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Eagles migrate here for the ability to forage for fish, so they tend to be where there is open water. If the river is covered in ice, seek out swift water areas of the river as well as confluences, such as the Lackawaxen River confluence at the Delaware River. If it is a mild winter with little or no ice, the eagles have more of a choice and will be more spread out.

Winter eagle viewing in 2021

Bald eagles in Canada have been making their migration trip south to areas with open water in order to dine on their favorite food, fish. The Delaware and Mongaup river systems, along with … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 1/13/21

“To put your hands in a river is to feel the cords that bind the earth together,” wrote Barry Lopez, recipient of the National Book Award in 1986 for his nonfiction work, “Arctic Dreams.” Many who live in or visit the Delaware River region have been inspired by a similar sense of kinship with this iconic river.

‘Simply walking’ into 2021

“I have spent much of my time simply walking,” wrote Barry Lopez in “River Notes: The Dance of Herons,” a pocket-sized but powerful delve into Oregon’s McKenzie River … more

By SANDY LONG | 1/6/21

This is Walker Lake in Shohola, PA a day after the most recent storm of December 21. There are 15 inches of snow on the ground here, but very little of it is sticking to the trees; only the thick boughs of the white pines at the right lower part of the frame are holding some snow...

A white Christmas

Winter started this year with a snowstorm that averaged from one to two feet of snow that fell mostly through the night. Some areas of the northern tier of Pennsylvania and across the border to New … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 12/30/20

Sound travels in waves that emanate from a source. Although a silent expression of a different natural process, it’s easy to imagine the waves depicted in this ice puddle as illustrations of sound.

The solace of natural sound

Many years ago, on a silken starlit night, I sat peering into the dancing flames of a campfire, mesmerized by the occasional dervish of blaze and smoke. It swept into the inky sky by gusts of air … more

By SANDY LONG | 12/23/20

A saw-whet owl flying nearby triggered this self-portrait. In this image, the owl is too close for a good focus. It may have seen the trail cam or the illuminator and decided to check it out. Saw-whets are the smallest owl in our region, even smaller than the screech owl.

Wildlife viewing by remote

You have probably seen pictures on the internet of deer or other wildlife taken with remote cameras. Maybe you even have one of these so-called “trail cams” in your backyard. Whether you … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 12/16/20

The Streeters became enraptured with raptors—and with one another—after scraping up enough money to buy good binoculars with which to go birding together. “Those blessed with knowing Stephanie can appreciate what a treasure she was,” wrote Jan Lucciola following Stephanie’s recent death. Jan has worked with the Streeters at the Delaware Valley Raptor Center for more than 30 years. “Her love of animals was boundless, her knowledge endless, her grace, compassion and generosity infinite. There is so much about her to be celebrated and missed.”..

Taking flight

Having helped countless birds resume their wild lives, the woman whose long “fascination with the feather” led to an impactful life as a bird rehabilitator and conservationist has herself … more

By SANDY LONG | 12/9/20

A male turkey, or “Tom,” is shown here. Like many species of birds, it is the more colorful sex of the species. The blue and red pigment on the head is more vivid, the breast and wing feathers show more iridescence, and longer “beard” feathers are present on the breast. You can see the beard of this male off the left side of the breast.

Turkeys on the table, turkeys in the field

With the Thanksgiving holiday taking place last week, many of us still have turkey on our mind. If we dined on turkey, it was probably the domestic-farm-raised turkeys bought from the store, though … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 12/2/20

I’m #Grateful4theDelaware because it enlivens my senses and restores my spirit. The Delaware River has stirred stewardship, awakened activism and brought together individuals and communities over issues that, like the waterway itself, change over time.

A river of thanks

At this time of year, our awareness of the countless things for which to be thankful is raised by the arrival of Thanksgiving. Those of us living in the regions surrounding the Delaware River are … more

By SANDY LONG | 11/25/20

Here is a trio of buffleheads: a female flanked by two males. Like many species of birds, male buffleheads are flashier than females. The contrast of brilliant black patches against white makes these individuals stand out. The male on the left is displaying some violet and green iridescence on its black patches. The iridescent display can vary or be totally absent, depending on the angle of the sunlight.

Bufffleheads: autumn visitors

During the summer months, there seems to be a stable variety of waterfowl species on any given waterway. Pike County, PA sees an abundance of Canada geese, as well as some other species, such as … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 11/18/20

The luminous glow of this mushroom, dubbed “orange jelly,” is easy to spot against the dark wood of a rotting stump. Jelly fungi are characterized by their squishy gelatin-like appearance.

Mysterious mushrooms

A strange-looking thing showed up in my yard recently, emerging from the forest floor next to a rotting stump, peeping out from among the pine needles and decaying wood. Its egg-shaped form, topped … more

By SANDY LONG | 11/11/20

This is Walker Lake in Shohola, PA taken on October 14. There are various types of forest here, and the maples are bright red and yellow. Some of the oaks are dark yellow and some are still green.

Fall foliage from the air and ground

Fall is here and is making its presence known. Migrating birds are on the move, and I have heard some geese flying high overhead. The other thing that’s flying (downward, anyway) are leaves. … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Currently viewing stories posted within the past 2 years.
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