Katydids
We had a visitor the other day – a katydid in the kitchen. It was hanging out near the sink where we have a potted green onion plant. It’s a beautiful and elegant creature with long thin legs, even longer … Continue reading
Sharks
I should not be surprised when research reveals something amazing about topic I was previously not all that interested in. But when researching sharks recently, I was once again surprised. The word “shark” likely conjures up an image of a … Continue reading
Tarantula Migration
‘Tis the season. Many animals in the northern hemisphere are preparing to migrate toward warmer places. Smart animals. There is one migration in Colorado that is particularly interesting. It is called a migration, but is more of a love march. … Continue reading
Great Horned Owls
I had the privilege of seeing not one, but two great horned owls near my home. Not only that, they stayed put so we could watch them. In general great horned owls are nocturnal and prefer forests, but these two … Continue reading
Alpine Wildflowers – Inventors, Tricksters, and Thieves
At first glance, alpine wildflowers are simply beautiful. Get a little closer and you can see how delicate and complex they are. Learn a little bit and you will discover that there’s a lot more going on that meets the … Continue reading
Puffin Patrol
It’s puffin season! I suppose any season is puffin season, but right now the pufflings are fledging. You read correctly – baby puffins are called pufflings. Puffins are sea birds, and breed in colonies on islands in the North Atlantic. … Continue reading
Why Hummingbirds Hum
Some of my favorite things about summer are the sounds. I love the dawn chorus of birds in the morning and their calls to each other throughout the day. Crickets, grasshoppers, cicadas, and other bugs chirp, click, trill, and rattle. … Continue reading
Green-Tailed Towhee
Earlier this summer I had a new visitor to my bird feeder. It was bigger than a finch and smaller than a robin. It had a reddish tuft of feathers on it’s head like a bad toupee and the edges … Continue reading
Moths Matter!
When we talk about insect pollination, bees and butterflies are often what come to mind first. Butterflies come in a dazzling array of colors and patterns. Bees dance and communicate and make honey. But don’t forget about moths. Moths are … Continue reading
Wildflowers – Mountain Edition
Every year I can’t wait for the snow to melt in the high country in the spring so I can hike, preferably to a high alpine lake. The season is so short, but I try to take advantage. It’s fuel … Continue reading