The Polar Bears of Churchill, Manitoba

November, 2024 - the western edge of Hudson Bay. These magnificent bears, with their large teeth and plate-sized paws sporting long, black claws, will rip you to shreds if you let them. And yet, during these months while the ice is beginning to form, they are more gentle than one can imagine. They are funny … Continue reading The Polar Bears of Churchill, Manitoba

Discover North America’s Colorful Warblers

October 3, 2024 - - It is that time of year when the smallest, most beautiful birds move through and fly from Canada and the Northern United States all the way down to Central and South America for the winter. Each spring and fall, they brave many dangers (including wind, storms, pesticides and even city … Continue reading Discover North America’s Colorful Warblers

Birding Southeast Arizona – Part One

A one-eyed road runner greets us as soon as we land in Tucson. The latino taxi driver at the airport has named her "Lolita" and, as he notices our binoculars, sends her our way. We all joke about this smart, semi-domestic and visually-challenged bird that is making the best of its situation. My posts on … Continue reading Birding Southeast Arizona – Part One

Ghoha Hills & Savuti Marsh, Botswana

The Savuti Region of Botswana is situated between the Chobe River and the Okavango Delta in Southern Africa. It is the end of the dry season and all of the water holes are empty. As our group flies over the Western portion of Chobe National Park, I look out the window of our small puddle … Continue reading Ghoha Hills & Savuti Marsh, Botswana

Wild Botswana – The Jewel of Africa

Our journey begins in late October at the end of the dry season. The rains have not yet arrived, and the animals are suffering from lack of water. Luckily, we get to see them because they all travel to the watering holes and rivers to drink. Hopefully, the rains will come soon. The fifteen-hour flight … Continue reading Wild Botswana – The Jewel of Africa

Block Island – Island of the Great Spirit

Located nine nautical miles off the coast of Rhode Island, Block Island stands firm as one of the most beautiful islands in New England. This was my fifth trip with Mass Audubon's travel program and my first time ever visiting Block Island. As the Travel and Certificate Program Manager, Scott Santino oversees this Mass Audubon … Continue reading Block Island – Island of the Great Spirit

Egrets & Ibis on the New Hampshire Seacoast

The Ibises skulk around in the grass and the Snowy Egrets remain in plain sight. Spying some Snowies in the marsh, I park illegally and run across the road. At the marsh in Rye, New Hampshire, I observe them for over an hour in all their feathery splendor. There are seven of them, fishing for … Continue reading Egrets & Ibis on the New Hampshire Seacoast

The Evening Grosbeaks

As I pull into the lengthy, snow-covered driveway in Jefferson, New Hampshire, David Govatski fills the suet feeder that hangs from the edge of the forest-lined path next to his home. He greets me and explains that visitors have been coming to his house almost everyday as of late to see the Evening Grosbeaks. Every … Continue reading The Evening Grosbeaks

Birds, Blueberries and the Bold Coast

The blueberry barrens of Columbia, Maine stretch out far and wide, and cover the land like a carpet. The area hosts a variety of inland bird species such as the Upland Sandpiper and Vesper Sparrow. The land is now owned by Wyman's, and is anything but barren. According to the company website, the blueberry fields … Continue reading Birds, Blueberries and the Bold Coast