Index

Bill’s Books

Creature Feature https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2023/04/21/creature-feature/

Project Boys https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/03/17/project-boys/

Wild Plant Cookbook https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2016/09/30/wild-plant-cookbook/

Rainbows, Bluebirds and Buffleheads https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2016/08/06/rainbows-bluebirds-and-buffleheads/

Birds

A Holy Grail in Bird Photography https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2024/02/27/a-holy-grail-in-bird-photography/

Providing Water for Birds in the Winter https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2023/11/01/providing-water-for-birds-in-the-winter/

West Virginia Mountain State Bird Festival, 2023, and More – Some Highlights. https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2023/06/14/west-virginia-mountain-state-bird-festival-2023-and-more-some-highlights/

The 2023 Ralph K. Bell Memorial Walk https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2023/05/29/the-2023-ralph-k-bell-memorial-walk/

Indigo Bunting and Ovenbird — Two Bird Photos… by request. https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2023/05/26/indigo-bunting-and-ovenbird-two-bird-photos-by-request/

West Virginia Bird Discovery Weekend at Blackwater Falls State Park, June 2-4, 2023 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2023/05/03/west-virginia-bird-discovery-weekend-at-blackwater-falls-state-park-june-2-4-2023/

Attracting and Photographing Pileated Woodpeckers https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2022/02/21/attracting-and-photographing-pileated-woodpeckers/

A Rufous Hummingbird in Brooke County, West Virginia and a Design for a Cold Weather Nectar Feeder https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2021/11/14/a-rufous-hummingbird-in-brooke-county-west-virginia-and-a-design-for-a-cold-weather-nectar-feeder/

Birds-Camping-Hiking and more on Dolly Sods – 2021 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2021/10/19/birds-camping-hiking-and-more-on-dolly-sods-2021/

How Do Birds Know? https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2021/02/18/how-do-birds-know/

Pine Siskin Irruption – 2020 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2021/01/01/pine-siskin-irruption-2020/

Saga of the Green Herons https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/08/17/saga-of-the-green-herons/

Oriole Fallout — in Rhyme (by Jan Runyan) https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/oriole-fallout-in-rhyme-by-jan-runyan/

Bill’s Bark Butter Recipe https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/02/19/bills-bark-butter-recipe/

Dolly Sods Adventures – 2019 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2019/11/22/dolly-sods-adventures-2019/

The Allegheny Front Migration Observatory (AFMO), Hiking, Wildflowers and More on Dolly Sods – late September, 2018 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2019/03/04/the-allegheny-front-migration-observatory-afmo-hiking-wildflowers-and-more-on-dolly-sods-late-september-2018/

Rainbows, Bluebirds and Buffleheads https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2016/08/06/rainbows-bluebirds-and-buffleheads/

Bluebirds and Blue Birds are not Blue! https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2016/05/22/bluebirds-and-blue-birds-are-not-blue/

Hail, Hail the Gang’s All Here….Pine Siskins………by Jan Runyan https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2016/01/07/hail-hail-the-gangs-all-here-pine-siskinsby-jan-runyan/

A Bluebird Brings Happiness…..by Jan https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2015/11/24/a-bluebird-brings-happiness-by-jan/

Not GOLDFINCHY . . . . . . by Jan Runyan https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2015/07/08/not-goldfinchy-by-jan-runyan/

Banding a Dinosaur https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/banding-a-dinosaur/

Welcome Home My Little Chickadee — by Jan https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2015/04/27/welcome-home-my-little-chickadee-by-jan-runyan/

American Goldfinch Heaven https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2015/04/26/american-goldfinch-heaven/

Return of the “Gold”finches….almost — by Jan https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/return-of-the-goldfinches-almost-by-jan/

Behold…the American Goldfinches are coming. https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2015/03/16/behold-the-american-goldfinches-are-coming-2/

Owls

Owls In the Family… part two… Eastern Screech-owls https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2018/02/13/owls-in-the-family-part-two-eastern-screech-owls/

Owls In the Family…Great Horned Owls https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2017/02/05/owls-in-the-family-great-horned-owls/

Wildflowers, Trees, and Botany

Winter Offers the Best Opportunity for Tree Identification https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2024/01/31/winter-offers-the-best-opportunity-for-tree-identification/

A Walk on a Beautiful Early Spring Day https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2023/03/30/a-walk-on-a-beautiful-early-spring-day/

A Secret Place https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2022/10/13/a-secret-place/

“Pickin’ up pawpaws, put ‘em in my pocket….” by Jan Runyan https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2019/10/22/pickin-up-pawpaws-put-em-in-my-pocket-by-jan-runyan/

Plant Friends Without Their Flowers https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2019/04/07/plant-friends-without-their-flowers/

Friendly Faces https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2018/04/09/friendly-faces/

Kayaking the Headwaters of the Blackwater River…and Searching for Wildflowers https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2017/08/25/kayaking-the-headwaters-of-the-blackwater-river-and-searching-for-wildflowers/

Shirley Temple Wildflowers…..by Jan Runyan https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2016/03/09/shirley-temple-wildflowers-by-jan-runyan/

Summer Wildflowers of the Dolly Sods Wilderness https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2015/07/22/summer-wildflowers-of-the-dolly-sods-wilderness/

Edible and Medicinal Plants

The 54th annual Nature Wonder Weekend at West Virginia’s North Bend State Park — What we did. https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2023/09/23/the-54th-annual-nature-wonder-weekend-at-west-virginias-north-bend-state-park-what-we-did/

Goldenseal a.k.a. Yellowroot https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/04/19/goldenseal-a-k-a-yellowroot/

Common Chickweed — My Favorite Spring Wild Edible Green https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/04/10/common-chickweed-my-favorite-spring-wild-edible-green/

“Pickin’ up pawpaws, put ‘em in my pocket….” by Jan Runyan https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2019/10/22/pickin-up-pawpaws-put-em-in-my-pocket-by-jan-runyan/

Wild Plant Cookbook https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2016/09/30/wild-plant-cookbook/

Nature Photography

A Holy Grail in Bird Photography https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2024/02/27/a-holy-grail-in-bird-photography/

Attracting and Photographing Pileated Woodpeckers https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2022/02/21/attracting-and-photographing-pileated-woodpeckers/

The Story Behind Bill’s photo credits https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2022/01/11/the-story-behind-bills-photo-credits/

Make Your Photos Pop! https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2015/10/26/make-your-photos-pop/

Bill’s Arboretum

A Tale of Two Winterberries https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2022/10/26/a-tale-of-two-winterberries/

Adding Pawpaw Trees to Our Arboretum https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/07/15/adding-pawpaw-trees-to-our-arboretum/

Our Garden and Property

Bill’s Spruce Adventure — by Jan Runyan https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/bills-spruce-adventure-by-jan-runyan/

Bill and Jan’s Observations

Lightning Bugs/Fireflies — https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2023/07/20/lightning-bugs-fireflies/

A Serendipity Day — Beyond Maitake Mushrooms and Pawpaws https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2022/10/02/a-serendipity-day-beyond-maitake-mushrooms-and-pawpaws/

Springtime https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2021/03/04/springtime/

The first day of spring …. Is a personal thing. https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2021/01/25/the-first-day-of-spring-is-a-personal-thing/

An Unexpected Nature Surprise https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/09/06/an-unexpected-nature-surprise/

Don Pattison – A Soft-spoken Gentle Friend https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/06/09/don-pattison-a-soft-spoken-gentle-friend/

The First Day of Spring – For Me https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/03/12/the-first-day-of-spring-for-me/

Finally — A Winter Hike https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/02/08/finally-a-winter-hike/

Tick—ed Off: a tick—lish situation https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2016/01/19/tick-ed-off-a-tick-lish-situation/

Ladybug Hibernation…a fortunate discovery https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2015/04/19/ladybug-hibernation-a-fortunate-discovery/

Contemplating Mortality https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2015/04/08/contemplating-mortality/

That Bird Vanished!…a shrew-d sighting — by Jan https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2015/03/28/that-bird-vanished-a-shrew-d-sighting-by-jan/

Another sign that spring is just around the corner. https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2015/03/10/another-sign-that-spring-is-just-around-the-corner/

Spring Is Here…by Jan https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2015/03/08/spring-is-here-by-jan/

Bill and Jan’s Celebrations and Adventures

Hiking Adventures in the West Virginia Highlands – In Celebration of Cindy https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/01/26/hiking-adventures-in-the-west-virginia-highlands-in-celebration-of-cindy/

From West Virginia to Nags Head, North Carolina — the Outer Banks https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/01/24/from-west-virginia-to-nags-head-north-carolina-the-outer-banks/

