Notes from the Wild
Brook Trout
Nov 3, 2010 |Make sure to enter Don’s “Name these fish” contest (see details in this article). Deadline: November 30th!
Vultures
Oct 11, 2010 | | Blogs | EnvironmentDespite their “refined” eating habits, vultures have traits that endear us.
Spiders: Intricate Weavers
Sep 20, 2010 |On cool September mornings, dew reveals the intricate weavings of spiders.
Monarchs: Children of the Sun
Aug 30, 2010 |Monarchs are children of the sun. The boldness of Sol this summer has energized their life cycle.
Underwing Moths
Aug 9, 2010 |Nighttime flyers with a sweet tooth! (ironic considering they have no teeth at all!). If you plan to host a dinner party for them, a mélange of sugary foods and alcohol is called for.
Snapping Turtles
Jul 21, 2010 | | Blogs | EnvironmentGrist for spinners of tall tales, snapping turtles are on the verge of becoming endangered. May these reptiles of prehistoric visage long patrol our wetlands.
Bumblebees
Jul 5, 2010 | | Blogs | EnvironmentAt this time of year when we celebrate Canada Day, Don Scallen celebrates the hardy bumblebee, the “true Canadian” of the insect world.
Showy Lady’s Slipper orchids
Jun 18, 2010 |With its glorious pink and white blossoms and thumb-sized pouches, this orchid is perhaps the most exquisite of all our wildflowers.
Cecropia Moths Stir Like Phantoms in the Twilight
Jun 5, 2010 |Cecropia moths: Strange and wonderful phantoms of the twilight world.
Warblers are Tropical Emissaries
May 19, 2010 | | Blogs | EnvironmentLured by warm weather and a bonanza of insects, warblers return from tropical realms. By Don Scallen.
In Praise of the Humble Toad
May 3, 2010 | | Blogs | EnvironmentThe mellifluous trilling of toads resonates through our hills at this time of year. The tranquil sound wafting through an open window on a warm mid-spring eve is delightful.
Spring Peepers
Apr 18, 2010 |On warm evenings in April and May our hills awaken to the life affirming voices of spring peepers. Their shrill calls stir the winter weary soul.