The Nature of Phenology | WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives

The Nature of Phenology 6/22/24: Why Phenology?

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 13:30:54 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark In an effort to bring more seasonal sanity to our lives, this is the last episode of The Nature of Phenology—but before we go, let’s revisit the joys and importance of phenology that we hopefully highlighted these past 7 ½ years. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Sullivan, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/22/24: Why Phenology? first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/15/24: Twinflower

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 13:30:08 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Those that decide to get down to the flower’s level for a sniff are rewarded with a sweet and delicate olfactory experience. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Sullivan, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/15/24: Twinflower first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/8/24: Squid

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 08 Jun 2024 13:30:54 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Longfin squid tend to spend most of their life in deep waters out of reach of most anglers whereas shortfin squid migrate into coves and bays in great numbers to spawn starting in late spring and early summer. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Sullivan, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/8/24: Squid first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/1/24: Luna Moths

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 13:30:18 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark These large moths are winged adults for just one week of the year, and now’s the time you might glimpse one. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Sullivan, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/1/24: Luna Moths first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/25/24: Pollen

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 25 May 2024 13:30:47 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark If runny noses and itchy eyes aren’t a clear enough clue, evaporating puddles and the surfaces of vehicles reveal a yellow line of scum or dust that indicates just how many plants are flowering and releasing pollen. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Sullivan, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/25/24: Pollen first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/18/24: Canada Mayflower

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 18 May 2024 13:30:50 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark This aptly named native plant is no doubt living in a group near you. It’s time to go find some and see what they can teach you. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Sullivan, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/18/24: Canada Mayflower first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/11/24: Wood Ducks

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 11 May 2024 13:30:46 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark This time of year, wood duck females tend to be sitting on their nests to incubate their eggs for the next month or so until they hatch out in June. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Sullivan, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/11/24: Wood Ducks first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/4/24: Sturgeon

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 04 May 2024 13:30:12 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Now is a great time to seek the giant leaping bodies of sturgeon in one of Maine’s largest rivers. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Sullivan, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/4/24: Sturgeon first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/27/24: Killdeer Nesting

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 13:30:52 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark These birds are nesting between April 20th and July 15th in open places so you might be able to notice their nesting behavior from afar. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Sullivan, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/27/24: Killdeer Nesting first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/20/24: Vernal Pools

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 13:30:08 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark They form in depressions in the forest floor and are large enough to last for a few months, but small enough that they tend to dry out by mid-summer. As a result, vernal pools have no fish in them. This lack of a key predator population makes them a perfect place for amphibians to breed. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Sullivan, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/20/24: Vernal Pools first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/13/24: Winter Wrens

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 13 Apr 2024 13:30:35 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark While these birds are small and adorned with various subtle shades of brown and a pale eyebrow, they are anything but inconspicuous this time of year as males belt out long, beautiful songs that will stop you in your tracks. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Sullivan, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/13/24: Winter Wrens first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/6/24: Solar Eclipses

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 13:30:39 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark The next time Maine will experience a total solar eclipse will be 55 years from now, so this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity for many. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Sullivan, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/6/24: Solar Eclipses first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/30/24: Common Goldeneyes

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 13:30:02 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark It’s goldeneye courtship display season! And there are fourteen unique moves they do. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Sullivan, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/30/24: Common Goldeneyes first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/23/24: Elvers

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 13:30:46 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Vast fyke nets stretched out across streams near the heads of tide right now are evidence of commercial fishing for elvers, young American eels. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Sullivan, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/23/24: Elvers first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/16/24: Winter Nutrient Deficiency

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 13:30:45 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Have you been feeling indifferent to the soups and stews that felt so right in the fall and winter and instead find yourself craving a fresh salad and some fruit? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Sullivan, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/16/24: Winter Nutrient Deficiency first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/9/24: Tannin Stains

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 09 Mar 2024 14:30:38 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark You know it when you see it: at the base of a tree trunk, perhaps even several in an area, the snow is stained yellow—is it tree pee? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Sullivan, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/9/24: Tannin Stains first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/2/24: Voles

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 14:30:27 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Voles are able to stay active in the winter, relying on stored food from the fall and also foraging food through the winter. When there’s a fluffy covering of snow, they thrive in the subnivean zone, that narrow space of warmer air between the surface of the ground and the snow cover, where they stay protected from the elements and from many predators. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Sullivan, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/2/24: Voles first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/24/24: Red-breasted Nuthatches

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 14:30:44 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark While red-breasted nuthatches are year-rounders here in Maine, on some winters when their food crop is low farther north, we may get even more of them from up north joining our populations. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/24/24: Red-breasted Nuthatches first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/17/24: Cusk Spawning

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 14:30:39 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Also known as burbot, cusk are an oddity among our freshwater fish. Following canyon and valley-like topography in the bed of the lakes, cusk will migrate up out of the deep water into shallow sand and gravelly shoals to spawn in late February and early March. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/17/24: Cusk Spawning first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/10/24: Food Caching

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 14:30:09 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Are you a larder hoarder or a scatter hoarder? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/10/24: Food Caching first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/3/24: Harlequin Ducks

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 14:30:40 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark There’s a reason these ducks are named after harlequins, the clown-like, pantomiming characters dressed in bright colors and checkered or diamond patterns, with notable physical agility. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/3/24: Harlequin Ducks first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/27/24: Moon Halos

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 14:30:37 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark On cold, clear nights, almost imperceptible ice crystals will form high up in the atmosphere creating arcs and halos of light around the glowing moon. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/27/24: Moon Halos first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/20/24: Porcupines in Winter

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 14:30:06 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark While the risk of predation may not be number one on a porcupine’s list of worries, winter may take its place. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/20/24: Porcupines in Winter first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/13/24: Auroras

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 14:30:51 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Right now, situated on the dark side of the calendar year spanning 2023 and 2024, we are at an auroral peak. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/13/24: Auroras first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/6/24: Snowshoe Hares in Winter

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 14:30:59 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark So many popular children’s stories come from England, where stories about rabbits seem to run (hop?) rampant, wearing clothes, eating garden vegetables, and hiding underground. But our snowshoe hares are made of sturdier stock. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/6/24: Snowshoe Hares in Winter first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/30/23: Mourning Doves

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 14:30:11 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Mourning doves exhibit a migration pattern known as differential migration. So, while we do have mourning doves in our area year-round, the population does shift throughout the calendar year. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/30/23: Mourning Doves first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/23/23: Reindeer Lichen

