The Groundhog Day prognosticators are split between whether we will have six more weeks of winter, or perhaps, an early spring. Of the two groundhogs that come out every Feb. 2, Punxatawney Phil is the most famous and predicted six more weeks of winter. But on Staten Island, Staten Island Chuck predicted an early spring.
So with the predictions tied at one each, we travel to northern Westchester to the Muscoot Farm, where a tradition has begun of having the farm’s chicken, Henrietta, make her own prediction.
And Cluxatawney Henrietta, has a different and unique way of predicting the future weather. She does it by either laying an or not laying an egg. And Henrietta laid an egg, signaling an early spring coming soon.
For the fourth year in a row, Muscoot Farm curator, Jonathon Benjamin, reacquainted us to Muscoot’s Groundhog Day celebration, which mirrors the more traditional Groundhog Day celebration featuring Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil.
Benjamin said, “We love traditions here at Muscoot Farm and since we don’t have a resident groundhog to observe Groundhog Day on the farm, our Cluxatawney Henrietta has helped us celebrate in our own special way.”
Westchester County Parks Commissioner Kathy O’Connor said, “Muscoot Farm has found such a special way to observe Groundhog Day, which is unique to the farm, and I am proud that Westchester County Parks has its own weather-predicting chicken!”
Say hi to Henrietta this summer when the park is open every day for visitors.
Watch here: https://youtu.be/rqSf4hqq-gQ
