History & Folklore
Autumn is the perfect time of year to gather around the fire for storytelling. What many people may not realize is that many of the ghost stories and legends told this time of year are…
Winter Bird Feeding
For many people, with cooler weather come thoughts of the holidays, snowball fights and sitting by a crackling fire. These are all things that I love, but my personal favorite winter activity is watching the…
Missy the Hawk
As soon as the click of the key turning in the lock gives me away, I can already hear the repetitive chirp coming from behind the building in the outdoor compound. This is how Missy,…
Living History
Early settlers were toiling in the fields, cooled by the morning dew that burned away under the sun. Smoke was rising from the chimney as venison was being cooked for lunch. Children were playing Graces…
Mission: Royal Catchfly
Last weekend, I headed out to the Shaker Trace Trail at Miami Whitewater Forest to get some photos of my favorite prairie flower that’s currently in bloom: royal catchfly. Around the 4-mile marker, I thought…
Unwrapping the Secret Lives of Birds
Look out! The next bird you see might be shedding light on the secret lives of birds. Great Parks utilizes the skills of bird banding researchers to uncover some of these mysteries. Bird banding requires special…
What the Hellgrammite?
What’s 2-4 inches long, has an impressive set of pincers and could be lurking in a creek near you? It’s a hellgrammite! I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve never encountered one of these interesting critters,…
5 Myths of Nature
Nature is full of mysteries. Through scientific discovery, some myths can be dispelled regarding a few of our local critters. Which of these “untruths” have you believed? Myth: Nocturnal animals are never active in the…