Nature Smart

Bug Eating Woodpeckers

A woodpecker clings to a tree trunk, pecking near a cavity.

Perched nearly 20 feet in the air looking down at the forest floor below, I was waiting for a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers

Reproduction

A duck with striking red eyes swimming in water.

All of nature seems to be in reproductive over-drive or perhaps more accurately hyper-drive. Just look around

Great-crested Flycatcher

A bird clings to a tree trunk in a natural setting.

There are a few birds that are very common but not commonly seen. In other words, these birds are found in good

Indigo Bunting

Bird's nest with two white eggs and one speckled egg nestled among green leaves.

Every now and then, I am fortunate that someone will give me a call to say they found something cool

Great Blue Heron nesting

Silhouettes of birds nesting against a golden sunset sky.

There is a large and very common bird that perhaps you see on a regular basis but rarely does anyone see it nesting

Skunks

A mother badger and her three cubs rest on a log in a sunny meadow.

I recently had a lively conversation about skunks with some friends. While explaining a few things about skunks to them

Monarch Butterflies

Monarch caterpillars in different growth stages on a leaf and twig.

There are so many amazing and marvelous aspects in nature. Take the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) for example

Elk Rut and Fight

Two elk locking antlers in a rocky, autumnal landscape.

Sounding determined and confident, a large bull elk, most likely weighing 1,200 pounds or more

Yellow-bellied Marmot

Two marmots interacting on rocky terrain.

Yes, I admit it, I am a nut about nature. Not just the big amazing birds and animals such as eagles and bears

Wild Turkey

Two wild turkeys walking in a forest with blurred trees in the background.

Autumn is a wonderful time of year. It keeps a wildlife photographer and nature nut like myself very busy.