Nature Note: A Naturalist's Travels Through Nature

So for the past few weeks here in Syracuse, it has been interesting seeing just how much nature permeates our surroundings and our daily lives. Syracuse is a lot greener in places than I ever expected an urban environment to be. The first thing one notices is all the concrete and stonework and cars and other industrial creations that fill the air and surroundings with their noise and looming presence. I've read about urban sprawls and jungles in books and magazines and seen it described in glowering tones on environmental documentaries, but seeing it up close and living in it, makes you realize that things aren't always as they seem. Sure the typical urban wildlife can be found in droves. Squirrels bound from tree to tree, while ants crawl between cracks in the sidewalk. The big birdy three consisting of Rock Pigeons ( Columba livia ), European Starlings ( Sturnus vulgaris ), and House Sparrows ( Passer domesticus ) swoop through the streets and trees, filling most pockets wi...

As I sit in my parent's kitchen having just returned from Pennsylvania for the winter, I'm thinking back on some of my teaching experiences that I've had over the past year or so and remembering the names children will give to certain animals. I mentioned one of these in post #125 when I was talking about what bugs were common in Pennsylvania during the fall. These would be the Common True Katydids ( Pterophylla camellifolia ) that the kids call "leafbugs". They're not wrong as they do look like a leaf has spawned legs and beady little eyes. But despite being named for something else entirely (the name Katydid is allegory about a girl who refused to tell the truth about something and suffered dire consequences as a result), but this other name suits them just as well. Another insect that springs to mind is the water strider ( Gerridae ) which is often misnamed as the "water spider". However, according to a quick glance on Wikipedia, they are ...

*The opinions and statements made in this blog are entirely of my own opinion and do not reflect or represent the views of Drumlin Farm or Mass Audubon.   So it's happened again. I've spent a busy two and a half weeks working at camp once more and I have to say, I'm loving every minute of it. Today was the start of a new session and the day just flew by. It was amazing how well planned and coordinated a day like this could be. This week is a craft oriented week and the kids had a very nice first day getting to know the property and settling in for a week of day camp. I have been a camp counselor on and off over the past six years and this year am working as a coordinator for one of the three mini camps at Drumlin Farm. As you have probably guessed from the title, I work at Wolbach Farm which is located in Sudbury and is also the home of the Sudbury Valley Trustees. It's a lovely spot off of Route 27 and boasts a half mile loop trail in the woods on the property. The...