Mourning cloak butterflies need to warm up to 50-plus degrees before they can fly. Their dark wings help absorb heat from the sun’s rays and make flight possible. (Photo credit: AcrylicArtist at MorgueFile.com) Mourning Cloaks May 5, 2017 Butterflies are easy. It’s a statement we naturalists make from time to time, and it refers to
Bug, Insect, Mourning Cloak
Look for these elusive felines in woodlands, which are preferred for denning, and woodland edges and fields, which are used for hunting. (Photo credit: Dave Menke/USFWS) Identifying Bobcats April 28, 2017 Feral cats and even folks’ “outdoor” cats are an unfortunate part of our suburban landscape. According to data collected by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology
Animal, Bobcat, Cat, Spots
Bats can be divided into two groups, solitary and colonial. In our area, little brown and big brown bats are the colony-forming species that, from time to time, take up residents in attics, barns and other structures. (Photo credit: Tim Krynak/USFWS) Keeping bats at bay April 21, 2017 This time of year, nature folk are
Bat Tips, Bats, Fly
Our local species of mole, the eastern or common mole, is also known as Scalopus aquaticus, which would indicate an association with water. Alas, this species is the least aquatic of the North American moles, although it does a fairly good job of “swimming” through soil in search of invertebrates on which to feed. (Photo
Mammal, Plant
Those tiny specks flying in V formation actually are a flock of sandhill cranes migrating. This time of year, to find sandhill cranes, all you have to do is stop, look and listen. Stop, Look and Listen March 31, 2017 A while back, someone showed me a Facebook quiz titled Which Dr. Seuss Character Are
Bird, Easter Kingbird, Fly
Like a lacy glove that’s been cast aside, the shed skin of a tiger salamander floats in a dish of water. Note the keratinized tips of the toes, which aid in digging and gripping. Amphibian Sheds March 17, 2017 If you’ve ever visited Hickory Knolls, you probably noticed that we have a lot of snakes.
Amphibian Shed, Salamander, Skin
Woodpecker species in our area have begun drumming, an annual sign that their breeding season has begun. The loud, staccato pounding is used to declare territory; it is distinctly different from the softer pecking sounds the birds create when excavating a nest cavity or foraging for food. Photo credit: Robert Burton, US Fish & Wildlife
Nature, Season, Spring
This time of year, Chinese mantid egg cases are pretty easy to find. Look for squarish forms, about the size, shape and color, of a toasted marshmallow, attached to plant stems in gardens and natural areas. Chinese Mantids March 3, 2017 I suppose we all have different ways of coping with winter doldrums. Even though
Bug, Insect, Mantid, Praying Mantis
This spider may look like a local species, but it’s actually native to southeast Asia. Thanks to the internet and through the magic of email, this image made its way to Pam Otto’s inbox courtesy of Mac Bakewell, who lives in Pah Leuat, Tha Pla, Uttaradit, Thailand. Pop! Goes The Email February 24, 2017 I
Arachnids, Spiders, Web
Goldenrod galls are particularly noticeable this time of year. Each gumball-sized growth initially houses a young goldenrod gall fly, but later can be used by a variety of other small creatures, including spiders, beetles, bees and wasps. Goldenrod Galls February 17, 2017 A few weeks ago I received an email from a nice woman named
Bud, Eggs, Goldenrod Gall