Notes from the Wild

Insect Engineers
Jan 10, 2020 |Football-sized bald-faced hornet nests, hanging from branches, are prominent in the winter landscape.

Burls and Trees on Stilts
Dec 5, 2019 |The reasons burls grow on trees are still not fully understood, but infection by viruses, fungus and bacteria are likely causes.

Tree Co-operation
Nov 12, 2019 |The research into the co-operative nature of trees is in its infancy.

Night Creatures
Oct 8, 2019 |Most of the nocturnal critters my friends and I find are insects, but spiders, millipedes and amphibians also appear in our flashlight beams.

The Flight of the Mayflies
Sep 14, 2019 |The annual emergence of mayflies, wherever it occurs, brings predictable responses.

Amazing Beavers
Aug 6, 2019 |This serendipitous meeting with a near-sighted beaver was my favorite type of wildlife encounter!

Benthic Invertebrates
Jul 3, 2019 |The abundance of these aquatic larvae in our streams and rivers is a good thing.

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.

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.