Welcome to December's issue of the Dereila Nature Inn newsletter.
A festive American Robin welcomes you this month. |
Greetings
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Hello once again and welcome to Whispers, the newsletter of the Dereila Nature Inn - your virtual nature centre. 2012 seems to have passed by very quickly. We hope it's been a great year for you and that you've had some wonderful experiences celebrating nature. We really have appreciated all of your support and encouragement and thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. We'd like to especially welcome and thank our new subscribers this month.
In this issue you'll find links to the newest features at the Nature Inn, some terrific photographs that have been sent in to us as well as trivia, news and tips. We hope you'll enjoy it all.  Please join us on Facebook where we welcome your comments and feedback. |
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Trivia Time
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Which reptile cannot blink?
You'll find the answer at the end of the newsletter. |
What's This? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you know what this cropped close-up photograph is? Put your brain to the test before checking the answer at the end of the newsletter.
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| New Features at the Inn
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Here are the latest additions at the Inn. Just click on the images and you'll be taken straight to the page. Photo Tip #8 - Getting Close with a Mirror
A little mirror can be a handy gadget to have in your camera bag.
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Contributed by...
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We have another great selection of nature images sent to us this month. This beautiful autumn scene was sent in to us by Herman Veenendall of St. Mary's, Ontario.  Steve Slayton of Lawrenceville, Georgia, submitted this image of a White-tipped Dove.
This delightful photograph of an adorable chickadee
was contributed to us by Lee Anne Stark from Ontario.
A frequent contributor to Whispers, Eileen from West Lothian, Scotland, sent
in this super-close photograph of a Common Blue Butterfly for us all to enjoy.
Judy Howle of Columbus, Mississippi, is a treasured regular
contributor and submitted this Yellow-shafted Flicker.
This stunning butterfly was sent in by Joyce Cahill, Winslow, Arkansas.
We are always amazed at the fabulous photographs that are sent in to us.
Herman, Steve, Lee Anne, Eileen, Judy and Joyce, many thanks for sending in these images. We really appreciate you taking the time to do so.
If you would like to see your nature images in our members' section,
simply send us an e-mail. We'd love to hear from you!
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| Monthly Selections
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Here are this month's choices:
Bug - Winter Midge; Wildflower - Marsh Violet; Bird - Mourning Dove
Simply click on the images to visit the pages.
You can also check out the archives as they're just a click away:
Wildflower Archives | Bug Archives | Bird Archives
OUR MONTHLY PAGE
This month we have selected a page called Tips and Tricks for the Backyard Birder. Here you'll find lots of great ideas and tips to help you attract even more birds to your feeding station. You can visit the page by clicking here.
Pine Siskins |
| The Wandering Image
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This month we wandered down by the sea's shore.  Two Dunlins, Calidris alpina, wander along the edges of the high tide in search of a yummy morsel or two to enjoy. The Dunlin is a type of sandpiper. |
| Caption This!
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Here's our image ready for your humourous caption along with a couple of our ideas. What do you think this Steller's Jay is saying as it manages to get a peanut on a snowy day?
Number one: "I know it's no good hiding these things in the snow!"
Number two: "Hey, can't you keep this area cleared? My feet are getting cold."
If this month's photo inspires you, please send us an e-mail. We'd love to hear from you and add your caption to our collection. You can visit the rest of the collections at the Inn: The Mammals| The Birds | The Insects |
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Snippets in Nature
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Aripeka Sandhills Preserve is a protected area of swamps and sandhills in western Florida. This peaceful photograph of such a special place was sent in for us all to enjoy by Maralyn Flanigan, Florida. If you think you have a suitable nature photograph for this section please send us an e-mail along with a brief explanation. We look forward to your submissions. |
Behind the Name
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Sitka Mistmaidan has the scientific name of Romanzoffia sitchensis. The genus name honours a Russian count, Nikolai Romanzoff, who sponsored scientific expeditions in the 19th century. The species name refers to the fact that the plant was first discovered by Europeans in Alaska's Sitka Sound. |
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Joke of the Month ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a classroom of juvenile ducks, the teacher asked young Tommy Mallard, "What is the chemical formula for water?"
Quickly, Tommy said, "That's easy! HIJLKMNO."
"Tommy, we went through this yesterday," said the frustrated teacher.
Tommy replied, "I know we did, and you said it was H to O."
"I heard her, too. She did say it was H to O." |
| Notes, News and Tips from Around the Inn
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Facebook
 We invite you to post comments on our Facebook page. To visit, just click on the logo or here.
A Little Reminder
As the saying goes, "the early bird catches the worm" but at this time of the year there are not many worms about in many areas, plus not all birds like worms! A good idea is to put some food out for them in the evening or even after dark so it will be there in the morning for those "early birds."
Tips from the Inn
Many birds feed by foraging on the ground in search of food. Birds like this Varied Thrush feed on berries and scrounge around for insects. During the winter they will appreciate a bit of help from you in searching for food.
 Hopefully you harvested some berries from the trees and shrubs in your garden earlier in the fall. We keep them in the freezer for later use. Scatter some around on your deck or in the garden.
 This American Robin and a Varied Thrush enjoy some foraging around for the berries.
You can also hang up a bunch of berries for your visitors.
They won't last long as this Varied Thrush finished off the last ones!
Picture of the Week 
Be sure to drop by the Inn every week to see the latest Picture of the Week. You can also do so by clicking on the image to the left or by clicking here.
Past Issues
We upload past issues of Whispers as new ones are issued. You can view them all with a simple click here.
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Celebrating Nature
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The Christmas Bird Count runs from mid-December through until January.
Click here for details of this event.
This Cactus Wren is here to announce that National Bird Day
is coming up on January 5, 2013. Click here more more information. |
Did You Know...
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Did you know that pelicans scoop up more than a gallon of water when diving for fish? |
| State and Provincial Symbols
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Alaska's state insect is the Four-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly.
You can see other state and provincial insects by clicking here. |
| Trivia Answer
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Snakes don't blink since they don't have moveable eyelids.
A clear eyecap scale, something like a contact lens, protects the eye. |
| What's This?
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Our mystery image was a real tough one this month.
It's a Northern Flicker enjoying a splash about in a water dish.
Perhaps you spotted the red patch as a clue! |
| Nature Notes
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Spread the Word ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We hope you've enjoyed our newsletter for this month and that you'll forward it on to your nature-loving friends. We would like to send you all the very best of wishes for the holiday season and for a prosperous and peaceful New Year.
Watch for the next issue of Whispers in your inbox during the first week of January 2013. See you then! |
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