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Trout recovered in an undercover operation in Deerpark, NY.

Illegal commercialization of trout in Orange County

DEERPARK, NY — On August 14, a Deerpark resident entered pleas of not guilty in Deerpark Town Court to charges related to the illegal commercialization of trout. The arraignment followed a … more

9/20/23

I saw this bullfrog perched on a rock; the challenge was that I couldn’t get too close without spooking the frog. I used 3x zoom (a focal length of about 85-100mm equivalent). I cropped the resulting image and used a little bit of sharpening. There is a fair amount of zoom capability built into mobile phones, but using too much zoom degrades the image. ..It’s good to experiment with zoom and other camera features to see what works best for your particular phone.....

Phone home (and do other things) in the wild

Most people have a mobile phone now and carry it around wherever they go—and that includes going into field and forest. Whether you are going for a two-hour fun hike or a full day’s … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 9/20/23

Isonychia mayflies, hatching along the Esopus Creek.

Isonychia mayfly hatches on the Esopus Creek

The Esopus Creek begins its journey from its source at Winnisook Lake on Slide Mountain in the Catskill Mountains, before joining the Hudson Estuary near Saugerties some 65 miles away. The … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 9/20/23

This striking cluster of turkey tail mushrooms caught my eye on a recent hike in Pike County, PA. While remarkable for their beauty alone, turkey tail fungi are highly prized for their medicinal value as well.

A beautiful bracket

Fungi are fascinating, not only for their ecological, medicinal and culinary properties, but also for the multitude of interesting forms in which they appear. From puffballs to slime molds, from … more

By SANDY LONG | 9/13/23

Preparation is key—but who was ever prepared for children in the kitchen?

There's no 'can' in salsa

The butcher’s kids go hungry and the cobbler’s kids go shoeless. I used to hear this phrase often, but perhaps less so lately. The idea behind it is that the thing we might do as a … more

By HUNTER HILL | 9/13/23

Broad-winged hawks are in the buteo family, as is the red-tailed hawk. They both soar and have stout wings, and might look similar at a long distance. ..The broad-winged hawk stands out with its barred tail and black fringed wings. They fly a little differently too. When a broad-winged circles in a thermal, its turn rate is quicker, with a smaller turning radius.

Hawk migration kicks off

With the arrival of September, many bird species start their migration to wintering grounds. Some waterfowl, such as Canada geese, are very noticeable—they fly in large flocks and their honking … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 9/6/23

Where we stand

What I mean by that title is where we stand with the DEC’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) and its review of all the material we provided regarding the public’s right to wade and fish in … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 9/6/23

Like other chanterelle mushroom species, the cinnabar-red rises in groves from the ground in regional woodlands...

Fungi finds

If you have been wandering the woodlands of the Upper Delaware River region recently, it is likely you have encountered many different types of mushrooms. Fascinating fungi of various forms and … more

By SANDY LONG | 8/29/23

I see, said the blind butcher

Ever had a bad day? Bad week? Maybe it was just uncanny how many things could go wrong all at the same time. Well, this is the tale of one such time. It all started long, long ago. A time so far … more

By HUNTER HILL | 8/29/23

What appears to be an immature osprey hovers near its nest, which is built on the central pillar for the support of a power line. On top of each pillar is a bowl-shaped structure that probably aided the adult ospreys in building the nest. Osprey frequently utilize man-made structures, from towers to channel markers, to build their nests. There is a larger stream near this nest, but no lakes within a mile of it.

Flighted critters, great and small

I had planned a field trip last week, mainly to look for reptiles and amphibians. It was already mid-morning when I reached the state forest land in southern Pike County and started my trek. It was … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 8/23/23

Fishing the Bitterrroot during late runoff, where I almost floated away.

One wrong move

Those of us who fly fish, and indeed most folks who fish, do not consider angling a dangerous sport. That’s especially true when comparing fishing to football, soccer or even auto racing. … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 8/23/23

DEC announces multi-year study on improving bald and golden eagle conservation efforts

NEW YORK STATE — State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) commissioner Basil Seggos announced that the department is seeking hunters to participate in a multi-year study of non-lead … more

8/22/23

A beetle finds repose on the pink petals of a wild rose blooming in Shohola, PA.

Wonderfully wild

It’s that time of year when insects and flowering plants provide a pleasing visual experience to the casual observer enjoying the abundant natural resources of the Upper Delaware River region. … more

By SANDY LONG | 8/16/23

My boys enjoyed our mini-adventure and will soon taste the spoils of their success.

Fundamental foraging

I wonder where I’d be sometimes if it wasn’t for God dropping blessings right in front of my face. Of course, I think about it—the very air I breathe and the ground I walk on count … more

By HUNTER HILL | 8/16/23

There is good northern watersnake habitat on this lake in western Pike County, but two weeks ago, I had a surprise: an eastern garter snake was also basking with a watersnake next to the shore on some rocks. ..The watersnake is the very dark snake with faint back markings. The garter snake’s head is just above the head of the watersnake, just left of center frame.

Summer snakes

Of all the animals that inhabit the wild, it seems the most misunderstood and feared creatures are snakes. We were not born with the fear of snakes; it has been instilled by passed-down … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 8/9/23

Bats in flight, looking for insects to feed on. We had difficulty finding a photo of an indigenous bat, so we used this one. ..File link: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0...

Bats, swallows and kingbirds

Fly fishing for trout requires intense concentration, especially when there are flies on the water and fish rising freely. Under those circumstances, anglers have a tendency to be oblivious of their … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 8/9/23

Peek-a-boo! An American toad waits patiently for a tasty slug or bug to pass by.

What's that in there>

In my last column, I wrote about the delight of discovering a robin’s nest next to our home and observing the cycle of life that transpired there. In a hopeful update, mama robin is on her … more

By SANDY LONG | 8/1/23

Small world

I’ve always prided myself on not burning bridges, no matter how I felt about a relationship or association. You never know who might be related to whom and how the story of your parting … more

By HUNTER HILL | 8/1/23

This hummingbird clearwing moth and a bumblebee were found sharing nectar from the same milkweed plant. This moth is fascinating to watch as it mimics a ruby-throated hummingbird, hovering near flowers and taking nectar with its long proboscis while in flight. Even its wing-beat frequency is similar, with 85 Hz for the moth vs. 60-80 for the hummingbird, so they might sound similar, though the moth might not seem as loud.

Hummingbird lookalike

It’s near the height of summer, when the temperature is close to peak. Various flowers are budding. There are plenty of hummingbirds around gardens or areas in the wild where flowering … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 7/25/23

A favorite pool

If you fish a river long enough you’ll learn some of her secrets—but not all. And if you’re like me, sooner or later you’ll find a favorite pool. Many years ago, my good … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 7/25/23

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Currently viewing stories posted within the past 2 years.
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