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Former PFBC executive director Arway speaks at Trout Unlimited meeting

There’s an old Chinese proverb often attributed to Confucious that goes something like this: If you enjoy what you do, you’ll never have to work a day in your life. John Arway, who cited those words during a talk to the Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited, may understand them better than anyone. For many years he served as executive director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, a job that had brought its share of administrative duties and policymaking decisions, but also put him on many of his beloved trout streams. Arway recently spoke to Trout Unlimited about his ...

Sustainable practices for a thriving garden

“Sustainability in the garden means incorporating practices that reduce our impact through small changes and choosing the right plant for the right place,” said Maddison Perzel, former head gardener at Elm Court, a historic mansion in downtown Butler, Pennsylvania. She recently spoke at the Penn State Master Gardener’s of Lycoming County’s spring symposium “Bringing Nature Back: One Yard at a Time” on March 15 at the Klump Academic Center at Penn College. “I’m personally motivated to support our pollinators and local birds because I enjoy seeing them in my garden. A ...

US bird populations are continuing an alarming decline

Ithaca, N.Y.—The release of the 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report was announced today at the 90th annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The report, produced by a coalition of leading science and conservation organizations, reveals continued widespread declines in American bird populations across all mainland and marine habitats, with 229 species requiring urgent conservation action. The report comes five years after the landmark 2019 study that documented the loss of 3 billion birds in North America over 50 years. Key findings from ...

Community Outdoors calendar for week of March 18

VIRTUAL FISH OF HYNER RUN WATERSHED WHERE: Online via Microsoft Teams WHEN: Thursday, March 20 from 1-1:30 p.m. NOTES: A virtual Fish of Hyner Run Watershed program at Hyner Run State Park is set to be held. This program will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams and will not take place face-to-face at the park. Join the park naturalist and learn about the many different types of fish that inhabit Hyner Run Watershed. Afterward, we may have some time to share fish stories. Registration is required to receive the link to the Microsoft Teams program. When you receive an email ...

Reflections in Nature: The signs of spring appearing are all around us now

Signs of the coming of spring are appearing everywhere. So far, I’ve seen robins, red-winged blackbirds, killdeers, herring gulls, grackles, great-blue herons, geese, chipmunks, geese and others. Humans also joined these harbingers of spring by tapping the maple trees. Mary Alice has been checking her flower beds for any green shoots. All these early spring signs will be slowed down If the weather turns cold. Along with the robin, the Canada goose and the red-winged blackbird are probably our most recognized harbingers of spring. One cannot miss the return of the red-winged black ...

PGC applauds Sunday hunting bill

HARRISBURG — Legislation that could fully repeal Pennsylvania’s Sunday hunting ban has been reintroduced in Harrisburg. Last week Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, reintroduced Senate Bill 67, which would end the state’s prohibition on Sunday hunting and allow the Game Commission to include Sundays when establishing hunting seasons annually. The bill picked up momentum last year, when it passed the Senate and gained preliminary approval in the House of Representatives before time ran out in the legislative session. The bill now has a fresh start, and a broad base of support behind ...