Site Discussions

Can you imagine my pleasure at running into the name of my old friend Gerard Courtin in this article? When I corresponded with Gerry, he said that this research was conducted in the back yard of a neighbor in Sudbury, Ontario.

Thank you.

Joel White
Lancaster, NH

I am just learning about fairy shrimp and am looking at the vernal pools in our woods in a whole new light. Love northern woodlands!

Thank you;  this was a very interesting post and answered many of the questions I’d been thinking about.

Well written article on the amazing work of Steven Johnson, Conservation photographer and professor at EMU.

I was bit by this bug (White-spotted Sawyer Beetle) just now in my bedroom. The bit did hurt and caught my attention. I’m not sure how it got in my room but it was on the side of my bed. I captured it and ran outside to let it go.

Broad-winged hawks do kettle on their northward migration, but late winter / early spring sightings are rare in Massachusetts. They begin to return in numbers starting in mid-April. Turkey vultures also kettle during migration and March is when they’re moving through the Bay State. Distinguishing features or behaviors are hard to recognize when birds are soaring at high altitudes, but if the birds are soaring with two-toned wings held in a shallow V and if they teeter as they glide, then that would indicate turkey vulture.

I enjoyed this article very much. It was well written and gave me a much welcome overview of the life of this species, while at the same time sharing with readers the writer’s enjoyment of this creature.

Do broad winged hawks kettle in a northern migration in the early spring? I am sure that is what I saw on March 16th 2021, a few days ago. I saw a speck of a bird way up high in the sky when I was outside my house in Northeastern MA. It was barely visible with the naked eye, but when I looked at it with my binoculars, I saw many more, 10 or 12 soaring around and around in circles. Their altitude was astounding. The sky was clear blue, but without the binoculars I couldn’t see them at all. I keep reading that broad shouldered hawks migrate like this in the fall, but why wouldn’t they do the same in the spring, as they arrive in the north to breed?

Great article…the connections Ms. Brunner is making are inspiring.  The earth is an eco-system with millions of subsets….she is onto a most beautiful set.

Just found a great early logging calendar put out by Brown Co. Wish I could find a way to share it here!

Thanks for the story Lee. My son and I just built two companion nest boxes out of rough cut hemlock to put up in the swampy outskirts of our yard. Two questions: 1) Is there a time of Spring I should put these out to encourage bluebirds taking to it over tree swallows (or other undesired nesters)? and 2) How did you prevent the squirrels from taking all the raisins at your feeding tray? As soon as I put out any food that’s NOT in a squirrel-proof feeder, the critters have a feast on it long before most of the yardbirds even discover it’s there!

Hi Lee, very nice article. I have been helping Bluebirds for over 40 years, providing nest boxes, and creating “Bluebird Trails”.  I have found that a club in Michigan, has some wonderful information on Bluebirds. Their website is michiganbluebirds.org. They have some great bluebird box designs, and I have found that the most successful design is the Gilwood Slot Box. The bluebirds love it, and the House Spartows don’t.  Thanks for a great article, take care. Gib

Has anyone tried the Makita double-battery electric chain saw?
I believe the top of line version is half the price of the Stihl, and at WW lumber, it came with an extra set of batteries?

I can only thank you again for the wonderful and informative weekly postings!
Knowledge enhances appreciation…

Good to know they are better than before. Some tips I’ve learned regarding modern batteries… try to keep them close to 50% charge when storing for long periods. Also, never ever let them drop to 0% for any amount of time, it will do permanent damage to the battery.

Seeing this years later, but what great info. And glad to see people are going out of their way to replant what should be in nature. We have some local lore about the previous pine industry here in Louisiana, and from that angle it is very interesting to see your details here about the northeast. We have a few private acres here and there, and let most of it grow wild. All it takes are people that give a hoot to bring back some forests and natural habitat.

There is hope for the ash. The USDA and others are working with several species of Asian wasps that are parasitic on the emerald ash borer.  See “The Journeys of Trees” by Zach St.George (2020, W.W. Norton).

You are no “ordinary Joe”, but a man after my heart.  I have preached your philosophy for years.  BTU value is nearly equal in all species if weighed by the dry pound.  Various woods have their own special characteristics in harvesting, splitting, drying, and burning. Know the wood and use it according to your needs.  I’ve always been fond of aspen.  It splits easily and I regularly use it in my sauna for a hot, quick heat up and have sold a few others on its value.  Keep preaching to others, I’m already in the choir.

I was just looking at other peoples ideas on a chopping block. Saw this article. Thank you. I have a second block to stand on my main block for when I am generating kindling. It save me having to stoop. This then becomes my main block when the main block has done its job. Hope the tip helps those with a bad back. The log burner is our only form of heat. We have a typical Lath/lime plaster cottage with thatched roof. I’ll be 70 this summer. Once again thanks for all your comments and tips.

Such an appropriately and beautifully done combination of great natural history reporting and the anthropomorphic. I have two girls in that same space and I could totally relate. and I’m also an ecologist and appreciated the detail and the conservation issues. Thanks for being someone who makes important information accessible.