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 14:30:56 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Rarely more than five inches tall, this lichen is such a pale shade of green it can sometimes appear white from afar under the right light. When wet, it feels leathery; when dry, it can feel crispy. Reindeer lichen, sometimes called reindeer moss, which is confusing because it’s not a moss, is densely bushy and branched, often growing in large mats on the forest floor. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/23/23: Reindeer Lichen first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/16/23: Dark Days

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 14:30:56 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Regardless of where you are from in the north, the difference feels severe between the summer solstice, when our planet is tipped towards the sun like a gentleman bowing to a dignitary, and the winter solstice, when our planet seems to be leaning away from the light like a vampire at dawn. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/16/23: Dark Days first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/9/23: Ground Cedar

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 09 Dec 2023 14:30:02 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Ground cedar and its relatives are spore-producing plants referred to as clubmosses which are more closely related to ferns than anything called a cedar. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/9/23: Ground Cedar first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/2/23: Goshawks

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 14:30:34 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark These are one of a few hawk species that overwinter here in Maine, though if their prey is scarce on a particular year, they will move much farther south than usual. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/2/23: Goshawks first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/25/23: Highbush Cranberries

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 14:30:16 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark These are one of the last fruits of the season sought by humans and wildlife alike, and after several hard frosts is a great time to consider using them in jams and jellies. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/25/23: Highbush Cranberries first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/18/23: Deer Digestion

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 14:30:54 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark An understanding of deer digestion and seasonal patterns highlights the eccentricities and harm that can come from feeding deer. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/18/23: Deer Digestion first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/11/23: Denning Raccoons

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 11 Nov 2023 14:30:19 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark While not true hibernators, raccoons are hunkering down for the winter. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/11/23: Denning Raccoons first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/4/23: Burdock

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 13:30:57 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Most plants have gone to seed at this point in the fall, and burdock is one easy-to-recognize plant with a very creative seed-dispersal strategy. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/4/23: Burdock first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/28/23: Tote Road Shagamaw

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 28 Oct 2023 13:30:24 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Watch out for this beast of the north woods that haunts forgotten paths and leaves puzzling tracks. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/28/23: Tote Road Shagamaw first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/21/23: Orionids

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 21 Oct 2023 13:30:56 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark The peak of the Orionid meteor shower this year is 10/21/23. What causes them and why do these happen this time every year? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/21/23: Orionids first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/14/23: Winter Weather Divinations

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 13:30:54 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark There are so many tools we can use to predict the weather or the severity of winter…which ones are the most accurate? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/14/23: Winter Weather Divinations first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/7/23: Wooly Bear Caterpillars

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 13:30:54 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Wooly bears are on the move in order to find a spot to spend the winter as caterpillars. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/7/23: Wooly Bear Caterpillars first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/30/23: Green-Stain Fungus Fruiting

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 30 Sep 2023 13:30:17 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Picture a sparse cluster of tiny, dark turquoise goblets, no more than a centimeter tall and just half to one centimeter wide and you have an image of these mushrooms. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/30/23: Green-Stain Fungus Fruiting first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/23/23: Northern Harriers Migration

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 23 Sep 2023 13:30:21 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark These raptors have been spending the summer breeding season across most of northern North America, from Alaska to Nova Scotia. Right now, they’re migrating to their winter haunts as far south as northern South America. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/23/23: Northern Harriers Migration first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/16/23: Blue-bead Lily

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 16 Sep 2023 13:30:26 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Wildlife don’t appear to enjoy these beautiful berries much, which is why they can still be spotted one to two months after they initially formed. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/16/23: Blue-bead Lily first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/9/23: Purple Pitcher Plant Flowers

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 09 Sep 2023 13:30:31 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Now is the time to go find the nodding otherworldly flowers of a carnivorous pitcher plant in a bog near you. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/9/23: Purple Pitcher Plant Flowers first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/2/23: Virginia Creeper Berries

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 13:30:56 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark This native, woody vine has important wildlife value and is fruiting now. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/2/23: Virginia Creeper Berries first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/26/23: The More You Look

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 13:30:30 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Now is a perfect time of year to redouble your observational efforts as we transition into fall. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/26/23: The More You Look first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/19/23: New England Aster

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 19 Aug 2023 13:30:50 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark New England aster is so strongly appreciated by folks that many plant nurseries carry them for purchase—especially those specializing in native landscape plants. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/19/23: New England Aster first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/12/23: Mycelium

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 13:30:44 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark In the soils that surround roots, upwards of a third of the mass of the soil is fungal mycelium, which is the main body of a fungal network—a network that closely resembles the structure of our own neural system. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/12/23: Mycelium first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/5/23: Bog Plants

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 13:30:15 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark This is the perfect time to notice how the living things in these unique environments adapt not only to the constantly challenging conditions there, but also to the transition to a new season coming soon. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/5/23: Bog Plants first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/29/23: Great White Sharks

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 13:30:36 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Great white sharks have been seeing a general increase in their population in the Gulf of Maine in recent years, and their populations peak here in July and August. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/29/23: Great White Sharks first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/22/23: Water Lilies

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 13:30:14 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Do you remember the first time you encountered a lily pad? Was it in real life or in a cartoon that featured a frog sitting on one? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/22/23: Water Lilies first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/15/23: Periwinkles

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 15 Jul 2023 13:30:54 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark If you’ve been to the seashore, you’ve surely seen these snails—but have you ever eaten them? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/15/23: Periwinkles first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/8/23: Pogies

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 13:30:54 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark This fish that forms big schools near the ocean surface along the coast through the summer has a lot of names, but we can also simply think of it as “the most important fish in the sea.” Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/8/23: Pogies first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/1/23: Fishing spiders

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 13:30:52 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Fishing spiders are very large, with their bodies measuring upwards of an inch long and their leg-span being as large as five inches. And yes, they hunt and eat fish. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/1/23: Fishing spiders first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/24/23: White skimmer dragonflies

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 13:30:51 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Each individual adult can eat anywhere from thirty to hundreds of mosquitoes each day, which shows not only how important dragonflies are to our comfort and safety, but also how important mosquitoes and other biting insects are to the wellbeing of dragonflies and, by extension, the birds, fish, and amphibians that rely on them as a food source. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/24/23: White skimmer dragonflies first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/17/23: Common yellow wood sorrel

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 13:30:13 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark If you’re seeking a bright trailside nibble or something to adorn a salad or pasta dish, look no further than wood sorrel. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/17/23: Common yellow wood sorrel first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/10/23: Lamoine Atlantic Salmon

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 13:30:36 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Learn about Atlantic salmon, written and performed by Lamoine Consolidated School 6th-grade students, thanks to partnerships with teacher Tiara Woods, Frenchman Bay Conservancy, the Fish Friends program, and Maine Outdoor School. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/10/23: Lamoine Atlantic Salmon first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/3/23: Lamoine Ospreys

