SIGNS IN THE SKY
The full moon of December, sometimes called “The Full Cold Moon”, has just passed a couple of days ago. In a real rarity for where …
NATURE
THE FIRST SNOW
In the place where I currently live, far Upstate New York, the first measurable snow in the year can occur at any time in the …
PREPARATION FOR THE WILDERNESS
Recently I had the opportunity to attend part of a wilderness first aid (WFA) class. Upon reflection I think I have certified through a WFA …
WANDERING THE WOODS, ONE WINTER AFTERNOON
There is a remarkable lack of snow this winter in the area where I live. Only about 2 feet of snow has fallen in total, …
THE OUTDOORS ON THE INTERNET
Some days I become frustrated with what seems to be the intrusion of technology into our lives. I can clearly remember a time when automobiles …
THE JOYS OF NATURE OBSERVATION
Nature observation is one of my oldest hobbies. I started at a very young age with guidance from my father and an uncle. Often the …
THOUGHTS ON OPENING DAY
The day was expected to be damp and somewhat cloudy. Fortunately, the vagaries of weather passed through the area a little faster than predicted. So, …
BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS AND ANGLERS
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA) is a national organization that seeks to ensure the North American outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural …
IN PRAISE (?) OF BLOOD SUCKING INSECTS
Spring is a wonderful season in the natural year. Birds are building nests and hatching eggs, mammals are giving birth and raising young, and the …
REQUIEM FOR A BARN SWALLOW
Musings on life and death in the natural world can become commentary on that much broader universal theme. Hopefully these thoughts will not inspire melancholy …
THE SEASON HAS BEEN INTERRUPTED
“It’s a little chilly, there’s a bit of fresh snow on the ground.” Often that is the way we talk about spring as it shakes …
SPRING EMERGING
The precipitation can’t decide if it wants to be snow or rain. There are new bird songs in the air, we might call them “courting …