Living as we do in a conifer forest in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, one of the common avian visitors to our property is the Steller’s Jay, Cyanocitta stelleri. For years I have made the assumption that most of these beautiful dark blue and black jays are of one particular subspecies – Cyanocitta […]
Last Friday, I spent the morning delivering presentations about birds and butterflies to two classes of second grade and one class of third grade students at the local elementary school. While I have delivered countless presentations on these and similar topics over the years, it is always after presenting to children that I feel the […]
We’ve seen quite a number of fledglings out testing their new wings these past few days. From stubby-tailed Song Sparrows on the ground to young Chestnut-backed Chickadees lined up along the porch railing waiting their turn to be fed by a parent busily picking nuts out of one of the feeders for just that purpose. […]
When I last saw Robert Michael Pyle before he “unplugged” from the Internet to embark upon the first Butterfly Big Year, he gave me a copy of Orion magazine in hope that I would subscribe and the advice to enroll as a member in the Xerces Society. I did both and have been greatly intellectually […]