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John James Audubon talk - Indianapolis Museum of Art
John James Audubon's beautiful rendering of an American Avocet, a species he found breeding near Vincennes, Indiana in 1814. That remains the state's only nesting record.I'm giving a program this...
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Lark Sparrow
I spent a fine day in Indianapolis last Sunday, at the stellar Indianapolis Museum of Art. The museum has on display a selection of about 75 original prints from John James Audubon's seminal work,...
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Worm-eating Warbler
A gorgeous Worm-eating Warbler poses nicely in the understory of a wooded slope in Shawnee State Forest in southern Ohio. I spent the day in this place yesterday on a glorious spring day. The sun shone...
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New River Birding and Nature Festival!
Too many days have passed since my last post. I thought I'd be able to make more posts this year, but travels and other activities have my web writing at an all-time low for recent times. It's not that...
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A fortuitous fox encounter
I spent yesterday and this morning in Killbuck Marsh and vicinity, an area rich in wildlife. Located near the town of Shreve in Wayne County, Ohio, this region is full of wetlands and other interesting...
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Fierce electrical storm
While headed home last night around 8:30 pm, I noticed the makings of a wonderful electrical storm off to the north. As I neared home, the storm intensified, and I saw a potential opportunity to not...
View ArticleOhio Dragonfly Conference: June 23-25
Mark your calendars for the annual Ohio Odonata Society's dragonfly conference, this year dubbed ODO-CON 17. It'll take place at the picturesque Grand River Conservation Campus, owned by the Ohio...
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Some images from Michigan
Sorry, I've been remiss in posting of late. Too busy, but having great fun. I've been up in northern Michigan, where I guided a fabulous group of ten people for the better part of five days. We were...
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A fortuitous badger encounter!
This year marked the 8th year that I've led natural history forays in one of the great hidden gems of eastern North America, Presque Isle County, Michigan. I work in partnership with NettieBay Lodge,...
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Showy Lady's-slippers at Cedar Bog
A trio of dazzling Showy Lady's-slipper flowers, as seen from the boardwalk at Cedar Bog in Champaign County, Ohio, this morning.Fortunately, I made it back from the northern reaches of Michigan in...
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Young rabbits galore
Tis the season for young Eastern Cottontails. June brings young bunnies, and these youngsters, who haven't yet developed street smarts, often forage out in the open. Thus, they are easy pickings for...
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A few odds and ends from recent days
I've been away more than home of late, and often busy with necessary work when I am home, so here's a quick and easy post. A hodgepodge of various flora and fauna from recent travels around Ohio, in no...
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Orchid poster available!
Botanist and orchidophile Andrew Gibson has assembled a stunning collage of all of Ohio's native orchids in poster form, aptly titled Native Orchids of Ohio. Click the photo above to see a larger...
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Nature: Bunnies prolific breeders but have many predators
A young eastern cottontail grooms itself along a Hocking County lane. Many cottontails fall victim to predators before they reach adulthood. Jim McCormac/For The DispatchColumbus DispatchJune 18,...
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A mishmash of flora and fauna from recent days
I've been away far more than home of late, much of it up in Ashtabula County - the largest and most northeastern of Ohio's 88 counties. From my home in Columbus, the center of the state, it takes...
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Nature: Sandpipers are flying machines
An upland sandpiper alights on a telephone pole in rural Ashtabula County.Columbus DispatchJuly 2, 2017NATUREJim McCormacNo Ohio-breeding bird migrates farther than upland sandpipers.These long-winged...
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Happy 4th of July fireworks!
Last night was Columbus, Ohio's major fireworks extravaganza - Red, White & Boom. This is the largest fireworks display in the state, and RWB's 37th year. I was there, and managed a number of...
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Fireworks as Art
Fireworks - two nights in a row! Read the previous post to see images from last night's extravagant Red, White & Boom fireworks production in Columbus - the largest such display in Ohio. Tonight,...
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Macrophotography workshop: July 20 in Delaware County, Ohio
A Tuliptree Silkmoth, Callosamia angulifera, peeks from behind a leaf, as seen last Saturday night in Scioto County, Ohio.I'm giving a free macrophotography workshop on Thursday, July 20, at the...
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Life in a drainpipe: How to make photographic lemonade from lemons
As always, no shortage of material as I prepare this, my 1,708th blog entry since beginning this blog almost exactly ten years ago. Mothapalooza was held last weekend and it was a smashing success. I...
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