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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

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

Express your gratitude for our mighty and majestic Delaware River by taking and posting pictures on Thanksgiving Day and using #Grateful4theDelaware to proclaim your appreciation. Visit www.4states1source.org to learn more about the Delaware River Watershed Initiative’s work to protect the rivers and streams that provide drinking water for more than 15 million people across four states.

Falling for fall

With October in the rearview mirror and Thanksgiving looming on the horizon, signs of the season’s shift toward winter are all around. Take some time to tune in to the passing peculiarities and … more

By SANDY LONG | 11/13/19

Red-tailed hawks are probably the raptor you’re most likely to see in the region. They can be seen along highways perched on trees, looking for prey in the form of squirrels or other rodents. Some of these, mainly from the north, are seen migrating through the area in late October and into November. However, many in our region stay in the area all year round.

River talk

When fall arrives, it signals the time for some bird species to migrate to warmer climes. We have all seen and heard large skeins of Canada geese flying southbound during this time of year. Other … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 11/6/19

A bookworm in the best sense, Jenna Wayne Mauder loves books so much that she started a free book swap eight years ago to re-home unwanted books to fellow book-lovers in the Upper Delaware River region. The popular community event received an environmental award from the Northeast PA Environmental Partners on October 24.

Unabashed bookworms

I suspect that readers of community newspapers like The River Reporter tend to be devotees of the written word, especially those who purchase subscriptions and enjoy the experience of ink on paper. … more

By SANDY LONG | 10/30/19

Worker bees are seen here in a section of the hive. It was about 45 degrees when this image was taken, so they were not very active. The female worker bees do most of the hive upkeep like gathering honey, feeding larval bees and constructing new honeycombs. The queen may be in that cluster, surrounded by workers in the upper part of the hive. There are also drone bees: male bees whose sole purpose is to mate with the queen. After mating, she deposits an egg in each of the designated combs.

The bees' knees

Honey bees are an essential part of the environment. They pollinate wild plants and cultivated plants alike. Our bountiful harvest in the late summer wouldn’t be so bountiful without bees to … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 10/23/19

The Eastern Newt, shown here in its terrestrial stage as a red eft, is harmless and should not be harvested for adding to bubbling cauldrons.

Forest frights

Halloween will soon be here, with witches, werewolves, monsters, ghosts, ghouls and goblins beginning to appear around our homes and neighborhoods. As the colorful foliage begins to fall, our … more

By SANDY LONG | 10/16/19

This southward-bound monarch can only fly 12 to 15 mph, but in two months, it can be down to its wintering grounds in Mexico. A butterfly has been tracked flying over 285 miles in a single day, though it may have been helped by a tailwind. Migrating monarchs are frequently seen 100 feet or more above the ground, likely helped by thermals and ridge lift.

Monarch fly-in

A fly-in might be considered a gathering for pilots that takes place at a given airfield. The focus of the meeting might be a small gathering for breakfast at the airport diner, or perhaps a … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 10/9/19

“Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied fall foliage season than any other state in the nation—or anywhere in the world,” according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Combined with the state’s outstanding waterways, travelers are in for a real treat while touring the region.

The forest AND the trees

Following my last column about fall webworms and eastern tent caterpillars, I decided to share something more pleasing to the eye, and to the spirit, therefore this paean to the restorative nature of … more

By SANDY LONG | 10/2/19

Neonate timber rattlers measure about one-foot long at birth. This female measured 29.8 cm and weighed 30 grams (as compared to one kilogram for the average female adult). The single rattle on its tail, resembling a button, is incapable of making any noise. This individual was one in a litter found in early September.

Some late season newborns

When we think of young animals making their first appearance in the wild, the season of spring comes into mind. Animals born during spring’s improving weather have several months of warm … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 9/25/19

The larval stage of the fall webworm can be observed throughout the Upper Delaware River region at this time of year. Fall webworms build their filmy nests at the tips of tree branches. The large messy nests typically contain an assortment of bristly caterpillars, their droppings and partially eaten leaves.

Wondering about those webs?

If you’ve been traveling around the Upper Delaware River region lately, you may have begun to wonder whether these early autumn days have taken a decided turn toward the time when ghouls and … more

By SANDY LONG | 9/18/19 | 1 comment

Even as caterpillars, the Luna moth is very prominent. This caterpillar is large—about three inches for this individual—and the orange-brown body contrasts with its green head. The caterpillar of this species appears in August and overwinters, undergoing metamorphosis and emerging as a moth in late spring of the following year.

