Click to Enlarge Bundle up against the weather and take a hike through your neighborhood or a park. Look up for birds and seeds. Look down for tracks and other signs of animals. You'll be surprised at how much nature you can discover in winter.   Winter Safari by Beverly J. Letchworth photography by Jim Rathert Head outdoors and see what you can "bag" on your nature walk. Everyone enjoys walking in the woods or through a park in spring and summer because there's a lot of nature to see then. Mammals, birds and insects are feeding and moving around and flowers and trees are at their prettiest. Have you ever considered a nature walk or hike during the cold months? If you think there's nothing going on outside during the cold months, you're in for a lot of exciting discoveries. Winter helps you learn about nature like no other season. You can find animal tracks in the snow and follow them to see where they lead. Were they made by deer, raccoons, turkeys, sparrows or juncos? Were the animals running at the time or moving slowly? Can you tell if one animal was chasing another? Animal scat (poop) on the ground lets you know what animals are active during winter, even on cold days. Look closely and you'll see insects, such as tiny snow fleas, moving atop the snow in sunny areas. We seldom think of winter as colorful, but winter's colors sort of jump out at you from the dull background of browns and grays. A red cardinal, a bluejay and the bright orange berries of bittersweet appear all the more spectacular when seen against a bleak landscape. Through the winter, some seeds stay attached to flower heads, and grapes and persimmons cling on trees and vines. These seeds and fruits feed many animals during cold weather. Most insects are gone now, but their eggs and larvae are developing in fallen logs and under tree bark, and in galls on branches or flower stems. Galls are swellings of plant tissue caused by fungi or parasites. Nature is all around us in winter. All you have to do is look for it, and you'll find it. First of all, choose a day that's not too cold or windy. Snow on the ground is good for spotting animal tracks, but you can see them on bare ground, too. Be ready to go anytime. You'll discover a lot! Dress warmly, and make sure you wear a hat, gloves and boots. Take a snack in case you get hungry. Let your winter safari begin. Check off the things you see during your walk from the list we provided. Or make your own list and ask your friends if they can see what you've seen on your nature hike.