Hitchcock Center for the Environment

Registration is now OPEN for YouthAstroNet. 🌌

5th and 6th grade students can participate in a science education study by Harvard & Smithsonian! Control real robotic telescopes to capture your own images of space. Learn how to enhance and visualize images of moons, galaxies, nebulae, and more.

YouthAstroNet will meet at the Carnegie Library on Friday evenings in January.

Space is limited so registration is required! Learn more and sign up here: https://montaguepubliclibraries.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/explore-the-universe-with-youthastronet/

🦉 As temperatures drop today, barred owls across New England are facing some of the coldest conditions of the season. Unlike humans who need coats and heaters, these remarkable birds have evolved special adaptations that allow them to thrive in freezing weather.

Barred owls have thousands of soft, downy feathers 🪶 that trap warm air close to their skin. On especially cold days, they can puff up their feathers to create even more insulation. This natural layering system works better than most winter jackets.

Most birds have bare, scaly legs and feet that lose heat quickly. Barred owls are different—their legs and feet are covered in feathers right down to their talons. This adaptation prevents frostbite when they perch on frozen branches for hours while hunting.

These owls maintain a body temperature around 104°F by hunting throughout the winter nights. They feed primarily on small mammals like mice and voles, which provide the calories they need to generate body heat. Their excellent hearing allows them to detect prey moving beneath the snow.

When conditions become extreme, barred owls seek protection in dense evergreen trees or natural tree cavities. These sheltered spots block the wind and help them conserve energy during the coldest hours.

Winter is actually an active season for barred owls—they hunt, establish territories, and even begin courtship during these frigid months.