Big Run Bog – An Unexpected Road Trip – Saturday, August 10, 2019 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2019/08/12/big-run-bog-an-unexpected-road-trip-saturday-august-10-2019/

West Virginia University’s Hemlock Trail near Cooper’s Rock State Forest – May 8, 2019 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2019/05/26/west-virginia-universitys-hemlock-trail-near-coopers-rock-state-forest-may-8-2019/

A Celebration with Friends in the Mountains of West Virginia – Great Food, Laughing, Hiking, Singing and Spending Time with Each Other at Some of our Favorite Natural Places https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2018/10/23/a-celebration-with-friends-in-the-mountains-of-west-virginia-great-food-laughing-hiking-singing-and-spending-time-with-each-other-at-some-of-our-favorite-natural-places/

Snaggy Mountain Area, Garrett State Forest, MD – Late June 2018 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2018/07/06/snaggy-mountain-area-garrett-state-forest-md-late-june-2018/

Kayaking the Headwaters of the Blackwater River…and Searching for Wildflowers https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2017/08/25/kayaking-the-headwaters-of-the-blackwater-river-and-searching-for-wildflowers/

Dolly Sods

Birds-Camping-Hiking and more on Dolly Sods – 2021 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2021/10/19/birds-camping-hiking-and-more-on-dolly-sods-2021/

Just Us – Hiking on Dolly Sods https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/10/14/just-us-hiking-on-dolly-sods/

A Different Dolly Sods Adventure — 2020-style https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/10/03/a-different-dolly-sods-adventure-2020-style/

Listening to Creation https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2019/12/02/listening-to-creation/

Dolly Sods Adventures – 2019 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2019/11/22/dolly-sods-adventures-2019/

The Allegheny Front Migration Observatory (AFMO), Hiking, Wildflowers and More on Dolly Sods – late September, 2018 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2019/03/04/the-allegheny-front-migration-observatory-afmo-hiking-wildflowers-and-more-on-dolly-sods-late-september-2018/

A Grandkid Discovers the Nature of Dolly Sods https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2017/07/31/a-grandkid-discovers-the-nature-of-dolly-sods/

Summer Wildflowers of the Dolly Sods Wilderness https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2015/07/22/summer-wildflowers-of-the-dolly-sods-wilderness/

Canaan Valley

Canaan Valley for Fall Color and More – October 2020 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/10/18/canaan-valley-for-fall-color-and-more-october-2020/

Canaan Valley State Park and Canaan Loop Road – Late June, 2018 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2018/07/20/canaan-valley-state-park-and-canaan-loop-road-late-june-2018/

Idleman’s Run Trail in the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge – Late June https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/idlemans-run-trail-in-the-canaan-valley-national-wildlife-refuge-late-june/

Beall Tract – Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge – Late June, 2018 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2018/07/12/beall-tract-canaan-valley-national-wildlife-refuge-late-june-2018/

Kayaking the Headwaters of the Blackwater River…and Searching for Wildflowers https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2017/08/25/kayaking-the-headwaters-of-the-blackwater-river-and-searching-for-wildflowers/

Magee Marsh

Howard Marsh 2023 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2023/08/23/howard-marsh-2023/

Magee Marsh 2023 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2023/07/27/magee-marsh-2023-for-birds-and-much-more/

Beyond Magee Marsh — 2022 — Maumee Bay, Camp Sabroske, Howard Marsh, Metzger Marsh https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2022/09/10/beyond-magee-marsh-2022-maumee-bay-camp-sabroske-howard-marsh-metzger-marsh/

Beyond Magee Marsh – 2022 – Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2022/09/03/beyond-magee-marsh-2022-ottawa-national-wildlife-refuge/

Magee Marsh Birding 2022 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2022/08/23/magee-marsh-birding-2022/

Brooks Bird Club

The Brooks Bird Club’s 90th Anniversary at Hawk’s Nest State Park https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2022/11/26/the-brooks-bird-clubs-90th-anniversary-at-hawks-nest-state-park/

The Brooks Bird Club’s Fall Reunion/Meeting 2021 — Cedar Lakes Conference Center https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2021/11/09/the-brooks-bird-clubs-fall-reunion-meeting-2021-cedar-lakes-conference-center/

Master Naturalist

Teaching Master Naturalists in Scenic Canaan Valley, WV – 2022 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2022/09/25/teaching-master-naturalists-in-scenic-canaan-valley-wv-2022/

Master Naturalist Conference 2021 at Canaan Valley State Park https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2021/08/27/master-naturalist-conference-2021-at-canaan-valley-state-park/

The Field Trip that….SUCKED! https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2015/06/17/the-field-trip-that-sucked/

Mountain State Bird Discovery Weekend

West Virginia Mountain State Bird Festival, 2023, and More – Some Highlights. https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2023/06/14/west-virginia-mountain-state-bird-festival-2023-and-more-some-highlights/

West Virginia Bird Discovery Weekend at Blackwater Falls State Park, June 2-4, 2023 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2023/05/03/west-virginia-bird-discovery-weekend-at-blackwater-falls-state-park-june-2-4-2023/

Mountain State Bird Discovery Weekend 2022 at Blackwater Falls State Park https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2022/07/10/mountain-state-bird-discovery-weekend-2022-at-blackwater-falls-state-park/

What a Great Nature Workshop Weekend! (due to Covid we had to hold this weekend 2 1/2 weeks later than usual and change the emphasis to “Plants and Other Nature”) https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/08/07/what-a-great-nature-workshop-weekend/

Bird Discovery Weekend at Blackwater Falls State Park – 2019 – what we did. https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2019/06/11/bird-discovery-weekend-at-blackwater-falls-state-park-2019-what-we-did/

Oglebay Institute’s Adult Nature Studies Camp at Terra Alta, WV (Mountain Nature Camp)

Mountain Nature Camp for Adults – June 16-22, 2024 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2024/04/07/mountain-nature-camp-for-adults-june-16-22-2024/

Oglebay Institute’s Mountain Nature Camp for adults – 2022 – What We Did https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2022/07/31/oglebay-institutes-mountain-nature-camp-for-adults-2022-what-we-did/

Oglebay Institute’s Mountain Nature Camp (for adults)-2021 – So good to be back at “Good Ol’ TA”. https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2021/07/07/oglebay-institutes-mountain-nature-camp-for-adults-2021-so-good-to-be-back-at-good-ol-ta/

Mountain Nature Camp for Adults – June 2018 – What We Did. https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2018/08/21/mountain-nature-camp-for-adults-june-2018-what-we-did/

West Virginia Wildflower Pilgrimage

West Virginia Wildflower Pilgrimage – May 9-12, 2024 https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2024/03/27/west-virginia-wildflower-pilgrimage-may-9-12-2024/

2022 Our West Virginia Wildflower Pilgrimage Trip https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2022/05/27/2022-our-west-virginia-wildflower-pilgrimage-trip/

2019 West Virginia Wildflower Pilgrimage – Our Trip https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2019/05/29/2019-west-virginia-wildflower-pilgrimage-our-trip/

Wildflowers Can Change Your Life – April 16, 2024 at 7:00pm

I will be presenting this West Virginia Spring Wildflower program for the Brooks Bird Club at the Schrader Environmental Education Center in Oglebay Park, Wheeling, WV.

The program is free and open to the public.

Left to right – Sharp-lobed Hepatica, Blue-eyed Mary, and Bloodroot (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Before my program there will be a Nature Walk at 5pm (in case of rain, there will be a social hour).

At 6pm we will share a potluck supper… bring a dish to share, your own beverage and table setting.

At 7pm, following some comments about club events and bird sightings, come with me, through my professional photos and stories, to enjoy some of West Virginia’s amazing wildflowers.

All are welcome to attend all events.

Mountain Nature Camp for Adults – June 16-22, 2024

The tradition of excellent mountain nature studies for adults continues!

This marks the 94th year of Oglebay Institute’s Mountain Camp.

Come discover why West Virginia’s Nature is truly “Almost Heaven”!

At this year’s Mountain Nature Camp (Nature studies for adults) in Terra Alta, WV, I will be the botanist/naturalist.  I will be identifying and teaching about the wildflowers and other plants at the camp and on most field trips.  I will discuss identification, edibility, medicinal uses and other natural history information.  I will also lead an optional hike in the Dolly Sods Wilderness area.

