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Trees are temporarily transformed into artful abstractions following winter snowstorms. Take a walk, and take delight in this fleeting visual gift.

To me, trees are truly miraculous. As a child, I spent happy hours climbing into their arms, resting there, held in their embrace and swaying ever so slightly when the wind joined in, enhancing my … more

By SANDY LONG | 1/22/20

The deer who dared race with my car certainly wasn’t the winner, but then again neither was my car.

Oh deer...

The way out here isn’t all good things. Neither is it the thriller-inspiring dark woods that so many urban folks think it is. What I mean to say, in this dichotomy of pros and cons of living in … more

By HUNTER HILL | 1/22/20

A muskrat enjoys dinner at sunset on an ice shelf at Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge. Muskrats are herbivores and usually have no problem in finding enough food during the winter months in or near the water.

Winter wildlife viewing opportunities

Winter is the time to see eagles in or around the region. Not only are there lots of migrant eagles from Canada wintering here, but the ice formation on area waterways from cold weather forces the … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 1/15/20

An angler fishing across and downstream.

The across and downstream drift

A long time ago, when I started to fly fish and began the process of weaning off worms, Mepps Spinners, assorted lures and baits, I adopted the standard up-and-across-stream practice of casting my … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 1/15/20

The wild way

A parent’s gifts come in many forms. Some of the finest given to me by my mother, Dorothy, and father, Ormond, have been an appreciation for the natural world, for music, for art and for words. … more

1/8/20

Here you see the primal cuts of our hog, separated and ready for further processing.

New year, new meat

A new year is upon us, and that means a couple of things out here in the sticks. Folks are staying indoors, ambitious gardeners are perusing the seed catalogues and, if you’re like me, the … more

By HUNTER HILL | 1/8/20

This adult eagle, seen on the Delaware near the Lackawaxen River confluence, is either a resident eagle or a migrant from Canada. This area stays somewhat ice-free during the winter and attracts eagles to congregate there. Areas such as these are targeted during the mid-winter bald eagle survey.

Mid-winter eagle survey

The first part of January is the time for the annual mid-winter bald eagle survey. The survey is coordinated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Most … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 12/31/19

Fly-fishing the Pepacton Reservoir

One could legitimately ask, why would fly fishers want to fish a reservoir? But yes, the title is correct. This piece is about the Pepacton Reservoir and the possibilities it offers fly … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 12/31/19

One of the projects funded by Pennsylvania’s Environmental Stewardship Fund resulted in a study of the impact of non-point-source pollution on water quality. The study utilized hands-on testing and sampling that compared the pristine Lake Lacawac at Lacawac Sanctuary with the massive man-made Lake Wallenpaupack, pictured here.

Celebrating conservation

It’s exciting to note that as we enter 2020, we celebrate 20 years since Pennsylvania’s Environmental Stewardship Fund (ESF)—also known as Growing Greener—was established to … more

By SANDY LONG | 12/23/19

Here sits our perfect Rorick-sized Christmas tree in all of its two-foot glory.

The perfect Christmas tree

The snow has fallen and most folks have already completed their Christmas decorating and shopping. Families are wrapping presents and putting the final touches on the tree. Many flock to events like … more

By HUNTER HILL | 12/23/19

Eastern hemlock saplings are flexible and can collect enough snow and ice to bend over double. Hemlocks get stouter as they grow, but a tree more apt to cause problems with power lines is the white birch; they can get tall enough and retain enough flexibility to interfere with power lines.

December roars in

The first day of December started out well enough; it was overcast with no precipitation at 7 a.m., with a temperature of 21 degrees in Shohola, PA. At about 8 a.m., the first hint on what was to … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 12/18/19

Trout on the move

One day several years ago, when the afternoon light was exactly right, I saw a trout rise and then swim swiftly 20 feet away. Boy, was I surprised! Granted, it was in a flat, low gradient pool, so … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 12/18/19

As eagle populations rise in the Upper Delaware River region, it is increasingly likely to encounter this magnificent raptor during the Christmas Bird Count. Visit www.delawarehighlands.org/eagles/wintering-eagles to learn more about local viewing opportunities during the winter months.

Counting birds for Christmas

For 119 years, the National Audubon Society has led an important initiative known as the Christmas Bird Count (CBC)—an early winter bird census that has resulted in the establishment of a … more

By SANDY LONG | 12/11/19

The family lines up to boast a tailgate full of pheasants and chukars harvested Thanksgiving morning.

A Thanksgiving tradition

Flurries gusted by as the clouds rolled overhead, making for a slightly grey and indecisively chilly Thanksgiving Day. Braving the brisk morning stood my wife and family, clicking shell after shell … more

By HUNTER HILL | 12/11/19

Our maestro

I stopped by the house today to drop off some books and pick up a few things. All the leaves were down and most had been washed away by the night’s rain. There were no tire marks in the drive … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 12/4/19

This female turkey is showing off its blue-green and orange plumage. The banding of the primary and secondary flight feathers is visible on the tips of the wings. Turkey wing feathers found on the ground are most frequently misidentified as hawk feathers.

River talk

By now, most readers have finished their Thanksgiving leftovers from the holiday dinner they likely shared with family and friends last week. A whole turkey provides enough leftovers for several … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 12/4/19

This young four-point buck was struck by a vehicle and pinned under the guard rail.

For the good of the cause

Hunting is about much more than the hunt and the harvest—it’s a lifestyle that permeates much of what you do throughout the entire year. There’s a charge of stewardship that goes … more

By HUNTER HILL | 11/26/19

Splash! The kingfisher dives into the water, nabbing a meal with a swift snap of its sturdy beak.

King of the fishers

You might be paddling down the Delaware River, or walking along the shoreline of a local lake when you hear it—the distinctive chittering cries of a belted kingfisher. The loud rattle-like … more

By SANDY LONG | 11/26/19

Rainbows on the move

As most anglers that fish the Catskills soon learn, rainbow trout are not as widely distributed throughout the region as brown trout. However, that is changing. As far as stream fisheries go, … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 11/21/19

Autumn archery atlas

Archery season is a very different animal than rifle season. The weather is different, the animal behavior is different and, of course, the weapons are different. But as juxtaposed as the two seasons … more

By HUNTER HILL | 11/14/19

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Currently viewing stories posted within the past year.
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