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National Park Service interpretive ranger Payten Nekich talked to the kids about eagles in the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, and how the eagles relate to native brook trout.

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — On May 12, 70-some Sullivan West elementary school kids released 500 brown trout fingerlings into the cold, pristine waters of Callicoon Creek. The school is partnered … more

By TED WADDELL | 5/18/22

This image of an eagle nest was taken in May 2014. It shows an adult and a young eaglet about three weeks old. Note the position of the nest wall (the top of the nest) in relation to the branches on the left side of the tree. The young eaglet is plainly visible. This nest (one of four documented alternate nests for this territory) first appeared in 2009...

Bald eagle construction code

If you happen to see a bald eagle nest while paddling the river or from across the lake, you will probably first notice the size. They are massive nests constructed of sticks. more

By SCOTT RANDO | 5/17/22

A pheasant tail and a prince nymph, rigged with a split shot to fish deep.

Deep-water nymph fishing

According to my fly-fishing diary, the last time I went to West Yellowstone, MT, was during the late summer of 2002. At that time, with the exception of late-morning trico hatches, most of the mayfly and caddis activity was over, and the eagerly awaited blue-winged olive hatches had not begun. more

By TONY BONAVIST | 5/17/22

Chipmunks excavate intricate underground tunnels, which they access via openings—holes in the ground or crevices between rocks, as depicted here. The underground network includes chambers for food storage, sleeping and living.

Chipmunk merriment

Spring is a great time of year to observe the activities of animals, birds and insects throughout the Upper Delaware River region. more

By SANDY LONG | 5/11/22

Country roads

I’m a big John Denver fan. Have been for quite a while. more

By HUNTER HILL | 5/11/22

This is an image of a young eagle, about three weeks old, taken on the first day of May a few years ago. At the moment, it is covered by secondary down, but very soon, dark brown pin feathers will start to appear and then will replace the down. The young are now large enough to be seen over the nest wall when standing. This nest is close to six feet in diameter; however, when the latter part of June arrives, this once-spacious nest will become pretty cramped with two nearly full-grown young (the average clutch size) occupying it.

Eaglets make their appearance

During the winter, the resident bald eagles have been enjoying their time off from breeding activities for the most part. Some banded eagles, documented as part of territorial pairs in the … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 5/5/22

The East Branch of the Delaware, at 1,400 cfs, on April 14. Normal flow is 100 cfs.

Water, water

I believe the summer deluge began sometime in July of 2021. Part of that phenomenon had to do with the inordinate amount of rain that we had in the western Catskills during that period. At the … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 5/5/22

The wound of the ill-fated Eastern garter snake described in this column can be seen at the lower right corner of this photo.

A twist of fate

The world of nature is full of surprises, and they are not always pleasant. Walking on the road where I live in Pike County, PA, I came upon an Eastern garter snake curled on the macadam. Bending … more

By SANDY LONG | 4/27/22

Farming and flamethrowers go hand-in-hand more than you might think.

Flamethrowers and thunder chickens

While spring is most certainly sprung and the most recent snowstorm officially melted away into the land of blissful ignorance, I can’t help but feel like I’m still playing a lot of … more

By HUNTER HILL | 4/27/22

The mourning cloak’s wings are largely dark, with purple spots near the trailing edge. Both the fore- and hindwings are fringed with a band of light yellow. ..When they are seen in spring, the wings may appear somewhat tattered; after they mate in the spring, they are close to the end of their 11-month lifespan. ..The underside of the wings appears dark with less color. The yellow fringe can be seen in flight, depending on the viewing angle.

Spring butterflies

During a mid-month hike a week or so ago, there were a fair number of things to see and hear. Pileated woodpeckers calling and drumming, bald eagles and vultures soaring above the mountain tops, and … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 4/22/22

The small, remote streams where wild brook trout still thrive.

Early-season trout fishing

In those days, the teenage years, trout fishing was strictly a weekend affair. Except during summer, when on occasion my friend Tony and I had the rare opportunity for a weekday adventure. At the … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 4/20/22

Adult beavers average 40 to 60 pounds and typically grow up to 40 inches in length. Their stubby bodies, glossy brown coats and paddle-shaped tails make this mammal easily identifiable in the Upper Delaware River region.

Beaver teeth

What do you know about North America’s largest rodents, and in particular their unusual teeth? Castor canadensis is an aquatic fur-bearing mammal that was eliminated in Pennsylvania and most … more

By SANDY LONG | 4/13/22

The River Reporter’s Amanda Reed is not only an award-winning graphic designer, but one of my best fishing buddies as well.

Flocking to the stockies

Confidence. Founded or unfounded, confidence is what turns a mere attempt into an experience. It doesn’t even have to be real; sometimes faking it will get you just as far as the real thing … more

By HUNTER HILL | 4/13/22

This nymph-stage blacklegged tick is possibly hungering for a blood meal.

Tick turn-off

EVERYWHERE — Cedarwood oil smells great to a lot of people. It can be found in many consumer products—perfumes, soaps and deodorants, for example. But cedarwood oil also is prized for … more

4/13/22

These two spring peepers are in amplexus, a method of mating where the male (on top) grabs the female with its forelegs. A male that is successful in attracting a female usually calls louder and faster than nearby males. A female can lay more than 750 eggs that hatch in six to 12 days.

Early songs of spring

About mid-March, when a couple of mild days arrived, I started hearing one of the first sounds that tell of the impending arrival of spring and warmer days ahead. I visited some vernal ponds, and on … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 4/8/22

Quill Gordon

In the last three or four years, the years I’ve written about fly fishing for the River Reporter, there have been columns about most of the important mayfly species that hatch from Catskill … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 4/8/22

Andrew Sander, 13, of East Meredith, NY, was joined at Fly Fest 2022 by his father Henry, part of a self-described outdoors family. Andrew was mentored in the art of fly-tying by Joe Ceballos, president of the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild.

Fit to be tied

ROSCOE, NY — On February 26, the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum (CFFCM) held Fly Fest 2022, its annual rite of passage as the frigid grasp of winter starts to thaw, bringing forth … more

By TED WADDELL | 4/6/22

Wooden folding tip-ups are the ideal choice for the traditionalist ice fisherman.

Identifying the ideal tip-up

Although by the time this magazine is printed, ice-fishing season will be either over or close to it, it’s been on my mind for a few years now to talk about the particulars of this chilly … more

By HUNTER HILL | 4/6/22

A section of the East Branch with accessible PFR.

The public’s right to fish in Catskill navigable rivers

On several occasions, anglers have asked what I thought was the single most important issue facing the future of trout fishing in the Catskills. Without hesitation, I replied, “Continued and … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 4/6/22

A pool of chiseled shards cast off by a woodpecker searching for sustenance collects at the base of a tree.

Drilling in

In the still-stark days of early spring, it’s easy to see evidence of woodpecker activity in the Upper Delaware River region. Swatches of light-colored wood catch the eye as one passes by … more

By SANDY LONG | 3/30/22

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Currently viewing stories posted within the past 2 years.
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