BURLINGTON — While Earth orbits the Sun on the Ecliptic plane, the Moon orbits Earth along a different orbital that is shifted by about 5 degrees from the Ecliptic Plane (see figure above). During an eclipse season, the Moon crosses the Ecliptic Plane twice at a time when the Earth,[Read More…]

HOPKINTON, N.H. — In early spring, a reddish haze appears in the woodlands. With most deciduous trees still dormant, the red maples are living up to their name. Their awakening buds lend color to a gray landscape and signal that spring is coming. I love watching the steady progression of[Read More…]

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — From the Northeast Kingdom to the Massachusetts border, and from the Connecticut River to the waters of Lake Champlain, Vermont’s teaming birding community once again took part in the Vermont e-Bird County Quest in 2024. Marking the 14th year, this event continued to bolster Vermont’s enormous database[Read More…]

HARDWICK – I was kayaking in mid-September with my partner in New Hampshire. We got out of our boats on the backside of the lake to explore the shoreline a bit. We saw abundant signs of wildlife on the sandy shore. We walked a ways and then returned to our[Read More…]

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — As steam rises from sugarhouse cupolas and early morning coffee pots, sugarmakers are working overtime to turn maple sap into golden syrup. But as it turns out, they aren’t alone: other living things are sugaring too, and their stories affect the syrup that is poured on[Read More…]

READING – While many are still basking in the afterglow of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, a lunar eclipse is about to have its day in the sun. In the early hours of March 14, a total lunar eclipse will be visible across North America. The entire[Read More…]

HILLSBOROUGH, N.H. – The new year ushered in an Arctic blast that has only recently let up. This extreme plunge in temperature is referred to as a polar vortex. While it may seem that this is a new term, it has been in use since the 1800s. These periods of[Read More…]

Washington, D.C. – It’s a familiar sight in winter: An inky-black raven soaring over a landscape white with snow. Though similar in appearance to the American crow, the common raven (Corvus corax) is distinguished by its large size, fluffy neck feathers, and long, thick beak. The ubiquitous raven croak can[Read More…]

HARDWICK – The wren was the first to our feeder, 6:45 a.m., the snow blowing, temps around four degrees without the wind chill. A line from an old poem came into my head. “The north wind doth blow, and we shall have snow, and what will the robin do then,[Read More…]

HILLSBOROUGH, N.H. – The Northeast has experienced significant ice storms throughout history, and we may be due for another one. Though we see icing in many winter storms, including recent ones, major ice storms cause widespread damage to forests and infrastructure, and occur in the northeast every 15 to 25[Read More…]

BURLINGTON – On a subzero morning, I clip into skis and head out across my meadow, gliding between desiccated husks of sundial lupine (Lupinus perennis) poking up above the snow. I imagine this spot eight months ago, as I watched bumblebees, mason bees and sweat bees forage among them. Back[Read More…]

BROOKFIELD – Driving on Vermont’s Interstate highways in winter, I often notice large hawks perched in trees on woodland edges at regular intervals along the road. With the stark landscape providing better visibility and many bird species gone for the winter, this is a great time of year to hawk-watch.[Read More…]