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 13:30:37 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Learn about ospreys, written and performed by Lamoine Consolidated School 6th-grade students, thanks to partnerships with teacher Tiara Woods, Frenchman Bay Conservancy, and Maine Outdoor School. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/3/23: Lamoine Ospreys first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/27/23: Blue-Eyed Grass

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 27 May 2023 13:30:32 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Contrary to the plant’s common name, blue-eyed grass is not a grass at all, but rather a member of the Iridaceae, or iris family. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/27/23: Blue-Eyed Grass first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/20/23: Bobolinks

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 20 May 2023 13:30:38 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Want another excuse to not mow your field? Look no further than the bobolink. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/20/23: Bobolinks first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/13/23: Red Trillium

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 13 May 2023 13:30:37 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Red trillium has an unpleasant, sickly smell that attracts carrion flies as pollinators, pointing to its other common name of “stinking Benjamin.” Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/13/23: Red Trillium first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/6/23: Broad-Winged Hawks

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 06 May 2023 13:30:30 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Our smallest, most common hawk, the broad-winged hawk, has returned from its winter haunts as far away as Central or South America. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/6/23: Broad-Winged Hawks first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/29/23: Red Maple Blossoms

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 29 Apr 2023 13:30:43 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Red maples are the most common broad-leaved tree in New England and are responsible in large part for why our corner of the country is known for its leaf-peeping season. But each spring, they put on a different display of colorful beauty in the form of their blossoms which now are popping across the region. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/29/23: Red Maple Blossoms first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/22/23: Turkeys Mating

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 13:30:52 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark This time of year, male turkey heads and necks transform into vivid shades of blue, red, and white. They puff up their feathers, lower their wing tips, fan their tails, and gobble in the early hours looking for mates. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/22/23: Turkeys Mating first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/15/23: Yellow-bellied sapsuckers

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 13:30:16 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Yellow-bellied sapsuckers have just returned to the area and have a particularly distinctive drumming sound that some compare to Morse Code. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/15/23: Yellow-bellied sapsuckers first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/8/23: Tinder Polypores

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 13:30:34 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark The tinder polypore has many names including hoof fungus, amadou, or, scientifically speaking, Fomes fomentarius. This perennial mushroom is growing a new pore layer now, one that becomes an especially useful material for humans. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/8/23: Tinder Polypores first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/1/23: Amazing Adaptations

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 13:30:20 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Unlike human beings which have a notably large range of foolish behavior seemingly without consequence, truly foolish behavior rarely exists beyond one generation in other species. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/1/23: Amazing Adaptations first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/25/23: Frost heaves and syrup

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 13:30:55 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Muffler season or maple sugaring season? It’s all a matter of perspective. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/25/23: Frost heaves and syrup first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/18/23: Sea lampreys

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 13:30:13 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark The ecosystem importance of this fish where they are native cannot be overstated. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/18/23: Sea lampreys first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/11/23: White-throated sparrows

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 14:30:54 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Now is the time to start listening for the distinctive song of the white-throated sparrow. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/11/23: White-throated sparrows first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/4/23: Saw-whet owls

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 14:30:57 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Do you know what a saw-whet owl sounds like? It’s probably not what you expect. Now’s the time to listen for them. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/4/23: Saw-whet owls first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/24/23: Solar Gain

WERU-FM 89.9 — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 14:30:04 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Each day since the winter solstice, we have been gaining daylight by a few minutes per day—an almost imperceptible daily change that now, at the tail end of our coldest month, is finally noticeable. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/24/23: Solar Gain first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/18/23: Ice Acoustics

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 14:30:27 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Perhaps no winter noises are quite as peculiar as those produced on a frozen lake or pond. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/18/23: Ice Acoustics first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/11/23: Black Guillemots

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 11 Feb 2023 14:30:49 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark “Black” guillemot is an appropriate name for these birds in the summer, when breeding adults are almost entirely black with white wing patches and bright red legs and feet. But in the winter, their bodies transform into frosty white and gray shades. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/11/23: Black Guillemots first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/4/23: Spruce Tips Falling

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 14:30:55 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark One clue of a shift in dining focus for one local arboreal rodent is the scattering of spruce tips you can now find all over the forest floor. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/4/23: Spruce Tips Falling first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/28/23: Brown creepers

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 13:29:18 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark The coloration and size of these little birds camouflages them incredibly well against the tree bark where they spend most of their time. But even if you can’t spot one close up due to this camouflage, their behavior easily reveals their identity. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/28/23: Brown creepers first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/21/23: Frost Wedging

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 13:30:52 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark When you put a glass jar or bottle full of liquid in the freezer, what happens to it? It breaks. What happens when water inside a rock freezes? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/21/23: Frost Wedging first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/14/23: Hoar frost

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 14 Jan 2023 13:30:33 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark How do those perfect feathery fronds of frost form and why? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/14/23: Hoar frost first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/7/23: Frozen puddles

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 13:30:48 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Freezing can cause even something as simple and uninspired as a puddle in the middle of a gray forest to be transformed into an ethereal and ephemeral work of art. But how? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/7/23: Frozen puddles first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/31/22: Snow buntings

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 13:30:23 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Snow buntings spend the summer in their high arctic tundra breeding grounds. Come November and December, they find their way south to most of the mid-tier of the United States where they pass our relatively mild winters on grassy or weedy fields adjacent to inland lakes and salt water. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/31/22: Snow buntings first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/24/22: Holiday wreaths

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 13:30:44 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark This edition written by Zabet NeuCollins While perhaps hanging wreathes has lost some of its symbolism, they sure make our front doors look pretty and inviting. However, wreathes that contain invasive species can harm your local ecosystem. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/24/22: Holiday wreaths first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/17/22: Mergansers and tomcod

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 17 Dec 2022 13:30:03 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark This time of year I look to the muddy, winding estuaries of our area for clues about when the tomcod are running around the solstice: common merganser ducks. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/17/22: Mergansers and tomcod first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/10/22: Rock polypody fern

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 10 Dec 2022 13:30:52 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark An evergreen fern to look for, even once there’s some snow on the ground. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/10/22: Rock polypody fern first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/3/22: Birch polypores

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 13:30:04 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Finding and identifying this mushroom is relatively simple if you live in a place with ample birches, and that in itself can be satisfying, but the history and uses of this mushroom make it an even more rewarding forest friend to get to know. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/3/22: Birch polypores first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/26/22: Bruce spanworm moths

