After days of rain, the sky was finally blue this morning as I walked the trail at Sheldrake. Early fall is an excellent time of the year to brush up on tree identification skills. We can look at the bark, the leaves, and also the fruit or nut to give us clues as to...
In contribution to the 4th annual Sheldrake Backyard BioBlitz, Westchester residents served as citizen scientists throughout the week of July 16-22, 2023. Participants were asked to take pictures of nature from anywhere in Westchester County during this timeframe and...
On July 21, 2022, the migratory monarch butterfly was placed on the endangered list by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a network of public, private and non-profit organizations that work to conserve nature worldwide. This listing brings...
Fall has unfolded here at Sheldrake in a splash of yellows, oranges, reds, greens, and browns. The days are short. There’s a chill in the air. Our chipmunks are scurrying around and getting ready for their winter torpor. Our groundhogs have gone into hibernation. Our...
I have received numerous calls, inquiries through email, and curious questions from friends and neighbors about why there are so many eastern cottontail rabbits this year. My own backyard observations and walks through my neighborhood have left me reflecting on the...
As most of you are aware, being in nature is vital to our emotional, physical, and mental health. Being in nature has been shown to reduce blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. During this time of anxiety and change in our...