To see the kinds of activities you might expect at camp, visit: https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2018/08/21/mountain-nature-camp-for-adults-june-2018-what-we-did/

Top left clockwise… Scarlet Tanager, Velvet-foot Mushroom, Wild Columbine and Forest Log Millipede (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Typical Friday supper at Mountain Nature Camp… vegetarian menu is available (Photos (c) Jan Runyan)

The camp is designed for people with a variety of interests and all levels of experience and ability in Nature.

Our field trips to a wide variety of habitats and elevations in the beautiful WV mountains will focus on many aspects of Nature Study.

Campers who hiked ate lunch at the Rohrbaugh Plains Trail Overlook in the Dolly Sods Wilderness (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Facilities: Koehnline Lodge has a meeting room, a dining room and a professional kitchen. It is surrounded by meadows, Lake Terra Alta, and woods with trails. Our shower-house has flush toilets and private showers.

Lodging: Most campers sleep in their own tents in the camp’s woods or meadows (cots available). Some campers choose to make their own arrangements at nearby Alpine Lake Resort.

Meals: Home-cooked meals are made by experienced cooks, using many fresh, local ingredients. For full-day field trips, lunch is brought with us. Most special dietary needs can be accommodated.

Staff: Our staff includes experts in their fields, well-known naturalists, and professional nature interpreters who are distinguished for their knowledge and their ability to teach students at any level in Botany, Ornithology, Ecology, Natural History and other topics.

For more information: Call: 304-242-6855

Additional information and registration: https://oionline.com/camps/mountaincamp/

West Virginia Wildflower Pilgrimage – May 9-12, 2024

Lindy Point at Blackwater Falls State Park (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

This event is a tradition for people who love the wildflowers and birds of West Virginia!

Come discover why so many “pilgrims” return year after year! And why the “pilgrims” enjoy their friendships with some of the most knowledgeable and fun leaders in this part of the country.

On Thursday afternoon, you can attend special “get-started” programs like Jan’s “Birding Essentials for Everyone” workshop.

Jan teaching her “Birding Essentials for Everyone” class. (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Jan and I, along with leaders from the Brooks Bird Club, will be leading the early morning bird walks on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings.

I am giving an introduction for the Friday morning bird walk. (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

On Friday and Saturday participants have a choice of a dozen or more day-long field trips to a wide variety of habitats and elevations. Trips range from “get out of the car to look at this amazing plant” to “must have hiking boots and drinking water to go on the wilderness hike”. Both Thursday and Friday end with an interesting program in the evening.

On Friday I will be leading the DOLLY SODS WILDERNESS HIKE: ROHRBAUGH PLAINS / WILDLIFE TRAILS

DRIVING MILES :60 HIKING MILES : 4 .5 Our drive takes us south on Route 32 through Canaan Valley. Approximately 2 miles south of Canaan we turn left onto Laneville Rd. and continue to the Rohrbaugh Plains trailhead on top of the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area. The trail is not a loop trail and one vehicle will have to be left at the Wildlife Trail trailhead. The hike begins through a mixed Red Spruce/deciduous woodland where we will be greeted with a variety of bird songs; mostly warblers — Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Ovenbird, Yellow-rumped, and Magnolia. This trail is rocky at times and eventually enters a mixed hardwood/evergreen forest. Lunch will be at the Rohrbaugh Plains vista looking south through the Red Creek Valley and west toward Rocky Point (Lion’s Head). The vista is one of the best scenic overlooks in West Virginia. The return hike is on the Wildlife Trail, a mostly open trail traveling through several meadows and bordered by deciduous woodlands. There will be opportunities for wildflower and bird identification, however, this tour’s primary focus is the spectacular beauty of Dolly Sods. Hiking shoes/boots are required. Appropriate rain gear is required. There will be restroom facilities available at the Dolly Sods Picnic Area before the hike.

Lunch at the Rohrbaugh Plains scenic vista. (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

On Friday Jan will be leading the CRANEVILLE SWAMP FIELD TRIP

TOTAL DRIVING MILES: 90 TOTAL WALKING MILES : 3 Travel US Route 219 to Oakland, MD, and follow country roads on the WV/MD border to find the Cranesville Swamp Nature Preserve managed by The Nature Conservancy. At Cranesville Swamp wind, water, mountain geology and temperature have created a beautiful and rare “frost pocket” (low area that collects moisture and cooler temperatures) reminiscent of Canadian environments. Eastern Hemlock, Red Spruce, and American Larch are some of the few trees in the acidic boreal bog. The northern relict wetland complex also supports a wide variety of smaller plants such as Goldthread, Trailing Arbutus, Gay Wings, several sundews, cranberry, several ferns, and many mosses. Nineteen diverse wetland communities surrounding the bog are home to such birds as Blackburnian, Magnolia, and Chestnut-sided Warblers, Alder Flycatcher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Indigo Bunting, and Northern Saw-whet Owl. We’ll explore the boardwalk trail in the bog of the northern section of the swamp, and then venture off the trail into the seldom-visited fen at the southern part of the swamp. A restroom stop will be made at Oakland and “facilitrees” are available at Cranesville Swamp.

Cranesville Swamp Boardwalk (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

On Saturday I will be leading the NATURAL HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA WILDFLOWERS FIELD TRIP

Jan will be the birder on this trip.

RATING: 1 TOTAL DRIVING MILES: 28
This trip will go to Olson Fire Tower and then to Fernow Experimental Forest. There
will be plenty of wildflowers and birds to identify. The major emphasis on this trip will
be the folklore and natural history of the plants we find. The edibility, medicinal use,
and poisonous qualities of many plants will be discussed. Restroom facilities will be
available at our lunch stop at Mill Race Park in Parsons.

For additional information and registration: https://wvdnr.gov/programs-publications/wildflower-pilgrimage/

Join us and discover why so many “pilgrims” return year after year!

A Holy Grail in Bird Photography

In the movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the archeologist, Indiana Jones, searched for his father who went missing while seeking the Holy Grail. Over many years the term “Holy Grail” has come to mean an elusive object or goal of great significance. During my career as a nature photographer there have been times when a situation has allowed something very special to happen — a Holy Grail moment. I recently had a Holy Grail experience.

On a recent trip Jan and I took to Oregon, I went on a long walk every morning. On the very first walk I discovered something I had never experienced before. An apple tree, loaded with last year’s fruit, had been exposed to an unusually early frost last fall. Some of the apples had fallen to the ground, however, many of the apples were still hanging on the tree. Although, at first glance, the apples looked ready to pick, they were actually just as brown, soft, and rotten as most of the ones on the ground.

Photos (c) Bill Beatty

A large flock of American Robins were flying in and out of the apple tree, competing for perches near the hanging apples. I wanted to take some photos, but I had a dilemma — my professional camera, lenses and TRIPOD were at home. All I had was a good point-and-shoot camera. The problem was that I couldn’t hold the camera steady enough to get the good, long-distance photos I wanted. So I improvised. I found a shovel in a shed and, after trying some different orientations, it became my tripod. Now I could remain at a distance that wouldn’t scare the birds, but still have a way to get steady photos.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

The shovel tripod worked pretty well, so I left it in place until the last day.

American Robins (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

American Robin (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

American Robins (Video (c) Bill Beatty)

On each of my 6 morning walks I checked the apple tree. Each morning there were birds feeding on apples. So I took more photos. Some birds were easy to see among the apples, but some were almost camouflaged. It was funny to see how an American Robin’s orange breast looked like a rotting apple!

Red-breasted Sapsucker and American Robin (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Red-breasted Sapsucker (Video (c) Bill Beatty)

Flocks of Golden-crowned Sparrows would also fly in to feed on apples on the ground and occasionally one would eat from a perch in the tree.

Golden-crowned Sparrow (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Golden-crowned Sparrow (Video (c) Bill Beatty)

It was amazing! So many birds vying for the apples both on the ground and hanging on the tree. Black-capped Chickadees and Ruby-crowned Kinglets frequented the tree, but they moved so quickly from one apple to the next that I had no chance of getting a photo. When I was much farther away, I could see Western Scrub Jays feeding on the apples, but when I approached a bit, they flew away and didn’t return until I was too far away for photos.

I was able to photograph Spotted Towhees on the ground and in the tree. Their breast color also matched the color of the rotting apples.

Spotted Towhee (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Spotted Towhee (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Strangely, some of the apples on the ground didn’t seem to be rotten at all. In fact, each morning I picked up a “good” apple from the ground and ate it. This made me curious, so I decided to taste the apparently rotting apples still hanging on the tree. They were soft and looked rotten, but, surprisingly, tasted like applesauce. Wow! Now I may know why the birds were so intent on getting access to those apparently rotten apples in the tree.

