On a sunny day, turtles and frogs are easily spotted on a stroll along the Towpath Trail. If you love turtles as much as I do, make plans to visit the Riverlands to see a variety of amphibians and reptiles soaking up the sun.
What Lives in the Canal at the Riverlands?
May 5, 2012 at 3:27 pm (education, Susquehanna Riverlands, Uncategorized, wildlife)
Tags: Riverlands, Towpath Trail, turtles
Luzerne Envirothon Returns to Riverlands
May 3, 2012 at 4:22 pm (nature, programs, recreation, Susquehanna Riverlands, trees, wildlife)
Tags: Envirothon
PPL’s Susquehanna Riverlands hosted the Luzerne County Envirothon on Wednesday. Two hundred students and teachers from Luzerne County schools tested their knowledge in the subject areas of Aquatics, Soils, Wildlife, Forestry and Low Impact Development.
The winner this year was MMI Preparatory School in Freeland, Pa. They will go on to compete in the PA State Envirothon at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown on May 22 and 23. Good luck MMI Prep!
MMI Prep students claim 1st place at Luzerne County Envirothon
Eagle Etiquette
April 12, 2012 at 3:54 pm (birds, birds of prey, eagles, nature, observations, outdoors, Pennsylvania, wildlife)
It is Bald Eagle nesting season. With the growth in the Bald Eagle population in Pennsylvania, nests are appearing closer to human activity. Eagle nests are particularly vulnerable to disturbance early in the season. If an adult eagle is flushed off the nest, the eggs or young are exposed to dangerously cool temperatures and predators. In addition, disturbing an eagle nest is a Federal offense under the Bald and Golden Eagle Act. It is a serious offence subject to large fines. Using binoculars or a spotting scope to watch a bald eagle nest at a distance is fine, but use common sense. If the eagle on the nest exhibits signs of nervousness or discomfort or leaves the nest you are too close. The survival of the eagles is the highest priority. Provide a good example for others to follow and help us protect bald eagles. For more information on bald eagles check the Pennsylvania Game Commission website: http://bit.ly/n9sz2b. You might be interested in printing the Bald Eagle Etiquette handout here: BaldEagleNestEtiquette.
Snow is in the air
February 9, 2012 at 1:01 pm (birds, migration, Montour Preserve, nature, observations, outdoors, Pennsylvania, seasons, Uncategorized, wildlife)
Yesterday brought a rare snow for this winter. But even before those flakes began to fall there was snow in the air. This snow was the feathered kind: snow geese. About 300-400 snow geese landed on the ice at Lake Chillisquaque at Montour Preserve. They arrived late in the morning and stayed into the early afternoon. They returned this morning but seeing them on the lake can be a hit or miss proposition as they often leave to feed in local farm fields. Their arrival, like many natural events this winter, is about a month earlier than usual.
Snow geese on ice at Montour Preserve's Lake Chillisquaque
Stopped in Our Tracks
February 6, 2012 at 12:04 pm (Activities, Hiking, mammals, Martins Creek, nature, outdoors, weather, wildlife)
Tags: tracking
On Saturday, John Jose of Otter Creek Environmental Education Services treated a group of 24 kids and adults to an educational program about Animal Tracking at PPL’s Martins Creek Preserve. This lively group was eager to learn about “stride” and “straddle” using indoor sand tracking trays and handmade animal track molds.
With temperatures in the upper 40’s, the group hit the trails at the Lower Mount Bethel Township Welcome Center to see if they could discover any animal tracks in the mud. To our surprise we made a unique discovery on a February day- a garter snake slithering around in the brush! The reptile must be as confused as we are about these warm winter days and lack of snow.
We finished the program by searching for tracks on the sandy banks of the Delaware River. Our search revealed many different animals had been there recently including a skunk and a muskrat. Can you name the two other animals that left evidence of their visit to the river by leaving their tracks in the sand?
Live Raptors Captivate Audience
January 31, 2012 at 4:23 pm (birds, birds of prey, education, Lake Wallenpaupack, wildlife)
Bill Streeter, Delaware Valley Raptor Center, presented 140 visitors with 6 live birds of prey at PPL’s Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center this past Saturday. By show of hands, this was most people’s first time at our center. The audience was captivated by the beauty of raptors as small as Mortimer the saw whet owl, as large as Julia the golden eagle and as elusive as Una the snowy owl. They learned interesting facts, like how a peregrine falcon can dive for prey at speeds up to 200 mph and that owl’s eyes are bigger than their brains. Streeter demonstrated the auditory flight difference of an owl and hawk by flapping a sample of each feather. He also created awareness about how these particular raptors came into his hands.
At the Delaware Valley Raptor Center, Streeter rehabilitates injured birds of prey. He and his staff work hard fixing broken wings and healing concussions, all in an effort to reintroduce them back into the wild. Some raptors are not able to be reintroduced. Julia, a golden eagle whose only natural enemy is the human, has been left blind in one eye after being hit by a car. Sophie, a peregrine falcon, broke a leg and wing after flying through an apartment window. Her wing did not recover completely. Streeter also reminded the audience about the illegal shooting of raptors. How, as recently as days ago, a shot bald eagle was brought to him for rehabilitation.
