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Outdoors

Reflections in Nature: Spiders and webs, a closer look at them

One day last week I felt energetic and decided it was time to clean out our basement. I was making great progress until I walked into a cobweb. The web stuck to my head (mostly my face) like glue. I went wild trying to remove the cobweb from my head and face. Have you ever walked into a spider’s web? Do you remember whether you also went ballistic as you tried to wipe the web from your face? Throughout the years, Mary Alice — who is only 4 feet, 8 inches — paid five cents to our boys for each spiderweb they saw high on the walls in our home. Have you ever wondered what the ...

Outdoors community calendar for week of Feb. 24

AUDUBON EVENT: CHAPTER MEETING WHERE: Taber Museum at 858 W. Fourth Street in Williamsport WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. NOTES: Join Lycoming Audubon Society for the program “Mid-Atlantic Pelagic Birding: the where, the when and the what” presented by Paul Guris. This program is an introduction to the different pelagic zones and seasons in the Mid_Atlantic region, the birds and other creatures that can be found there and an introduction to just how pelagic trips operate. The program is free and open to the public. You can also attend virtually with Zoom using the link ...

Non-native vs. invasive: how each impacts our environment

I follow a lot of different publications and social media regarding the outdoors, especially here in the Keystone State. One of the benefits of the Internet is the ability to access so much information quickly, all from the comfort of your living room. Whether it is a hunting forum from the northcentral or an article about fishing in the Delaware, they are right there at my fingertips. Unfortunately, this also allows for the spread of misinformation, and after enough shares or likes, this misinformation takes on the appearance of the truth. Such is the case with the debate about ...

Reflections in Nature: Birds take advantage of opportunities provided by other species

My wife is always on the lookout for eagles, and last week we were pleased to have seen two eagles. One flew over our car in Camptown and the second was flying toward its nest near Gillett. Later, in the week, we saw on TV where eagles have been gathering on the Delaware River. Although seeing an eagle is no longer uncommon, it is still a thrill for the two of us. My most memorable sighting of our national symbol happened many years ago as I was driving along the Tioga/Hammond Dam. I just happened to glance at the lake and noticed an osprey catching a fish. The osprey took flight ...

Gardening as a revolutionary act: transforming yards with foodscaping

In a front porch garden bed, a burst of pink cosmos teases an elegant eggplant, dripping with speckled purple fruits while rudbeckia and swiss chard daydream in the sunshine. This mixing of edibles and ornamentals is known as foodscaping, a garden technique that horticulturist and author ...

West Branch Motor Boat Association celebrates its 76th year

Most know Summer Street in South Williamsport for Candy Cane Lane every winter season. And while that’s very true, at the far end of Candy Cane Lane near the Susquehanna River sits a little piece of paradise for boaters in the area. That’s where the West Branch Motor Boat Association is ...