Viewer tip: Encourage birds to gather in your yard by offering them a diversity of food options.  Placing feeders near branches and shrubs keeps them safe from predators.  And, consider keeping a log who visits your feeder!  Comparing which birds visit and when, is one way that scientists study winter bird populations and climate change.

For more information about feeding the birds in your neighborhood, check out Audubon’s Bird Feeding Basics website at web4.audubon.org/bird/at_home/bird_feeding/index.html or ask your local birding store for advice.

This information is provided by Great Lakes Aquarium. Learn more at www.glaquarium.org.

Viewer Tip: Bald eagle watches occur along the Mississippi throughout January and February, and eagles can be seen into early March.  Watches occur at the Mississippi River Visitor’s Center in Rock Island, IL on weekends through mid-February and watches take place on Saturday, January 28 in Quincy, IL and Muscatine, IA.  When viewing eagles, it is important to stay in your car unless you’re visiting a manned eagle observation deck. A car acts as an excellent blind, whereas walking around or toward a perched eagle will chase it off its roost.

Learn more about eagle watches at www.mvr.usace.army.mil/missriver/Eagle%20Watching/Eagle%20Main.htm.

This information is provided by Living Lands and Waters.  Learn more at www.livinglandsandwaters.org.

(Sources: Bald Eagle Viewing Directory, http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/eagle/eagle1.html; Mississippi River Project, http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/missriver/MRVC/MRVC.htm)

Viewer Tip: If just 10 percent of the estimated 65 million garage-owners in the United States cut idling by five minutes per day, we’d save about 84.5 million gallons of gas in a year! Remember that driving your car is the best way to warm it up. Excessive idling can actually damage your car’s engine, but frequently restarting the engine has little impact. Cut-down on idling even more by turning off the engine if you are sitting in a drive-through or school pick-up line for more than 10 seconds – 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting the engine.

This information is provided by Living Lands and Waters.  Learn more at www.livinglandsandwaters.org.

(Sources: California Energy Commission Consumer Energy Center: Should I Shut off the Motor When I’m Idling my Car? 2006-2011.  http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/myths/idling.html; Rogers, Elizabeth and Thomas M. Kostigen. The Green Book. 2007.)

Viewer Tip: Collect yard debris throughout the winter season and make a compost pile in a bin that is at least one cubic yard in size.  A bin that is full in winter should finish composting by spring, in time for use in planter beds.  Extra debris, such as fallen leaves or cut grass, can be collected and stored in a separate container, to be used in compost piles throughout the year.

This information is brought to you by the Water Conservation Garden. Learn more at www.thegarden.org.

Viewer Tip: Your favorite tree could be the next victim. Buy local firewood and try not to transport firewood more than 10 miles when possible. All of the Great Lakes States have restrictions on moving firewood and you can find information about approved firewood vendors in your region by visiting www.dontmovefirewood.org or your state department of natural resources website.

This information is provided by Great Lakes Aquarium. Learn more at www.glaquarium.org.

Viewer Tip: Winter is a great time to beachcomb. The same waves and tides that pound our shorelines also deposit shells, driftwood, sea urchins, beach glass and even remains of old shipwrecks. Advanced beachcombers, especially along the Atlantic coast, even bring metal detectors, as coins and metal relics from times past are often washed ashore. Remember to dress warmly, though. Winter air temperatures are frequently colder near the ocean and coastal winds can make you feel even chillier.

This information is provided by Restore America’s Estuaries. Learn more at www.estuaries.org.

Viewer Tip: Many cities and states are working to reduce salt use while still keeping streets and sidewalks safe. Using less salt at home will help protect water quality in your neighborhood – and it will save money, too!

• Shovel first. Clear away as much snow and ice as possible before you use a deicer. Only use deicers on ice, not snow.
• Save your salt. Read the label and use salt sparingly. Use about 30 percent less salt by wetting it with some water before applying it to icy patches.
• Protect your plants. Keep salt away from salt-sensitive plants. Learn more about salt damage to plants at www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/id/id-412-w.pdf.
• Know your stuff. There are many types of deicers and they perform differently at different temperature ranges. The most common deicer, sodium chloride (“rock salt”), only melts ice to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Magnesium chloride and calcium chloride cost more, but work in colder temperatures.

