How Wildlife Escape The Worst Winter Has To Offer

February 8, 2020

In temperate areas, late January usually brings the coldest weather of the year. When temperatures plunge below zero as they do some winters, wildlife must adapt to survive extreme weather conditions. Fish, for example, simply slow down and use less energy. Many birds migrate. And some species just go about their business and sleep through the coldest days. A few animals, however, hibernate. Protected by layers of fat and/or a cozy den below the frost line, hibernators are oblivious to sub-zero temperatures, wind, snow, and ice. They just sleep through winter’s ...

Porcupines Can Be Particular Creatures

February 1, 2020

Porcupines have always been such an elusive creature to me. While hiking, more often I see signs they are nearby like scat, bark missing on trees, or wood chips scattered on the ground instead of the real creature. They always seem to evade detection, which is interesting seeing as they ...

Use Your Computer To Experience The Joys Of Birding

February 1, 2020

People keep asking if we’re going to skip winter this year. I don’t know. There have been a few snowstorms here and there; rain and high winds have replaced snow and frigid temperatures in many places. Here in Western North Carolina at an elevation of 2,000 feet, I’ve only recorded one low temperature below 20 degrees, and that was 18 degrees on Nov. 13. One result of the mild winter thus far has been a dearth of activity at backyard bird feeders. If you need a feather fix until cold winter weather really sets in, I’ve got some suggestions. With a computer and an internet ...

Some Climbers Enjoy Faster Pace For Hike

January 25, 2020

There is a large contingent of the hiking community that lives for hiking fast. Often I am also one of those people. Pushing your physical limits and testing that mental stamina to keep your legs moving, to climb that mountain or to make it through those next few miles focuses me and ...

The Advantages Of A Flock, Birds Of A Feather

January 25, 2020

On a cold March afternoon in 1983, I sat in a blind on the banks of the Platte River near Kearney, Neb. and watched seemingly endless lines of sandhill cranes, Canada geese, snow geese, and many species of ducks descend into the shallows to roost for the night. The parade continued well past dusk. I could not begin to count them all, but there had to be hundreds of thousands of waterfowl. The scene is as vivid in my mind today as it was at the time. Huge flocks of birds, the kinds that darken the sky, have inspired awe and wonder for centuries. Ornithologist and artist John James ...

Outdoor Adventures

January 18, 2020

For outdoor adventurers, the list of places to go is usually long. New discoveries, experiences and challenges, mountains to climb, rivers to paddle, and sights to see. Or secret spots to come across and relax. I count myself as one of those adventurers. I love to go new places, but ...