Notes from the Wild

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.

With a few exceptions, chrysalides are designed to be overlooked, to allow the wondrous alchemy of metamorphosis to proceed undisturbed.

The success of bluebird nest boxes tells us that we can help wildlife, if we care enough and have the will.

Spring wildflowers are a varied lot, many graced with fanciful names that fire the imaginations of children and adults.

If you love birds, and you plant trees or shrubs this spring, please choose native plants.

The house finch, perhaps more than any other bird species, is a confirmed urbanite, eating the bird seed we provide and cozying up to us at nesting time – hanging flower baskets are favourite nest sites.

Luther Marsh is likely the best prospective nesting real estate for bald eagles in the Headwaters region.

Starlings were introduced to New York City from Europe in the 1890s, there are now more than over 200 million of them in North America.

Mastodons fed largely on the twigs and branches of trees but undoubtedly enjoyed fruit as well.

Blue jays are villains – winged brigands with a penchant for raiding the nests of other birds to devour eggs and nestlings.