Leaves are probably the most common feature used to identify trees. But in winter, when so many trees have dropped their leaves, combinations of other features are needed. The bark, along with the pattern and shape of buds on branches can be used to determine species. The bare branches of ...

Have you ever wondered why plants and animals thrive the way they do here in Chautauqua County? After moving here, I took a dive deep into learning about local geography and the county’s natural surroundings. As a geography graduate, maps are a fascination of mine, and I couldn’t resist ...

If the groundhog sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If the Wooly Bear caterpillar has a narrow orange band in the middle, it will be a harsh winter. If a cat sneezes, it will rain soon. Humans have been observing animals for millennia and using their behaviors to ...

New York’s forests are in trouble. Tiny, destructive insects are spreading fast, killing trees that have stood for hundreds of years. We’ve already lost American chestnuts and millions of ash trees. Now, another tree is at risk—the eastern hemlock. A tiny bug called Hemlock Woolly ...

Last week, driving home from Audubon Community Nature Center, my daughter and I were so captivated by a flock of crows that I had to pull over just to take it all in. The scene was incredible—thousands of crows crowded the neighborhood trees, their dark silhouettes watching us like something ...

Did you know that there is a war underway each summer in our lakes for nutrients and light? This war is between plants and algae! Like a football game, each side has many players who excel with differing abilities to use various nutrients and light. In this war, if the plants are winning, the ...