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Don Scallen

Don Scallen enjoys sharing his love of nature through his writing and presentations. Check out his blog "Notes from the Wild".

Spring Songbirds

Jun 14, 2019

May and June herald the arrival of a trio of supremely beautiful tropical migrants: indigo buntings, Baltimore orioles and rose-breasted grosbeaks.

The Return of the Salamanders

May 9, 2019

This year I managed to take video of the underwater breeding of spotted salamanders.

Urban Animals

Apr 5, 2019

Raccoons, squirrels and robins adapted to urban life long ago.

Incredible Insects

Mar 19, 2019

The benefits of the bugs in our backyards.

Tree Cavities

Mar 8, 2019

Squirrels, racoons, owls, chickadees, and many other creatures find safety and shelter within trees.

Barred Owls

Feb 5, 2019

Barred owls, like all owls, exercise a mysterious hold on our psyches. Birders and non-birders alike are drawn to their expressive faces and large liquid eyes.

Boreal Birds

Jan 4, 2019

Over 300 species, totalling billions of birds rely on Canada’s boreal forest as breeding grounds.

Seeds on the Move

Dec 5, 2018

A great many seeds tap into the mobility of birds and animals to spread themselves around.

CSI: Natureworld The Case of Burying Beetle Bob

Nov 2, 2018

A CSI probe into Bob’s disappearance has revealed damning evidence linking Sam to the incident!

Autumn Salamanders

Oct 2, 2018

Small wonder so many salamanders are active at this time of year, seeking last suppers of grubs and spiders, crickets and millipedes.

The Meaning of Mushrooms

Sep 18, 2018

The Fungus Among Us: The astonishing web of life beneath our feet.

Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar

Sep 4, 2018

I’ve written about our remarkable caterpillars before, but so many interesting ones inhabit our hills that another look is warranted.

Flight of the Butterfly

Aug 3, 2018

To the casual observer the flight of a butterfly appears haphazard and inefficient, something like the bobbing of a cork on turbulent waters.

Birdsong – Brought to You by Bugs

Jul 4, 2018

I recently had the pleasure of watching a pair of house wren parents feed their babies in a backyard nest box.

Invasive Species in Our Backyard

Jun 19, 2018

They’re big. They’re strong. And they’re probably here to stay. But keeping them in check will give native plant species a chance.

Yellow Lady’s Slippers

Jun 5, 2018

These botanical wonders sport whimsical – you guessed it – slipper-shaped blossoms.

Chorus Frogs

May 14, 2018

Chorus frogs are vulnerable to a who’s who of predators from ground-foraging birds, to shrews, to big spiders to small snakes.

Eastern Cottontail Rabbits

Mar 30, 2018

Cottontails conceal themselves in dense thickets of shrubs and brambles.