On these chilly, dark, early mornings of September, Orion reappears in the southern sky. Though this well-known constellation is a visual illusion, a product of our unique perspective from planet Earth, early man saw a hunter in that group of stars.
Of course, their interpretation was surely influenced by the season of its presence, stretching from the first chill of late summer through the long, cold, trying nights of winter, when Orion shines through the dry, clear, frigid air. They likely welcomed this hunter as a sign that massive flocks of waterfowl and migrant herds of herbivores would soon arrive from the north, providing sustenance through the lean months of winter. In this respect, Orion was both a promise of bounty and a warning of the coming hardship and, since they relied on hunting for their own survival, he was a cherished companion.
Today, equipped with the modern convenience of supermarkets, we may be less enamored with the hunter's appearance, knowing that the slide toward winter has quickened. But, for those of us who relish the crisp, colorful days of autumn and the invigorating chill of winter, Orion is a welcome sight in the southern sky. For prey species, the season of the hunter is far less rewarding as predators gain a distinct advantage amidst the barren forests, windswept plains and frozen wetlands.