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 13:30:05 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark While many of you may find the name “Bruce spanworm” to be new, I’m sure most of you are familiar with at least their larvae. When very small in the early spring, they are bright green with light stripes down their flanks and everyone refers to these little caterpillars as “inchworms.” Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/26/22: Bruce spanworm moths first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/19/22: Phenology scavenger hunt

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 13:30:37 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark The exciting and obvious seasonal changes of late summer and early fall appear at first glance to be at a standstill. No more obvious flocks of birds moving south, lingering wildflowers or pollinators, sunshine that warms bare skin. But there are always signs of the continuous cycle of nature out there. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/19/22: Phenology scavenger hunt first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/12/22: Hawthorn fruits

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 12 Nov 2022 13:30:53 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark One fruit that is still holding on and is ripe for the picking by our wild neighbors is that of the hawthorn. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/12/22: Hawthorn fruits first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/5/22: Oak apple galls

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 13:30:16 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Oaks and beech trees both hang onto their leaves a bit longer than our other deciduous trees, like maples, so the top layer of leaf litter where oaks grow is likely to be predominantly oak leaves. In these places, there’s a special little prize you can find on the freshly fallen oak leaves. Oak apple galls are spherical growths attached to the occasional oak leaf and they’re always a treat to come across. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/5/22: Oak apple galls first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/29/22: Witches’ Brooms

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 13:30:00 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Witches’ brooms can form on a large variety of different trees, from lilacs and willows to spruces and firs. They are characterized by an abnormally dense growth of branches that are much shorter and thinner than the branches of the rest of the tree, looking very much like a bundle of twigs attached to a handle. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/29/22: Witches’ Brooms first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/22/22: Leaves Changing

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 22 Oct 2022 13:30:45 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark In forest ecosystems, leaves falling and accumulating on the ground is an important component in the forests’ nutrient cycle. The best gardening techniques are the ones that mimic nature. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/22/22: Leaves Changing first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/15/22: Nannyberry

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 13:30:58 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark There is an obscure Viburnum that is ripe right about now across our area in moist edges and bottomlands whose flavor and texture is completely unique among our wild foods: nannyberry. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/15/22: Nannyberry first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/8/22: Crickets Chirping

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 08 Oct 2022 13:30:08 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Now’s the time to revel in the last of the chirping crickets for the season—unless of course they’re under your bed. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/8/22: Crickets Chirping first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/1/22: Maine Bats

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 13:30:08 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Maine bats are preparing for winter and that means many of our species are heading for a sheltered spot to hibernate. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/1/22: Maine Bats first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/24/22: American Pelecinid Wasps

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 13:30:06 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark With the build of an especially skinny wasp but with an intimidatingly long abdomen (or is it a stinger?), adult pelecinid wasps are easiest to find this time of year. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/24/22: American Pelecinid Wasps first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/17/22: Guttation

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 13:30:54 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark “Guttation” is the name for those perfect round droplets of liquid you can find on the surface of some mushrooms, and while you might quickly assume it’s just dew, it’s actually liquid exuded from within the mushroom. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/17/22: Guttation first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/10/22: Milkweed Seeds

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 13:30:52 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark It is this time of year when you can seek out a wild milkweed patch and keep an eye on it if you want to collect some seeds to plant your own native butterfly garden next spring. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/10/22: Milkweed Seeds first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/3/22: Milk Snakes

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 13:30:18 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark The beautiful patterning on a milk snake makes some people confuse them for timber rattlers or copperheads, but they are a much more mellow species that may begin following small mammals indoors soon. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/3/22: Milk Snakes first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/27/22: Red-bellied Snakes

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 13:30:24 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Red-bellied snakes most often breed in the spring or early summer, though will evidently occasionally breed in the late fall. Somewhat uniquely among reptiles, the females give birth to litters of 1-21 live young between late July and early September. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/27/22: Red-bellied Snakes first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/20/22: Arrowhead Flowering

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 13:30:27 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark As the purple pickerelweed flowers fade along pond and river edges, you can seek spikes of scarlet red cardinal flowers in the same areas and the white, three-petaled flowers of arrowhead. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/20/22: Arrowhead Flowering first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/13/22: Pearly Everlasting Blooming

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 13:31:28 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark This herbaceous wildflower can grow in clumps up to about three feet tall. Its most distinguishing characteristic is their white, papery flowers that are relatively small compared to the height of the plant. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/13/22: Pearly Everlasting Blooming first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/6/22: Hermit Thrushes on their Nests

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 13:29:15 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Hermit thrushes in the east are ground-nesting birds who tend to make their nests under shrubs or in a dense thicket. You might find a nest in a forest near you if you’re a careful observer. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/6/22: Hermit Thrushes on their Nests first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/30/22: Katydids

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 30 Jul 2022 13:30:40 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Watch for a large green leaf climbing across the window at night. It might just be a katydid, whose song can be heard this time of year throughout most of the state. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/30/22: Katydids first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/23/22: Clouds

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 13:30:05 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Guest written by Zabet NeuCollins Thunderstorms come from cumulonimbus clouds, which are the giants of the cloud world. They are the only cloud that extends through all three cloud levels. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/23/22: Clouds first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/16/22: Ghost pipes

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 13:30:07 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Seen a small cluster of tobacco pipe-shaped mushrooms standing six inches or so above the leafy duff of their forested homes? They are not actually mushrooms but a parasitic plant. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/16/22: Ghost pipes first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/9/22: Hummingbird Moths

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 09 Jul 2022 13:30:22 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark These moths behave so much like hummingbirds, they are often overlooked with the assumption that they are indeed a hummingbird. Their wings move so quickly, they emit a similar hum, and they can hover in place like a hummingbird. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/9/22: Hummingbird Moths first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/2/22: Sheep Laurel

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 13:30:04 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Sheep laurel, Kalmia angustifolia, has deep pink flowers shaped like a saucer growing in clusters a couple inches beneath the new leaves that adorn the top of this 1-3-foot tall shrub. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/2/22: Sheep Laurel first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/25/22: Hairy Woodpecker Nestlings

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 25 Jun 2022 13:30:11 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Listen for chicks calling out for food from their hairy woodpecker parents. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/25/22: Hairy Woodpecker Nestlings first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/18/22: Browntail Moth Caterpillars

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 13:30:28 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark This species is named for the brown tails of the adult moth, which is otherwise white. The fuzzy brown abdomen can be hard to see hidden underneath the white wings, but you can often see it if you look closely. The caterpillar form of this species is what we first need to learn to identify, however, due to the toxin present in its hairs that can cause an irritating and long-lasting, poison ivy-like rash on contact or respiratory distress if inhaled. About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/18/22: Browntail Moth Caterpillars first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/11/22: Nighthawks Booming