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(Sources: Madison Area Municipal Stormwater Partnership, www.myfairlakes.com; TomScheuler. Snow, Road Salt, and the Chesapeake Bay. The Center for Watershed Protection. http://www.cwp.org/; Iowa State University, Centre for Transportation and Research Education. “Prewetting with Salt Brine.” http://www.ctre.iastate.edu/PUBS/semisesq/session1/donahey/index.htm)

What is radon? Radon is a radioactive gas produced when uranium in soil decays; it can be found all over the United States. Radon gas moves up through the ground into your home through cracks and holes in the foundation, becoming trapped inside. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about one out of every 15 homes has elevated radon levels. You can’t see, smell or taste radon, but it can be harmful – it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

Viewer Tip: Winter is a great time to test your home for radon. When windows and doors are sealed tightly, radon levels inside your home can rise. Testing is easy, inexpensive and only takes a few minutes. For details, visit www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html#howtotest.

If you find high levels of radon in your home, the problem can be fixed! Some radon reduction systems can reduce levels in your home by up to 99 percent.

Additional resources:

• Reducing Radon Levels in Your Home: www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consguid.html
• State Radon Contacts for local information: www.epa.gov/radon/whereyoulive.html
• Radon-Resistant New Construction for home-buyers: www.epa.gov/radon/rrnc/index.html

(Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “A Citizen’s Guide to Radon.” www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html)

• Heating Help: Keep everyone warm and save energy at the same time by using a programmable thermostat. Homeowners can save up to 180 dollars per year by using a programmable thermostat to automatically reduce heating when it’s not needed as much – such as when you are sleeping or away from home. Learn more about programmable thermostats: www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=TH
• A Water Efficient H2Oliday: Prepping and cleaning up after a holiday meal can use a lot of water. Save a few gallons by thawing frozen foods in the refrigerator instead of using running tap water. Scrape dirty dishes before you put them in the dishwasher rather than rinsing to save even more. If every American household reduced their water use by 10 gallons on Christmas Day, we would save more than one billion gallons of water! Learn more about saving water at home: www.epa.gov/watersense/index.html
• Septic Smarts: For the 20 percent of Americans who use septic tanks for wastewater treatment, extra guests can overwhelm the system. Remind houseguests not to use drains and toilets as trash cans. And make sure your system is properly maintained to avoid backups and overflows – not only are these costly for homeowners, but they can also contaminate well water and community drinking water supplies. Learn more about septic systems: cfpub.epa.gov/owm/septic/

(Sources: Energy Star Program. “Programmable Thermostats.” http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=TH;  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Winter Tips.” http://www.epa.gov/epahome/hi-winter.htm; Keehner, Denise M., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wetlands Oceans and Watersheds. “Holidays can pose challenges for those with septic systems: Easy ways to keep your holidays smelling sweet.”)

Viewer Tip: Is your winter energy bill on the rise? Give your home ductwork a check-up. While some ducts are hidden in walls and between floors, exposed ducts can be found in attics, basements, garages and crawl spaces. Use duct sealant (or mastic) to seal and repair duct leaks and increase energy efficiency. Your furnace won’t have to work as hard, and you’ll stay warmer and save money.

Learn more about sealing and insulating your home at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_sealing.hm_improvement_sealing.

(Source: Energy Star. “Air Seal and Insulate with Energy Star.” http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_sealing.hm_improvement_sealing)

Forty years’ worth of observation data from the CBC show that 58 percent of North American bird species seen in the first few weeks of winter have shifted their ranges north. Sixty species have moved over 100 miles north – the wild turkey has moved a whopping 400 miles! (Learn more about range shifts of finches in the Western, Midwestern, and Eastern United States.)

Viewer Tip: Anyone can participate in the Christmas Bird Count. CBC takes place in “count circles” that focus on specific geographic areas. Every circle has a leader, so even if you are a beginner birdwatcher, you’ll be able to count birds with an experienced birder and contribute data to the longest-running wildlife census. If your home happens to be within the boundaries of a count circle, you can count the birds that visit your backyard feeder.

Visit birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count for more information.

Audubon press releases and photos available at www.audubon.org/newsroom/press-rooms/christmas-bird-count-press-room

Viewer Tip: Like many food fishes, winter flounder have been overfished in recent decades and restrictions have been placed on commercial fishing of depleted stocks. Recreational fishing with smaller catch limits is still permitted, however. Winter flounder are both tasty and nutritious.

Learn more about winter flounder at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/fishwatch/species/winter_flounder.htm.

This information is provided by Restore America’s Estuaries. Learn more at www.estuaries.org.

Viewer Tip: Stock your tackle box with stainless steel sinkers and hooks.  You can find lots of great products at your favorite tackle supply shop.  And, many bait shops and city recycling centers collect and properly dispose of lead products for you – just ask!

