Author: Mike Dunn
-
Joy in Parting
What Joy Can There Be In Parting? ~A poem by Melissa Dowland; images by Mike Dunn The bluebird perched on the branch right in front of me. I could see his sharp beak, his rusty breast, his snow-white belly. Then he turned And became a dazzle of blue as he flew between the trees and… Read more…
Written by
-
Another Winter Season
We are not the only species who lives and dreams on our planet. There is something enduring that circulates in the heart of nature that deserves our respect and attention. ~Terry Tempest Williams I ended my winter tour season last weekend, a little earlier than usual, but it finished on a spectacular note. I had… Read more…
Written by
-
Being in the Moment
Our public lands – whether a national park or monument, wildlife refuge, forest or prairie – make each one of us land-rich. It is our inheritance as citizens of a country called America. ~Terry Tempest Williams Sometimes you just need to spend time in a wild place, in your special place. This weekend was such… Read more…
Written by
-
Red-belly
Red-belly ~A poem by Melissa Dowland, images by Mike Dunn Down in my woods grows a graceful old oak With a stout trunk and a crown of branches, Splitting like feathers, reaching for the sky. It has stood, thus, for centuries. Nearby, a smaller maple. Its crown lost in an ice storm, A few broken… Read more…
Written by
-
Merlin Magic
…we will not care about what we do not recognize. ~Tim Beatley I have spent a lifetime trying to learn about the world around me. Not about the financial sector, or cars, or electricity (all of these, I now realize, might actually have come in handy), but about the natural world, the plants and animals… Read more…
Written by
-
Memories Of The Snow that Wasn’t, But Still Is
Snow has made everything earthly clear and quiet. My mind is simple and patient. – Tuomas Anhava, Finnish writer The predicted big storm fizzled once again. We certainly live in a region in which weather forecasters are challenged to get it right when it comes to predicting snowfall. Of the predicted 5 to 6 inches,… Read more…
Written by
-
Refuge Renewal
In such surroundings – occasional as our visits may be – we can achieve that kind of physical and spiritual renewal that comes alone from the wonder of the natural world. ~Laurence Rockefeller It is the season of renewal for me, the season of experiencing some of the wild spectacles of this place I call… Read more…
Written by
-
Standing with Swans
Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much the larger and better in every way. ~John Muir I’ll just say it…I love being around the swans at Pungo. There is something magical about these birds and every winter I find myself drawn to them and wanting to… Read more…
Written by
-
Now, More Than Ever
A poem for the new year, accompanied by a short video clip of a sunrise with tundra swans at the Pungo Unit of Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge last week. May we all find peace in the coming year. The Peace of Wild Things, by Wendell Berry When despair for the world grows in me… Read more…
Written by
-
Christmas Bird Count
It’s never been easier to be a citizen scientist and it’s never been more important to be one. ~David Yarnold, President and CEO, National Audubon Society Earlier this week, we participated in one of my favorite holiday traditions, the annual Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count at Pettigrew State Park. I helped start this particular count… Read more…
Written by
Roads End Naturalist 