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Nature

Time For Project FeederWatch

Back in 1976 a Canadian ornithologist named Erica Dunn established the Ontario Bird Feeder Survey through Canada’s Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO). After a successful 10-year run with more than 500 participants, it became apparent that only a continental survey could accurately monitor large-scale abundance, distribution, and movements of birds. At that point the LPBO partnered with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, resulting in what became Project FeederWatch. In the winter of 1987-88, more than 4,000 people enrolled. FeederWatchers represented all 49 continental states and most ...

The Importance Of Play

The old ship’s bell rang out across the landscape. “Clang! Clang! Clang” The sound echoed around the neighborhood that I grew up in and it was the signal to come home. Most people where I grew up had a signal to call the kids home. My family had a ship’s bell. Another neighbor had a ...

Fall Leaves —Managing A Beautiful Resource

Each fall, property owners repeat the cycle of managing the leaves that drop from the trees into their yards. What you do with these leaves can either benefit or harm your yard’s environment — as well as that of the lake or other waterway downhill from your property. Why? Because leaves contain significant concentrations of phosphorus and other nutrients. One way of handling leaves is to use a mulching mower to mulch the leaves right back into your yard. By mulching them into fine particles, the nutrients in the leaves will be released by decomposition back into the ...

The Nature Of Halloween And Its Critters

In 1974 Jim Stafford co-wrote and recorded a popular song called, “Spiders and Snakes.” At least part of its appeal was Mary Lou’s line, “I don’t like spiders and snakes…” because so many people shared her feelings. Sadly, 45 years later, such attitudes remain. My younger brother hates spiders. My wife and younger daughter hate snakes. And if truth be told, I’m not crazy about ticks and yellow jackets. As we celebrate Halloween this year, let’s give spiders, snakes, bats, and their ilk a break. Too often, fears acquired in childhood last a lifetime. Spiders top ...

Close Encounters

The bird’s black eyes stared unblinking into mine, as if the animal was searching for something deep inside of me that only a bird of prey could see. It was absolutely captivating. Time stood still as the vulture and I established some level of communication that was beyond anything I had ...

Woolly Bear Predictions

Woolly Bears. These fuzzy orange and black caterpillars seem to be everywhere: crossing roads, hiking down trails, wandering along the sidewalk. The rumors about how they predict the winter seem to be as prolific as the caterpillars themselves. One person told me that abundant ...