For more information about the impacts and replacing lead tackle, visit www.pca.state.mn.us.

This information is provided by Great Lakes Aquarium. Learn more at www.glaquarium.org.

Viewer Tip: Use these “best burn practices” at home to minimize wood smoke and protect your health:

• Before you burn, make sure your chimney is clean – a clean chimney provides a good draft and reduces the risk of a chimney fire. Have your chimney inspected by a professional at least once per year and regularly clean ashes from your fireplace or wood-burning stove to increase efficiency.
• Only use seasoned wood for burning – seasoned wood looks darker, has cracks in the ends and sounds hollow if smacked against another piece of wood.
• Use newspaper and dry kindling to start a fire. Never use gasoline, kerosene, charcoal starter or propane.
• Build hot fires, which are more safe and efficient than smoldering fires.
• Never burn garbage or cardboard, coated or painted wood, particle board, plywood or wood with glue on it.  Burning these materials can release harmful chemicals into the air inside your home.

If you burn wood at home – even occasionally – install a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector to keep you and your family safe. If you already have detectors, check the batteries to make sure they are working properly.

(Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Burn Wise: Consumers – Best Burn Practices. http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/bestburn.html)

Wild Weather

As record has it, the English settlers and Wampanoag Indians had nice weather during the first Thanksgiving harvest celebration in 1621 – but not every Thanksgiving holiday has been so pleasant. A major winter storm in the Eastern United States in 1950 generated near 100-mile per hour wind gusts in the northeast, crop damage and record-low temperatures in the south and southeastern states, heavy flooding along the northeastern coast and significant snowfall in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. On Thanksgiving Day, Springfield, Illinois set a rainfall record of 1.47 inches in 1968; Buffalo, New York saw record snowfall of 10.3 inches in 1952. Oakland, California even saw a record low temperature of 36 degrees last year. More memorable Thanksgiving weather events.

The number of long-distance trips increases by 54 percent over the Thanksgiving holiday. Whether you are traveling 50 miles or 500, it is important to be ready for all kinds of weather.

Stay Safe on the Roads

• Get a check-up. Check tire pressure when tires are cold and adjust as necessary (don’t forget the spare!), replace worn or broken wiper blades, add freeze-resistant windshieldwiper fluid if needed, and check battery connections and cables. If your car battery is more than three years old, you may want a professional to test it.
• Build an emergency kit. Make sure your car is equipped with a scraper, flashlight, blankets, cell phones, booster cables and emergency flares or cones. Have water and non-perishable food like energy or granola bars on hand, too.

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• Slow down. Allow yourself at least eight to ten seconds of stopping time – even longer if driving on ice.
• Stop before you talk. If you need to use your cell phone, pull into a parking area or to the side of the road before making the call.
• Steer clear. Know what to do if your car skids:
  • Rear wheels skid: Remove your foot from the gas pedal, steer the wheel in the direction you want your car to go and pump the brakes gently if you have standard brakes or apply gentle pressure to the brakes if you have anti-lock brakes (ABS).
  • Front wheels skid: Remove your foot from the gas pedal and put the car in neutral. The wheels will start to skid and slow the vehicle down, as traction starts to return steer the car in the direction you want it to go then put the car in drive and accelerate gently.
• Be ready for rain. During periods of heavy rain, reduce your speed and put on your car’s hazard lights so that other drivers can see you more easily. If it is difficult to see through heavy rain, pull over and wait for the storm to pass.

Save Gas

• Carpool. The average long-distance trip during Thanksgiving is about 215 miles. If you have friends and family nearby that are going to the same place, travel together to save gas and reduce the number of cars on the road.
• Go easy on the gas pedal. Accelerate gradually to get better gas mileage.
• Don’t idle. If you stop to eat or stretch your legs, turn the car completely off. Idling for two minutes uses the same amount of gas used to drive one mile!
• Pack lightly. Extra weight in the car or trunk decreases fuel efficiency.

Snow image above courtesy of NOAA.

