Roads End Naturalist

Exploring the natural world as we wander at the end of the road

Author: Mike Dunn

  • Social Distancing – Swamp Style

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    Yes, though you may think me perverse, if it were proposed to me to dwell in the neighborhood of the most beautiful garden that ever human art contrived, or else of a Dismal Swamp, I should certainly decide for the swamp. ~Henry David Thoreau I will admit to feeling a little guilty about this, but… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Keepin’ On, Goin’ On

    No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. ~Maya Angelou There has been a lot of talk these past few weeks of the value of connecting with nature, especially during these stressful times where everything “normal” seems unattainable. There is definitely solace in… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Naming Nature Part 2

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    Here is the answer to yesterday’s quiz along with things to note as you make your observations. The snake is a Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata). It is a small snake with adults ranging up to about 12 inches in length. They are fairly common, but somewhat secretive, in wooded areas and edges of old fields.… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Naming Nature

    I wonder what it would be like to go into a forest where nothing had name. How would we act in a forest if there were no names for anything smaller than an ecosystem? How could we walk, if there were no way to talk about anything larger than a cell? ~Kathleen Dean Moore When… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Blue-gray Silk Snatcher

    Its nest is composed of the frailest materials, and is light and small in proportion to the size of the bird. ~John James Audubon on the nest of what he called the Blue-grey Fly-catcher A friend and co-worker of Melissa says the wispy call of the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  (Polioptila caerulea) sounds like a faint “Steve”.… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Day-flyers

    We are all naturally seekers of wonders. We travel far to see the majesty of old ruins, the venerable forms of the hoary mountains, great waterfalls, and galleries of art. And yet the world’s wonder is all around us; the wonder of setting suns, and evening stars, of the magic spring-time, the blossoming of the… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Nice Eyes

    The eye is the jewel of the body. ~Henry David Thoreau I hope you are enjoying Melissa’s wildflower observations. She will have more in coming days. But this morning I wanted to share something I found a few days ago and finally took the time to go photograph yesterday afternoon. We have a nest box… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Pale Green

    Pay attention to what gets your attention. ~Gina Mollicone-Long First, the answers to yesterdays Attention to Detail post… I’m sure many of you already knew the answers, but, just in case, here is what each of the images in yesterday’s post depicted: Sensitive Fern – the spore-containing capsules are round in this species. Foamflower –… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Attention to Detail

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    Details create the big picture. ~Sanford I. Weill Back in the day, I worked for a truly remarkable visionary, Mary Ann Brittain. I learned a lot from her and (I think) we made a good team for the museum as educator/naturalists. I remember when I first started going on the road with her to do… Read more…

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    Mike Dunn

  • The End Result of Butterfly Courtship

    Paying attention to the world around you will help you develop the extraordinary capacity to look at mundane things and see the miraculous. ~Michael Mikalko Last week I did a post on the courtship behavior and egg-laying by Falcate Orangetip butterflies in our yard. I watched a female lay two eggs on two different plants… Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn