Transition

By Jeff Berti
Many people think of late January and early February as a dull, dreary time of the year. The grass is brown and the trees are bare. Many times there is no glistening snow or glittering frost that grace the mornings of other winter months. For the hunter, most seasons will close by Feb. 15, with spring turkey season seeming a lifetime away. It’s easy to dismiss this time of year and let your thoughts of warm spring weather take over. Instead of canceling the next few weeks, why not look at the good things that are going to happen? There may be more than you think.
This can best be described as a transitional time of the year. It’s not quite spring, yet winter is nearly over. It’s during this period of transition that many species of wildlife come out and begin to get a bit more active. Birds begin singing, and many of them build their nests in preparation for the upcoming mating season. For many animals, it’s also time to get out and find a mate to keep them company for the next few weeks. However, some animals, such as the opossum, are not looking for any company, as the females separate from the rest of the clan and begin to give birth to their young.
Male whitetail deer (bucks) are shedding their massive antlers that they worked so hard growing and grooming over the past months. For many outdoor lovers, there is no better trophy than finding an antler that has just been shed from a “monster” buck. For those of you who are hunting for deer sheds, you’d better be quick. Antlers are a prime source of calcium and other needed minerals in many small rodents’ lives. Usually a complete set of antlers can be consumed by tiny mice or squirrels in no time at all.
This is also the time of year when the most famous spring messenger, the robin, begins moving back into Missouri in large flocks. Other returning birds include the turkey vulture and the killdeer. Other birds that have stayed around for the winter, such as the American goldfinch, begin to molt into their bright spring plumage, signifying the beginning of breeding season.
Birds and animals are not the only wildlife that start getting active during this time of year. Many types of fish begin to make their way into shallow water in preparation of the spring spawning season.
If April is the month when spring explodes, I guess you could say February is the month when the fuse is lighted. Although they may not be as exciting as other months, they still have a lot to offer. So, if you are one of those people that sit inside and get bored during this time of year, you might try getting out and see what you’ve been missing. You may be in for a surprise!