We know that birds search for berries left on trees, bushes and vines to provide food for them during the winter. They love the small fruit from plants like poison ivy, holly, crab apples, chokeberry, sumac, hackberry, mountainash, and hawthorne. If these birds could think like humans, they would be sure this apple tree was the Holy Grail of winter sustenance. One piece of fruit could last days! And my Holy Grail was getting to experience so many different birds enjoying the bounty of Nature in such a photogenic situation.

So often when I go outside I discover something new and interesting. Life is good!

Winter Offers the Best Opportunity for Tree Identification

When I was a biology major at West Liberty State College, plant taxonomy was offered in the spring semester. To me, thoughts of “spring” included sunshine, longer days, and warmer temperatures. But our “spring” semester actually began two weeks after the first day of winter, so frigid temperatures and snow, not wildflowers, greeted us that first day of our “spring” semester class.

Deciduous woodland in winter (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

During class, we sat through lectures and slides discussing how to approach the identification of plants. Basically, scientists group and identify flowering plants according to their reproductive structures: flowers, fruits and seeds. In some plants such as mosses, liverworts, horsetails, and ferns, the reproductive structures are: capsules, sporangia, sporophylls, indusium, sori, and spores — strange words to us students. In fact, the greatest difficulty we faced was learning, remembering, and understanding this new vocabulary. Each facet of nature study, whether it is fungi, beetles, or birds, etc., has its own unique vocabulary associated with it.

Mr. Berry, our plant taxonomy professor, announced that all labs (2 two-hour labs each week) would be conducted outdoors, weather permitting. My logic told me that meant our labs would meet inside until late March or possibly early April (“real” spring); however, that week, our very first lab was held outside. Our teeth chattered and our extremities numbed as the wind penetrated our meager clothing. Mr. Berry, with his great wool balaclava hat pulled over his ears, heavy coat and gloves, wool pants, thermal socks and insulated boots, stayed as warm as toast. He actually viewed our field trip as fun, even hinting that he was too warm. Needless to say, there was a method to his madness. After one of the most uncomfortable days of our lives, each of us came to future labs prepared for any and all weather conditions.

Winter deciduous tree identification became our first obstacle. The very idea of trying to distinguish one tree from another, without the benefit of comparing leaves, was foreign to us. Our class was informed that trees are easier and, in many ways, more reliably identified in the winter months. By looking for certain distinguishing characteristics found only on the twigs, most trees are relatively easy to identify. A few of the most significant new vocabulary words were: (1) terminal bud — the bud at the end of each twig remaining after the leaves fall, (2) leaf scar — a patch, differing in color and texture from the rest of the twig, where a leaf was attached, (3) leaf bud — a round or pointed growth, centered (occasionally off-center) just above or almost inside a leaf scar, and (4) vascular bundle scars — small dots or lines on the surface of the leaf scar.

Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra) 1-terminal bud, 2-leaf scar, 3-leaf bud, and 4-vascular bundle
scars (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Anyone who wants to identify winter trees needs a hand lens (at least 10x) to view these tiny structures. To become more familiar with these characteristics, find a tree with large buds and leaf scars such as Horse-chestnut, Buckeye, Tree-of-heaven, Butternut, or Kentucky Coffeetree. Practice using the hand lens to find those 4 parts of a winter tree twig.

“MAD-Cat-Horse“ This is an important acronym for: Maple, Ash, Dogwood, Catalpa, and Horse-chestnut (includes Buckeyes). This represents all the deciduous trees in West Virginia, and many other states, which have opposite branching. If the branches, leaf buds, and scars are not opposite each other on the twig, then the tree is not a species in the MAD-Cat-Horse group. Oaks, cherry, elm, hickory, and other tree species have alternate branches, leaf buds, and leaf scars. The distinction between opposite branches and alternate branches is the first important step in winter tree ID.

Left – Sugar Maple twig showing opposite branching; Right – Wild Black Cherry twig showing alternate branching (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Maples, especially Norway Maples, have always been my favorite winter twigs. This is probably because the leaf bud and scar resemble two eyes, a nose and, often, a smiling mouth. All maple leaf scars are crescent or V-shaped with three vascular bundle scars, one at each end (the eyes) and one lower in the middle (the mouth). The leaf bud (the nose) is just above the mouth, between the eyes.

Norway Maple leaf bud, leaf scar, and three vascular bundle scars (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Although leaf scars on all maples are similar, their terminal buds (where branches grow longer) and leaf buds are very different in the different species. For example, Sugar Maple buds are brown and pointed with small overlapping scales, while Norway Maple buds are also pointed, but fatter and burgundy-colored with larger overlapping scales. Red Maple and Silver Maple buds and scars are practically identical. But crush and smell the leaf or terminal buds of the Silver Maple, and your nose will be greeted by a rank odor. Red Maple terminal buds have no odor. Box Elder (Ash-leaved Maple) twigs are green. There is always a way to discern trees by their twigs.

Left to right – Norway Maple, Sugar Maple, Red Maple, and Ash-leaved Maple (Box Elder) (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

The scaly, overlapping character of the maple buds is referred to as imbricate. Oaks, cherries, elms. sweet gum, and some other tree buds also have this imbricate or scaly, overlapping attribute, but they are in alternate locations. The opposite of imbricate is valvate. Valvate terminal bud scales meet along a distinct, usually longitudinal, line without overlapping. Yellow Poplar (Tuliptree) and Flowering Dogwood terminal buds are valvate.

Left – imbricate terminal buds of a Sugar Maple; Right – valvate terminal bud of a Tulip Tree (Tulip Poplar) (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Before we go on, a word of caution about Flowering Dogwood terminal buds. The large, round, whitish buds at the end of many dogwood twigs are actually next year’s flower buds. These flower buds are so obvious and unique on all except the youngest trees, there is no need to look for the tiny terminal buds. Once you view these distinctive flower buds, you will not forget them, and the winter identification of dogwoods will be indelible in your mind. I can easily visualize the springtime beauty of each Flowering Dogwood by the number of flower buds present. Some trees have hundreds.

Flowering Dogwood valvate terminal bud on left and flower bud on right (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Simple rules that are unique to certain trees or groups of trees provide shortcuts to winter identification. Only oaks usually have several terminal buds at the end of each twig. Similar to the characteristics of their leaves, red oak group terminal buds are pointed while white oak group buds are more rounded.

Left – pointed Red Oak terminal buds; Right – rounded White Oak terminal buds (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Black Walnut leaf scars are described as having a monkey-face or barn owl-face.

Black Walnut leaf scar and vascular bundle scars (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

American Elm twigs are very fuzzy, while those of the Slippery Elm are slightly fuzzy or smooth.

Left – American Elm leaf bud, leaf scar, and vascular bundle scars; Right – Slippery Elm leaf bud, leaf scar, and vascular bundle scars (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Sassafras, Sweetgum, and Box Elder (Ash-leaved Maple) twigs are green (called “photo stems”). Sassafras is spicy to smell or taste; Sweetgum leaf buds and scars are alternate; and Box Elder, being a maple, has leaf buds and scars that are opposite.

From left – Sassafras, Sweetgum, and Ash-leaved Maple (Box Elder) (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

American Beech terminal buds are long, slender and sharply pointed, providing a slightly painful jab if pushed against.

American Beech tree terminal bud and leaf scar (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

The terminal bud of the White Ash reminds me of a king’s crown as he sits upon his throne.

White Ash terminal bud, leaf bud, leaf scar, and
vascular bundle scars (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

I remember traits of numerous creatures due to their association with some other memorable thought. As you study and learn the identification of more winter tree twigs, you, too, will find some twigs more notable due to associations you will make.

An excellent guide to winter twig identification is , Fruit Key & Twig Key to Trees and Shrubs, by William M. Harlow. This book uses a dichotomous key approach with black and white photo illustrations. It covers virtually all trees, as well as shrubs and many woody vines, found in West Virginia. The fruit key also includes evergreens.

Wintertime is not the time to remain indoors, especially with a multitude of twigs begging to be examined. If the weather is too cold, wait for a warmer winter day, or simply cut the twigs you want to identify and bring them indoors. Early morning is the best time to go outside, for if you do so, in addition to making the acquaintance of many trees, you will reap the additional benefits of solitude, opportunities to observe wildlife, and the musical peeps, chips, and calls of our winter birds.

Merry Christmas

Photo (c) Bill Beatty

Providing Water for Birds in the Winter

Actually, it’s not that hard, except…..

Well, the first thing we did was to buy a heated dog water dish at a pet store. We filled it with water, added a couple of rocks to make it shallower for the birds, and plugged it into an outdoor outlet.

