Category: Natural History
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Falcon
What appeals to us most in this daring little falcon is its lightness and quickness. ~Winsor Marrett Tyler A friend told me about a pair of American Kestrels hanging out in a particular field in Raleigh. I had to run into town for an errand the other day and decided to run by the field Read more…
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One Wet Bird, Two Wet Birds…Four Wet Birders
The best thing one can do when it is raining is to let it rain. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Unlike most years, I was dreading this year’s annual Christmas Bird Count. The weather forecast had been calling for more rain, 80% most of the day. We have already had so much rain and I anticipated the Read more…
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Appreciating a Place
Sense of place…it is a combination of characteristics that makes a place special and unique. ~the Art of Geography I am lucky. I have several wild places that give me that feeling of a sense of place, of completeness, of peace. I think almost any location can become such a place given time to experience Read more…
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Another Winter Season, Sort Of
What good is the warmth of summer without the cold of winter to give it sweetness. ~John Steinbeck It is time for another season of winter wildlife watching. Now, if only the weather would catch up and cooperate. I will have to admit, my group seemed to enjoy the warm conditions as we explored Mattamuskeet Read more…
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Deciphering Diets
…during reproduction, arguably the most important weeks of a bird’s life, 96% of North American terrestrial birds eat insects and other arthropods. ~Doug Tallamy During our recent bout of wet weather, I finally managed to do something that has been on my to-do list for awhile – upload images to a citizen science project called Read more…
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Stinkhorn
..And you, whose pastime is to make midnight mushrooms… ~William Shakespeare’s The Tempest I debated posting this one, for obvious reasons, but, it is just too weird not to post. Over the holidays, I was asked about a strange-looking mushroom growing in the mulch alongside a home. The description left no doubt in my mind Read more…
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Opting Out
I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne If Nathaniel had lived in our times, he might have added something to that sentiment….or by going shopping, especially on Black Friday. I think outdoor retailer REI made a huge splash with their decision to encourage people Read more…
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An Eye for Eagles
Its soaring flight, with its pure white head and tail glistening in the sunlight, is really inspiring; and it adds grandeur to the scene as it sits in a dignified pose on some dead tree, its white head clearly visible against the dark green of the forest background. ~Arthur Cleveland Bent, 1937 Interestingly, the famed Read more…
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Say Ahh…
I wake up in the morning and I say Ahh! Today’s the day for a song! ~Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys I went on a rambling road trip last week to search for some migrating waterfowl and shoot a few images of something other than the weird bugs and fungi I have photographed recently (not Read more…
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Eye Shadow
They are of a most glorious Green, and very tame. There are several other Colours of these Lizards; but none so beautiful as the green ones are. ~John Lawson, in A New Voyage to Carolina, 1709 I went for a walk in the yard earlier this week, looking for anything that might be out and Read more…
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Roads End Naturalist 