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Reflections in Nature: Bees and wasps are out and about this time of year

One day last week I heard Mary Alice yelling for me to come quickly. Naturally I listened and went to her rescue. I saw a large wasp crawling on her sleeve and when I tried to knock it off, the wasp fell on her arm and she was stung. What I heard next was, “This is the last time I’m ...

Ephemerals will arrive in local woods this time of the year

Go into the woods and be willing to bend down to observe closely: Forest magic is unfurling in the form of spring ephemeral (short-lived) wildflowers. These tiny wonders are at their peak of magnificence right now. Ephemerals need very early direct spring sunlight before tree canopies ...

Registration opens for West Branch HERYN kayak and fish programs July 1-2 at Bald Eagle State Park

The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association is once again hosting its HERYN (Helping Engage our River’s Youth with Nature) kayaking and fishing day camps in the West Branch region this summer. ​The non-profit will be offering two days of programs, with a different group of 8-13 year-old participants each day, rotating through ​stations to learn the fundamentals of fishing, kayaking and conservation. The program will be offered July 1-2, at Bald Eagle State Park’s 1,000-acre Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir near Howard. Check out details and photos from last year’s program ...

Study shows how millions of sightings can unlock precision conservation

ITHACA, N.Y.—A groundbreaking study published in Science last Thursday reveals that North American bird populations are declining most severely in areas where they should be thriving. Researchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology analyzed 36 million bird observations shared by birdwatchers to the Cornell Lab’s eBird program alongside multiple environmental variables derived from high-resolution satellite imagery for 495 bird species across North America from 2007 to 2021. The team set out to develop reliable information about where birds are increasing or decreasing across ...

Community Outdoors calendar for week of May 6

SPRING AMBIENCE WHERE: Little Pine State Park. and Hyner Run State Park WHEN: Friday, May 9 at 3:30 p.m. (Hyner Run and 7:30 p.m. (Little Pine) NOTES: Join the naturalist at Hyner Run State Park and/or Little Pine State Park for a relaxing stroll to see and hear the different sights and sounds of spring during the program “Spring Ambience.” Topics of discussion will center around what is being seen and/or heard. This is designed to be an informal program. All children must be accompanied by an adult in order to participate. The program may be modified or canceled in the ...