Notes from the Wild

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

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

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

Cottontails conceal themselves in dense thickets of shrubs and brambles.

Winter is the best time to find evidence of mink. With snow cover, mink tracks can readily be found along streams or the verges of ponds and lakes.

Myths, legends and modern literature feature owls, a notable example being Hedwig the snowy owl, loyal companion of Harry Potter.

Skunks, in contrast to porcupines, are positively cuddly with soft, luxuriant fur, just begging to be stroked.

Do you know of a bigger tree in the Headwaters Region?

Northern flickers are boldly and beautifully marked woodpeckers that are common throughout the Headwaters.

Night Hikes – A purposeful walk along a path, playing a flashlight over leaves, branches and trunks will reveal wonders.

Katydids are seldom seen, because they camouflage so well with greenery.

Caterpillar food plants will summon egg-laying female butterflies to your yard. Then, if sharp-eyed, you may find the minute eggs. More likely you’ll find the caterpillars.