Although tree damage caused by high winds can negatively impact wildlife that use standing trees for feeding, perching, denning, resting, or foraging, fallen trees will provide excellent wildlife habitat as decaying logs, as well. 

Fallen trees in the woods may look like a "mess" to clean up, but as long as they are not posing a hazard or blocking important access, it is best to leave the trees where they have fallen.

Have you witnessed the beautiful Buttonbush blooms these last few weeks? They embody the wild bounty of mid-summer.

These uniquely geometric globes of bright white seem to explode from lush ribbons of green along the shoreline of a dazzling blue lake.

Cephalanthus occidentalis is a vastly underappreciated native shrub…

Keep your eyes out- turtles are on the move!

Female snapping turtles move over land, sometimes great distances through forest and uneven terrain, in a valiant effort to reproduce.

Did you know that Black-capped Chickadees are already singing for a mate?! Their first songs can be heard around the second week of January, each and every year - like clockwork.

This behavior is triggered by the the most powerful stimulus for plants and animals: photoperiod.

At this time of year we are gaining three minutes of daylight per day! That's the biggest jump we'll see all year. If that's not reason to celebrate, than what is?!

Lengthening days are a sign of spring to those of us with cabin fever, while plants and animals take this cue as a signal that the most favorable conditions for reproduction are upon them.

If you spend any time walking in coniferous forests, you've no doubt wandered right under these busy little birds without knowing it. They feed high in the treetops and are so small and active that they are easily missed - unless you’re a seasoned birder and can recognize the noisy high-pitched calls of foraging flocks.

As we all know, winters in the North can be harsh. For some animals that don't migrate or hibernate, the subnivean zone is their key to survival.

But what if you are predator? How do you survive this period of scarcity and extreme weather? To solve this problem, some of our predators have adapted hunting strategies that allow them to detect the presence and precise movements of the subnivean dwellers.

Our second book in the Wild Reads series is: Ravens in Winter by Bernd Heinrich. Grab a beverage and a comfortable seat, and let me tell you a story about the man who wrote this book. Then I'll share a few reasons why this is one of my top Wild Reads.

It was The Ice Storm of 1998…

After a busy summer season many of us find sweet relief in the fall. The chilly air and the early evenings invite us all to slow down. Have you noticed the bumble bees slowing down as well?

In dawn and dusk the last couple of weeks, you might have observed bumble bees sleeping on your flowers…

It's another big acorn year, and many oak trees have dropped their acorns relatively early - presumably because they are stressed from the drought, and can’t afford the resources needed to grow their seeds to maturity. Meanwhile, small flocks of blue jays (often family groups) are moving through hardwood forests - busily collecting and caching these synchronized seeds.

The land is awash with sprays of amber, lemon, and yellow from the wild goldenrods that proliferate in meadows, roadsides, forest edges, and vacant lots this time of year. These misunderstood, underappreciated, and spectacularly diverse plants have been lumped into the common category of "goldenrod" and unfairly blamed for hay fever.

Despite my education, and the ecological role that I know they play, I have been pretty wary of wasps throughout my lifetime. It's a visceral thing. I respected their place in the food web, but I didn't lean in to study them. That is until I laid eyes on the star of this Phenology Note: the Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus). They have won me over!

Providing water can be something as simple as re-purposing a garbage can lid to building an elaborate wildlife pond. Assess your landscape needs, budget and resources (time and money) and take the next step providing water for wildlife today – at any scale.

In this week's Phenology Note, the focus is on three common (but often overlooked) woody plants that provide important nutrition for wildlife. Do you have these fruits ripening in your woods? Will you take the time to look for them, and to lean in to the lessons they have to teach us?

This time of year your backyard hummingbird has hungry young ones to feed. Just a few short weeks ago she laid 1-3 eggs in a tiny little cup nest woven together with spider webs….

What does Mama Hummingbird need to succeed?

Have you ever wondered how a tiny chick manages to break itself out of a very hard shell - a shell hard enough to hold the weight of an incubating parent?

The process is miraculous…

The prolific lupines of Maine’s countryside are actually native to the West Coast and have only been here since the 1950s.

Spotted crane’s-bill (Geranium maculatum) is blooming in my habitat garden, rewarding me for my patience and persistence in planting.

With prominent striped bark and massive leaves, this native tree is a great ornamental choice for a habitat garden.

Our native serviceberry shrubs (Amelanchier species) are in full bloom on Maine's roadsides right now. Look for these shrubs and small trees as you drive around the countryside (who doesn’t love a little “drive-by botany”?).

This lovely little native shrub is of special value to bumble bees because it flowers early when queens are gathering valuable nectar in preparation for nest-building and egg-laying. 

This time of year we are treated to waves of colorful, flitting warblers moving through Maine…

I’m delighted to report that we might finally have bluebirds nesting in our home habitat. We’ve lived here in Poland Spring for over a decade, and have never put up a nest box…

Hungry bears will cover a lot of ground in search of foods, and are particularly attracted to bird feeders in spring and early summer. Although it may be exciting or entertaining to see bears close to our homes, it is an unnatural and dangerous situation for both bears and humans. 

Right about now red fox vixens are giving birth to a litter of four to five kits (even up to 10 in rare cases). The number of kits born is influenced by the number of foxes that occupy the particular area, and their food supply.