Avian Ecologist

Black Rails in Action!

Every birder holds their breath for a chance to see a rare rail, and I love coming across stories of those who “won the bird lottery.” This album below was especially inspiring and basically makes me want to live at the meadows; click through for the photographer’s story in the captions! The photos were taken […]

Higbee

I finally went to “the” migration headquarters, and learned about the field numbering system. I walked around field 4 before taking a break from the sun. Then, I walked the green trail at Cox Hall Creek in the evening!

Planning to Visit “Brig”

I’m still learning the nicknames of all of the south Jersey birding spots. So, I found out “Brig” is a unit in Forsythe NWR.

Cox Hall Creek

We took a walk on the red, yellow and blue trails today!

We’ve Arrived!

We got in this evening and I have to say, I’m pretty thrilled with our native-filled yard in an otherwise unassuming neighborhood. I found a neglected hummingbird feeder that I scrubbed out and hung near my “work from home” window, under the shade of a small tree. Hopefully we’ll have more birdie visitors soon! Where […]

My Favorite Places I’ve Been Birding

Phew — just typing that title sounds daunting; there are so many! I don’t know how I’m going to break this list up but I figured I’d at least start it and chip away as I go. Please comment regionally with your favorite places too! My current home city is Duluth, MN so my favorite […]

MD Historic Land Cover

This is long overdue, but I’m finally trying to do a deep dive into what my home landscape would have looked like. The land cover would have been broadly (i.e. statewide) hardwood-dominated forest composed of “oak, tulip-poplar, eastern hemlock, beech, loblolly pine, white pine & American chestnut.” However, a more detailed account records a fascinating prehistory: By 400 CE, holly, […]

MD Butterflies

We arrived late tonight/early morning at home, where we’re stopping over before making the final leg of the move. So, I compiled a list of species that can be found in my home region (PD) this time of year (L-July)! pipevine swallowtail spicebush swallowtail little yellow sleepy orange dainty sulphur hickory hairstreak: historical records from […]

Moving to Cape May!

Today we left the Midwest; moves are always bittersweet. Yet, I’m so excited to explore the ecosystems of my soon to be new home!

WI Butterflies – Last Week July

marine blue – very rare! Reakirt’s blue – Burnett Co. green comma tawny-edged skipper