2013

Tranquil and dark December

December, one of the most inactive months in Latvia’s forests and nature, has passed. Silent emptiness has set in all around. Plants are overwintering; most terrestrial animals have already gone to sleep; only some frost-resilient nocturnal animals are enjoying this grim and unpleasant-for-people period.

There are no visible changes in the life of plants. They have halted all life processes and are overwintering in their respective development stages. Nevertheless, there is still plenty of green everywhere around. Evergreen plants – red bilberries, wintergreens, andromedas, heather, bearberries, cross-leaved heaths, club mosses, one-flowered wintergreens, wild gingers and others, including the rare mistletoe – are always green, regardless of frost or thaw. Evergreen coniferous trees – junipers, pines and firs seem lively as well. However, they are green and lively only on the outside. Their lives have not ended, they are simply dormant until spring.

Most terrestrial animals are currently in the state of anabiosis. Their life processes are completely halted, but can be restored. All amphibians, reptiles, nearly all surface invertebrates and many marine invertebrates are slumbering. Hedgehogs, dormice and birch mice are in deep sleep, while bats, who do not migrate south, badgers and raccoons, that did not wake up during the thaw, are drowsing off.

However, there are also a few lucky ones who are feeling particularly good at the moment. Some frost-resilient nocturnal animals and birds have plenty of time to find food during the dark hours. Those in need of light must be quick. There is not much time to feed and conditions are not always suitable.

A small number of active surface invertebrates are still around. Therefore these insect-eating birds that have not left for warmer lands and some species of animals (squirrels, field mice) must work harder and change their menu, adding mostly seeds to it. Even though the thaw lured out some insects, spiders or harvestmen, their numbers were not sufficient, even for a snack.