What’s happening with that oak tree? Take a closer look and you will see a family of yellownecked caterpillars (Datana ministra) devouring the leaves.
Category: Animals
What’s That? September 22, 2026
What species is that caterpillar? It’s an eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). The butterflies are almost a daily sight out on the trails, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen a caterpillar.
White-throated Sparrows
White-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) are a common sight in my backyard in the winter. They’re always hopping around the yard, kicking up leaves. At 8:30 one morning, I looked out the window and saw three of them. I stopped to observe them and realized they weren’t moving. I watched them for several minutes before I… Continue reading White-throated Sparrows
You Never Know What You’ll See In Your Own Backyard
Nature came to entertain us yesterday morning. We saw a large bird land in the woods behind our house, so naturally we tried to see what was going on. Who came to visit us? It was a turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)! At first it just sat on the ground. Maybe it was resting. After a… Continue reading You Never Know What You’ll See In Your Own Backyard
Young Turtles in the Spring
It’s always a joy to see the baby animals in the spring. We had the honor to watch this young turtle sun itself on a stick for a moment before it jumped into the water. Turtles usually hatch in the late summer or fall and overwinter in their nest. As the weather warms in the… Continue reading Young Turtles in the Spring