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 13:30:02 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark I was used to seeing nighthawk flocks flying high in the sky making a short, buzzy call reminiscent of a woodcock’s “peent”, but this one was alone and very low and not making that sound. Could this relatively small bird make such a spooky, big noise? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/11/22: Nighthawks Booming first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/4/22: Atlantic Salmon Returning

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 13:30:19 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Depending on the river and region, salmon begin to return in great numbers in April following the spring melt and will continue to arrive throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/4/22: Atlantic Salmon Returning first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/28/22: Arctic Terns

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 28 May 2022 13:30:01 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark One bird that stands out above all others for the distance they will travel to get to Maine this time of year is the iconic Arctic tern who is just settling down to lay eggs, having just made it to Maine only a few weeks ago. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/28/22: Arctic Terns first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/21/22: Groundnuts

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 21 May 2022 13:30:17 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark This time of year, when I am patrolling some of my favorite fishing holes, I keep my eye to the streamside in hopes of discovering the old twining stems of one choice edible: the groundnut. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/21/22: Groundnuts first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/14/22: Northern Parula Warblers

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 14 May 2022 13:30:59 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark By now in the season, I revel in the abundant green, new flowers, and cacophony of birdsong that we no longer have to search for: real spring is impossible to miss. One very special bird that is easy to miss but absolutely worth seeking right now is the northern parula warbler. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/14/22: Northern Parula Warblers first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/7/22: Bearberry

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 07 May 2022 13:30:51 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Bearberry is blooming now in sandy or rocky soils in Downeast Maine. This circumpolar species offers a great example of the characteristics of the Ericaceae family, a hardy plant family to get to know. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/7/22: Bearberry first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/30/22: Harbor Seal Pups

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 13:30:43 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark As April draws swiftly to a close, harbor seal mothers are beginning to give birth to pups up and down the rugged coastline of New England. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/30/22: Harbor Seal Pups first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/23/22: Spring Molt

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 13:30:52 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Sometimes the transition from winter to summer can look decidedly awkward—just ask our neighboring deer, moose, foxes, and coyotes who are look ragged as ever right now as they shift from their dense winter coats to their summer coats. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/23/22: Spring Molt first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/16/22: Alders

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 16 Apr 2022 13:30:45 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Now is the time to go appreciate your local alder thicket because they’re easy to identify before the leaves come out and a gentle shake of their branches will cause pollen to scatter gracefully into the wind. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/16/22: Alders first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/9/22: Ring-necked ducks

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 09 Apr 2022 13:30:38 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Ring-necked ducks are arriving now from their winter haunts somewhere between southern Connecticut through Central America to spend the breeding season across Canada and the northernmost parts of the US. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/9/22: Ring-necked ducks first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/2/22: Hibernators Waking Up

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 02 Apr 2022 13:30:15 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Regardless of what the alarm clock says indoors, that internal clock on hibernators is buzzing now too. If you think waking up to the alarm after the clocks spring ahead is hard, it is much more challenging to wake up after a few months of slumber. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/2/22: Hibernators Waking Up first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/26/22: Spring Bark Harvesting

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 26 Mar 2022 13:30:19 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark It’s not just syrup-producing trees which are experiencing a rush of sap this time of year; just about all our trees do as they push water and nutrients from their roots and the soil into their tissues in preparation for new spring growth. As a result, this also happens to be the prime time for gathering tree bark. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/26/22: Spring Bark Harvesting first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/19/22: Pruning Fruit Trees

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 19 Mar 2022 13:30:52 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Many, but not all, fruit trees benefit from a yearly pruning to ensure a reliable crop of their fruit, but the trees will grow happily enough at their own pace and in their own shape without human intervention. But if you have high hopes of piles of pies or a stock of sauce, right now during the seasonal interlude between winter and spring is time to get serious about pruning those apple trees. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Browntail moth information available here About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/19/22: Pruning Fruit Trees first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/12/22: Winter Bug Survival

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 12 Mar 2022 13:30:57 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark There are many strategies that our local insects have to ensure their species makes it through the cold, and often turbulent, winter. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/12/22: Winter Bug Survival first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/5/22: Birdhouse Maintenance Time

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 05 Mar 2022 13:30:19 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark When birds begin to sing again, you know they’re getting ready for nesting season. Now’s the time to clean out or put up birdhouses. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/5/22: Birdhouse Maintenance Time first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/26/22: Common Redpolls

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 13:30:37 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Redpolls are sporadic visitors to our neck of the woods. While technically part of their winter range, redpolls are decidedly polar in their preferences and only travel south seeking abundant food and warmer sunnier haunts for the winter. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/26/22: Common Redpolls first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/19/22: Skunks Breeding

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 13:30:42 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark They are the most iconic local species that we smell more than we see. But their seasonal patterns do make them more likely to encounter at some times more than others. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/19/22: Skunks Breeding first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/12/22: Winter Mosquitoes

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 12 Feb 2022 13:30:37 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark One of the most fundamentally blissful things about a northern winter is the complete and utter lack of mosquitoes and blackflies, with their incessant buzzing, swarming, and, of course, biting. That is, until one mysteriously shows up in my house. Where did it come from? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/12/22: Winter Mosquitoes first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/5/22: Tree Cavities

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 05 Feb 2022 13:30:35 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Holes in trees, or tree cavities, are vital spots for a variety of creatures and now is a great time to find and observe them for two reasons: 1) they are easier to find before the leaves grow back, and 2) they are a common spot for birds to find refuge in the winter and to make a nest in the spring. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/5/22: Tree Cavities first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/29/22: Cryogenic Disturbance

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 13:30:57 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Here in Maine where we are just out of reach of most hurricanes and tornadoes, generally too wet for frequent natural forest fires, and often times not wet enough for massive flooding events, we instead look to the winter to breathe life into forest communities in the form of cryogenic disturbance, or freezing. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/29/22: Cryogenic Disturbance first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/22/22: Painted Turtles in Winter

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 13:30:43 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Every creature has its own survival strategy, but perhaps one of the more peculiar is that of eastern painted turtles who right now are sitting partially buried in mud at the bottom of countless ponds and backwaters. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/22/22: Painted Turtles in Winter first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/15/22: Blue Jays

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 15 Jan 2022 13:30:18 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark If blue jays annoy you, discover at least three nice things about them. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/15/22: Blue Jays first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/8/22: Why Wildlife Needs Snow

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 13:30:53 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark A blanket of snow on the ground provides many of the same benefits as that blanket on your bed. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/8/22: Why Wildlife Needs Snow first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/1/22: Phenological Calendar