Heated dog water dish. (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

It did a wonderful job of keeping the water from freezing, even on the coldest days. We did get a few birds visiting for water. And when we got colorful birds, we felt fortunate to get photos and videos. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen that often.

Male Eastern Bluebird at bird water-station (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Eastern Bluebirds at bird water-station. (Video (c) Jan Runyan)

After several years of doing this, Jan began wondering why so few birds took advantage of the easily-accessible water. She decided to get more creative and redecorate. We wanted more birds to visit the winter “spa” so we could get better and more natural-looking winter water photos. She was right — the number of birds visiting the bird water-station increased dramatically. This is what Jan did.

She kept the same heated water dish and, after adjusting the set-up a little, she added things we collected from our nearby natural areas, mainly pieces of loose bark and rocks which hold the bark in place. First, Jan placed some anti-slip material, like that used to keep loose rugs from sliding on smooth floors, on top of the stump. She wanted to keep the next layer, a smooth flat piece of wood just a bit bigger than the dish, from moving or sliding.

Photos (c) Bill Beatty

The heated dog dish went on top of the wooden platform. It was partly filled with different levels of rocks so there is room for the water as well as good footing and good water access for the birds no matter what the level of the water is. The next step was to decorate. We are “Nature” people, and enjoy pretty much everything in nature, sooo…, thinking about the birds’ normal habitat, we chose rocks from streams and bark fallen from dead trees.

Photos (c) Bill Beatty

The goal was not to hide the dog dish and its color, but rather to make the set-up more welcoming for the birds. Having the rough bark and stones around the top of the dish seemed to be just what the birds had been wanting….a natural-looking place with familiar footing for them to land and hang out.

On rare occasions we have had very high winds and some of the rocks and bark were blown off. Sometimes they were dislodged by squirrels who were startled to see us watching as they took a drink. No problem. It just gives us an opportunity to redecorate. And, with a pile of bark and rocks on the ground around the base, it only takes less than a minute.

Now our bird water-station is more appealing to us, and, my goodness, the birds absolutely love it. The biggest difference is that instead of having one bird at a time every now and then, we very often have several on a regular basis. The only regular maintenance we do is adding water from time to time and make sure the birds remain healthy by cleaning the dish occasionally. Cleaning is easy if using the dog dish as compared to cleaning a birdbath attached to a stand. We keep extra bark pieces and rocks on the ground nearby for when the rocks need cleaned. The bark can be easily discarded and replaced.

Photo (c) Bill Beatty

On those cold, wintry days, when most of the usual water sources in our neighborhood are ice-covered, our birds have a reliable source of unfrozen water.

Tufted Titmouse at bird bath. (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Northern Cardinal and House Finch at bird bath (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

For many years, during the cold weather months, our bird feeders have provided Jan and me with great enjoyment.

Photo (c) Bill Beatty

Photo (c) Bill Beatty

Now, on some days, our bird water-station can be just as entertaining as the feeders.

Video (c) Bill Beatty

Video (c) Bill Beatty

On warmer days many birds continue to be attracted to our winter weather bird water-station even though there are other unfrozen water sources available.

Video (c) Jan Runyan

A little bit of creativity added an attractive, easily-usable source of water for the birds and a great deal of enjoyment for us.

The 54th annual Nature Wonder Weekend at West Virginia’s North Bend State Park – What We Did.

Nature Wonder Weekend at North Bend State Park, outside of Harrisville and Cairo, WV, is the longest running edible wild foods event in the United States! Jan and I enjoyed our weekend with like-minded wild food enthusiasts.

On Friday evening we were welcomed by Wendy Greene, Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs, and Kelsey Gilbert, Superintendent of North Bend State Park.

Wendy Greene (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Kelsey Gilbert (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Then I presented my program called “It’s Greek to Me!”. On Saturday morning I led a walk teaching about edible, medicinal, and poisonous plants.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

Jan accompanied me on the walk, but left early to attend a class on campfire cooking led by Ken Zebo.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

Later that morning Adam Haritan and I participated in a table talk about some of the plants and fungi that had been collected on the trail walks Adam and I had led earlier.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

Throughout the weekend Jan and I got to know Adam. He knows a great deal about foraging, ecology, and plant–fungi–animal relationships among other things. But Adam is so much more than just the topics he teaches. We got to know him as a friend. For more about Adam, visit his “Learn Your Land” website: https://learnyourland.com/ .

Adam Haritan (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Supper on Saturday was all edible wild foods, and they were all delicious. The following photos show only a part of what we we had to eat.

Photos (c) Jan Runyan

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

Photos (c) Jan Runyan

Photos (c) Jan Runyan

Photos (c) Jan Runyan

Deaonna Crowe and I were the judges for the Wild Foods Contest. The entries were judged on appearance, taste, and how many of the ingredients were from the wild. All the entries were beautiful and delicious. The winners came down to the ingredients.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

I have attended this event many times in the past and my favorite food at the supper has always been the homemade ice creams — all with wild plant flavors. This year’s flavors were pawpaw and honey, pawpaw and agave, persimmon, and peach. Without a doubt, I ate more ice cream than anyone else there.

John Sheets, the ice cream guru, and I talk ice cream. (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

On Saturday evening Adam presented the program, “In Praise of Wild Food Mentors”.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

On Sunday morning Adam led a walk and talked about the wild foods and other plants near the North Bend Lodge.

Photos (c) Jan Runyan

I don’t know all the people who work behind the scenes for this event. However, there is a core group who prepare throughout the year to make this event very special for everyone who attends. It was an amazing and delicious weekend!

Howard Marsh 2023

One of the best areas to experience the spring bird migration in the midwest is along western Lake Erie in Ohio. The boardwalk through the wetlands and lowlands of Magee Marsh tends to be the “poster child” for outstanding birding, but there are also many other great birding areas near Magee Marsh, and we try to visit as many as possible while we are in the area each year. One of the newest birding areas is Howard Marsh (https://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/howard-marsh-metropark/), a created wetland that is part of the Metroparks of Toledo, Ohio.

We had watched the machinery create the low areas and dikes of Howard Marsh for several years. We wondered how long it would take birds to find the area and if they would like it. No worries! Just add water and the birds came!

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

Jan and I have learned to come well-equipped with tripods, binoculars, scopes, and cameras.

Photos Bill Beatty and Jan Runyan

An ever-present bird is the Red-winged Blackbird. Regardless of where we were at the marsh we could see or hear them. They are very territorial, constantly singing, scolding, and confronting one another.

Photos (c) Bill Beatty and Jan Runyan

We stood on one of the walking trail bridges to take photos of many kinds of wetland birds. The Barn Swallows were collecting mud and dried grasses, then flying right at us to build their nests under the bridge where we stood.

Photos (c) Bill Beatty

Several friends we talked to said the Black-necked Stilts were common this year and we saw several nesting nearby.

Photos (c) Bill Beatty

There were other birds to see and photograph.

Great Egret (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Dunlin (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Killdeer and eggs (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Semipalmated Plover (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Lesser Yellowlegs (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Blue-winged Teal (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

We were fortunate to see this Muskrat up-close and personal. It didn’t appear to be concerned about us being so close.

Muskrat (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Howard Marsh is becoming one of the top birding spots in Ohio. It’s well worth stopping there on any birding trip along western Lake Erie.

Magee Marsh 2023 – for Birds and Much More

Jan and I have been going birding at Magee Marsh on western Lake Erie in Ohio for the last 12 years (except the Covid year). But we always do more than just chasing birds. We always have additional non-bird wildlife surprises.

These Red Fox young were one of those surprises.

Photos (c) Bill Beatty

Due to the excitement at the east end of the Magee Marsh boardwalk we decided to begin our first day of birding there. A pair of nesting Virginia Rails were very active right near the boardwalk and at times they were easy to observe.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

Photos (c) Bill Beatty

Jan and I get just as much enjoyment spending time with our friends as we do seeing the wonders of Creation.

Photos by various people

When I see a hollow tree I always want to see what, if anything, might be nesting, roosting or hiding inside.

Photos (c) Jan Runyan

Many birds we locate by hearing them sing. They can be difficult to see and almost impossible to photograph.

Bay-breasted Warbler (Photo (c) Jan Runyan

Canada Warbler (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

American Woodcock (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Eastern Screech-owl (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Other times the birds show themselves and we are able to get better photos.

