Nature Moments

Nathaniel T. Wheelwright

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Climate Change: Trust But Verify

July 6, 2018

Is climate change just a hoax? It’s not … but why not follow Ronald Reagan’s advice and “trust but verify” by looking for evidence — pro or con — in your own backyard? If you pay attention to animals, plants and weather, you may discover that your neighborhood really is getting warmer.

Filed Under: Summer Tagged With: Animals, April, August, Climate Change, December, February, January, July, June, March, May, Nature Moments, November, October, Plants, September

Color and Communication in Turtles

June 22, 2018

Animals like painted turtles use different parts of their bodies to send distinct messages. Backs and bellies are designed to mislead predators, while faces, with their fine details, advertise a turtle’s identity and quality to nearby competitors and mates.

Filed Under: Summer Tagged With: Amphibians & Reptiles, Animals, August, July, June, Naturalist, Nature, Outdoors, Turtles

Benefits of Obesity in Woodchucks

June 14, 2018


Woodchucks are called groundhogs and whistle pigs for a good reason: they spend six months gorging themselves before going into hibernation. If they don’t double their weight, they might not survive the winter. (Thanks to Chris Mayer for sharing her expertise and Ariana van den Akker for her photography.)

Filed Under: Spring Tagged With: Animals, April, Mammals, May

How to Build a Bird’s Nest

May 31, 2018


If you ever have the opportunity (and permits) to dissect an abandoned bird nest, you’ll discover that female birds are ingenious architects of solid, well-insulated, camouflaged homes for their eggs. They’re able to do it without practice or instruction, using found objects like rootlets, feathers, twigs and mosses.

Filed Under: Summer Tagged With: Animals, Birds, July, June, May

Birdsong Baby Babble

May 21, 2018


Songbirds aren’t born with the ability to sing proper songs. Instead, they have to listen to adults in order to learn their songs, and then they need to practice. Adult females can distinguish the perfected songs of experienced males from the “baby babble” of young birds. If you listen carefully, so can you.

Filed Under: Spring Tagged With: Animals, April, Birds, May, October

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Acknowledgements

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