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A quiet pool on the river where the author fished on a hot July night.

Logic might dictate that current weather conditions would be reason enough to forget fishing today. The local meteorologists report that this is one of the driest summers on record, with lawns, crops … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 11/4/20

Sediment is, by volume, the largest pollutant in the waters of Pennsylvania; unpaved roads are a major source of such pollution.

Roads and fishes

Does a dirt road have any bearing on the well-being of a fish? It might surprise you to learn that it does—enough to warrant the attention and activism of Trout Unlimited (TU), a leading … more

By SANDY LONG | 10/28/20

Composed and alert, this rabbit reminds me of a meerkat on the open savanna.

Down the rabbit trail

I’ve had such a busy year with building up the homestead that I feel almost a constant need to craft or harvest something for sake of a story. As I sat down to write this, however, I remember … more

By HUNTER HILL | 10/28/20

A close-up of a milksnake found in Pike county reveals round pupils that all non-venomous snakes (in our region) share. Milksnakes have smooth (non-keeled) scales. A “Y” shaped marking is on top of the head, behind the eyes, of this individual.

Colorful leaves, colorful snakes

With the arrival of fall, one does not hear as many animals calling as in the spring and summer (although I’ve been hearing a lot of Carolina wrens and some red-shouldered hawks). The frogs and … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 10/21/20

Another Catskill fall

Fall means different things to different people. Under normal conditions, fall means back to school for students and the beginning of another work year for teachers. Sadly, the virus has interrupted … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 10/21/20

White Deer Lake is one of six glacial lakes located within the Pike County, PA portion of the Delaware State Forest. At 49 acres and a depth of approximately 18 feet, the lake provides excellent opportunities for peaceful paddling or rowing, as well as warm-water fishing for bass and pan fish.

A perfect paddle

A recent event held near my home in Pike County included an evening of amplified music and a fireworks display. Despite being located several miles away, the sounds emanated through the forest, … more

By SANDY LONG | 10/14/20

Soon smoke will linger lazily over the roof of our new smoker once filled with life-sustaining meat.

A hunter’s haze

I woke up this morning wishing I didn’t have to go to work, much like a lot of folks this week. It’s not that I didn’t want to go to work, so much as I would have preferred to be … more

By HUNTER HILL | 10/14/20

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) Downsville Gauge showing low water temperatures from June to September 2020.

Dramatic changes in a six-mile difference

In previous columns, I’ve written that most mayfly hatches on some Catskill tailwaters, with some exceptions, end by August. But a recent trip to the lower East Branch found excellent hatches … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 10/7/20

This is a pair of mantises found in Shohola on September 18. The male is to the left and on top of the female. This pair was coupled for at least 20 minutes. Female mantids are slightly larger than the males and display a distended abdomen due to its egg mass during late summer.

Mating mantises

Although it is starting to get cooler, late summer and early fall is a good time to find assorted insects. Many insects that don’t overwinter in their larval state are near full size and ready … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 10/7/20

The simple act of taking a walk through the forest or along a sparkling waterway like this one in Pike County, PA can reduce anxiety and restore a sense of peace and perspective. Take a dog along and be inspired by its highly engaged sensory appreciation of the experience.

Peace and place

The River Reporter has invited readers to join its Monthly Conversation Experience by reflecting on the following prompt: In this time of upheaval, where do you find refuge and renewal? It will come … more

By SANDY LONG | 9/30/20

There’s no time like fall to enjoy the nature around us.

Take a moment

Before you read this, I invite you to find a comfy chair and get comfortable. Go ahead, I’ll wait. It’s been quite a year to say the least. Every so often, I forget about everything … more

By HUNTER HILL | 9/30/20

Our player for this sequence has just dropped a small chunk of wood. Whether it was an accidental drop, perhaps changing feet for a grip, or deliberate is hard to say. The young hawk has its eye on it.

Sky play

Some species of birds have started their migrations south. In fact, some species, such as the wood thrush, have started several weeks ago. Near the end of August, some raptors have started to … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 9/23/20

September flying ants

We went forward on this early September day with almost no expectations. The river had been quiet these last weeks—few hatching mayflies and fewer rising trout. Normally, at this time of fall … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 9/23/20

Most slugs are hermaphrodites with both female and male reproductive organs. Mating involves finding partners and engaging in “elaborate courtship rituals,” as described on Wikipedia. “Once a slug has located a mate, they encircle each other and sperm is exchanged through their protruded genitalia.”

Slug love

Many of the species of wildlife we are fortunate to co-exist with in the Upper Delaware River region are beautiful, awe-inspiring or just plain interesting. From the majesty of the black bears and … more

By SANDY LONG | 9/16/20

Fascinating as piebalds may be, they are in all ways, besides their appearance, the same as a brown whitetail deer.

Precious piebald

Lot’s of people go hunting every year whether for sport, for food or for family time. This year seems to be no exception, especially with the current pandemic pushing folks to do more outside … more

By HUNTER HILL | 9/16/20

This litter of neonates was spotted on August 30 along with one other group of neonates and some adults. A communal gestation site may have a “pile” of up to a dozen or so gravid females. Neonate timber rattlers are about a foot long at birth and weigh about an ounce. There are three neonates in this frame.

The babes of fall

With fall just around the corner, most animals are preparing for the long cold season ahead. A few early broad-winged hawks have started their migration south, bears are eating as much food as they … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 9/9/20

The author with a nice Bitterroot rainbow before catch and release.

A summer on the Bitterroot

A very long time ago, in what seems like another life, I had the opportunity to fish the Bitterroot River in Western Montana for most of one summer. At the time I was a student enrolled in the School … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 9/9/20

This chicken of the woods mushroom was in prime condition for harvest and consumption—firm and colorful flesh that is springy, but not tough.

Chickens and trumpets

While rambling along a country road recently, a flash of bright orange emanating from the dark forest floor caught my eye. The source of the vibrant color turned out to be a chicken of the woods … more

By SANDY LONG | 9/2/20

A bunch of elderberries ready for picking

Elderberry eating

Most of us are familiar with the seasons as they are presented in an elementary classroom: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Fewer of us are as familiar with the micro-seasons that pass within and … more

By HUNTER HILL | 9/2/20

Conflict on the West Branch

For those involved with the effort that led to the adoption of the Water Releases Legislation, Part 671 of the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL), none of us knew, back in 1976, the dilemma that … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 8/26/20

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Currently viewing stories posted within the past 2 years.
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