(Sources: Examiner. “Thanksgiving cold weather breaks record across California.” http://www.examiner.com/top-news-in-san-francisco/thanksgiving-cold-weather-breaks-records-across-california; AAA. “Five Things AAA Says Drivers Should Do Before Thanksgiving Road Trips.” http://newsroom.aaa.com/2010/11/2010-thanksgiving-road-trips; Research and Innovative Technology Administration. “U.S. Holiday Travel.” http://www.bts.gov/publications/america_on_the_go/us_holiday_travel/html/entire.html; Iowa DOT. “Safe-driving tips for the holidays.” http://www.iowadot.gov/tips.pdf; Environmental Protection Agency. “Tips to Save Gas and Improve Mileage.” http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/17-tips.pdf; Green Your. “Avoid Car Idling.” http://www.greenyour.com/transportation/car/car-driving/tips/avoid-car-idling)

• Pacific Northwest: There are several volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest, including Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier and Mount Hood. Volcanic eruptions can impact local weather. Eruptions emit particles and gases into the atmosphere, creating a haze. This haze can remain in the air for years, reflecting the sun’s rays and reducing temperatures at the Earth’s surface.

  (Image right: Aerial view of Mount St. Helens. NASA Earth Observatory)

• Western US: The Sierra Nevada Mountains that run north-south through California basically separate the Western United States into a wetter (west) side and a drier (east) side. Storms come off the Pacific Ocean from the west and get lifted up by the Sierra Nevada Mountains – a process called orographic lifting. As these storms rise, they cool and condense, raining a lot of water back onto the ground.

  But, as the storms continue to make their way over the top of the mountains to the east, they don’t dump as much rain because they have already lost a lot of moisture. This causes a rain shadow to form on the east side of the mountain range where there is a low amount of rainfall. The rain shadow from the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains impacts the weather in the Great Basin, which covers most of Nevada and parts of Utah.

  (Image right: Rain shadow formation. Wikimedia Commons)

• Great Lakes: The Great Lakes region is known for its lake effect snow. As cold air passes over the Lakes, warmer lake water below evaporates and heats the bottom layer of cold air.  Warm, moist air rises and cools, causing condensation and cloud formation. If humidity is high enough and temperatures are cold enough, snow falls.  Winds push these clouds over land, where increased friction slows the winds, leading to more snowfall accumulation.  As winds move farther inland and encounter hills, rising air cools even more, creating even more snow!

  (Image right: Lake effect snow over the Great Lakes. NASA Earth Observatory)

• Great Plains: The Great Plains may be known as Tornado Alley, but their topography allows for another weather phenomena – blizzards! The Rocky Mountains to the west are the driving force for blizzards in the Great Plains.  A cold polar air mass that moves off the Rockies pushes southward accompanied by high winds, intense cold and considerable amounts of snow that can last for several days.

  (Image right: Blizzard conditions over the Great Plains. NASA Earth Observatory)

• South Central US: Droughts are periods of unusually dry weather that the South Central United States experiences at times – including right now.  Droughts can bring upon dust storms, which are common in arid and semi-arid regions.  A dust storm occurs when a gust of wind blows loose sand or dust particles off the ground, breaks down the particles and keeps them suspended in the air.  Dust storms can spread over hundreds of miles and well over 10,000 feet into the air.

  (Image right: Dust storm in Phoenix, 2011. NOAA National Weather Service)




• Eastern US: One geographic feature that affects the entire East Coast is the Atlantic Ocean.  The ocean plays a big role in determining the temperatures near the coast.  During  fall and winter when the ocean is warmer than the land, the coastal regions experience warmer temperatures than inland areas.  In the springtime, ocean breezes keep temperatures along the coast cooler than inland areas.

  (Image right: Sea breeze diagram. Wikimedia Commons: Jesús Gómez Fernández)

Learn more about Geography Awareness Week: www.nationalgeographic.com/geography-action/index.html.

(Sources: National Science Teachers Association, “Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis”, http://www.enviroliteracy.org/nsfmod/NaturesFury.pdf, “A Rain Shadow”, http://bcs.whfreeman.com/thelifewire/content/chp56/5602001.html, “Warm water helps create Great Lakes snowstorms.” University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. 2008, US Department of State, “The Great Plains and Prairies”, http://countrystudies.us/united-states/geography-17.htm, Kidz World, “Dust Storms”, http://www.kidzworld.com/article/707-dust-storm-on-the-loose, “Cold air damming can bring ice to East.” http://www.usatoday.com/weather/tg/wcolddam/wcolddam.htm, “Warm water helps create Great Lakes snowstorms.” University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. 2008., United States Search and Rescue Task Force, “Predicting Weather”, http://www.ussartf.org/predicting_weather.htm)

Viewer Tip: As the weather cools down, try these tips from Energy Star to stay warm while saving energy and money.

