February 28 - Avalanche

Avalanche - A very large slide of snow (or rock) down a mountainside, caused when a buildup of snow is released down a slope, and is one of the major dangers faced in the mountains. An avalanche consists of rapidly moving granular material that has exceeded the critical static friction threshold and thereby causes additional material to exceed its threshold as well, in a cascading effect.

In an avalanche, lots of material or mixtures of different types of material fall or slide rapidly under the force of gravity. Avalanches are often classified by what they are made of, for example snow, ice, rock or soil avalanches. A mixture of these would be called a debris avalanche.

A large avalanche can run for many miles, and can create massive destruction of the lower forest and anything else in its path.

February 27 - Frog Thaw

Wood Frog - (Lithobates sylvaticus) They are the only frogs found north of the Arctic Circle. During winter, wood frogs produce glucose that is circulated in their bloodstream and organs; this allows them to freeze solid without dying. When temperatures rise they begin to thaw as their hearts start beating again.

Wood Frogs are found from northern Georgia, and in isolated colonies in the eastern to central parts of Alabama, up through the northeastern US, and all the way across Canada into Alaska. It is the most widely distributed frog in Alaska. They can be found from southeastern Alaska to north of the Brooks Range.

February 23 - Cold Awake

Cold Awake - When the temperature slips below 40 F, hibernating ground squirrels awaken, increasing respiration and circulation to keep from freezing to death.

Hibernation - a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernation conserves energy, especially during winter. Hibernation may last several days or weeks depending on species, ambient temperature, and time of year. The typical winter season for a hibernator is characterized by periods of hibernation interrupted by sporadic euthermic arousals wherein body temperature is restored to typical values. Hibernation allows animals to conserve energy during the winter when food is short. During hibernation, animals drastically lower their metabolism so as to tap energy reserves stored as body fat at a slower rate.

February 14 - Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day - It is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other; sending Valentine's cards, candy, or donations to charities, often anonymously. It is very common to present flowers on Valentine's Day. The holiday is named after two men, both Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines". Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards. The Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas.

Nam Choke, an 8-year-old bull elephant (L), and Boonrawd, a 7-year-old cow elephant (R), form a heart shape with their trunks while the sun sets in the background at an elephant camp in the former kingdom of Ayutthaya, 44 miles north of Bangkok, Thailand.

February 13 - Swan Goose

Swan Goose - (Anser cygnoidesa) a large goose with a natural breeding range in Mongolia and eastern Russia. It is migratory and winters mainly in south and east China where it is familiarly known as the Chinese Goose, and has been domesticated for centuries.

This is a rare goose of the steppes and mountain valleys, which breeds near marshes and other wetlands, laying 5–10 eggs in a ground nest. A female goose usually lays 50–60 eggs over the course of the breeding season (February through June), although there are reports of Chinese geese laying up to 100 eggs during that time.

February 10 - Saturn Glow

Saturn - the sixth planet from the Sun. It is a gas giant, the second-largest planet in the solar system after Jupiter. Saturn has a prominent system of rings, consisting mostly of ice particles with a smaller amount of rocky debris and dust. It was named after the Roman god Saturn (the Greek equivalent is Cronos, father of Zeus).

Saturn Nearest - On February 10, Saturn is visible almost all night. It is at its nearest point to Earth, so it appears biggest and brightest for the year.

Saturn Joins Mercury Venus Evenings - Saturn joins Venus and Mercury in the evening sky around February 10.

Saturn Leaves Mornings - Saturn can be seen throughout the night. Around February 10 it sets before morning and rises in the evening.

February 2 - Snow Moon

Snow Moon - Today is the Full Moon for February, and the Native American name for this moon is the Snow Moon. It is also known as the Wolf Moon, Hunger Moon or Storm Moon.

Groundhog Day! - A traditional festival celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2nd. It is a cross-quarter day, midway between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox.
In traditional weather lore, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If the groundhog sees its shadow because the weather is bright and clear, it will be frightened and run back into its hole, and the winter will continue for six more weeks.

SaturnRegulusMoon - Saturn and the bright star Regulus will join the full Moon on the evenings of February 2nd and 3rd.