Explorer Field Notes

Some trees hold onto their dead leaves all winter instead of dropping them in autumn. This phenomenon, known as marcescence, occurs when leaves remain attached until spring, revealing a subtle pattern that becomes visible once you know where to look.

When winter birds puff up into soft, round shapes, they are performing ptiloerection, raising their feathers to trap a layer of warm air and protect themselves from the cold.

Some days the weather wins. But exploration doesn’t stop at the door. A closer look at the leaves of ordinary houseplants reveals intricate architecture shaped by sunlight, water, and the environments plants evolved to survive.

A quiet field observation becomes a reminder that birds respond to the returning light long before spring arrives. Their songs follow ancient biological rhythms triggered by changing daylight.

Winter still holds the land, but the river has begun to move. Along its edges, small pieces of ice drift away, marking the quiet beginning of spring.