On the Power of Poetry
Poetry speaks to the imagination, to the heart. When a poet walks in nature, she doesn’t just look …. she sees; she slows down long enough to experience the awe and wonder in the landscape …
From Milkweed to Monarchs
This morning I spotted a Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on the flowering Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) in my backyard. Monarchs are from the Nymphalidae (nym-PHAL-li-dee) family, subfamily Danainae (dah-NAY-i-nee) because their larval host plants are …
Gnatcatchers are Frisky Lightweights
Whenever I walk quietly along the Swallow Hollow boardwalk about a hundred yards south of the trail entrance, I listen for weak spishing sounds coming from high in the cottonwoods that shade the walkway. Francis …
Musings on a Luna Moth
A few weeks ago, we found this gorgeous Luna Moth in our yard, near a sweetgum tree. The moth was in good condition, but seemed unable to fly. We decided it was likely a male, …
Galls: Gene Altering Injections Cause Plant Mutations
The production of plant galls is fascinating, complex, a bit bizarre and not fully understood. Galls are mutated plant tissue, many of which are formed by the chemical secretions of insects. In the case of …
Respite at the Refuge
Come forth into the light of things. Let Nature be your teacher. William Wordsworth We live in unusual times; times when everything seems uncertain …health, jobs, education, politics, relationships, the future…all uncertain. We need a …
Backyard Bird Spotlight – Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
I’ve been getting a regular visitor at my bird feeding station. In the photo is a female Pileated Woodpecker who arrives every morning while I drink coffee and eat breakfast. The Pileated Woodpecker is the …
The Ferocious Toe Biter is Really a Caring Family Member
One reason I have always been hesitant to wade barefoot in ponds or slow-moving streams is my fear of being bitten by one of the largest of our local insects, the giant water bug. In …
New York State Breeding Bird Survey: Observations of a Yellow-Billed Cuckoo
While the Refuge has been closed, the third New York State Breeding Bird Survey continues and we have arrived at one of the most active months to record breeding behaviors – June! There are tons …
Cayuga Pool at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Delights Birdwatching Community
On the evening of May 23, 2020 it was reported by a Buffalo birdwatcher that he’d spotted a Gull-billed Tern, a costal worldwide bird that rarely comes inland and a bird that would provide an opportunity …