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 13:30:01 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark The spruces, bears, moose, and mosquitoes know nothing of our human calendar yet they find their annual cadence. Regardless of your New Year celebration, we can all overlay natural happenings on our own human calendar and be in touch with the heartbeat and rhythm of our season. So let’s go through a Maine calendar year from the perspective of nature. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/1/22: Phenological Calendar first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/25/21: Evergreens

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 25 Dec 2021 13:30:34 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Bringing evergreens indoors this time of year, in whole or in part, is a tradition that not only pre-dates Christianity, but also has existed in many cultures around the world for centuries, if not millennia, on the winter solstice. Why be an evergreen? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/25/21: Evergreens first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/18/21: Balsam Fir

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 13:30:33 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark I regularly hear people refer to any evergreen as a pine, which saddens me a bit for all the joy that can come of knowing the individual trees in our woods. Learn how to identify our quintessential holiday tree, the balsam fir, compared to its pine family relatives. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/18/21: Balsam Fir first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/11/21: Keeping Warm

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 13:30:33 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark While you might feel most at home sitting on a bucket on a frozen lake pulling togue bare-handed through a hole in the ice, your ancestors evolved basking in the hot sun and stifling humidity of tropical Africa. As we slide ever closer to winter, how do we not freeze to death? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/11/21: Keeping Warm first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/4/21: Mice

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 13:30:05 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark House mice aren’t just thieves and squatters, they are frontiersmen, farmers, sailors, and traders of old and have found a way to travel to and live everywhere in the world—a feat that few species can claim. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/4/21: Mice first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/27/21: First Snowfall

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 13:30:31 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark When I say first snowfall, I’m not talking about the first time we get a quick, fluttering flurry of snowflakes or a gray day with the occasional snowflake lazily descending towards the green grass. No, I am talking about the get-out-the-ruler, stoke-up-the-woodstove, pull-out-the-sled, first snow of the year. But how does that snow form? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/27/21: First Snowfall first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/20/21: Mountain Ash

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 13:30:40 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Mountain ash, which is not really an ash tree nor does it exclusively grow on mountains, offers late-season berries for hungry wildlife. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/20/21: Mountain Ash first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/13/21: Pink Earth Lichen

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 13:30:42 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark The pink earth lichen stands out as it is rare to find something that shade of pink in nature. You might confuse it for tiny pink mushrooms, but a little knowledge of lichen anatomy clarifies what those pink blobs are. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the host/writers: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/13/21: Pink Earth Lichen first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/6/21: Mollusks

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 06 Nov 2021 13:30:14 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark In celebration of today’s 200th unique episode, let’s look into a group of Maine organisms that encompasses 200 species: the mollusks. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/6/21: Mollusks first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/30/21: Witch’s Butter

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 30 Oct 2021 13:30:05 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Sometimes called yellow brain or trembler, this jelly fungus most often called witch’s butter is springy but not sticky to the touch, though it can feel somewhat slimy when wet. Its Latin name literally means “trembling middle intestine.” Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/30/21: Witch’s Butter first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/23/21: Those Tropical Trees

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 13:30:04 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Young oaks and beeches, but especially beech trees, tend to retain their dead leaves through the fall and often straight through the winter only to shed them once spring has sprung. This tendency is called “marcescence.” Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/23/21: Those Tropical Trees first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/16/21: Togue Spawning

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 16 Oct 2021 13:30:06 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Calling these magnificent fish “lake trout” is a bit of a misnomer. While these fish are most at home in deep, cold, freshwater lakes and ponds, they are not trout. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/16/21: Togue Spawning first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/9/21: Cotton-grass

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 13:30:17 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark There are several species of cotton-grass in Maine, but you know you’re looking at one if you see what looks like an unkempt cotton ball at the end of a stem that can be up to three feet tall. Standing taller than most of their low-growing bog neighbors, its top-heavy form bobs and sways in the breeze looking like something out of The Lorax. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/9/21: Cotton-grass first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/2/21: Juncos

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 02 Oct 2021 13:30:25 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark While we do have year-round populations of juncos in Maine, they are joined by even more juncos who spent the summer breeding season in Canada or the Arctic Circle during the fall. So juncos locally are now forming large flocks of up to twenty-five birds, sometimes including other sparrow species, for the winter. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/2/21: Juncos first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/25/21: Mild Coastal Climate

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 13:30:49 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Any New Englander worth their beans knows that coastal communities get long luxurious autumns and get less snow come winter, but why? This is all thanks to the strange properties of water and how it interacts with the atmosphere compared to land. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/25/21: Mild Coastal Climate first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/18/21: First Frost

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 13:30:36 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Frost forms when surface temperatures of objects dip below both the freezing and the dew points, causing instantaneous fuzzy ice to form on the surface of objects like our lovely garden plants. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/18/21: First Frost first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/11/21: Shamrock Orbweaver Spiders

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 13:30:08 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark A bright red ruby, about a half inch across, studded with rhinestones …or a shamrock orbweaver spider? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/11/21: Shamrock Orbweaver Spiders first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/4/21: Seaside Goldenrod

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 13:30:01 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Seaside goldenrod is closely related to the other goldenrods you are likely more familiar with as they are in the same genus, Solidago, which comes from the Latin meaning “to make whole” due to its healing properties. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/4/21: Seaside Goldenrod first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/28/21: Grasshoppers

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 13:30:24 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Grasshoppers seem cute and unintimidating until the variables that cause a locust swarm occur. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/28/21: Grasshoppers first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/21/21: Giant Puffballs

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 21 Aug 2021 13:30:25 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark While many species of puffball are only the size of a marble or golf ball, the giant puffball certainly lives up to its name as a mature specimen can be as big as a large watermelon. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/21/21: Giant Puffballs first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/14/21: Ebony Jewelwings

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 14 Aug 2021 13:30:06 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark You can’t mistake these damselflies for anything else: the males have enchanting black wings while the females have dark charcoal-bronze wings, appearing black from afar, with a single white dot on each of the four wingtips. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/14/21: Ebony Jewelwings first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/7/21: Lobster Mushrooms

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 07 Aug 2021 13:30:06 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Look for an orange, chunky, irregularly-shaped mushroom with a rough, dry texture. When sliced, the interior is white. This combination of being irregularly-shaped with a white interior and unique rough exterior are clues about the weirdness of this particular fungus. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/7/21: Lobster Mushrooms first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/31/21: Jewelweed

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 13:30:04 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Jewelweed shimmers like the finest polished silver but flags in the water’s dark current like the softest silk. What is this thing that is both a jewel and a weed? What kind of mad trickery is this? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/31/21: Jewelweed first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/24/21: Harbor Porpoises

