The past few weeks I’ve focused on insect eating birds. Here’s another – the Bank Swallow. (Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren.) Bank swallows are a grayish brown on their head, back, wings and tail. They have a dark band across their breast with a white throat and belly. When flying you will […]

You’ve been accepted, and you’re off to college in the Fall. Congratulations! Before you go, try some preparatory reading. There are big issues that everyone will encounter in college, whatever their major. And there are short, classic books that address these issues. They’re easily borrowed or downloadable, or cheap to buy. Some aren’t easy reading; […]

Scientists and psychologists are currently working together to help us understand that emotional intelligence is actually more keenly developed in animals than in humans. Emotional intelligence is predicated on an individual’s ability to be self aware, to “read” an individual’s intentions accurately (empathy), to manage strong positive or negative emotions with restraint, and to integrate […]

This summer, several people have reported a Northern Bobwhite (photo by Russ) singing regularly around Songo Pond. The Northern Bobwhite is a new world quail most commonly associated with southeast and coastal pine forests. It has commercial value both as a gamebird and also as captive-reared birds which are used to supply restaurants serving quail. Growing up […]

This morning I was up by the garage watering my herb patch when I met one of my friends, a small shy garter snake. Because I keep fresh water in a dish for him and for his relatives, and perhaps for other reasons, these snakes have befriended me. They appear when I do slithering out […]