Blog

Bats: Nature’s Bug-Zappers

by Ann Markin | Aug 8, 2022

Although bats are among the most beneficial of mammals, they are much maligned in folklore and the media. Because of this unwarranted reputation, or perhaps because they are unfamiliar creatures of the night, bats are frequently feared. Each night a bat eats nearly...

Marvelous Monarchs

by Ann Markin | Jul 7, 2022

On velvet wings of black and orange, a Monarch silently flutters by. Just looking at this delicate creature, it’s hard to imagine the amazing metamorphosis and the perilous annual migration, which are necessary for preservation of the species. Like other butterflies,...

Bald Eagles

by Ann Markin | Jun 9, 2022

Bald Eagles live throughout a large part of North America, primarily in the U.S. and Canada, and are usually found near rivers and other bodies of water. They are opportunistic feeders and prefer to eat fresh fish. When fish are scarce, they will eat birds, mammals...

Wonderful Wrens

by Ann Markin | May 6, 2022

Wrens are small birds with loud, often complex, songs. Predominantly brown in color, they have narrow heads, with thin, down-turned bills for probing crevices for food. Their wings are short and rounded; this causes them to have a quick and erratic flight pattern. Two...

Red-winged Blackbirds

by Ann Markin | Apr 10, 2022

I often have red-winged blackbirds visit my yard for a day or two in the spring, and this year I had two males for only one day each. They were probably in a hurry to stake their territories for the breeding season. In summer, Red-winged Blackbirds are commonly seen...

Nesting Season: A Time for New Families

by Ann Markin | Mar 10, 2022

Spring brings us warm weather, a reawakening of perennial plants, and the most interesting and entertaining bird behavior. Over the next few months, you can witness all aspects of bird life – courting a mate, nest building, laying and incubating eggs, feeding...