Finding Your Winter Activities

It's cold. So very very cold. I don't handle the cold well. I'm not one of these environmental people who is going to encourage you to go outside for long spells of time in the winter. If you choose to venture outside there are some great outdoor winter activities in the city of Columbus this time of year but don't feel bad if you don't go out. I used to carry some guilt about calling myself a preservationist but being unwilling to go out in the coldest parts of the winter. Please don't feel like you're less of an environmentalist because you don't want to spend much time outside in the winter. We're animals, it's normal and natural to want to stay inside when the weather is unbearable.

There are so many things you can do to stay in touch with nature this time of year. Watch and learn about the winter birds that visit your feeder. Visit COSI, Ohio Wildlife Center, Grange Insurance Audubon Center, or the Franklin Park Conservatory. You can curl up with some environmental books that will open your heart and mind on the plight of our planet. I personally can't wait to get back outside for nice long hikes but please take care and don't push yourself beyond your limits.

Also, I found this really great article about the top ten winter feed for winter backyard birds from Bird Watcher's Digest that I've been dying to share. This is a fantastic time of year to bring birds to your feeder because their normal food sources will be depleted. A feeder provides additional nutrition to their winter diet, normally in the form of high energy high fat food, that they can't find in the winter. Please remember to place your feeder in a clear area with little or no cover to protect the birds you attract to your feeder from hiding predators. Attracting birds is a big responsibility, you become a food source that they will depend on and protecting them is vital.  It's also a good idea to provide a water source throughout the whole year. Remove the ice from your birdbath or invest in a heated birdbath.

Let me know how you spend this early part of winter. Please tell me what books you're reading, what centers you're visiting, and what birds you have at your winter feeders.