For more information on the work of the Delaware Valley Raptor Center, their resident birds and how you can help, visit this link: Delaware Valley Raptor Center.
Don’t Dive in Shallow Water
October 19, 2011 at 2:19 pm (birds, birds of prey, eagles, Montour Preserve, nature, observations, outdoors, Pennsylvania, wildlife)
Being in the right place at the right time to witness a wildlife drama is always exciting. To witness something unexpectedly out of the ordinary adds another dimension to the experience. With the rise in Pennsylvania’s bald eagle population over the past ten years, seeing a bald eagle is not as rare as it used to be. Here at Montour Preserve’s Lake Chillisquaque, bald eagle sightings have become more frequent through the years. Seeing a bald eagle circling over the lake is not that unusual anymore. Watching an eagle swoop down to snatch a fish is a thrill. But yesterday morning brought something different.
When I arrived at Goose Cove Overlook, I could see an adult bald eagle circling and diving toward something about fifty feet from shore. As the eagle began its dive, there was a splash on the surface of the lake followed by a set of ripples. The eagle broke off its dive just above the water, circled around and the whole thing was repeated again. Although I did not get a close look at the object of the eagle’s hunt, I could tell it was a small diving bird, possible a grebe or coot. The eagle continued to dive toward the bird and it, in turn, continued to disappear underwater just before the eagle would have struck. Again and again the eagle dove, driving the bird into shallower water until the diver could not go under to escape. The eagle splashed down, talons clutching its intended prey. Using its long wings, the eagle “rowed” closer to shore, then took off with its prey for a morning meal.
Soggy Shoes and Critter Conflicts
September 29, 2011 at 12:20 pm (Hiking, Lake Wallenpaupack, mammals, nature, outdoors, recreation, trees, wildlife)
Tags: Live animals, tree identification
It still might be a little soggy out there, but it’s always a good time to get outside and enjoy some fresh air! Come out on Saturday to learn some tree identification while you check out the Wallenpaupack Lake Trail that skirts the shoreline of Lake Wallenpaupack. Then see and hear about some of our furry friends who can sometimes cause conflict in our neighborhoods. We hope to see you this Saturday, Oct. 1 at the PPL Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center for some free programs…
Trees of the Trail ~ Saturday, October 1, 10 a.m. to noon
Presenter: Gene Shultz, Wallenpaupack Area School District educator
Enjoy a leisurely fall, morning walk on the Wallenpaupack Lake Trail while your guide helps identify some of the trees growing along the trail. All participants will receive a copy of the “Common Trees of Pennsylvania” booklet, produced by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Be prepared with appropriate dress and footwear for a 3-mile walk along the wooded trail. Children, adults and families are welcome to attend this free program and registrations are not necessary.
Dealing With Human-Wildlife Conflict ~ Saturday, October 1, 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Presenter: Kathy Uhler, Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
Whether it’s bears eating the garbage, raccoons in the attic, skunks under the deck or groundhogs eating the flowers, wildlife problems can be serious, frustrating or expensive. Professional wildlife educator Kathy Uhler has more than 30 years of experience working with wildlife and educating people, and will provide each attendee with preventions, products and resources to protect property from creatures causing conflict or damage. Live animals will accompany her presentation. This program will educate, enlighten, entertain, and, most of all, provide humane practical solutions to common wildlife conflicts. Registrations are not necessary.
Fish Rescue
September 9, 2011 at 4:58 pm (Activities, conservation, fishing, Montour Preserve, nature, outdoors, Pennsylvania, recreation, wildlife)
As waters recede at Montour Preserve’s Lake Chillisquaque, shallow pools were left behind trapping small fish. This afternoon preserve staff netted about 200 shiners, sunfish and small bass and returned them to the lake. These fish escaped drying pools, hungry great blue herons and a pair of otters looking for an easy meal. We’ll know those rescued fish if we ever see them again–they are the ones with the big smiles
A few of of the "big catch"
on their faces.
Netting trapped fish or return to the lake
Even hawks get the blues…
August 31, 2011 at 10:15 am (birds, birds of prey, conservation, Montour Preserve, nature, Pennsylvania, wildlife)
Even though they are masters of the wind, there are times when the wind becomes their master. Raptors are in for a wild ride when a storm the size and scope of hurricane Irene moves in. Being caught up and buffeted by 100+ mile an hour winds is no picnic. It can leave any bird exhausted. That could be the plight of one red-tailed hawk found grounded after the storm passed through. Found not far from Montour Preserve, the redtail was alert but appeared to have little energy. It did not attempt to fly at the approach of dogs or humans. It was so weak that it allowed me to pick it up and prepare it for a trip to a wildlife rehabilitator. There the hawk will be fed and hydrated and kept under observation to determine the cause of its problem. If the hawk is exhausted, a few days of food and rest should restore it back to health. When it is strong enough the redtailwill return to the wild blue yonder to become, once again, master of the wind.
Red-tailed Hawk
