Marla Mertz, Marion County Naturalist, tells KNIA/KRLS News, the Winter Solstice, also called the hibernal solstice, will be Wednesday, December 21. This will be the longest night of the year which will mark the beginning of longer days and shorter nights. 

Mertz says the ground dwelling grassland birds, like the short-eared owl and the northern harrier have arrived in the area. Long-eared owls and rough-legged hawks have also arrived at their winter ranges. We add that we do have some short-eared owls around the Lake Red Rock area but can be viewed hunting the open grasslands at the Neil Smith Wildlife Refuge in Prairie City.