Daffodil Buds
Here we can see some daffodil buds fighting their way through the earth, emerging from the leaf litter despite the snow still present around them. More snow may end up coming down on our early flowers in the next couple of weeks. What is popping up in your yard at this point in the spring? Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreAmerican Tree Sparrow
The American Tree Sparrow is one of those birds that were named differently than they probably should have been. You will most often find them outside of a tree, whether it is on the ground in open areas such as short grasses, dunes, trails, and beaches or in shrubbery and other smaller ground vegetation. This individual is from a beach long before snow and ice covered it this winter. Do you have any visiting your bird feeders this year?
Read MoreAmerican Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea)
Here is an American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea) that I photographed during my hometown Christmas Bird Count in Stratford, Connecticut yesterday, part of a flock of perhaps 15 individuals that were staying mostly out of sight. I made sure to take the photo because it was feeding on Common Reed (Phragmites australis), one of the most notorious non-native invasive plants in North America. American Tree Sparrows are well-known as seed eaters and can often be found at the top of weeds and grasses, but I do not personally remember seeing them feeding on the “phrag” before. I wonder...
Read MoreSweetgum tree’s gorgeous real estate
If the birds who constructed this home had done so on this Sweetgum tree during the autumn season the price for their “land” would have skyrocketed thanks to the gorgeous surroundings. Checking out trees, shrubs and other woody vegetation after the leaves fall is a good idea if you want to learn about where bird nests are built and the most favorable locations to seek out breeders next spring and summer. Sometimes you may find some previously used nests that were right under your nose, unbeknownst to you thanks to the secretive parents and a job well done.
Read MoreAmerican Black Bear footprint
I took this photo of an American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) footprint on a recent hike with Elyse and Twan. The prints we found combined with the breaks in vegetation, such as broken branches with freshly wilting leaves, told us that bears were around us and were there very recently. Despite that we never actually set eyes on one that day. There is nothing to fear while outdoors but one should always be mindful whenever we venture into the natural world whether it’s for a tiny tick or a massive mammal.
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