Another year has started and we have rolled past the shortest day. Little by little the northern hemisphere edges towards warmer and brighter times. I have come to appreciate that period of expectation more than balmy summers themselves.
The slight changes in the ambient temperature, the steadily building sound of different bird species as they arrive back from their foreign excursions. It is only a matter of weeks before the snowdrops react to the subtle alteration in climate and erupt in ashen glory. They are nature's signal that spring has buttoned its jacket and is almost ready to leave the house - steadily trudging back in our direction.
Snowdrops (genus Galanthus) can produce beautiful white carpets across forest floors and gardens. The effect is as magical as bluebells in full bloom and many people visit areas of high density for exactly that reason. There are even snowdrop festivals scattered around Great Britain and especially Scotland.
At the moment all our pets are on their winter cycles - the Cunningham's skinks are from southern Australia and experience a typically temperate winter with low temperatures. The ambient day temperature in their vivarium varies between 16 - 18 degrees C with a drop down to 15 - 16 degrees C at night.
The Storr's monitors are from northern Australia - here the temperature is warmer and it is more the shorter days and night time drops that synchronise the species with winter. They still have a basking spot of 35 - 40 degrees C and ambient temps no lower than 24 degrees in the day time, but at night they are down to 15 - 17 degrees C.
The New Caledonian Giant Gecko lives pretty much at room temperature year round but we use a back up 15 watt night light in winter to protect against an unusual frosty drop. Certainly this species is far more active in cooler temps than the others and will happily move around in 18 degrees centigrade with no basking spot available. Evolution is an amazing thing.
The children and I check their health on a regular basis and they are very much looking forward to the skinks becoming readily available again. The colder temps mean that they are largely inactive at all times and it is better to leave well alone. We will start warming the tank again at the end of January - steadily the amount of daylight will be increased all the way back up to 14 hours (from the existing 9) and a basking light will again be available.
The monitors and gecko are still available for handling, which satisfies their interest :). We are planning on building summer pens in our little garden this year, which will allow our animals to experience wind, rain and sunshine in all their glory. I have yet to finalise the design but it is likely the enclosures will sit above the flower beds and across the wall.
Other than that we are out and about as usual. Clear winter days are made for the park and we took pictures of a beautiful pair of cygnets last week.
Then mum and dad made an appearance to check their offspring were safe.
The Shortest day has been and gone - that is nice - but the darkest, coldest half of the year is not without beauty. The adult swans match snowdrops in pallid hue, but it is their sub-adult offspring that remind us of the vanishing winter. Adventures await.