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 13:30:40 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark For being fairly common visitors to harbors, bays, and fjords throughout their global temperate range, harbor porpoises are still rather a mystery to us. We know that during the summer months they stay in protected coastal waters as they hunt migrating schools of pogies, mackerel, squid, and pollock, among other fish. In the winter months, we are decidedly less sure of their habits. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/24/21: Harbor Porpoises first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/17/21: Rose Pogonia

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 13:30:55 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Like all orchids, the rose pogonia is a monocot and, being such, the flower is arranged along a rule of three: three sepals, which protect the developing flower while a bud and add to the display when it is in full bloom, and three petals. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/17/21: Rose Pogonia first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/10/21: Valerian

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 13:31:46 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark If you’re one who strives to eradicate invasive plants in your backyard, valerian has some uses that might make you feel even better about ripping them out of the ground. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/10/21: Valerian first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/3/21: Fireflies

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 03 Jul 2021 13:29:27 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Most adults I talk to about lightning bugs these days mention remembering many more of them when they were children, and it may be true that their populations have been decreasing. Pesticide use, habitat destruction, and light pollution all limit their range. But there are so many easy ways to increase lightning bug habitat in your own yard. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/3/21: Fireflies first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/26/21: Bracken Fern

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 26 Jun 2021 13:30:14 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark One fiddlehead that is easy to overlook due to its penchant for breaking the fiddlehead dress code is bracken fern, but this common fern is impossible to overlook now as its large leaves have freshly unfurled and it is taking up a lot of space. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the producers and host: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/26/21: Bracken Fern first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/19/21: Labrador Tea

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 13:30:45 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Tough Labrador tea shrubs are blooming in challenging places with thin, nutrient-poor soils. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the producers and host: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/19/21: Labrador Tea first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/12/21: Buttercups

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 13:30:01 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Buttercups are familiar to most people with their distinctive shiny five petals. That flashy luster helps reflect sunlight to warm up the reproductive parts of the flower which are held above the yellow petals. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the producers and host: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/12/21: Buttercups first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/5/21: Alder Leaf Beetles

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 13:30:48 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark The alder leaf beetle can be found on alder shrubs now, though it is a surprise to me that no one calls this a “sapphire alder beetle” given their flashy color. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the producers and host: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/5/21: Alder Leaf Beetles first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/29/21: Cherry Flowers

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 29 May 2021 12:29:21 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Now is the time to sniff out your local wild cherry thicket so you know where to return once the fruits are ready this summer. Look for the long clusters of cherry flowers, a harbinger of a good jelly-making season to come. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the producers and host: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/29/21: Cherry Flowers first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/22/21: Goldthread

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 22 May 2021 12:30:53 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Goldthread is a diminutive member of the buttercup family that is primarily at home in moist, mossy woodlands. The star-shaped flowers of goldthread emerge from a single stem held slightly above the leaves. Each flower displays five to seven pure white petals encircling a clump of yellow stamens. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. About the producers and host: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/22/21: Goldthread first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/15/21: Moss

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 15 May 2021 12:30:07 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Even now as deciduous leaves are developing by the day, beginning as a pale spring green, I still find myself drawn to the deep greens that so many mosses provide. To understand mosses, it is important to understand the difference between vascular and non-vascular plants. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the producers and host: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/15/21: Moss first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/8/21: Wild Strawberry Flowers

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 08 May 2021 11:30:27 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark There is one overlooked flower that announces the estimated arrival date of the first rubies of summer: the wild strawberry. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com About the producers and host: Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing naturephenology@gmail.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/8/21: Wild Strawberry Flowers first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/1/21: Beltane

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 01 May 2021 12:30:34 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark May 1st marks the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice on a day known to many as Beltane. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/1/21: Beltane first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/24/21: Violets

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 12:30:40 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Violets are beginning to bloom now. These delightful wild edibles trick ants into doing their bidding. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

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The Nature of Phenology 4/17/21: Dandelion Greens

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 17 Apr 2021 12:30:07 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Dandelions, those yellow-flowered asters of lawn, field, and garden that turn into irresistible round seedheads aching to be blown into the wind, offer us some of the first nutritious spring greens. But to find them, you have to get moving outdoors and tuned into the seasonal signs that tell you when and where to find them. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/17/21: Dandelion Greens first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/10/21: Kingfishers

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 10 Apr 2021 12:30:10 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Eagles and ospreys seem equally at home hunting in both salt and freshwater, but there is also one bird, notably smaller though on par with those notorious piscivores in their fish-catching ability, that is now returning to the area after a winter farther south: the belted kingfisher. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

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The Nature of Phenology 4/3/21: White Suckers

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 12:30:05 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark The start of April is the start of angling in rivers and streams in Maine and is also the start of the spawning run for one under-loved, large, native, and hard fighting “rough fish:” the white sucker. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/3/21: White Suckers first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/27/21: Turkey Vultures

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 12:30:34 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Turkey vultures are one of the many essential workers of our ecosystems. They help manage waste and reduce the spread of disease through their rather gruesome efforts and they are returning to Maine now after a winter spent farther south. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/27/21: Turkey Vultures first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/20/21: Silver Maples

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 12:30:01 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Riverside-dwelling silver maples flower in early spring, an important adaptation for this riparian tree. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/20/21: Silver Maples first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/13/21: Fishers

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 12:30:24 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Fishers are large members of the weasel family, Mustelidae, and they are giving birth to tiny helpless young now. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/13/21: Fishers first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/6/21: Winter Cutworms

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 06 Mar 2021 12:30:37 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark While the winter world is one of few active bugs, it certainly isn’t completely devoid of them, and I am always charmed when I see the occasional spider, snow fly, or stonefly creeping across the snow. But I have perhaps never been more surprised than last winter when I found a plump, sausagey-looking caterpillar making tracks after a fresh snowfall as I was shoveling my driveway: the winter cutworm caterpillar. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/6/21: Winter Cutworms first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/27/21: Nest Boxes

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 27 Feb 2021 12:30:35 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Many of our local songbirds will begin their pre-breeding activity in only a few short weeks, so now is a prime moment to clean out those old nest boxes or make some new ones. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/27/21: Nest Boxes first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/20/21: Stick Bouquets

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 12:30:33 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Tree and shrub buds are truly incredible things. In the late summer and through the fall, while our eyes may be transfixed by the phenomenal shades of reds, oranges, and yellows that make that time of the year iconic in New England, there is an equally magical display happening in miniature. Now, you can unleash some of that magic indoors. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/20/21: Stick Bouquets first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/13/21: Chickadees in Winter

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 12:30:45 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark For the animals that stay active in winter, finding food, staying warm enough, and getting ready for mating season are the priorities. Any energy wasted on something else can be a fatal mistake. Knowing this, our black-capped chickadees have a complex social structure that helps prevent wasting energy from arguing in the winter. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/13/21: Chickadees in Winter first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/6/21: Winter Birds

