Landscape litter

As spring thaw begins and lingering snow cover disappears from the landscape, all sorts of things, both natural and not, begin to emerge. A recent walk at the Shohola Waterfowl Management Area in Pike County, PA revealed an assortment of interesting and mostly attractive natural litter, like the fallen bird nest that lay untrammeled along a path, or the pulpy pile of wood shavings left behind by an industrious woodpecker. Unfortunately, the activities of humans in the same area produced markedly unpleasant results, as depicted in the photo here.

The Great American Cleanup of PA, a program to remove trash from roadways, parks, forests, riverbanks, neighborhoods and open spaces, kicked off on March 1 and will continue through May 31. Between April 17 and May 1 (known as “Pick It Up PA Days”) all registered cleanup events can get free supplies such as bags, gloves and vests donated by PennDOT and Keep America Beautiful. DEP and participating landfills also sponsor free disposal for registered events. Visit gacofpa.org or call 877/772-3673, ext. 113 for more information.