Alula Birding & Natural History Tours

10/30/2024

"Living Lightly" this month focuses on a gourdgeous issue.....

Living Lightly: ‘Tis the pumpkin season Arts & EntertainmentColumnsCommunityCookingEnvironment & NatureFood & DrinkHolidaysLiving Lightly by John Turner - October 25, 2024 0 81 Pixabay photo A Column Promoting a More Earth-Friendly Lifestyle By John L. Turner John Turner As Halloween nears, countl...

10/30/2024

October's "Nature Matters" column. Part 1 of a two-part article on woodpeckers. Who doesn't like woodpeckers right? rhttps://tbrnewsmedia.com/nature-matters-wonderful-woodpeckers/

Nature Matters: Wonderful Woodpeckers AnimalsArts & EntertainmentColumnsEnvironment & NatureNature Matters by John Turner - October 28, 2024 0 95 from left, a female and male Pileated Woodpecker. The male can be differentiated from the female by its red cheek stripe and longer red crown that extends...

10/03/2024

https://tbrnewsmedia.com/nature-matters-leaves

09/21/2024

Bob McGrath and I spent a partial day looking for marbled salamanders at a favorite haunt in central Suffolk County. We came across this female guarding her newly laid egg packet.

The marbled salamander is one of the four native ambystomid or mole salalamders we have here, the others being the tiger, spotted, and blue-spotted, and is the only one that reproduces in the fall. It was great to find this individual and eggs -a promise of a next generation.....

08/31/2024

On my way to Brookhaven Town Hall the other day I saw a large patch of wildflowers along side of the road. Getting out to inspect it turned out to be fern-leaved false foxglove, a native species. While not rare, it was the largest patch I've ever seen....Will bloom until mid-to-late September....apparently pollinated by bumblebees.....

08/31/2024

If you have a fondness for wild things.......

Nature Matters: Hemispheric Globetrotters AnimalsArts & EntertainmentColumnsCommunityEnvironment & NatureNature MattersPhotography by John Turner - August 31, 2024 0 37 1 of 6 American Oystercatcher. Photo by Craig Turner Ruddy Turnstone. Photo by Craig Turner Red Knot. Photo by Craig Turner Semipal...

08/14/2024

My most recent '"Nature Matters " column on horseshoe crabs. we can stop the slughter of horseshoe crabs. The NY State Legislature has passed the bill and we need Governor Hochul to sign it into law. Please help...the article tells you how to.....

Nature Matters: The Horseshoe Crab — A brighter future for a living fossil? Arts & EntertainmentColumnsEnvironment & NatureNature Matters by John Turner - August 2, 2024 0 298 Horseshoe crabs at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai. Photo by John Turner By John L. Turner John Turner Spending the first five ...

07/24/2024

So, Bob McGrath's post.,ilustrating an in-bloom white-fringed orchid, reminded me to visit a very special place, in western Suffolk County, where this wildflower blooms. I counted 272 orchids this afternoon, the most I've ever seen. A remarkable population - I think it must be the largest on LI and I wonder if its one of the larger populations in NYS........

07/11/2024

https://tbrnewsmedia.com/nature-matters-a-forest-bath/
July's "Nature Matters" column on forest bathing. I hope you take a bath!

Nature Matters: A forest bath AnimalsArts & EntertainmentColumnsEnvironment & NatureNature Matters by John Turner - July 5, 2024 0 234 Forest leaves in the canopy. Pixabay photo By John L. Turner John Turner I had walked for 20 minutes before reaching the intended destination: Hunter’s Garden in E...

06/26/2024

The classic "j" position of a caterpillar that is beginning the pupation phase/process. Hopefully, I'll be seeing a chrysalis in a few days!

06/26/2024

Four of them along with a little caterpillar p**p known as frass.....

06/26/2024

I have two dozen butterfly w**d plants near the back door taking up a 3' by 3' area. There are currently 11 monarch butterfly caterpillars feasting on Asclepias leaves! Here's two of them.

06/12/2024

Here's June's "Nature Matters" on Spring Migration.....
https://tbrnewsmedia.com/nature-matters-spring-migration/

06/09/2024

As Bob McGrath previously posted, a few of us went herping in the pine barrens and this gorgeous ring-necked snake was one of the targets. It is a diminutive and beautiful creature even if it releases a stinky excretion when disturbed.......😄

05/14/2024

https://tbrnewsmedia.com/nature-matters-a-wetlands-ambassador/

You "otter" take a minute to read May's "Nature Matters" column......

Nature Matters: A wetlands ambassador AnimalsArts & EntertainmentColumnsEnvironment & NatureNature Matters by John Turner - May 12, 2024 0 109 A river otter caught on a trail camera in Bellport. Image courtesy of Luke Ormand By John L. Turner John Turner I slung on the backpack, shut the car door an...

04/24/2024

And the "Living Lightly" column......

Living Lightly: Buy in bulk Arts & EntertainmentColumnsCommunityLiving Lightly by John Turner - April 20, 2024 0 54 Stock photo A Column Promoting a More Earth-Friendly Lifestyle By John L. Turner John Turner Buying in bulk can not only save you money but often generates less waste. For example, a 6...

04/24/2024

April's "Nature Matters" column.....on balloons...they are showing up everywhere....

Nature Matters: A ballooning problem Arts & EntertainmentColumnsCommunityEnvironment & NatureNature Matters by John Turner - April 22, 2024 0 62 Pixabay photo By John L. Turner John Turner Oh those lighter-than-air balloons! As the helium gas inside seeps away, causing them to lose their buoyancy, t...

03/24/2024

"Nature Matters" article for March https://tbrnewsmedia.com/nature-matters-the-skin-of-trees/