We are in the tenth of our monthly comparisons of nature observations in a southern hemisphere location - the Atlantic Rainforest of southern Brazil, northern Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay - with those possible in a northern hemisphere location - Great Britain and, with slightly different timing, much of western Europe.
In the northern hemisphere, October is early to mid-autumn, and this year it is a cold one. There is much to see as animals and plants prepare to protect themselves during the harsher cold weather to come -- by storing food, preparing to hibernate or become dormant, or moving on to warmer climes.
- The Common Shrew prepares its winter nest
- Field Voles prepare to hibernate
- Goldfinches visit thistleheads for seeds
- The Hooded Crow arrives
- Frogs hibernate, as do Grass Snakes and Toads
- Ivy blossoms
- Walnuts ripen
- Dogwood leaves turn purple
- The Northern Winter Moth appears
- Wasps hibernate
- Garden spiders lay eggs in a ball of yellow silk; the eggs will hatch in the spring
In the Atlantic Rainforest, October means rain, and rain and rain. It is springtime and the rain is almost warm. As nature awakens from its very short winter, colour abounds.
- The native Tiger Claw tree (above) blooms
- The swallows return from the north
- Termites rise on wing from mounds as high as a child of seven is tall
- The magnificent, metallic call of the Bare-Throated Bell-bird can be heard ringing in the forest
- Butterflies and beetles appear in great variety and great number
Be sure to download the free Nature Observation Chart to make a note of all that you see.
The drawings above come from the pages for the month of September in:
The Big Field : a Child's Year Under the Southern Cross.
©2010 Anne Morddel
Seasons South and North
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