After being a drab olive for six months, my male goldfinches are beginning to put on the Ritz, molting into a new suit of bright gold feathers. I always thought the birds’ feathers changed colors, but they don’t. Many birds grow new and entirely differently colored feathers. The goldfinch is the only one in its family to undergo a complete, not a partial molt. Even the females get a touch of … [Read more...]

By Stephen Living   Looking out my office window, I could see a flurry of activity around one the holly trees in my back yard. A steady flow of birds flew in and out of the tree and hopped amongst the branches plucking berries. I wandered outside to stretch my legs and enjoy the show. My tree is an American holly. The leathery evergreen leaves are broadly toothed and spiny, and this one … [Read more...]

Finally! A bill out of Richmond that makes sense. Del. Tony Wilt out of Rockingham, authored a bill that allows people to pick up dead deer, bears, elk or turkeys that have been hit by vehicles. They call it the “roadkill bill” and it was passed by a vote of 99-0. Now, if someone hits a deer that likely puts a dent in their car - or worse – they are allowed to pick the animal up, take it home … [Read more...]

  I went out to get the paper a few days ago (yes, I still get a paper) and saw a wonderful sight. There was a worm in the driveway after a good rain. That’s a good sign. That means spring is not far away when lawns and gardens will teem with worms. I have always had an affinity for worms, dating back to the days when my dad and I went down to the creek bottom behind our house to dig … [Read more...]

… [Read more...]

Like the Lorax, I speak for the trees, and this Lorax says don’t waste your Christmas tree – recycle it! Christmas is over. It’ll soon be time to un-decorate the tree, drag it out to the curb and let the trash guys do their thing. But not so fast! A Christmas tree has many uses after the holiday season is over. For one, it makes ideal cover for small birds as they face the coming winter. … [Read more...]

By U.S.Fish & Wildlife Service Beneath the surface of the water, embedded in river bottoms, hidden in estuaries, and mistaken for rocks, lurk the invisible engineers of our aquatic ecosystems. Throughout our waterways, from urban rivers to the country streams, countless freshwater mussels are cleaning the water, taking out the trash, and stabilizing the entire aquatic community. But … [Read more...]

The weatherman called for rain this past Tuesday, but I didn’t realize that he called for all of the rain on one day. Our rain gauge on Wednesday morning measured just shy of 6 inches. But we’ll take it. The reservoirs are now full as are our rivers and trout streams, and ground water levels have been replenished. I’m not telling Mother Nature how to run her business, but it would be … [Read more...]

  By Stephen Living/DWR With the weather turning colder and hints of red and gold starting to paint the trees, gardener’s thoughts may turn towards “cleaning up” their landscape. This can include cutting down the spent flowers and dead stalks of the plants and grasses that provided valuable habitat to the wildlife in our spaces during the warmer months. Not so fast! Your Habitat at Home … [Read more...]

By Alex McCrickard/DWR Avoid fighting striped bass to exhaustion. Make sure you have a heavy enough rod and associated tackle to land the fish relatively quickly, especially if you are targeting trophy-sized striped bass. A large rubber net can be beneficial when landing striped bass. This will allow you to keep the fish wet while you prepare to remove the lure, fly, or hook. This also … [Read more...]