Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
I photographed this drake Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) from afar yesterday so as not to disturb it. As you can see it is looking right at home in a forested suburban pond. Many duck species are starting to appear more frequently in our area as we enter the autumn waterfowl season. We will be sure to share some of our finds with all of you. What new fall arrivals have you spotted? Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MorePennsylvania forest in fall
The Pennsylvania forest in Warren County is a lovely place to hike even when it has such a manufactured feel. It may be hard to imagine at the moment but soon enough we will need snowshoes in many of these areas…
Read MoreSunny Pennsylvania woods
It was difficult to find the sun on this cold autumn weekend thanks to the lake effect rain and clouds coming off of Lake Erie. I managed to find some light in Pennsylvania, making the woodlands feel all the warmer in the still strong sunshine. There should still be a few more weeks before we see any snow but the birds are beginning to reflect the imminent change with kinglets, always a sign of October to me, filling habitats like this.
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.
Read MoreIdentify this scat
I apologize in advance for anyone not intrigued by identifying animal scat but it can be important to know what you are seeing while in the forest. Do you have any idea what species this is from? Take a look at the composition – looks like a lot of berries, huh? It certainly is large. Those two clues should point you to the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus). If you see this in your path stay vigilant while enjoying your day in the woods.
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