• Get a check-up: Poor maintenance and dirt are leading causes of heating system failure. If you have heating equipment that is more 10 years old, schedule a check-up with a licensed contractor who can make sure everything is working properly.
• Change filters: Check on your heating system’s filter each month – if it’s dirty, change it. Filters should be changed at least every three months.
• Pay attention to Problems: Too hot or cold? Too humid? Really dusty? These problems mean that you may need to seal air leaks around your home. You can use caulk, spray foam or weather stripping to keep cold air out and save on your energy bill. Learn more about sealing leaks at www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_sealing.hm_improvement_sealing.

Find more energy-saving tips and home improvement advice at www.energystar.gov.

(Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy. Energy STar Program. “Heat Smartly with Energy Star.” http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.es_at_home)

• Wet and soggy: Too much rain can cause crops to rot. Mildews, which thrive in wet conditions, can damage leaves and stems or kill pumpkin vines and fruits. During spring of this year, heavy rain delayed pumpkin planting the northeast, which in turn delays harvest time. Then, Hurricane Irene flooded pumpkin fields throughout the northeastern United States in September. (Photo at right: Powdery mildew makes leaves on pumpkin vines brittle and dry)
• Hot and dry: Dry, hot weather can cause pumpkins to produce too many male blossoms and too few female blossoms, resulting in a smaller harvest. Lack of water during droughts can also result in smaller and lighter-weight pumpkins. Pumpkin harvest in Texas dropped 40 percent or more due to drought conditions in the state this year.
• Chilly: An early freeze can kill pumpkins. And, chilly weather in the spring can prevent pumpkin blossoms from germinating. Why? Because bees – which carry pollen from plant to plant – don’t fly until the temperature is at least 55 degrees. Without bees and pollination, there are no pumpkins.

Viewer Tip: Despite a rough year for pumpkin patches, many farmers are meeting demand by bringing in pumpkins from other areas. If you are carving or cooking this year, put the whole pumpkin to use!  If you don’t eat the seeds yourself, spread them outside as a snack for birds and squirrels.  And, instead of weighing down your trash bags and sending past-their-prime pumpkins to the landfill, put them to use in your garden.  Pumpkins can be added to compost piles, where they will decompose and add nutrients to your compost.

(Sources: University of Illinois Extension. “Pumpkins and More: Pumpkin Facts.” http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/pumpkins/facts.html; The National Center for Appropriate Technology. “Organic Pumpkin and Winter Squash Production.” www.attra.ncat.org; USA Today. “Northeast Farmers Warn of Irene Pumpkin Shortage.” http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/story/2011-09-19/northeast-pumpkin-shortage-hurricane-irene-floods/50466270/1; Houston Chronicle, “Drought takes bite out of Texas pumpkin harvest,” http://www.chron.com/business/article/Drought-takes-bite-out-of-Texas-pumpkins-2186331.php; Portland Tribune, “Pining for the Pumpkin Patch,” http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=131863808601002000)

Photo courtesy of Maine.gov.

Viewer Tip: Every October, government organizations, businesses, associations and individuals observe Energy Awareness Month with activities and programs to reduce energy consumption in our daily lives. Why not make your time at work more energy efficient?

• Up to 35 percent of the electricity used in an office building is consumed by lighting! If you have a desk lamp, replace a traditional light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL). CFLs use about 75 percent less energy and last 10 times longer.
• Have a window near your desk? Reduce energy needs for cooling and heating: Close blinds during warm weather to keep out the sun’s heat; on cold days, leave blinds open during daylight hours to let in the sun’s warmth.
• Keep air vents clear of papers, files and office supplies. It can take up to 25 percent more energy to pump air into a workspace if vents are blocked.

Energy Star has many more tips for going green at work. Visit www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=energy_awareness.awareness_you_can_do.

(Source: U.S. EPA and DOE. “Bring Your Green to Work with Energy Star.” http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=bygtw.showSplash)

Viewer Tip: Poor indoor air quality can be especially troublesome for individuals with heart or lung diseases, including asthma.

• Prevent pollutants from building up in one room by keeping doors open to other rooms, making sure air can circulate throughout your home.
• If you are building a fire, be sure that the fireplace damper is open – smoke inside your home is a signal that your fireplace or stove is not working correctly.
• Never use gas ranges, ovens, or clothesdryers, charcoal grills, or other unvented fuel-burning appliances to heat your home. Do not run a portable generator in an enclosed or partially-enclosed space. These items can result indangerous levels carbon monoxide gas in your home.

Season: Winter

(Source: EPA. “Introduction to Indoor Air Quality: Sources of Combustion Products.” http://www.epa.gov/iaq/combust.html; The American Lung Association. “Carbon Monoxide Fact Sheet.” http://www.lungusa.org/)