Photo (c) Bill Beatty

Black-and-white Warbler (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Northern Parula (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Yellow Warbler (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Acadian Flycatcher (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Common Nighthawk (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

A Bald Eagle perched nearby, keeping an eye on the eaglets in the nest.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

Young Bald Eagle perched on nest. (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Walking the Lake Erie side of the Estuary Trail there were a great many dead fish and a dead gull on the beach.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

Photos (c) Bill Beatty

Photo (c) Bill Beatty

At the very end of the Estuary Trail was something quite unusual… a Groundhog high up at the very top of a good-sized tree.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

Photo (c) Lee Miller

Video (c) Jan Runyan

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

Leaving Magee as the sun was setting one evening, Jan noticed a flock of large wading birds — Sandhill Cranes.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

What fun! That’s one thing we love about our yearly trip to western Lake Erie — we never know what wonders of Creation we will see, but we always have great friends to share them with.

Red Foxes (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Lightning Bugs/Fireflies

Recently, Jan and I have been going out about 9 pm to watch the lightning bugs in our back meadow. Each year we are entertained by these fascinating creatures, but there seem to be many more this year. They seem to be everywhere — over-grown meadow, cut lawn, under trees, in the open, in the garden. They are amazing. It’s as if some of the stars have fallen from the sky and they are trying to rise back into the heavens. Did you know you can sometimes identify the species of lightning bugs by how the males move while lighting?

A video I show as part of my “Creature Feature” program is a lot like what Jan and I are experiencing each evening, including the occasional barred owl calling and the songs of the eastern gray tree frogs.

Firefly Experience

As a young boy my friends and I would catch lightning bugs in glass jars and watch how bright so many flashing at one time could be. Later that night we would open our jars and watch them flash as they escaped back into the wild. We were mesmerized by this wonder of Nature.

Lightning bugs in a jar

Not all species of lightning bugs flash. Some of them are active in the daytime and, although the larvae or adult females may glow, they communicate by means of pheromones instead of light. We sure are glad we live in a place with nocturnal lightning bugs! Watching them is such a magical treat!

Project Boys

The first printing of my Project Boys book was sold out. The 2nd printing is now available.

For additional information about “Project Boys” see the following post: https://wvbirder.wordpress.com/2020/03/17/project-boys/

Autographed copies are available for $20.00 (includes shipping and tax). Not available outside the continental United States. Mail check or money order to: Bill Beatty, 540 Genteel Ridge Road, Wellsburg, WV 26070. Please make sure to include your shipping address.

West Virginia Mountain State Bird Festival, 2023, and More – Some Highlights.

The WV Mountain State Bird Festival, coordinated from Blackwater Falls State Park, is a wonderful spring treat. On our way there this year, Jan and I visited some special wild areas. Our first stop was a wetland we wanted to explore for a future field trip which will show a group some interesting plants in the area. We accidentally discovered a large area of Pink Lady’s Slippers (𝐶𝑦𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑎𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑙𝑒) — 39 plants were in full flower and many others had already flowered or didn’t flower this year!

Pink Lady’s Slippers (Photo (c) Bill Beatty

Pink Lady’s Slipper (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

We were fascinated that the “slipper” part of the flower looks like a pair of lungs.

Pink Lady’s Slipper (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

When Jan and I are exploring wetlands we wear shoes that attach securely to our feet. Some areas of the bog can be ankle-deep or deeper in muck and water, so any footwear not securely fastened can easily be sucked off our feet as we walk. (See our post https://wordpress.com/post/wvbirder.wordpress.com/337 )

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

This year has been dry, so the bog was unusually dry. We didn’t have much drying-off to do before we continued to Blackwater Falls State Park.

On Friday afternoon I presented a program called “Learning Bird Songs”, and on Friday evening Jan presented her “Birding Essentials for Everyone” program. The people who attended our programs and field trips were birders and nature-lovers of all levels and a variety of interests.

Photo (c) Bill Beatty

Our group met at 6 am on Saturday morning for a field trip to Stuart Memorial Drive in Randolph County.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

This time of year the trees are leafed-out and, although we can easily hear the birds singing, they can be very difficult to see. Some of us did get glimpses of the Northern Parula, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Chestnut-sided Warbler.

Northern Parula (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Black-throated Blue Warbler (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Chestnut-sided Warbler (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

We stopped at a variety of habitats looking at and listening to a variety of different kinds of birds.

Photo (c) Bill Beatty

Photo (c) Bill Beatty

We were hoping to see and hear Mourning Warblers at Bickle Knob Tower and then eat lunch there. However, a large group had already arrived and were preparing to have a memorial service, making parking extremely tight. One person of their group came to the tower to warm up playing the bagpipes. It wasn’t the best situation for finding birds, so, after enjoying the amazing view from the top of the tower, we left to find a quieter, birdier lunch spot.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

Later we heard a Mourning Warbler singing over and over again, but we weren’t able to see it. Some of us went into the woods to try to find it “just behind that tree over there”. Those who waited on the road glimpsed it as “a bird flying quickly away”. We did get lots of opportunity to learn the song.

Mourning Warbler (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Mourning Warbler song:

Another bird that is difficult to see is the Swainson’s Thrush, and we were lucky to hear two singing in competition. As with so many other birds we heard, we just couldn’t see either of them.

Swainson’s Thrush (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Swainson’s Thrush song:

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

Of course, we did find some other interesting creatures besides the birds…we always do.

White Clintonia Lilies (𝐶𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑎 𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑎) (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

White Clintonia Lily (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Daddy-long-legs on Rock Tripe (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Later that evening I presented a program on the “Flycatchers of West Virginia”.

On Sunday morning we met at 6:30 am for a field trip to the Freeland Boardwalk in the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. One of the first birds we encountered was a Bobolink in the field adjacent to the boardwalk. As usual we heard it singing before we could see it.

Bobolink song:

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

As an appropriate follow-up to my program on the previous evening, a few Willow Flycatchers were singing, and Alder Flycatchers seemed to be everywhere.

Alder Flycatchers (Photos (c) Jan Runyan)

Swamp Sparrows were singing at several locations.

Swamp Sparrow (Video (c) Jan Runyan)

One of the highlights of the boardwalk was seeing a breeding pair of Green Herons. We first saw one skulking along one of the water courses apparently looking for food. Then they both flew to different perches and we all were able to get good views of them.

Green Heron (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Green Heron (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Green Heron (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

There were a number of Cedar Waxwings flying around and we could often hear their high-pitched, trilled “bzeee” song as we walked the boardwalk.

Cedar Waxwing (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

The extremely rare white form of the Pink Lady’s Slipper, which we had seen for the first time 5 years ago, was still there. We were glad to see that it had not been destroyed or removed by a misguided person who thought they could transplant it into their garden. That never works because of the complicated chemistry and fungi required by the plant, but sometimes uninformed people try and they end up destroying the plant so no one gets to enjoy it. It was lovely to see the plant thriving in its natural environment.

White form of the Pink Lady’s Slipper (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

After the Freeland Boardwalk we made one more stop nearby to see if we could locate Henslow’s Sparrows. The grass in the fields where the Henslow’s like to nest was still too short for the liking of this bird and we didn’t hear or see any. But that didn’t dampen our spirits, as several of our group demonstrated “Ballet Birding”.

(Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

We were also entertained by a pair of nesting Brown Thrashers continually flying back and forth taking insects to their hungry chicks.

Brown Thrasher with grasshopper. (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

After lunch Jo Santiago presented an amazing program with live raptors. All the birds she uses in her programs are birds who have been rehabilitated from injuries, but are not able to be released back into the wild. They have become her family. Her program is one of the best I have ever seen, and I have seen many nature-related programs. Visit Jo’s website for more information about her Flying Higher programs — https://www.flyinghigherllc.com/

Jo Santiago and the Bald Eagle, Freedom. (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Jan and I are blessed to be able to meet and spend time with such enjoyable, Nature-loving people, like Jo, Paulita Cousin (naturalist at Blackwater Falls SP) and those attending our programs and field trips. We all had a fantastic time in the Nature of Wild and Wonderful West Virginia.

The 2023 West Virginia Wildflower Pilgrimage — Programs and Tours Jan and I led

On May 11-14 over 300 people celebrated spring birds and wildflowers in the Appalachian Mountains at the 61st West Virginia Wildflower Pilgrimage presented by the WV DNR and the WV Garden Club, Inc.! On Thursday pilgrims could attend 3 daytime programs at our host location, Blackwater Falls State Park. Birdwalks happened early on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Then on Friday and Saturday pilgrims had a choice of 12 full-day field trips to a variety of amazing locations. Thursday and Friday concluded with evening programs and more, and a banquet finished the day on Saturday.

One of the Thursday workshops was Jan’s Birding Essentials for Everyone. Her program is offered each year and is enjoyed by birders of every ability and plant enthusiasts, too.

