Coming on the heels of glorious October, the month of November is not welcomed by many of us in the Northern Hemisphere. Though it is officially a component of autumn, November often brings the first snow of the year and represents a final slide toward the dark, cold days of winter.
Yet, this month often brings many mild, sunny days and, from the naturalist's point of view, offers some of the highlights of nature's year. The fall waterfowl migration peaks during November, including massive congregations of snow geese and sandhill cranes. The cooler weather and shorter days induce a restlessness in our resident birds and mammals, making them more conspicuous throughout the woodlands, prairies and wetlands. In mid November, the Leonid meteor shower offers one of our annual astronomical highlights and, for those of us who prefer snow to rain, winter landscapes invite exploration by late in the month.
Many humans likely prefer the vibrant month of May, with its colorful flowers and vocal birds; after all, it leads into the warm summer season. But I'll take November, with its dry, chilly air and open vistas. For me, it's a close second to October.
