Even though it's been a warm November here in New York, I have no doubt we're heading into winter. I stand prepared for short days, long nights, occasional snow, and cold weather blues. If I'm lucky, I might get away for southerly climes for a week or so, but basically I'm staying here in New York. So what does a guy who lives in Brooklyn do to get his dose of outdoor inspiration? Learn to appreciate what's around him, of course.

And what's around me is a rich and fertile estuary. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge out by Kennedy Airport is lively anytime of year. Come winter, I can expect to see waterfowl: ducks and geese, and, if I'm lucky, a migratory owl. And I will maintain that beach is at its best in winter. The sunlight is softer; the sand wet and firm underfoot. This is the domain of shorebirds such as gulls and sandpipers, and out on the water the pelagic sea ducks, loons and gannets. For a near pristine experience surprisingly near the city, Sandy Hook in New Jersey can't be beat.

A Cure for Cabin Fever A Congress of Eagles Wildlife Among Us

Upland in the forests, winter is a time of open vistas; the leaves are fallen and most of the songbirds have gone. The woods upstate and even here in town—Inwood Park and Prospect Park—are the domain of the dark and raucous crow. Crows are common, but there's a pleasure in that. With their querulous socialiability, crows are amusing companions in the silent winter woods.

A"bioregional" quiz I trolled off the Net asks some questions that surprisingly few people can answer. Can you name five resident birds in your area? Five native grasses? What direction do winter storms come from in your region? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy traveling; nothing stretches my mind and self-confidence more. But it's the nature around me that sustains me. If these little birds can stay outdoors and thrive, so can I.

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