Nature of Delaware Blog

by Dakin Hewlett, Watershed Education Coordinator Fall not only brings the oncoming burst of changing colors, but also marks the beginning of the monarch butterfly’s incredible migration to Mexico. The DuPont Environmental Education Center highlighted the butterfly’s unique journey at their 4th Annual Marsh & Monarch Celebration on September 23rd. Blue skies and sunshine greeted over 200…

Ian Stewart American Goldfinches are one of my favorite birds. Their scientific name, Spinus tristis, translates as ‘Sad bird of thorn bushes’ and derives from their mournful rubber-duck like ‘squeak’ call. Personally, I think this name is unfair, as Goldfinches always seem such happy, colorful characters (like the female pictured below) with their jaunty, bouncy…

By: Tim Freiday, Middle Run Project Coordinator On Sunday, September 3, 2017, Delaware Nature Society held the annual Bio-Blitz at Middle Run Natural Area. Although rainy at 6:00 am, the skies cleared by 7:00 am and it turned out to be a very productive day with over 200 different species of organism recorded. In the park,…

Story and photography by Jim White, Senior Fellow for Land and Biodiversity Although I have seen it many times, I still always pause at the sight of an American Kestrel. This smallest, and most colorful, of North American falcons is a master of flight. It can soar high — or hover dragonfly-like over open lands…

By Sally O’Byrne, Trip LeaderPhotos by Robert Tuttle, Jr. A wastewater plant may not be the first place that comes to mind to look for birds, but many birders know the secret; They can prove to be quite good places to find gulls and waterfowl, often unusual in timing or species. Our local plant, operated…

Ian Stewart, Ornithologist One of the best ways to connect with nature is to monitor bird nest boxes. Regularly checking the contents of an active nest box lets you watch the whole breeding cycle unfold before your very eyes! It starts with nest building, progresses through egg laying and nestling rearing and then (hopefully) ends…