Late summer bug walk

Late August and early September elicit a variety of insect life, aside from the usual pesky biting types. During this time of year, seasonal insects are likely to be mature, as it is late in their … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 9/12/19

Mark your calendars for the interesting discussion and meditative experience, “Seeing the Forest Through the Trees,” featuring local authors, John Harvey and Doug Bill, on September 22, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, PA.

Attentive appreciation

Devoted readers of “River Talk”—please consider this your cordial invitation to join me and two wonderful local authors, Doug Bill and John Harvey, for an event that is sure to … more

By SANDY LONG | 9/4/19

Three female timber rattlesnakes nestle at a gestation basking site. There are two black-phase snakes and, on the right, a yellow phase. The milky appearance of the eyes on two of the snakes indicate they are ready to shed. Basking is a thermoregulatory strategy snakes use to control their body temperature. If they get too warm during a hot day, they will retreat under a ledge or other shady spot.

The ‘buzz’ about rattlesnakes

A few weeks ago, there was news of a couple rattlesnake sightings at various locations in Pike County, PA. It spurred one of the local news channels to present a short informational segment on … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 8/28/19

This adult female mallard duck was rescued after being hit by a vehicle and suffered a broken wing. I took her to the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center (PWERC) in Stroudsburg, PA, a non-profit providing care to injured and orphaned wildlife since 1983. PWREC takes in more than 2,400 animals annually, such as bears, fawns, raccoons, raptors, songbirds, foxes and more. Please consider supporting their important work. Visit www.poconowildlife.com/wp to learn more.

Empathy and action

Imagine, for a few moments, that you are a female mallard duck. You have been struck by a vehicle and are wobbling around Route 6 in Hawley, PA in front of Wallenpaupack Brewing Company. A tractor … more

By SANDY LONG | 8/21/19

The red milkweed beetle is host-specific to milkweed. With their bright-red color interspersed with black spots, they are pretty obvious. The adults feed on leaf foliage while the larvae feed on roots. This species has a scientific name of Tetraopes tetrophthalmus; both the genus and species name translate to “four eyes.” The antenna socket bisects each compound eye, causing this beetle to have four compound eyes.

Milkweed visitors

So far this summer, I’ve seen a fair number of monarch butterflies as well as some caterpillars of the same species. These numbers are certainly an improvement from a few summers ago when only … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 8/14/19

Walking stick insects are known as phasmatodeans or ghost insects due to their highly effective natural camouflage that makes it difficult for predators to detect them. Resembling small twigs, this animal is herbivorous and blends easily into its leafy food sources.

Interesting insects

I happened to catch part of an interview on NPR recently with author Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson, whose newly-released book, “Buzz, Sting, Bite: Why We Need Insects,” is stirring up a swarm of … more

By SANDY LONG | 8/7/19

The northern red salamander, a member of the Pseudotiton ruber, is a striking red color with small black spots covering a large part of the body. This species can be found in cool streams and shaded areas surrounding these habitats. This species is present in the region, but not seen as often as the other salamanders mentioned in this column.

Salamanders keeping their cool

The middle of July saw a warm spell, with temperatures getting into the 90s accompanied by high humidity that made it feel even hotter. The wildlife felt it too and hunkered down; deer spent a lot of … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 7/31/19

This female Promethea silkmoth displays her bright reddish wings with tan borders and well-delineated cell spots. Males have blackish wings with tan borders and pink shading near eyespots on the forewing tips.

Striking silk moths

The past two weeks have produced encounters with two beautiful female silk moths, both members of the family Saturniidae, which contains approximately 1,300 species. That beauty will be brief, as … more

By SANDY LONG | 7/24/19

This monarch butterfly, in flight, is probably looking for a milkweed plant. This is the time of year when female monarchs deposit their eggs on the bottom side of milkweed leaves. The hatching monarch caterpillars will only eat milkweed. They may also be on other plants to take nectar.

Colorful flyers of summer

One thing about looking for a particular plant or animal along a trail or stream is you are likely to see everything but the target species. It’s kind of like looking for a lost set of keys … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 7/17/19

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Currently viewing stories posted within the past year.
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