The purpose of this feature is to give scout leaders, educators and naturalists an idea of some of the natural events coming up each month.  We will try to cover a variety of natural events ranging from sky events to calling periods of amphibians, bird and mammal watching tips,  prominent wildflowers and anything else that comes to mind.  We will also note prominent constellations appearing over the eastern horizon at mid-evening each month for our area for those who would like to learn the constellations.  If you have suggestions for other types of natural information you would like to see added to this calendar, let us know!

Note: You can click on the hyperlinks to learn more about some of the featured items.  To return to the Calendar, hit the "back" button on your browser, NOT the "back" button on the web page.  All charts are available in a "printer friendly" mode, with black stars on a white background.  Left clicking on each chart will take you to a printable black and white image.  Please note that images on these pages are meant to be displayed at 100%.  If your browser zooms into a higher magnification than that, the images may lose quality.

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Notes and Images From February 2014

On February 27th we tagged along with MTSU faculty and students conducting Streamside Salamander egg mass surveys.  Though the temperature was a little brisk, the sun was shining and it was a pretty morning. 

Like a number of our other salamander species, this species breeds in the winter. The egg masses can sometimes be found beneath rocks in streams this time of year.  The scientific name, Ambystoma barbouri, honors University of Kentucky herpetologist Roger Barbour.  If you decide to look for salamander egg masses, always lift stones very slowly and replace them carefully to prevent any damage to the eggs.

This species is "Deemed in Need of Management" by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and is considered vulnerable to land use that alters the habitat bordering streams in central Tennessee.

Sky Events for March 2015:

The Vernal Equinox, marking the beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, occurs at 5:45pm CDT on March 20th.

Evening Sky: 

Mars continues to be visible well into March.  It starts out the month about 4 degrees below bright Venus, which shines brilliantly all month long in the western sky after sunset.  Mars sinks lower to the horizon each day, and will be difficult to spot by the end of the month.  Telescopically, Mars is tiny, only about 4 seconds of an arc in apparent diameter.  If you have a telescope, you may be able to observe the planet Uranus passing behind Mars on March 11th.  At dusk on the 11th, Uranus will be less than 1/2 of a degree from Mars, putting it in the same field of view in many eyepieces. Uranus is much fainter however, and you will need moderately high power to see either planet as a globe.

Jupiter is in Cancer this month, and is the brightest star-like object in the eastern sky in the early evening.  Wait for it to climb high in the sky to get the best telescopic view.  The cloud surface is constantly changing on Jupiter, and there's always something of interest to observe.

Morning Sky: 

Saturn rises about 12:19am (CST) at the beginning of the month in Scorpius.  Look for it low in the southeast.  Saturn's rings have opened up to a nearly 24 degree tilt, giving a wonderful view of the ring system through just about any aperture telescope.  Wait till just before dawn to get the best view.

You may be able to still spot Mercury in the morning twilight during the first part of March, but it will be pretty low and difficult. 

All times noted in the Sky Events are for Franklin, Tennessee.  These times should be pretty close anywhere in the mid-state area. Daylight Savings Time begins at 2:00am on March 8th. 

After being in the deep freeze during the last two weeks of February, most of us are looking forward to warmer temperatures.  On February 28th we heard Upland Chorus Frogs calling at our farm around 8:00pm. They will continue to call in March, along with Spring Peepers, American Toads and Southern Leopard Frogs.  Crawfish Frogs give their loud snoring calls early in the month in West Tennessee.  At higher elevations, listen for Mountain Chorus Frogs.  Towards the end of the month listen for Pickerel Frogs doing their "yeeooow" call.   Remember that on mild nights you may find frogs and toads out foraging that you do not hear until later in the season.  On warm days listen for early treefrogs, like Cope's Gray Treefrog, and for early Northern Cricket Frogs.  The Northern Cricket Frogs at our pond often call just before a train passes by our field, possibly stimulated by the vibrations.