Blue Jay
This Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) was in the shade on a sunny April day, nevertheless showing off blue hues against a blue sky and flying around with its mate. In this case the blues are not as blue as they could be because they are not actually blue. Huh? Their feather barb cells are specially modified scatter light in a way that makes them appear blue instead of what would be brown melanin, and if this bird flew into the sunlight then it would pop even more. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MorePink Glow
Last night the sky turned this amazing purple and pink color while the unseen sun set. I was not expecting anything remotely interesting about the clouds in the evening considering we were blanketed with low-level cover from the departing storm. A few minutes after sunset I glanced out the window and saw everything on the ground was covered in this wondrous hue. At first I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, or I had been staring at the monitor for too long. Nope, not this time – the shade saturated my surroundings and I hurriedly grabbed my camera, swapped lenses, and ran out...
Read MoreWinter Sunset
This is a more typical sunset shot than the otherworldly views I posted previously this week, with the December sun painting a very colorful but seasonal hue across the clouds. Our trees are bare but our air is as warm as this photo feels considering the date. Have you seen any buds in the forest? I certainly have, from maple to oak and on a variety of introduced flora…even with some flowering! It is not close to blooming time, but the days are now getting longer and the sun is rising… Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreNeon Glow
These leaves have a neon glow! Taken before the rain and wind of the last couple of days eliminated a lot of our fall foliage until 2016, the trees have been hauntingly beautiful as we approach Halloween. What a fiery feel to the landscape. Please remember that if you can leave the leaves where they fall it is better in all regards. It will save you time, possibly money and perhaps a sore back. It will help the environment locally and globally, saving unnecessary pollution (leaf blowers to trucks hauling them away) and making your yard look all the better as a natural fertilizer. Yes, it may...
Read MoreYellow Autumn
Even on the gray and cloudy days of late October there can still be plenty of bright yellow light reflected throughout our landscape. The brilliant golden hues reverberate through our forests as one last hurrah before the beginning of winter grabs at our region. Will we be retaining some of this implied warmth thanks to El Niño? It may be a record-shattering season for the Pacific Ocean which could mean we see above-average temperatures. This can actually spell more snow than usual if the Great Lakes remain open and if the jet stream steers major low pressure systems up the East Coast,...
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