Tiny but Loud
While out on a bird hike recently with a group of homeschool students, we discovered something very cool: a blue-gray gnatcatcher and its nest! Blue-gray gnatcatchers make a very unique nest with lichens from trees…
Song of the Gobblers
Most people consider wildflowers to be the sign of spring. I, however, listen for the sound of “gobbling” on the wind to herald the season of renewal in Ohio. By this I mean, it’s time…
Birds on the Brain
Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting the third grade class at Maddux Elementary. The visit was part of Great Parks’ Outreach efforts, where we take our naturalist programs “on the road,” out to schools…
Harbingers of Spring
With spring just around the corner, the time is coming to catch a glimpse of the first spring wildflowers of the year. Two of the first early risers, and most noticeable due to their bright…
Maple Syrup Magic
Add a dash of star power, a puff of breath and one drop of a raincloud… From when it first touches your lips, you know it’s something special. The sweet, amber-colored elixir that’s good on…
Let the Stars Be Your Guide
I can remember walking around my neighborhood as a child in the fall and winter, looking up at the stars, and I would always notice the constellation Orion. Year after year, he was always there,…
Winter Solstice
The word “solstice” in Latin means “sun stands still.” December 21 is the winter solstice, which is the day with the least amount of sunlight for the year here in Cincinnati. It also marks the first day of…
Barn Owls
A farmer walks into his barn late one fall evening. He hears a loud raspy, hissing “SSS-SKEECH!!!” The farmer jumps with fright and looks up into the rafters. A thin, white object files quickly and…