Asters
Some of our latest blooming flowers are the asters, and they are essential for the bees, butterflies and other insects still flying in October and November. Please make sure your yard has nectar and pollen sources from when the snow melts in spring until the first flurries fall in autumn.
Read MoreDiverse Song Sparrows
The Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) is such a diverse species despite the fact it seems so plain, brown, simple or even “dull”. Fall migration lets us see so many different subspecies and forms – perhaps up to a couple dozen of the former and several dozen of the latter. Basically, many of the birds end up looking distinct from one another in very subtle ways, and I wish every year that I could better understand their biology. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreFall Sunset
This was a surprising sunset last week on a day that I did not expect any sort of light show. It turns out that the clouds parted just enough to let the light in while getting that special glow. Unfortunately I was rather far from any water or hill, unable to get a great view of a spectacular scene unfolding so rapidly and ending so briefly. After a moment of thought – and a minute of two of running for my camera and swapping lenses – I noticed that I was soaking in the sunset from behind the bare branches and falling leaves. I decided to take advantage of that and shoot some...
Read MoreOrange Blaze
Honestly, if the fall foliage could go on nonstop without end, it seems most of us would like it…
Read MoreBlue Jay Caching
If this Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) looks a little strange…or lumpy…it is because it was hard at work caching last month. All of those acorns will not store (or plant) themselves! They are said to be able to carry five acorns at a time and store several thousand over a productive fall season. I wonder how many it will be able to remember come winter, and how many will be left after squirrels, chipmunks, other rodents or birds take their share… Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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