WriterByNature.com

January 5, 2010 8:45 am

It’s rare to get snow conditions that reveal as much track detail as I’ve seen this year. It’s even more surprising to be able to watch the animals move in their tracks and then have those tracks to study.

This group of wild turkeys were in a relatively open area.

What caused one turkey to spread its wings?

Here are a few more images: (more…)

February 7, 2009 7:31 pm

I’m not sure what to make of this encounter.

I was so busy focusing on the hawk, I don’t know what the squirrel did next, but the hawk sat there for another minute or so -  long enough for me to get a few shots like this:

The hawk flew off in the direction of the squirrel. I didn’t hear or see anything. I haven’t found any tracks that suggest the two did more than surprise each other.

Later on, I got in touch with Bird Lady and learned this  immature Cooper’s Hawk, prefers to eat birds. But how did the squirrel know that?

September 10, 2008 9:17 am

Maybe this muddy track

belongs to this bear.

I’d stepped less than 100 feet off the trail for a short break. At first I thought the noisy animal was an unleashed dog. I’m learning to have my camera ready.  I had just enough time to get this one photo and about 20 seconds of moving pictures.

I’m sure this strolling bear was aware of my presence, but thought I was on the trail.

One look at me, and the bear ran as soon as I snapped the photo. Good bear. Wise bear. A bear that fears people has a much better chance of survival.

All I can think of is how blessed I am to witness a moment like this.

February 11, 2008 5:05 am

I haven’t experimented with hide tanning for years. Back then, I used a hide scraper to remove membranes, fat and meat from a wet hide.

I had no idea it was even possible to scrape a dry hide clean. The red squirrel that found my trap provided an unexpected opportunity. I started with basic instructions provided by Barry Keegan. I skinned the hide while at Hawk Circle, but with all we had to do, I didn’t get to the tanning until I got back home. (more…)

February 6, 2008 4:58 am

This is the first time I cleaned a skull without an expert at my side. I have only two other fresh skulls in my collection; the rest I found while hiking.

I wasn’t willing to bury this red squirrel skull and wait for the dung beetles. I knew that by boiling the skull, I would risk losing the teeth, so I tried an experiment, after consulting my experts and reading as much as I could on the subjects of cleaning skulls and cooking meat. (more…)

September 19, 2007 1:27 am

This recipe is one of my favorites.

Follow my acorn preparation instructions, then add venison. Venison is farmed in many places, so even if you don’t hunt, this is a treat.  (more…)

September 10, 2007 9:29 am

I love watching flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) on a warm summer night.

They really should be called gliding squirrels, because what allows them to be airborne is a loose flap of skin called the PATAGIUM. (more…)

August 18, 2007 4:32 am

It’s a whole lot of fun blending in, rather than scaring away the wildlife.

I was amazed that this deer raised up on his hind legs to reach the food he wanted.

I’d been using the video feature of my Canon PowerShot A720IS 8MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom, pushing the limits of the battery. That may explain the jerky quality to the footage.

I almost fell over, when the deer started walking toward me. That’s when I ran out of memory – of course.

But still, for a moment, I was blended in, part of the natural world around me. I live for those moments and wish they were universally important.

July 30, 2007 6:29 pm

When I set out earlier today, my goal was to find:

• Wood sorrel
• Purslane
• Black trumpet mushrooms
• Oyster mushrooms
• Wild blueberries
• Wineberries
• Huckleberries

I decided to challenge myself a bit, so today’s hike was in Minnewaska State Park, about 35 miles north of my usual haunts. I did not find the black trumpets, but I did find the good red russulas and oysters. I also did not find the wineberries, but I did find a few ripe blackberries in addition to the blueberries and huckleberries.

My big surprise was the tiny milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) pods I found.

(more…)

July 26, 2007 2:33 pm

Enjoying nature is in the little things, like this insect (I think it’s a firefly) on a laurel node. Dawn and dusk are the best times for hiking; that’s when I see the most wildlife activity. (more…)