stay the course.
