Nature Smart

Horned Lark

Bird with open-mouthed chicks on grass.

The overall population of ground nesting birds is steadily going down. Here in North America, we have hundreds

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Prairie chicken displaying in grassy field.

The rights of spring come in many different forms, shapes, colors, and patterns. But the end goal is always exactly the same—reproduction

Solitary Sandpiper

Bird standing on a mossy log.

I love the diversity found within nature. I also really love the nature rule breakers. You know, the critters that don’t seem

Common Loon 4 Chicks

Loon swimming with ducklings in a lake.

Nature never stops to amaze me! After 40 years of field work, capturing events and species in nature with my camera

Loon Flight

Two loons flying over green background.

I find it strangely comforting that there is still many things we don’t understand in nature. I’m not sure if it is a good

Dickcissel

Bird singing on a leafy branch.

We people love to group, label, and pigeon-hole what we see and experience around us in nature

Double-crested Cormorant

Cormorant bird with orange beak and eye.

We people love to assign blame or shame no matter the situation. For some crazy reason this translates over to our view of nature

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Going to Arizona in the middle of summer doesn’t seem like a smart thing to do. The heat can be stifling and pushes any wildlife

Elegant Trogon

Colorful bird perched on a tree branch.

Going to Arizona in the middle of summer doesn’t seem like a smart thing to do. The heat can be stifling and pushes any wildlife

California Condor

Flying bird with tagged wings, dark background.

It has been 17 years since I last wrote about the largest bird in North America. A bird that was almost killed off and is being