Photo (c) Bill Beatty

Bird Leaders from the Brooks Bird Club led early morning bird walks for pilgrims who enjoyed this wonderful way to start the day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings. I coordinate the walk and begin by introducing the leaders and talking a little about birds and birding. Then smaller groups form as we walk, listen to and look at birds.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

After the bird walk Jan knows where to find me. I take good advantage of my 30 minute wait before the cars for my Dolly Sods Wilderness Hike tour begin to line up for the drive up to Dolly Sods.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

This year’s hike was on the Rohrbaugh Plains and Wildlife Trails in the Dolly Sods Wilderness.

Pilgrims on Rohrbaugh Plains Trail (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Although we did identify some wildflowers and birds, the emphasis of the Dolly Sods hike was the scenic beauty of the wilderness.

Painted Trillium (𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑚) (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Our lunch site was the Rohrbaugh Plains overlook, one of the most scenic overlooks in West Virginia.

Photo (c) Bill Beatty

Photo (c) Bill Beatty

After lunch we continued our hike on the Wildlife Trail.

Pilgrims on Wildlife Trail (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Hiking through the open meadows we saw thousands of Green-Legged Grasshoppers hopping everywhere.

Green-Legged Grasshopper (𝑀𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑣𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑝𝑒𝑠) (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Jan’s trip on Friday was to Cranesville Swamp in Preston County, WV. The short hike to get to the Cranesville Swamp boardwalk traverses some different habitats…

Pine/spruce woods at Cranesville Swamp (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

…which have a variety of interesting wildflowers.

Gaywings/Fringed Polygala (𝑃𝑜𝑙𝑦𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑢𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑎) (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Goldthread (𝐶𝑜𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑎) (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Dwarf Ginseng (𝑃𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑥 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑢𝑠) (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Foamflower (𝑇𝑖𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑎) (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Field trips, walks, and explorations are great opportunities to find something unexpected, like this owl pellet with the fur, bones, teeth, and claws of some small mammal. One of the wonderful things about the Pilgrimage is the way everyone shares what they know, which is often quite extensive.

Owl pellet. (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Video (c) Jan Runyan

Jan’s group wasn’t the only one to visit the swamp.

Black Bear track. (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Black Bear scraping. (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

The raised boardwalk helps protect the swamp’s delicate ecosystem from being adversely impacted by regular intrusions from the many visitors.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

One of the unusual plants in the Cranesville Swamp is the Quillwort.

Quillwort (𝐼𝑠𝑜𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑠𝑝.) (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

This larger, West Virginia part of Cranesville Swamp is an acidic bog of standing water. The plants there are much different from those on Maryland side of Cranesville Swamp, so, after lunch, the tour investigated the part few people know about or explore. This part of the Cranesville Swamp system has a definite stream flowing through it, over limestone rock, which changes the chemistry, making it a fen. A short walk through the nearby woods brought the pilgrims to the the higher, drier land near the flowing stream.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

There, the very different ecosystem is not so delicate. They explored the differences in land and plants. Birds, of course, were in both locations!

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

For the first time since Jan has been attending the Wildflower Pilgrimage, I arrived back at our cabin before she did. I had even showered before she got back. When I asked her about getting back so late, she had no explanation. It wasn’t until someone else on her trip mentioned stopping for ice cream at Saffiticker’s on the way back that I knew what had taken them so long.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

On Saturday Jan and I led the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge — Beall North Trail / Idleman’s Run Trail Walk for wildflowers and birds.

The Beall North Trail starts with long, expansive wet meadows which have occasional woodlands on one side of the trail.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

In the summer months these meadows will be full of waist high Bracken Ferns (𝑃𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑎𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑚) which were then just little fiddleheads.

Bracken Fern (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Photo (c) Bill Beatty

The rainy day was inviting to creatures that like wet weather.

Red Eft Salamander (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

There is part of a camouflaged Pickerel Frog in this photo.

Camouflaged Pickerel Frog (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

We heard many birds but they remained well-hidden in the trees and shrubs.

Photo (c) Bill Beatty

For almost the entire length of the Beall Trail North we were serenaded by the ethereal song of the Hermit Thrush.

Many people are attracted to all the intricate and beautiful patterns in nature. Here, a long dead and decaying tree stump is providing a place for tiny mosses and lichens to grow.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

After lunch we traveled to Idleman’s Run Trail for an afternoon walk on what I consider the prettiest and botanically richest trail in the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

Idelman’s Run (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

After parking the cars in the parking area at the top of Idelman’s Run Trail, we walked down the road to start at the lower end of the trail. There was much to see along the road. One of the pilgrims said, “We could do the whole walk just along the roadway! There’s so much to see.”

Here I was teaching about the medicinal virtues of Yarrow (𝐴𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑎 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑢𝑚) ( (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Yarrow leaves. (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Witches’ Butter Jelly Fungus (𝑇𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎) (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

A wildflower-lined, gated roadway runs a short distance from the Forest Service road to the beginning of Idleman’s Run Trail.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

Recently emerged (from chrysalis) Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Two-leaved Toothwort (𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑝ℎ𝑦𝑙𝑙𝑎) (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Hooked Crowfoot/Buttercup (𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑠) (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Common Mouse-ear Chickweed (𝐶𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑓𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑚) (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Idelman’s Run Trail (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

We saw 4 species of violets with flowers, and several other species that had not yet flowered or had already flowered.

Common Blue Violet (𝑉𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑎 𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑎) (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Striped White Violet (𝑉𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑎 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑎) (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Long-spurred Violet (𝑉𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑎 𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑎) (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Sweet White Violet (𝑉𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑎 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎) (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

As usual, we didn’t get to see all the wonderful plants along Idleman’s Run. We had to return to Blackwater Falls State Park in time to shower and go to the evening banquet. Regardless of the weather, the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Blackwater Falls State Park offer many interesting and even some rare creatures and plants.

On Sunday, we ended our weekend by having brunch with friends at the Bright Morning Inn Cafe.

This is only a small taste of the trips and locations visited by the Wildflower Pilgrimage. The interesting excursions and the great leaders are why so many pilgrims and leaders return year after year to this wonderful event. West Virginia truly is wild and wonderful!

The 2023 Ralph K. Bell Memorial Walk

Ralph K. Bell was a mentor, role model and friend to a great many people. He passed 9 years ago and many people still feel the loss. This year’s Ralph K. Bell Memorial Walk and Picnic was another way for some of us to celebrate his life and what he meant to us personally and to the science of birding in general. It was a beautiful day.

Ralph and Jan at the 2011 Bell Farm Walk. (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

As usual, Jan and I showed up early so I could help participants know where to park their cars.

While people were arriving we were serenaded by many Red-winged Blackbirds nesting in the large nearby grassy meadows and by Purple Martins in their gourd nestboxes. The home, next door, where Ralph was born is now the residence of Ralph’s grandson C. David and his wife Leah. We met at the home where Ralph lived most of his life which is now the second home of Ralph’s son David and his wife Ruth. Both homes have wonderful plantings, flower beds, gardens and, of course, lots of places for birds to eat, nest and roost. Nearby are the plantings of the Bell Christmas Tree Farm.

Male Red-winged Blackbird (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Many birds also make this area their home throughout the year. On the Bell Farm there are nesting American Kestrels, Purple Martins, Tree Swallows, and Eastern Bluebirds in various nest boxes.

Female American Kestrel (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Eastern Bluebird on nest box with caterpillar. (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

The walk is sponsored by The Ralph K. Bell Bird Club of Greene County, PA. We started with a greeting and introduction by Marjorie Howard for the bird club and C. David for the Bell family.

Greetings and introductions. (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Jan with the Bell family representatives, David, Leah, and C. David. (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Even as we went down the driveway and started down the road, the large group broke into smaller groups, which is typical of bird walks.

Photo (c) Jan Runyan

Right away we began to pay attention to the multitude of bird songs around us. There were a number of birding experts to help with the identification of the birds everyone was seeing and hearing.

Male Scarlet Tanager (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

Photo (c) Bill Beatty

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Photo (c) Bill Beatty

Kentucky Warbler (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Louisiana Waterthrush (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Larry “Scope” Helgerman was able to show everyone, up close and personal, nests of an Acadian Flycatcher and a Wood Thrush.

Photo (c) Bill Beatty

Acadian Flycatcher on nest (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Wood Thrush on nest (Photo (c) Larry Helgerman)

We also enjoyed and identified wildflowers.

