Compared to spring and early summer, late summer mornings are quiet. Most birds are done nesting. The avian territorial imperative has given way to memories of fall migration.
Other sounds, however, fill the void. More noisy than musical, the sounds of insects define late summer.
In the heat of the day, dog day cicadas drone […]

Anyone who has ever perused a field guide to birds has no doubt wondered how some of the names originated.
By convention, the person who first describes a species gets to name it. The stories behind the scientific names are complex and steeped in Latin and Greek.
Accurate names
Common names are another story. Some are obviously […]

For the last 10 years, many of us have been plagued by ladybugs invading our homes each fall. That’s why it may be hard to believe that some species of ladybugs (or lady bird beetles as they are more correctly called) are disappearing.

Citizen science project

But it’s true, and entomologists at Cornell University have launched […]

Any ichthyologist knows that largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are not members of the bass family. The fish competitive anglers seek are actually large members of the sunfish family.

Readers often ask if it’s possible to love both wild birds and cats. My answer is “yes.”
But I always add that, “Cats make great indoor pets.”
Our last cat lived the good life for 17 years. Outdoors, cats kill millions of song birds and small mammals annually, and their life expectancy shortens considerably. Here’s […]

The results of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s 2009 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey are in, and the news is good.
The preliminary estimate of total ducks in North America was 42 million, up 13 percent from last year’s estimate and 25 percent greater than the 1955-2008 average.
The survey samples more than […]

It’s been a banner year for wildlife in my backyard, and each evening my wife and I enjoy the show from the back porch.
Pairs of bluebirds, robins, phoebes, chipping sparrows and Carolina wrens tend to their second nests of the season, while the young of their first broods search the backyard for insects and […]

There are a few outdoor adventures I’ve never tried and never will. Skydiving, rock climbing, and bungee jumping come immediately to mind.
Noodling is another. I try to avoid activities that put my life or body parts at risk.
Noodling, also called hand-grabbing, is a form of extreme catfishing that’s popular and legal in some southern […]

Whether you’re planning a stay-cation in the backyard or a getaway to the shore or mountains this summer, a good book makes a great companion. Here are a few titles you might enjoy as you settle into a favorite reading chair.
- Birdsong by the Seasons: A Year of Listening to Birds by Donald […]

Visit a farm pond ringed with dense vegetation this month, and you’re sure to hear two distinctive sounds.
A booming “Jug-o’-rummm!” signals the presence of bullfrogs. The sound of a loose banjo string comes from an amorous male green frog. Though similar in appearance, bullfrogs can reach a length of seven inches; green frogs top […]