Almost three million visitors flocked to Washington’s Olympic National Park in 2023, but the biome doesn’t stop at the park gates. The surrounding areas offer many lesser-known gems. On our recent trip to the Olympic Peninsula, my Laddie and I explored three local sanctuaries full of wonderful wildlife (and unlike many of the popular hikes, … More Three Hidden Wildlife Walks Outside Olympic National Park
After researching how climate change threatens snowy Arctic biomes, I’ve been spending as much time as I can outdoors in the Alaskan winter. A recent 20-Fahrenheit afternoon felt warm after December’s negative temperatures. My neighborhood stream, artificially heated for utility purposes, burbled along with less ice than usual encrusting its rocks and reeds. Birds took … More Bird Joy: Science warms to the idea that birds play in the snow
“You missed my Christmas music concert,” I called jokingly when the door lock clattered in the other room. I’d taken advantage of my Laddie’s absence at a softball game to bang out some carols on the keyboard, sans headphones. Although I still found it hard to muster much holiday spirit in summertime, this year I … More Best Local Bird Encounters of 2022
Halting on the red dirt trail, I squinted against the brightening sky. It had been overcast when I left on my Saturday long run, but now sunshine leaked through the dawn clouds. I should have brought my sunglasses! Or, having completed my mileage, I could switch to an entirely different type of lens. After a … More Interspecies Travel: A Wide-Eyed Wander in the Wetlands
I am solar-powered. Dawn’s first glow draws me out of bed. I’ll run tirelessly while our central star traverses the sky, but my energy lowers with the light. Once darkness falls, my body goes into rest mode. It’s a physiological response I’ve never been able to reprogram (a brief stint on nightshift made me so physically … More Peek-a-Boobook: Encountering Australia’s Smallest Owl
Many Australians take beach holidays between Christmas and New Years’. My Laddie and I, preferring to beat the crowds, took our coastal trip in late November instead. If you’re an Aussie prudently forgoing holiday travel during the latest COVID outbreak, or a Northern Hemisphere reader seeking a little sea and sunshine to brighten dark solstice … More Eurobodalla Encounters, Pt III: The Price of a Free Lunch
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