On a cold winter day, it’s easy to think of the landscape as frozen, silent, and asleep. Snow covers our fields and forests, trails crunch underfoot, and most signs of life seem to disappear.  But just beneath that snowy surface exists a hidden world, and this world is very much alive. Welcome to the subnivean zone.   “Subnivean” simply means beneath the snow. This narrow space forms between the ground and the snowpack when fluffy snow traps heat from the earth, creating an i

Newgrange The winter solstice is upon us and is happening on December 21st. It’s the moment when the Earth’s tilt makes our hemispheres lean farthest away from the Sun, creating the shortest day and longest night of the entire year. In our Northern Hemisphere, this happens yearly around December 21st or 22nd, while in the Southern Hemisphere it occurs around June 20th or 21st. The solstice has been a vital day of recognition for many early societies that were dependent on agr

Wild turkeys doing what they do best this season: traveling, talking, and gathering together - just like us. Thanksgiving is a day built around family, gratitude, and gathering close - and yes, often around a turkey dinner. But while we’re settling in with our relatives and favorite dishes, our local wild turkeys are out in the woods doing something remarkably similar: spending the season in tight-knit family groups, reconnecting, squabbling, calling to each other, and moving

Every November 17, outdoor enthusiasts across the country lace up their boots for National Take a Hike Day—a perfect excuse to stretch your legs, breathe fresh air, and reconnect with the landscapes that sustain us. It’s a celebration of the outdoors and a reminder of the mental and physical benefits that come from simply walking in nature. Here in Chautauqua County, few organizations embody that spirit better than the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (CWC), whose network of