Contributed image by Lidija Hauck An eagle carries its prey, an American eel, aloft near Honesdale, PA. Many think eels are snakes, but in fact, an eel is a fish.

Flying fish and fungi

Lidija Hauck, who shared her backyard wildlife images in a previous Rivertalk column, sent a new photo she took from her car window recently. She writes, “My husband and I were driving down to Honesdale on Upper Woods Road alongside the brook when we saw this eagle swoop by with an eel in its claws.”

Less dramatic, but interesting in their own right, are the many forms taken by fungi. Here are two residents of the Upper Delaware region.

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As frost slows garden activity in October, I reflect on the garden year’s expansion and crop production. This season’s work widened my vision of nature. The variety of new plants that have appeared in the garden is astounding. “Summer’s Blush’ cosmos show magenta throats on rings of five paper-white petals. Next to them are rust-red and gold mops of Cherokee Sunset rudbeckia. Biennial, white and pink hollyhock blooms have appeared generously. Seedlings of new perennials, like the white balloon flower, Mt. Fuji, add excitement. I’m readying them for winter. There’s a long transition period of dormancy before they warm up and show off summer’s first inflated blossom.

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International bat conference coming to Scranton

White Nose fungal organism to be revealed?

By SANDY LONG

sandylong@riverreporter.com

NORTHEAST REGION — Just as migratory bats are departing from the Northeast region, approximately 350 bat researchers, scientists and students will descend on a conference devoted solely to bat issues in Scranton, PA. Among the presentations will be a special session devoted to White Nose Syndrome, which could include the identification of the fungal pathogen believed to play a role in the life-threatening disease.

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Also in this issue:

• Explore wildlife rehabilitation