A loose nest of thorny branches with an inner layer of moss and grass may be that of a mockingbird. A deeply cupped, neatly lined nest in a thicket probably belonged to a catbird. If you see what looks like a small mossy knot on a tree branch, look again, it may be the tiny nest of the ruby-throated hummingbird. Quiet and still as the winter months may be, wildlife still abounds. Anyone with a passion for feeding birds is treated to a daily performance as sparrows, chickadees, finches, nuthatches, cardinals, woodpeckers, crows, and blue jays vie for space at a feeding station.
Squirrels busily search for their buried nuts or, if unsuccessful, raid the bird feeder.
Most of the more familiar mammals in this region do not actually hibernate. Deer, mice, foxes, squirrels, and rabbits are active throughout the winter. Beavers, too, are active but will spend most of their time in their lodges. When water freezes, the beavers feed on the bark of branches they stashed at the bottom of the pond during the fall. Only the groundhog, or woodchuck, truly hibernates.