‘Tis the season for scenic drives and rambling hikes. For pumpkin spice and apple flavored everything. For harvesting the fruits of the growing season. But, in this region dominated by eastern deciduous forests, nothing represents fall more so then the trees. The spectacular color ...

As far as I’m concerned, kayaking the Chadakoin River never gets old. Whenever I take a journey down the outlet of Chautauqua Lake, the river is different, and I never know what or who I will see on my adventure. Somehow, this summer got away from me, but I finally got to paddle the ...

If fall temperatures arrive this weekend as predicted, it will feel like it’s time to fill the backyard bird feeders. Colder morning temperatures send hungry birds to well stocked feeders. Here are some tips to help make any backyard feeding station a success. Whether you’re new to ...

My children and their friends spotted some strange insects at Audubon the other day. They were dark steely blue, shining in the grass. Their bulbous round abdomens looked awkward compared to their skinny heads and thoraxes. These beetles crawled in an ungainly fashion through the grass, ...

Over the last 30 years I’ve written dozens of columns about feeding backyard birds. Based on my experiences, I’ve recommended specific foods (black-oil sunflower seeds, peanuts, and mealworms) and specific feeders (tubes, hanging bowls, and suet baskets). My mission has always been to ...

Audubon did an exhibit in 2006 titled “Hooked on Nature.” One of the features was a corner in which the naturalists identified a person who inspired them to become a naturalist. I chose my dad. The text I wrote then reads as follows: This photo is one of my favorites. I don’t ...