Sometimes called black mallards, black ducks spend the winter here, following the rivers and tributaries inland from the Chesapeake Bay. Read the Full Story >>
Appreciating Nature
Local voices share observations, experiences, and thoughts about the living world that surround us and the many ways to connect with and enjoy nature.
Get Cracking, It’s Black Walnut Time
Black walnuts are stately trees with serpentine branches, wide spreading crowns and thick twigs. Read the Full Story >>
Mushroom Fairy Circles
Some mushrooms grow individually, some grow in circles or rings. Read the Full Story >>
Heat Troubles For Wildlife
Extended bouts of intense heat are affecting local wildlife. Read the Full Story >>
The Wild Ramp Is A Local Treat
Doug Pifer writes about falling in love with ramps, an important part of West Virginia's cultural heritage. Read the Full Story >>
Canada Geese Stay Close To Home
Doug Pifer welcomes the sight of a high-flying V of Canada geese as they migrate to and from their northern nesting grounds each year. Read the Full Story >>
Lead Shot Hits The Food Chain
Naturalist Doug Pifer discusses the dangers of lead shot in the natural food chain Read the Full Story >>
Witness The Winter Waterfowl
Thousands of ducks, geese, swans, and loons visit Jefferson County every year, stopping on the nearby Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. Read the Full Story >>
A Crash Course In Bird Feathers
Naturalist Doug Pifer discusses bird feathers. Read the Full Story >>
The Emotional Benefits Of Fishing
Volunteer fishing guides bring smiles to the faces of nursing home residents and veterans at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in Leetown. Read the Full Story >>
Hammerhead Worm Has Odd Habits
Hammerhead flatworms, although recently touted as our latest alien threat, have been in the USA since 1891. Read the Full Story >>
Caterpillars With Eyes And Horns
Hog caterpillar (left) and sphinx caterpillar (right). Photo by D. Pifer. Last summer I was lucky to find two amazing-looking sphinx moth caterpillars. They were feeding together on a Virginia creeper vine growing up the bricks next to our back door. My wife had been asking me to remove the creeper vine before its tendrils Read the Full Story >>
Battle Between Kingbird and Hawk
Yesterday a hawk flew overhead. It was a Cooper’s hawk carrying prey in its talons, probably headed towards its nest of hungry young in our neighbor’s woods. But it also looked as if something was riding on its back. As the hawk flew over our upper pasture and headed for the woods, a smaller bird flew off the hawk’s back and returned to our field. I recognized the white banded tail tip of a kingbird. Drama over — and enemy departed — the kingbird returned to the vicinity of its nest. Read the Full Story >>
Finding Balance in Conflict
During the 1890s, America faced an environmental crisis similar in many ways to our situation today. Our country had nearly ended its westward expansion. Read the Full Story >>
Saluting A Habitat Tree
It’s good for a tree’s overall health to remove dead branches. And falling limbs can be a true hazard. But there is great value in keeping a dead tree standing in a safe spot in your yard or property. My wife and I were thrilled to discover a big Kentucky Coffee tree growing next to our driveway when we moved here. As it began to leaf out, we sadly learned it was near the end of its life. Read the Full Story >>