Feature photo: A long-term underground coal fire produces a surface manifestation (steam) in Centralia, PA (June 2001), adjacent to the St. Ignatius cemetery. This is located about 3 miles from the ball lightning observation site. Article, photo and illustration by FMN Stephen Tzikas One of the rarest events in nature a Master Naturalist might encounter […]
Feature photo: Virginia Energy campus, offering impressive architectural style and good birding opportunities. My iPhone Merlin Bird ID found Pine Warblers, Northern Flickers, and Purple Finches among other more common birds. Article and photos by FMN Stephen Tzikas The 2023 Virginia Geological Research Symposium had resumed with an in-person conference on April 21, after a […]
Feature photo: Fish Fossil, Green River Formation, Western United States. Article and photos by FMN Stephen Tzikas Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear’d, Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone So goes the second stanza of John […]
Review by FMN Debbie McDonald Among the wonders of spring, watching the soaring, graceful courtship of red-tail hawks high above the trees has no doubt, brought awe and joy to many of us. Observing love blossom between birds and animals along with the trees and flowers is a ritual and gift that never grows old. […]
Article and photo (Sara Holtz) by Plant NOVA Natives It’s no myth that trees hold a special place in our collective psyche. Trees play a prominent role in myths, often symbolizing life and rebirth. Unfortunately, some of the stories about them are just plain wrong. 1. Trees need big piles of mulch. Or perhaps we […]
Article by FMN Marilyn Schroeder Dan Schwartz, Soil Science and FMN Instructor extraordinaire, knew what he was talking about when he recommended Teaming with Microbes. With a conversational style and lots of pictures, Teaming is the perfect naturalist guide to soil structure and the organisms living in it. I couldn’t wait to read each succeeding chapter – Bacteria, […]
Feature photo: The Darrin Fresh Water Institute display. See https://dfwi.rpi.edu/ for more information. Article and photos by FMN Stephen Tzikas On October 7, 2022, I had the opportunity to attend the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Research Showcase in Troy, NY at the Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D. Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS). It was […]
Kita’s backyard Article and photos by FMN Janet Quinn Kristina (Kita) Andersonhas high hopes as a wildlife rehabilitator. Her home, on one-and-a-half acres in Burke, is a sanctuary oasis in the suburbs. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has permitted her to work with a sponsor and care for migratory birds, squirrels and reptiles […]
Photo by Russ Ward on Unsplash How can it be ready if I don’t know what it is? Imagine you’ve just stepped on an elevator with someone who doesn’t know you are a passionate Virginia Master Naturalist (or any volunteer service you work in). The average attention span is just about 30 seconds before minds start wandering, so […]
The Online Planetarium (In-The-Sky.org) star map snap shot, showing the location of Mira (circled) at 5:00 AM on June 15, 2023 in the eastern sky. Mira might be hard to see until later in the summer. Illustrations and article by FMN Stephen Tzikas When does a bright star come out of nowhere, rise in the […]