When most of the deciduous trees have long since dropped their leaves and much of the ground vegetation has “died off,” the new views of the landscape offer some “neat finds.” Let’s open our eyes to some things that are now revealed to us.

Baldfaced hornet nests, once neatly hidden, seem to be everywhere now that the leaves have fallen. These bigger-than-football nests are constructed when the hornets chew tree bark and then fashion these big gray paper nests The nest, from spring through fall, holds about 700 hornets.

Lucky for us they are not terribly aggressive unless you pose a threat to the nest. Then they will sting to drive off the threat. During the summer the hive’s queen is constantly laying eggs, and after hatching, the larvae are fed mainly insects that workers brought to them. (The adults eat nectar as well, and in fact, love to feast on rotting fruit drops).

As freezing temps arrive, only a fertile queen will leave the nest to overwinter. If you are curious to inspect this well-engineered nest, it could be cut down safely now to inspect or to keep as a novelty.

In summer, and particularly fall, gray squirrels are seen hectically collecting seeds and nuts, but when chased, just seem to disappear in the trees. In the heat of a summer day, or in a driving rainstorm, the “grays” utilize the bulky leafy nests they have fashioned high in a tree’s top branches.

The squirrels chew off thin limbs full of green leaves and weave them into a fairly large leaf ball. This refuge is seldom seen in summer, but after leaf fall, winter reveals quite a few of these. Most of these squirrel nests are about 20 inches in size.

Winter reveals much more than squirrel nests. If you are observant, you now can see how adept birds are at hiding their nests. Nests seem to be almost everywhere from neat cups in limb forks to delicately woven nests suspended from limbs such as the Baltimore oriole. Look for “twiggy” cardinal and mockingbird nests in thick, lower vegetation, or scan higher and see vireos’ or warblers’ nests, As winter progresses, you may find a well-hidden cardinal nest full of seed remains that a white-footed mouse used to store and chew seeds.

But I particularly like what winter reveals in light dustings of snow. A quick hike after an evening snowfall will tell you quite a story of nocturnal animal activity. Rabbit tracks detail where the local “bunny” feasted or where it sought safety temporarily to avoid a great horned owl.

After an hour or two of daylight, step outside and observe the multitude of bird tracks on your porches or beneath the feeders. I’ll take a moment to bring attention to something you may not have paid attention to before. Tracks can tell you something about the bird and how it feeds. Juncos, sparrows and most smaller (passerine) birds are “hoppers.” Look for their paired tracks.

Birds such as mourning doves, crows, grackles, or turkeys are walkers. They place one foot ahead of the other as we would. If winter keeps you indoors, venture outside in spring, sit back and observe how these birds actually “move.”

Maybe I was able to bring to your attention just one more thing you may not have noticed before. Remember, “It’s in our nature.” Get out there and enjoy the “reveals.”

Test your outdoor knowledge: Which of these doesn’t live in Carbon County? A. Meadow vole, B. Redback vole, C. Meadow jumping mouse, D. Short-tailed shrew, E. All of these live in Carbon County.

Last week’s trivia answer: Neither bear, deer nor mallard males help to raise the young. However, the male Canada goose stays with the female to help protect the growing goslings.

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.