Delmarva’s Winter Wonderland
By Dana Kester-McCabe
As I write this it is the end of January and we have just had what will probably be our most significant winter storm of the season. There was over a foot of snow at my house in Bishopville by the time it was done. Though the air is cold the sun is as bright and clear as you can experience it. This corner of Delmarva is beautiful and peaceful this morning.
Delmarva History This Month
 | This is American History & Black History Month.
February 18, 1662 - Talbot County, Maryland established
February 16, 1669 - Dorchester County, Maryland established
February 2, 1781 - Maryland became the 13th state to approve the ratification of the Articles of Confederation
February 14, 1818 - Abolitionist Frederick Douglass born a slave at Holmes Hill Farm, near Easton, Maryland
February 21, 1882 - Sloop Dauntless wrecked near Chincoteague, Virginia in foul weather
February 22, 1892 - Spanish steamship San Albano ran aground on the outer shoals of Hog Island, Virginia
February 10, 1972 - Earth tremor at Wilmington, Delaware, felt as far as Elkton, Maryland. |
February 2010 - Feeding Our Feathered Friends
We may not spend much time in our garden during the month of February, but that does not mean that other folks don’t hang out there. Feathered folks - that is. We’ve spoken in this column before about setting up feeders in a way that helps keep birds safe from cats and prevents furry competition like squirrels from stealing all the feed. But there is quite a bit more to learn about feeding birds in our back yard.
Fishing & Hunting - February 2010
 Hunting season ends for most this month and very few people are still fishing. But there are plenty of birds to see. Abundant resident Canada geese are joined by their migrating cousins, and the snowies are here in force. They will be around for awhile. They are always a striking site as they come in for a landing on area farm fields. Flocks of starlings which swarm without fear just about everywhere are another common site.
The following is a sampling of our community calendar. Visit the calendar home page for hundreds more.
Holidays & Observances This Month
| This is:
February's Flower: Violet
February's Birthstone: Amethyst
African American History Month
American Hearth Month
American History Month
National Wild Bird-Feeding Month
February 1 - Imbolic (Celtic)
February 2 - Groundhog Day
Candlemas (Christian)
February 8 - Boy Scout Day
February 12 - Lincoln's Birthday
February 14 - St. Valentine`s Day (Christian)
February 15 - President's Day (Federal Holiday)
Parinirvana (Buddhism)
February 16 - Carnival / Mardi Gras (Christian)
February 17 - Random Acts of Kindness Day
February 22 - George Washington's Birthday
February 26 - Birth of the Prophet (Islam) | |
Arts & Entertainment
Community Events
Educational Activities
Home & Garden
The Great Outdoors
Sports
Travel
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Sunrise & Sunset
Sunrise at the beginning of the month: 7:09am
Sunrise at the end of the month: 6:36am
Sunset at the beginning of the month: 5:20pm
Sunset at the end of the month: 5:51pm
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Moon Phases
Moon rise at the beginning of the month: 8:43pm
Moon rise at the end of the month: 6:14pm
Moon set at the beginning of the month: 8:18am
Moon set at the end of the month: 6:13am
Names for the Moon - Big Winter Moon, Ice Moon, Storm Moon, Quickening Moon, Wild Moon
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Outdoors This Month
On or near the water the usual herons, mergansers, sanderlings and sandpipers can be seen. Birds that I don’t see as often include this Eastern meadowlark I spotted recently in Wicomico County. This tufted titmouse, along with some other birds, visits my feeder. (See the Garden of Good Living.) Also skulking around my feeder were a pair of raccoons the other day. They ran off before I could get their picture. If they come back I will have to take measures to keep them from being attracted to the feeder. All wild critters are neat to look at but as raccoon carry rabies they are not too welcome in my yard.
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