October Almanac
October Heralds the Start of Autumn

October is the first consistent month that signals autumn has set up: wood is stacked and once again, autumn color greets everyone to the mountains.

Yep, its time to put away the shorts, put on the flannel sheets and arrange your daily walks around where the sun shines the brightest. It's time to listen to migrating waterfowl flow into Lake Cuyamaca, Lake Henshaw and every puddle of water.

What can we expect in the upcoming weather? Will the weather be mild, smooth or bold, bracing and at times frightening?

Predictions are a dangerous business and always are different every year. The National Weather Service data collected in Julian has the following figures. The average high temperature is 70 degrees, the record high is 93 degrees. The average low temperature is 39 with a record low of 15 degrees.

The average rainfall is 1.63 inches of rain, and it is possible that a touch of snow will accumulate in this reading. With these low temperatures in mind, be prepared by protecting all your outside faucets with insulation. Drain all unused

water lines.

In late summer to early autumn, Chubasco season should be over, and now our primary weather source will be from the Pacific Northwest. "Santa Ana" winds will blow cold wind in from the Great Basin of Nevada, Idaho, Arizona and Wyoming.

The new moon is on Oct. 11, first quarter on Oct. 19 and the full moon on Oct. 25. We are receiving two minutes less daylight each day and soon the daylight will rapidly decrease even more. Ever so subtly, you will notice the movement of the circling sun, with shadows lowering each day.

The arrival of migrant birds from the north will be in peak numbers and the departures of birds needing warmer weather will also be in full motion.

As I'm writing this on the first week of September, the first warbler was seen yesterday.

I call these autumn warblers, as their plumage is not as bright as the spring foliage. However, just this morning a black-throated gray warbler flew around the bird bath, took a few sips of water then flew off to feed on the aphids on the wild black cherries.

The colder weather will reduce the number of ground squirrels due to lack of food. Some do hibernate, but I do not believe this occurs in our mountains. With the pesky ground squirrels gone, we can return to feeding wild bird feed on tables, porches, most anywhere.

Put out old watermelons, as over 35 species of birds love watermelons. I put out my feeders where I spend most of my time observing wildlife. Actually, anywhere birds can land, they will feed. Naturally, we will forever have the nut-stealing crows at our feeders. These birds can be flushed away by holding your hands together and popping them. After five decades of practice, I have this "popping" sound down to my daily ritual.

October will seep in through windows, doors or any crack in your home. It can be heard like this, or felt like this on the frosted windows, the tapping of tree branches on your home. Or, when you are within the circle of the seasons, when you are receptive to the coming season and its delight.

Now it is time to say farewell to summer and time to embrace autumn. Believe me, autumn is another world and October is the first month that brings in this season.