Kaw Valley Almanac
Note from the Times: The Kaw Valley Almanac is a contributed piece that runs each week. Find more information and older editions at kawvalleyalmanac.com, and follow @KVAlmanac on Bluesky.
this week’s Almanac

Kaw Valley Almanac for Feb. 3-9, 2025
Migratory waterfowl are the major vector for avian flu, and this winter, KDWP’s internal database has reported more than 18,000 wild birds suspected of having the disease.
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Kaw Valley Almanac for Jan. 27 – Feb. 2, 2025
Look for eagles flying overhead, perched in cottonwoods or even checking out their large nests. Current census estimates that there are 3,000 eagles in the state.

Kaw Valley Almanac for Jan. 20-26, 2025
Snow remaining between grass clumps and on shaded and north-facing slopes, along with icy patches on gravel roads, will not be going away the first half of the week with frigid temps.

Kaw Valley Almanac for Jan. 13-19, 2025
Recent ice, followed by a snow, followed by some melting has created ideal conditions for slick gravel roads in the mornings in parts of the state. Daytime melting can wet a road for refreezing at night.

Kaw Valley Almanac for Jan. 6-12, 2025
Winter flocks are in full swing as juncos, cardinals, woodpeckers, bluejays, titmouse and even crows come together with the collective goal of getting enough food and avoiding predators.

Kaw Valley Almanac for Dec. 30, 2024 – Jan. 5, 2025
A titmouse looks up from a birdfeeder full of black sunflower seeds. It is OK to feed the birds this winter despite the presence of bird flu because this disease affects primarily waterfowl.

Kaw Valley Almanac for Dec. 23-29, 2024
Here is a wide angle sunset photo taken on the winter solstice, when the sun is as far south on the horizon as it will get. The horizon point of sunset/sunrise will slowly start moving north.

Kaw Valley Almanac for Dec. 16-22, 2024
This immature redtailed hawk has perched on an eastern red cedar branch, looking for a rabbit or rodent to eat. The leafless trees make it harder for animals to hide, but also easier to see predators.

Kaw Valley Almanac for Dec. 9-15, 2024
Probably goose down, this miraculous feather helped a goose keep its temperature a toasty 104 degrees while floating in water on a subfeezing day.

Kaw Valley Almanac for Dec. 2-8, 2024
The prickly pear cactus reduces its water content, dehydrating to get through the cold and survive even subzero temperatures. Mosses “bloom” in wintertime, using limited moisture and can use the sunlight even through the snow.

Kaw Valley Almanac for Nov. 25 – Dec. 1, 2024
Wahoo seed clusters provide brilliant red surprises in area woodlands this time of year. They are edible to birds but poisonous to humans.

Kaw Valley Almanac for Nov. 18-24, 2024
This sunset photo shows the silhouette of leafless trees under geese flying south. Leaf fall from most trees has made it easier to see wildlife and things further away than you can see other times of the year.

Kaw Valley Almanac for Nov. 11-17, 2024
Apioperdon pyriforme is the only puffball mushroom found in Kansas that lives on wood; other puffball mushrooms can also be found in prairies and woodland edges this time of year.

Kaw Valley Almanac for Nov. 4-10, 2024
Recent winds and rains have caused many lingering leaves to fall, and though it looks like these elms have some lingering leaves on their tops, it’s actually a flock of blackbirds!

Kaw Valley Almanac for Oct. 28 – Nov. 3, 2024
Many leaves have been slow to fall. Trees weaken the link between next year’s bud and this year’s leaf, but they need moisture to swell that space and pop the leaf off the tree.

Kaw Valley Almanac for Oct. 21-27, 2024
Maple leaves are starting to fall and, while colorful, are at times almost pastel because of the dry, sunny skies that have almost bleached them before they fell.