William and Kathryn Mayo, authors of 61 Gems of Highway 61 tell us all about staying at the Two Harbors Lighthouse. Imagine yourself back in time, 100 years ago, sleeping under the sweeping light of this beacon, in the very bedroom where the chief keeper of the...
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In today’s post, naturalist and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela talks about the super moth visiting our gardens this time of year. Late summer brings an amazing insect to flower gardens across the United States. It is the Sphinx Moth, also called the Hawk Moth or Hummingbird...
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The bold and beautiful bald eagle, the U.S. national bird, appears on the great seal of the United States. Bald eagles are not actually bald, as their name implies. “Bald” derives from an older use of the word balde, which meant “white-headed.” Males and females look...
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Naturalist and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela just returned from Alaska with many new tales and fabulous photography. Here is his first report. I go to Alaska every year for a variety of reasons: the wildlife, the amazing adventures, and the chance to connect with the mountains. This year...
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Join Randall Sanger, author of Waterfalls of Virginia & West Virginia: 174 Falls in the Old Dominion and the Mountain State, on a trip to the waterfalls of Whiteoak Canyon. I love multiwaterfall hikes, and my friend Kevin and I were excited to see all the waterfalls...
Read MoreRenowned naturalist and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela set out to capture images of osprey, now thriving once again across much of our nation. Here’s his report. Climbing a 20-foot-tall, narrow, metal ladder with an armful of expensive camera gear is always a nerve-racking experience. Once I am...
Read MoreLocally, the Dead River Falls are well known, but they aren’t as well known state-wide. Today, Greg Kretovic, author of Waterfalls of Michigan, takes us on a visit. Here is his report. Dead River Falls is a popular destination for local college students and thrill-seekers who...
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Each winter Stan Tekiela makes a pilgrimage to his favorite winter wonderland, Yellowstone National Park. Today, Stan shares with us his encounters with the clever Red Fox. Everything from the tiniest critters to the largest predators inhabits the park, making it one of the few places...
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In contrast to the fresh pink of the spoonbill, the wood stork appears oddly prehistoric. A close relative of the spoonbill and the ibis, this is the only stork native to North America. Fossils of a wood stork (or a “sister” stork—one that is very...
Read MoreStan Tekiela encounters a mink when checking on his purple martin colony. Find out what happened! The other day I was working with my purple martin colony. I have 16 gourd nesting boxes that house 16 families, and at this time of year the babies are...
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