{"id":7599,"date":"2016-05-12T09:07:26","date_gmt":"2016-05-12T13:07:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=7599"},"modified":"2016-05-12T15:27:21","modified_gmt":"2016-05-12T19:27:21","slug":"take-5-basking-in-the-sunshine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-basking-in-the-sunshine\/","title":{"rendered":"Take 5: Basking in the Sunshine"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s been a rainy couple of weeks in Massachusetts, but at long last, the sunshine has returned! People and wildlife alike are venturing forth to soak up the warm rays for the first time in days. In nature, this behavior is called basking.\u00a0Both reptiles and amphibians are poikilothermic, which means that they cannot regulate their own body temperatures internally as birds and mammals do. Basking on sunny days helps them to warm up their cold bodies.<\/p>\n

Enjoy these five photos of wildlife enjoying the sunshine, then get out and enjoy it yourself! Have a great photo of your own? The 2016 Photo Contest will begin on June 1, 2016.<\/p>\n

\"Photo

Northern Water Snake \u00a9 Elizabeth McGurn<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Monarch

Monarch Butterfly \u00a9 Chris Lang<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Painted

Painted Turtles \u00a9 Angelia Caggiano<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Bullfrog

Bullfrog \u00a9 Jennifer Freitas<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Twelve-Spotted

Twelve-Spotted Skimmer \u00a9 Helene Grogan<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s been a rainy couple of weeks in Massachusetts, but at long last, the sunshine has returned! People and wildlife alike are venturing forth to soak up the warm rays for the first time in days. In nature, this behavior is called basking.\u00a0Both reptiles and amphibians are poikilothermic, which means that they cannot regulate their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[158],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7599","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-take-5"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-1Yz","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6531,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-broadmoor\/","url_meta":{"origin":7599,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary","author":"Rosemary","date":"November 16, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick covers 624 acres of woodland, marshland, and more along Indian Brook and the Charles River.\u00a0An accessible boardwalk\u00a0brings visitors of all ages and abilities right into the habitats of aquatic plants and wildlife, with interpretation including seasonal audio tours. Beyond the boardwalk, you will discover\u00a0beaver dams,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/11\/YehudaInbar2013.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/11\/YehudaInbar2013.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/11\/YehudaInbar2013.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13783,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-painted-turtles\/","url_meta":{"origin":7599,"position":1},"title":"Take 5: Painted Turtles","author":"Ryan D.","date":"April 13, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A welcome and colorful sign of spring, Painted Turtles are already out sunning themselves after a long, cold winter spent buried under the mud at the bottom of ponds and lakes across the region. Each fall, as water temperatures drop, Painted Turtles, like many other reptiles, will enter a deep\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Painted Turtle \u00a9 Alyssa Mattei","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/04\/760Alyssa_Mattei17320.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/04\/760Alyssa_Mattei17320.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/04\/760Alyssa_Mattei17320.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/04\/760Alyssa_Mattei17320.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5249,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-blue-jays\/","url_meta":{"origin":7599,"position":2},"title":"Take 5: Blue Jays","author":"Rosemary","date":"April 21, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Blue jays are renowned for their loud cries, raucous behavior, and intelligence. Less well-known is their role in spreading oak forests due to their preference for acorns, which they store underground\u2014effectively planting them. Here are five great portraits of jays from past editions of our Photo Contest. Have a great\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/04\/blue-jay-quick-guide.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7945,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-think-cool-thoughts\/","url_meta":{"origin":7599,"position":3},"title":"Take 5: Think Cool Thoughts","author":"Ryan D.","date":"July 21, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The July heat wave that has swept over Massachusetts has everyone sweating. Shorts and sundresses abound as people strive to keep cool in as few layers as possible. Cars parked in the sun become solar ovens, hot enough to bake cookies on the dashboard. Even the most stubborn hold-outs have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"2010 Photo Contest \u00a9 Deanna Wrubleski","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/07\/DeannaWrubleski_o18_honorable_waterfalleddy_FREE.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/07\/DeannaWrubleski_o18_honorable_waterfalleddy_FREE.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/07\/DeannaWrubleski_o18_honorable_waterfalleddy_FREE.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15442,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/5-hidden-gems-in-the-metro-west\/","url_meta":{"origin":7599,"position":4},"title":"5 Hidden Gems in the Metro West","author":"Kelly R.","date":"July 28, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"You never know what you'll find when exploring Boston's Metro West. Mass Audubon Metro West Wildlife Sanctuaries\u2014Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, Habitat in Belmont, Broadmoor in Natick, and Waseeka in Hopkinton\u2014host miles of trails meandering through wetlands, fields, animal exhibits, and a few surprises. Don't miss these hidden gems on your\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Outdoors"","block_context":{"text":"Get Outdoors","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-outdoors\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Turtle on a rock at Waseeka Wildlife Sanctuary","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/kforesto_waseeka-8097.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/kforesto_waseeka-8097.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/kforesto_waseeka-8097.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/kforesto_waseeka-8097.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4737,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wildlife-in-winter-where-are-they-now\/","url_meta":{"origin":7599,"position":5},"title":"Wildlife in Winter: Where Are They Now?","author":"Rosemary","date":"February 11, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"How do animals that lack thick fluffy fur, such as frogs or insects, survive the winter? No matter how high the snow piles up, these creatures still somehow manage to appear\u00a0in abundance in the\u00a0spring. Here\u2019s where they are right now. Frogs Take a look at a frozen pond or forest\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Wood Frog","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/01\/woodfrog-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7599","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7599"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7599\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7636,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7599\/revisions\/7636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}