Miami Mist (𝑃ℎ𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑎 𝑝𝑢𝑟𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑖) (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Four-leaved Milkweed (𝐴𝑠𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑎𝑠 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑎) (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

After we walked a long mile through several different habitats, we arrived at “the bridge” — our turn-around point. The walk back (and car rides up the last hill) were faster since we knew what was waiting for us.

“The bridge.” (Photo (c) Jan Runyan)

There is always a picnic under the majestic spreading Tulip Popular tree after the Ralph Bell Bird Walk, but this year the Ralph K. Bell Bird Club took this opportunity to do some club business, too. They provided part of the meal and invited attendees to bring something to share. Then, after lunch, we honored this year’s two 2023 Ralph K. Bell scholarship winners who are high school seniors from Greene County, PA.

Delicious lunch in a perfect setting (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Finally, after celebratory cake and Krispy Kreme doughnuts, we went over the bird list from the day, adding species that had been seen or heard by small groups, but not yet reported. (Jan and I didn’t hear the final total number of species.) We all had a wonderful day celebrating Ralph, young nature lovers, plants and, especially, birds!

Indigo Bunting and Ovenbird — Two Bird Photos… by request.

At this year’s West Virginia Wildflower Pilgrimage, one of the participants and I were talking about birds when I mentioned a photo I had taken showing an Indigo Bunting female feeding a grasshopper to her chick. This person follows our blog and asked if I could somehow show her the photo. I decided to do a blog post about it.

When I was making a living shooting photos professionally, I had some incredible experiences and learned a great deal about birds that I couldn’t have learned without passionate, regular visits to wild places looking for birds in nesting and feeding (young) situations. I was always very careful not to cause undue stress to nesting birds. My photos were always from a camouflaged blind which was portable and could be quickly and easily set up. I wore camouflage. Playback recordings were never used. I couldn’t have learned so much about the birds’ normal behaviors if I had attracted them with recordings. And, of course, the recordings really stress birds during breeding/nesting season. Eventually, I was able to look at a bird and know immediately by its behavior if it had an active nest and was feeding young. There are ways I can gently follow a bird to its nest without causing it undue stress. I knew when and how to safely set up the blind without causing the bird to abandon its nest, even though the blind would sometimes be just 4 feet away.

One day I found an active Indigo Bunting nest. The nest was easy to see and would be easy to photograph, but there was a dilemma — it was quite a distance from the nearest road. I would have to carry all my equipment — blind, tripod, camera and other gear — a long way. I checked with the person who owned the property and they kindly gave me permission to drive my CJ5 Jeep through the woods to the location. Fortunately, my Jeep was small enough to negotiate close quarters between woodland trees to the edge of the meadow where the nest was. After setting up the blind and camera equipment, I began shooting photos. Only the female was feeding the chicks, while the male sang happily from distant and nearby perches. She was feeding them large grasshoppers (large, I thought, for the small throats of the babies). She didn’t feed them as often as I had hoped and I spent a lot of time waiting between feedings. After a few hours the sky began to darken — rain was forecast. I left the blind and tripod set up there, planning to return the next morning. It was a rainy and windy night.

The next morning I discovered that the blind had been blown over, right on top of the nest. I was horrified. However, I soon noticed that the female bunting was going in and out under the blind and was continuing to feed her chicks. After quickly resetting the blind while she was out foraging for food, I decided that since she didn’t seem to be deterred by the blind that had been laying over her nest and by my photography, I would lean in even closer toward the nest to take this photo. This photo is not cropped.

Female Indigo Bunting feeding a grasshopper to her baby. (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

The next day at the WV Wildflower Pilgrimage on my tour, I was talking with the same person about the Ovenbirds we were hearing. I mentioned that their nests are on the ground and have leaf-covered tops. The nest entrances are on the side, similar to old-fashioned ovens — hence the name, Ovenbird. Again I told her about a photo I took showing a parent with caterpillars in its mouth, standing at the nest entrance near 4 hungry babies whose mouths are wide open, begging for food. She asked if I could share that photo also.

Ovenbird at nest feeding babies. (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

A goal in my life is to enjoy nature, all of nature, while interfering with nature as little as possible. I used to tell people, “My success as a nature photographer is 10% photography skills and 90% knowing my subject.” Photography is the easy part. It takes a lifetime to know the subjects, and it is the most enjoyable thing I can imagine doing….except for sharing the wonders of nature with other people.

Creature Feature:

Investigate Nature with Fun, Nearby Creatures!

Front Cover (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Back Cover (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

The more you pay attention to it, the more you realize that Nature is amazing, wonderful, astonishing, even startling, and certainly miraculous! But where do you go and how do you learn to pay closer attention to the incredible things Nature has to offer? How can you share Nature’s miracles with others?

Creature Feature is designed to be used by a variety of people in a variety of settings. From an adult who is falling in love with the complexities of Nature to an educator who wants their students to go beyond theory and reading-about into the realm of hands-on experience…. From a grandparent, uncles/aunts, or older sibling to a scout leader, home-school parent, or the “nature lady” in the neighborhood…. The creatures in Creature Feature can be discovered and enjoyed by yourself, with a friend, or with a whole group!

These creatures are safe to keep when you follow the directions in Creature Feature. They are common to most areas and usually easy to find when you know where to look.

Each of the 20 Creature Feature chapters begins with a color photo showing what the creature looks like. Below is from the chapter called “Caterpillars”.

Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

After the photo are 2 Creature Feature fun pages. They include true/false questions and answers to show what you already know about the creature. They also include more information, puzzles, jokes, or fun activities.

After the activity pages, you will read detailed information about each creature and how to keep it so you can learn more about it.

Front Cover (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Don’t just watch creatures online. Don’t just read about amazing Nature. Make friends personally with some of Nature’s most interesting creatures in a way that’s safe for them, safe for you, and lots of fun! And share the fascination of Nature with people you care about!

Autographed copies are available for $27.00 (includes shipping and tax). Mail check to: Bill Beatty, 540 Genteel Ridge Road, Wellsburg, WV 26070. Please make sure to include your shipping address. Not available outside the continental United States.

A Walk on a Beautiful Early Spring Day

Well… it was just one of those days, the kind of day that calls and says, “Come out, come out! It’s a beautiful day, and there is much to see!”

I didn’t go far. I didn’t have to. Looking closely at tiny things, and seemingly insignificant things I was where I wanted to be… surrounded by Creation.

Some plants, because of the time of year, were predictable. Having spent so much time outside, all my life, I knew where to find certain wildflowers and other plants without their fancy faces. And even though I’ve seen them thousands of times, I continue to be amazed and excited.

There were some plants whose faces most people rarely see, but who are exceedingly beautiful. I walked to several trees I knew would be in flower.

Red Maple (𝐴𝑐𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑢𝑏𝑟𝑢𝑚) tree flowers (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Silver Maple (𝐴𝑐𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑎𝑐𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑚) tree flowers (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

American Elm (𝑈𝑙𝑚𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑎) tree flowers (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

One plant on our property, especially in our gardens, can have flowers every month of the year. It is Common Chickweed (𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎 𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎).

Common Chickweed (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Not far into the damp woods I found a close relative of the Common Chickweed.

Great Chickweed / Star Chickweed (Stellaria pubera) (Photos (c) Bill Beatty)

Another wildflower is so common I trample one about every 10 steps. The flowers are tiny and go unnoticed by most people.

Hairy Bittercress (𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒 ℎ𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑢𝑡𝑎) (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

I decided to walk to a nearby seep to see another bittercress.

Pennsylvania Bittercress (𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑦𝑙𝑣𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎) (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

I was surprised to see so many Spring Beauty flowers.

Virginia Spring Beauty (𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑎 𝑣𝑖𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎) (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

There are many Northern Spicebush (𝐿𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑎 𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑧𝑜𝑖𝑛) shrubs on our property and even though they are in flower, the tiny yellow flowers are often overlooked.

Northern Spicebush flowers (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

The Cutleaf Toothwort (𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑎) was forming flower buds and some seemed ready to burst open.

Cutleaf Toothwort (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

And, of course, there were a great many plants without their flower faces… too many to show them all, but here are a few.

Mayapple (𝑃𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑦𝑙𝑙𝑢𝑚 𝑝𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑚) (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Hairy Woodmint ( 𝐵𝑙𝑒𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑎 ℎ𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑢𝑡𝑎) (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Ivy-leaved Speedwell (𝑉𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎 ℎ𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑎) (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Not everything beautiful and very noticeable was a plant.

A fungus (𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑧𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑠𝑝.) (Photo (c) Bill Beatty)

Any day is a great day to get out and explore nature. Studies suggest we nature-loving people live longer. The beauty is endless. And the exercise is wonderful. So it does great things for your heart in more than one way.

Merry CHRISTmas!