Even though winter is in full swing, daylength is increasing each day. Learn about how the photoperiod plays an important role in every aspect of the natural world.
Embracing the Dark
When the late fall and winter dark arrives, most of us retreat into our homes, cozy with warmth and family at this time of year. And yet, there is that other half of day that is mysterious and quiet and has its own set of sounds and smells.
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Notes from the Land
Birds in the Heartland: Aerial Insectivores
Float up, dive down, quick turn, out and back from the twig perch. Graceful, flowing, surprising in their agility as they move through space. This describes the aerial acrobatics of a group of birds that hunt for food “on the fly.” What are they looking for? Any winged or flying insect that would make a… Continue Reading Birds in the Heartland: Aerial Insectivores
Sowing Seed: An Act of Faith
“Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. … Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.”– Henry David Thoreau Autumn 2010 It’s a partly cloudy morning, temperatures are hovering around 35 degrees,… Continue Reading Sowing Seed: An Act of Faith
Spring Awakening
At the edge of night, the sun pulls down its soothing shade, and peepers creeping from leafy covers tune-up to sing. Who will start this evening’s song with fluted notes that serenade the night? Someone begins, the same song his ancestors sang, and the forest fills with an urgent chorus. It must be high honor… Continue Reading Spring Awakening
