March!
Week of March 1, 2026 – March 7, 2026
by Kaylen Iorio, Environmental Educator
March has always been my least favorite month. It’s not quite winter and not quite spring, and the transition between seasons feels long and drawn out. However, as I’ve gotten older I’ve learned to appreciate those in-between months because quite a lot is happening in the natural world!
Maple sugaring runs deep in Central New York’s history and until I moved here I didn’t know much about it. The process of maple sugaring has evolved over hundreds of years and here at Baltimore Woods we have a sugar bush that is perfect for educating students and the public about the process. We even have an entire Nature in the City lesson dedicated to maple syrup and it definitely is a memorable program! First grade students are so excited to learn where maple syrup comes from and that it actually takes a lot of work to turn sap into the delicious syrup we put on our pancakes. The concept of evaporation can be challenging for first graders to grasp, so two educators developed a visual component to help students understand how water is removed during the boiling process. Check out the story behind the Maple Magic lesson update in February’s Nature in the City newsletter.
March is also the time for emergence both physically and emotionally. Animals like groundhogs and bats are emerging from their hibernation and many other mammals are becoming more active this month as daylight hours increase and mating rituals begin. Birds are returning to their nesting habitats and preparing for reproduction (see what birds are hanging around Onondaga Lake this Friday, March 6th) and amphibians are waiting for just the right conditions to embark on their journey to their breeding grounds. The animal world is stirring with anticipation for spring and so are we!
Excitement brews in March as wildflower lovers patiently await the return of their favorite floras and tree buds unravel ever so slowly. Herbivores capitalize on the melted snow unearthing vegetation, gaining much needed strength for the breeding season ahead. What a perfect time to learn about animal activity at night on a sunset stroll on March 28th here at Baltimore Woods.
Meanwhile, humans are breaking free from the confines of frost and darkness and running towards the warmth and light of spring (a more emotional emergence). Although January is our society’s new year, the spring equinox feels to me like a fresh start. Just like trout lilies, I too, am blooming this time of year. As the gray winter sky dissipates and blue transcends above us, a feeling of hope is restored and my least favorite month may have just turned into my favorite month.
We invite our members to enjoy a weekly blog written by our naturalists. Every blog will be uniquely different but always inspired by nature. We may share a memory from a recent hike at The Woods or teach you about an animal or plant that lives on the preserve. No matter the topic, we will be sharing with you our passion for nature and celebrating the connections we all have to the natural world. Each blog will be connected to a weekly set of activities and ideas to help you put nature in your hands, even if you’re at home!