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Speaking of Nature: Signs of a lucky escape: L’il Stumpy’s tail of adventure
02-12-2025 8:13 PM

By BILL DANIELSON

I’ve been living in my house on the hill, my house above the meadow, for almost 20 years and ever since the day that I moved in I have been feeding the birds. It all started out small, as these things tend to do, and then the feeding program grew and became more elaborate. Today, I have a total of eight different feeders, of various types, that hang in highly curated positions around my deck. A lot of thought has gone into the collection and to this day there is always room for minor, but essential adjustments.

Displaying articles 1 to 20 out of 226 total.
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PHOTO: Icy waters
02-07-2025 11:54 PM


Speaking of Nature: A rare visit from our largest woodpecker: At long last, a Pileated Woodpecker came to explore my dead pines
02-04-2025 10:54 AM

By BILL DANIELSON

Last Friday morning I woke up with a splitting headache and bloody sinuses. Every muscle in my body ached and I was utterly exhausted even after a full night of sleep. I walked out to check on the wood stove, then sat down and contemplated my next move. The threat of inclement weather and my general physical state combined to convince me that going to work was not an option. So I filled out the paperwork for a sick day and then went back to bed.


PHOTO: Sticking out in the snow
01-30-2025 5:46 PM


PHOTO: Snow fowl
01-29-2025 3:53 PM


Speaking of Nature: A spa for snakes: Finding signs of garter snakes and their skins in my woodpile
01-28-2025 1:34 PM

By BILL DANIELSON

It was a Sunday and a big storm was on the way. The morning was fairly calm, but clouds had moved in and there wasn’t much time before the snow started to fall. In a perfect world I could have simply kicked off my shoes and settled in for a quiet winter morning, but we don’t live in a perfect world. Instead, we live in a world that requires firewood to be moved from time to time, and, like it or not, it was time.


PHOTO: Wings spread wide
01-24-2025 4:32 PM


Speaking of Nature: Reflected in a blue jay’s eye: A curious opportunity to try something a little artsy
01-21-2025 9:56 AM

By BILL DANIELSON

Anyone who has ever dabbled in the art of photography will understand that you find yourself at the mercy of your environment. Of course, I am speaking of outdoor photography in this case. Studio photography is an entirely different organism because in that particular endeavor the art lies in manufacturing an environment. If you are outdoors, however, you have to find ways to make due with what you’ve got on any particular day.


Outdoor classroom pavilion planned at Fisher Hill Elementary School
01-18-2025 6:01 PM

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — A New Salem company has been tapped to construct an outdoor classroom pavilion at Fisher Hill Elementary School.


PHOTO: Awaiting spring
01-18-2025 11:30 AM


‘When I see bees, I see beauty’: Local scientist explores the world of native bees
01-17-2025 9:51 AM

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Aliza Fassler is a scientist who spends a lot of time outdoors, and the Greenfield native offers a tip that can lead to an extraordinary experience. The next time you’re perspiring while outdoors on a warm day, keep an eye out for a tiny flying insect. If a golden green sweat bee (Augochlorella aurata) lands on you, there’s a chance you could observe it licking the salt on your skin. If you look carefully, you might even see its miniscule tongue. “It tickles!” said Fassler.


PHOTO: Those rushing waters
01-15-2025 6:57 PM


Speaking of Nature: The bird that changes outfits in the winter: The adult male American goldfinch opts for a less showy plumage
01-14-2025 3:12 PM

By BILL DANIELSON

Anyone who makes a regular habit of watching birds will recognize that there is a predictable rhythm to the seasons. Winter is the harshest time of year and as a result there are fewer species to look for. At my house, in the month of January, I have managed to see a maximum of 31 different species. Different people living in different places will probably see a smaller number than that, but there may be the occasional yard that has more species to offer.


PHOTOS: Cold winter’s day turns to night
01-08-2025 7:04 PM


Speaking of Nature: The blue jay that stood guard: Observations during a solid week of unfettered access to the birds
01-07-2025 1:07 PM

By BILL DANIELSON

The final week of 2024 was particularly calm and delightful for me. After the hustle and bustle of hosting a family gathering, my wife and I were able to nestle down into the “holiday bunker” and enjoy some much-needed R&R. For one solid week we were...


Speaking of Nature: Last year in bird watching: A review of 2024, a record-breaking year for bird sightings and photos
01-01-2025 6:01 AM

By BILL DANIELSON

Happy New Year everybody! I was delighted to have a snowy celebration for this iconic winter holiday and I hope that you are sitting happily with your feet up and a warm beverage in your hand. I am just finishing an hour of bird watching at my kitchen...


Growing in harmony with nature: Montague’s Bigfoot Food Forest shares the benefits of growing ‘three sisters style’
12-27-2024 10:11 AM

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Stepping into an animal enclosure after dusk on Friday the 13th, I moved slowly among feathery shapes that appeared grey in December’s early darkness. The full moon, low in the sky, was the only light source; the atmosphere was eerie and wholly...


Speaking of Nature: Irregular in every way: For the first time, I’ve sighted a mockingbird at my feeder in December
12-17-2024 3:24 PM

By BILL DANIELSON

It was just another morning at the kitchen window. During the school year I am a prisoner of “teacher time,” which means that I wake up at 4:30 a.m. every morning, whether I want to or not. Weekends, holidays, you name it, I’m up. So, rather than...


PHOTO: Watching like a hawk
12-12-2024 7:24 PM


PHOTO: Foggy farmland
12-11-2024 4:22 PM


Speaking of Nature: Introducing the Birch Perch II: Making improvements to my bird observation venue
12-10-2024 1:20 PM

By BILL DANIELSON

My last visit to the Thinking Chair occurred on Sunday, Oct. 20. It was a bright, sunny day and there had been a frost during the night and this produced some interesting effects on the remaining leaves down in the meadow. The following Saturday was...

Displaying articles 1 to 20 out of 226 total.
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