Autumn Leaves
There have been a lot of bright pink autumn leaves to go along with the lemon yellow painted on the trees during this fall foliage season. The past week has yielded some gorgeous October weather. If you look a little closer you may end up seeing something other than a leaf flying off in the breeze – that is a Yellow-rumped Warbler flitting between the trees, one of millions on the move right now. Migration started strong again last night behind another cold front, and it should continue through the weekend. Good birding, and good autumning! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach...
Read MoreGoodbye to the Green
Say goodbye to the green leaves because the last of them seem to be leaving the Northeast this week! Some of our oaks and the later changing tree species will be hanging on a bit more, but the colors are really popping now…here, there and everywhere.
Read MoreRuby-crowned Kinglet
It is the peak time to see the Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) migrating through the Northeast, frantically flitting about the lower levels of trees and shrublands, eagerly calling out and sometimes singing a bit here in the autumn. Even when you cannot capture that brilliant crown they are still such a pretty little bird. They are also rather tame and friendly, and our lucky friends in the southern half of the United States and Central America get to enjoy them all winter. See how many you can spot today on what should be another sensational day for migrant songbirds and...
Read MoreSeptember Sunset
This has been the hottest September on record thus far for many locations in the Northeast. The sultry and arid conditions have worsened a drought for much of the region. The blazing sunset here may be one of the last hot days of the year as today’s cold front should bring much more seasonable conditions for the week, albeit still a little above average in terms of temperature and far below average for precipitation in the near future. All of this is coming after a historically cold winter. What was that we used to say about climate change and the future…extremes, and more of...
Read MoreDeer Everywhere
One of the more concerning sightings to me as of late are all the White-tailed Deer tracks and signs that I keep finding. They should not be everywhere, in every habitat type, feeding on all sorts of plantings or ornamental greenery in the summer. The population is simply too high in too many areas across the Northeast. It is dangerous for us – via car accidents all the way to ticks – and for them, with increased contact with humans, disease and starvation. If they cannot find the proper food now then what will happen during the winter? This is not even going into how much damage...
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