Lee Emmons
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The Outside Story: Woodpeckers are well adapted to winter
Measuring only 6 inches in length and weighing less than an ounce, downy woodpeckers are the smallest of North America’s 22 native woodpecker species.
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The Outside Story: Stars of the spring woods soundtrack
This spring, as you walk outside, keep an ear open for two distinctive bird songs: zee zee zee zee zo zee or zee zee zo zo zee. If…
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The Outside Story: Brown creepers: Denizens of the bark
On certain afternoons, if I time it just right, I may spot a brown creeper (Certhia americana) on the trunk of a tree in my front yard. Moving…
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The Outside Story: Bluebirds flock to feeders in winter
On Valentine’s Day, as I sat down to write, I noticed a burst of blue outside my upstairs window. Looking out with my binoculars, I counted six eastern…
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The outside story: Owls are fascinating forest residents
On frigid winter evenings, the hooting of a barred owl (Strix varia) serves as a reminder that the darkened forests of the Northeast are still very much alive…
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The outside story: Tufted titmice flock to feeders
As winter approaches and snow coats the ground, the tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) will again become a ubiquitous backyard visitor. Familiar to even the most casual observers of…