River Talk
Snowbirds are returning north

Soon after the ice broke on the area lakes, I spotted signs of the coming of spring. Tiny black-and-white ducks were present on the lakes in Shohola, PA. At first, it was only a couple of ducks …

A waddling wonder

Myths and misunderstandings abound in the natural world and can lead to undesirable outcomes.  Such is the case when it comes to the quill-pig, more commonly known as the porcupine (they …

Singing wood frogs mean the end of winter

As I write this (11 March), the temperature is in the 30s with a brisk NW wind that is gusting over 40 miles per hour—but I am thinking of spring. Someone who lives near Stroudsburg, PA told me …

Sound hunters

Many of us have heard owls in the woods as they call; many times, the call may be far off and faint, and we might not realize at the time that it is even an owl.  The most common species of …

Lichen love

Not everyone knows what a lichen looks like, and many of us have little knowledge of what they are, how they live or why they are so beneficial to our lives. Here’s a primer to notch up your …