February 2007 Almanac
This Month: Cheer up! The Days are Getting Longer
February begins like more of January, but astute observers notice the longer days and slightly warming temperatures.
In fact, Feb. 1 has an incredible 58 more minutes of daylight than New Year’s Day did! The spring equinox comes fast in this part of the Northern Hemisphere.
In Portland, the average February high has risen two full degrees Fahrenheit from January and is now 33.1 degrees. January ranks as the only month all year in Portland that has a below freezing average high.
In February, Portland’s average low has gone up one full degree to 12.9.
How do these temperature figures compare to the North Country? Caribou has an average February high of 22.9 degrees and average low of 3, an increase of 3 and 1 1/2 degrees respectively over January. In this northern hamlet, December, January and February have average highs below freezing.
The big news this month is snowmobiles, snowmobiles and more snowmobiles. In rural hamlets, winter economies boom because of this machine.
Ice fishing keeps folks heading to the great outdoors, too, and on Feb. 1, a handful of very blue-ribbon lakes open to ice fishing.
Coastal tidal rivers and streams have plenty of ice and certain runs of rainbow smelts. Folks in smelt shacks take advantage.
Speaking of fishing, in open-tidal rivers and a handful of inland rivers and one stream, die-hard open-water anglers fish now, particularly during February thaw. Surprisingly, the vast majority are fly rodders!
Hunters have opportunities galore, starting with rabbit enthusiasts who head to fir thickets and alder runs. Snow is a gimme’ this month.
Fox and coyote hunters set up on field, clear-cut or lake edges and blow on predator calls. Fox season ends February 28, but coyote are open year-round.
Speaking of coyote hunting…. Folks can also hunt coyotes after dark from Jan. 1 through April 30. Check the regulations booklet for details, which falls under “Miscellaneous Permits/Licenses” in the “Table of Contents.”
Bobcat season began Dec. 1 and ends Feb. 14.
In Wildlife Management Units (WMDs) 1-6, the first half of the split crow season starts Feb. 15 and ends April 15. In WMDs 7 — 29, the first half of the split season goes from Feb. 1 to Mar. 31.
Trappers still target beavers in sections of the state.
Fly tiers continue piling up the flies before the opening day April 1 — surely an April Fool’s Day errand for many anglers.
Wildlife photographers target songbirds, bald eagles and waterfowl now.
Scenic photographers take beautiful shots, particularly after winter storms.
Nights are still plenty long for concocting leisurely meals with spoils from the forests and waters.
The last day of February is two hours and 18 minutes longer than Jan. 1. More sunlight starts chickadees singing and sap running. Did someone say, “The spring equinox comes fast in this part of the Northern Hemisphere.”?
Next Month: Time to Start Looking for Geese and Signs of Spring.
In Northern Maine, March means more of winter, but in the bottom third of the state, the third month may kick off with snow-covered vistas but by the equinox, the most casual observer can see spring come more each day.
In the North Country, snowmobiling still booms as motels, sporting camps and lodges fill each weekend.
Ice-fishing continues, and as the month’s end draws near, fishing picks up, particularly when fresh water from the top of the ice runs into holes.
Smelting camps on coastal rivers boom now as nights become slightly milder and smelts run harder.
Before the spring run-off, rabbit hunters continue running dogs on crystalline snows. This 6-month season ends 30 minutes after sunset on Mar. 31.
Coyote hunters find evening and even dawn vigils slightly milder as days lengthen and long hours of sunlight leave lingering warmth.
In Northern Maine (WMDs 1 – 6), the first half of the spring crow season goes from Feb. 15 to April 15. In the bottom two-thirds of the state (WMDs 7 — 29), the first half of the spring crow season runs from Feb. 1 to Mar. 31.
Early snowmelt gets woodchucks out of holes by month’s end, and folks with flat-shooting rifles take advantage.
When snow leaves early, mood photographers score big time in a textured landscape of browns, grays and blacks.
Wildlife photographers get excited this month as migratory birds return — Canada geese, songbirds, waterfowl, hawks and more.
As snow recedes to the backside of ridges, hikes in the bottom third of Maine prove deliciously pleasurable in the new season with the fresh smells and promises of regrowth.
Loren Eiseley said we’d find the secret to life in fall’s dying season, but with apologies to the great naturalist, long walks now show us tiny secrets that make us hope for finding the big one in the first minutes of spring.