Even if you’re one of those folks who believes the outdoors exists only to make the indoors more inviting, I’ll bet you noticed the robins. Their numbers started going up at the beginning of March and, by last week, little doubt existed that our quintessential sign of spring had returned. It’s true, the bluebirds and
American Robin, Bird, Robins
My dad called the other day, and the news wasn’t good. He and mom were fine, he said, but there was a problem. A big problem. A big, stinky problem. He explained that a skunk had decided to take up residence underneath their sun porch, and the odiferous evidence of its presence was wafting through
Critter, Skunk, Stink
Citizens of Kane, beware: There are butcher birds in our midst! That’s right folks—Lanius excubitor has come to our fair land. But instead of running for cover, you might instead want to gear up and go outside. Grab your binoculars and maybe a camera, and head to a nearby natural area to try and catch
Bird, Butcher Bird, Shrike
As I got ready to head out for a walk Sunday evening, I made the usual preparations. Jacket? Check. Waterproof boots? Check. Hat? Of course. Bat detector? Huh? Not in a million years would I have thought to bring out, on March 2nd, the electronic gadget I use each summer to detect the presence of
Animal, Bats, Mammal
Can you say subnivian? Granted, it’s not the sort of word you’ll use every day. Or even every week. But it does happen to be a particularly appropriate topic here and now, given the sort of winter we’ve endured. Subnivian means “beneath the snow” and refers to the space that forms between the snow and
Beneath, Snow, Subnivian, Winter
The snow that blankets the Tri-Cities these days has many stories written upon it. Like a good book they beckon—all you have to do is take the time to read them. Take the other day, for instance. A friend and I were walking through Norris Woods in St. Charles, admiring the many signs of winter
Animal, Hike, Tracking, Tracks