In the otherwise highly developed and developing megalopolis stretching from Virginia to Maine, woodlands, fields, marshes, streams, and rivers remain on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Indeed, the Shore’s natural resources are threatened by population growth and steady losses of natural resources … Continue reading Nature on the Eastern Shore — Murals
When I left Baltimore to move to the Eastern Shore 16 years ago, I thought I was leaving behind daily parallel parking, mosquito-free backyards, and Formstone houses. Turns out I was right about the parallel parking and the backyards, but … Continue reading Formstone — What do You Think? Classy or Tacky?
There was a time when my husband, Gren, and I would grab binoculars and spotting scope, field guide and map, and head off on foot or bike through woods and marsh to see what birds we could see. Nowadays, we … Continue reading Lazy Birding
Lately, my early morning meditations have been accompanied by the honking of migrating Canada Geese. This is the time of year when our winter goose visitors leave to go north to build nests and have babies in northern Canada. And … Continue reading Signs of Spring in the Eastern Shore Skies
A friend texted the other day with a possible sighting of American Woodcocks in Rock Hall — in a ditch right by the road! I immediately thought that spring must be on its way, even though the temperatures were at … Continue reading American Woodcock – Harbinger of Spring
I had the best time last weekend! I counted birds in our backyard, as part of the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). A yearly event in mid-February, this count is famous among birders, and promoted by bird organizations worldwide. This … Continue reading Great Backyard Bird Count — Citizen Science at its Best
Most Eastern Shore towns have many excellent examples of American Foursquare houses. But I didn’t realize that until I began looking specifically for them. Why hadn’t I noticed them? Maybe because most of them are not flashy or showy like … Continue reading American Foursquare: A Typically American Home
I started reading about the impending 2020 irruption back in August with great anticipation. It’s always fun to see unusual birds at the feeder. An irruption is a fall occurrence where large bird populations are recorded in non-typical places. The … Continue reading The Great 2020 Irruption (Say What?)
We have a hummingbird feeder in our backyard garden. When a hummingbird comes to take a drink, it makes me smile. They don’t do much—just zoom in, chatter a bit, hover a bit, drink a bit, and zoom away—but I … Continue reading The Pleasures of Feeding Hummingbirds
I saw a Delmarva fox squirrel once — two, actually, on the same day. This was a very big deal, because it was 1993, and the Delmarva fox squirrel (Sciurus niger cinereus) was an endangered species. My husband and I … Continue reading “A Rodent of Unusual Size”