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 12:30:50 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Not all birds migrate away from Maine’s cold winter; some birds migrate to Maine as their winter respite from a much darker, colder season farther north. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/6/21: Winter Birds first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/30/21: Slippery Ice

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 12:30:48 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Why are ice and snow slippery enough to allow skates and skis to glide over them? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/30/21: Slippery Ice first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/23/21: Winter Loons

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 23 Jan 2021 12:30:46 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark There are few sounds that conjure up a feeling of profound wilderness quite like the yodel and cry of a lone loon in the pitch black of a summer night. But now, across our frozen lakes and ponds, echoes not a single mournful wail of a loon. Surely the air-breathing loon isn’t hiding under the ice like a fish, nor is a loon nest as fortified against the elements like that of a beaver. So all this begs the question: Where do our loons go in the winter? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/23/21: Winter Loons first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/16/21: Snow Flies

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 12:30:36 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Snow flies spend most of the year in the dark subterranean world, but on some of our coldest winter days, these adult flies come out to enjoy some sunshine and a brisk walk on the snow’s surface. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/16/21: Snow Flies first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/9/21: Sea Smoke

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 12:30:02 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Learn about the science behind the delicate ghostly wisps of sea smoke appearing and disappearing in the arctic cold just above the ocean’s surface. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/9/21: Sea Smoke first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/2/21: Minks

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 12:30:18 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Like their local weasel relatives, minks stay active year-round. They are adept swimmers, allowing them to hunt for fish, frogs, and other aquatic animals underwater. But like us, they know the value of stocking up food for the winter and taking advantage of a big meal when they can. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/2/21: Minks first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/26/20: Needle Ice

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 12:30:40 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Needle ice can take the rather banal form of crunchy ground on a cold morning, but it can also heave and deform the surface to reveal an explosion of ice crystals making elegant curls, sweeping arches, and even hold up a cap of frozen gravel. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/26/20: Needle Ice first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/19/20: Warm Hooves and Bird Feet

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 12:30:47 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Picture a wet duck standing on ice or paddling through sub-freezing ocean waters. How is it that their skinny feet, without fat or feathers for protection, don’t freeze? And what about the legs and feet of hooved mammals? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/19/20: Warm Hooves and Bird Feet first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/12/20: Orion

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 12:30:04 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark As our calendar draws near the darkest day of the year, night sets in early and I can see one constellation that signifies that it is time to do a little more early evening stargazing: Orion. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/12/20: Orion first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/5/20: Red vs Gray Foxes

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 12:30:31 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark We mostly see red foxes in Maine, but southern Canada all the way to northern South America is also home to gray foxes. Here, these ten-pound gray foxes are more common in southern and midcoast Maine, but they are expanding their range northward. Red and gray foxes can look a lot alike, even though they are classified in different genera, but there are a few signs that can help you determine which one you might be looking at. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/5/20: Red vs Gray Foxes first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/28/20: Porcupines Mating

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 13:30:51 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Since these corpulent critters move slowly and do not see very well, the times of year when they need to cover more ground are the times when they are more likely to get hit by cars. This time of year, in late fall, is one of two seasons when porcupines are on the move. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/28/20: Porcupines Mating first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/21/20: Birch Seeds

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 13:30:03 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Paper birch, also known as white birch or canoe birch, is perhaps one of the most easy to identify northern trees thanks to its brilliantly white bark which peels readily into paper-like sections. The peak of their seed drop is in September through the end of November. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/21/20: Birch Seeds first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/14/20: November Canoeing

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 13:30:17 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Canoeing is not just a spring or summer activity. Canoeing in late fall reveals the busy world of wildlife making final preparations for winter. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/14/20: November Canoeing first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/7/20: Daddy Long Legs

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 13:30:46 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Contrary to popular belief, daddy long legs are not spiders. Like spiders and ticks, they are arachnids, but they are in a separate group from spiders. Daddy long legs are types of “harvestmen,” which are visually distinct from spiders due to their bodies appearing to be one oval—not segmented like spider bodies. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/7/20: Daddy Long Legs first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/31/20: Poisonous Mushrooms

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 31 Oct 2020 13:30:18 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Nature is full of trick or treating opportunities year-round. But there is one kingdom in Maine whose dark door you best avoid on a fanciful trick or treating adventure: the taxonomic kingdom of fungi. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/31/20: Poisonous Mushrooms first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/24/20: Spawning Brook Trout

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 13:30:48 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Come fall, the brook trout don their spawning colors and all colors become more rich and vivid and their flanks blaze with fiery red. For a fish that needs to stay camouflaged to both avoid predators and ambush unsuspecting fish, mice, and insects, these colors may seem gaudy and outrageous. That is, until you understand their native range. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/24/20: Spawning Brook Trout first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/17/20: Deer Changing Coats

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 13:30:14 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark That first crisp, cool breeze that hits us in late August has us scrambling for that favorite soft, warm layer we haven’t needed since early June. We also start turning to warmer, more unctuous meals as fall increases its grip. Likewise, deer engage in a diet and costume change. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/17/20: Deer Changing Coats first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/10/20: October Blueberry Barrens

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 13:30:47 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Blueberry barrens in the fall seem to trick the brain—causing us to blink extra, rub our eyes, and reach out to touch the plants to confirm that such a sight is possible. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/10/20: October Blueberry Barrens first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/3/20: Rose Hips

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 13:30:19 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark “Invasion over,” is how my college dendrology professor characterized the non-native Rosa rugosa’s status. Beach rose is actually native to northeastern China, Japan, Korea, and southeastern Siberia. Despite all the damage beach rose has caused on the native dunes and beaches of the New England Coast, it has also bestowed upon us two great gifts. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/3/20: Rose Hips first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/26/20: Jack-in-the-pulpit fruiting

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 13:30:47 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Jack-in-the-pulpit’s single flower is mostly green and shaped like a pitcher. This odd structure is actually a modified leaf, called a spathe, which surrounds and forms a hood over the internal flower structure called a spadix. Evidently, whoever named the plant thought that the whole contraption looked something akin to a preacher ready to give his Sunday sermon to passers-by, but I will freely admit that I find that image to be a bit of a stretch of the imagination. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/26/20: Jack-in-the-pulpit fruiting first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/19/20: Yellow Jackets

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 13:30:25 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark “Yellow jacket” is the name for a group of stinging insects that includes many different species and a couple genera in North America. With food sources decreasing as the growing season winds down matched with yellow jacket colonies at the peak of their annual populations, we are left with lots of stinging insects desperate for food. A perceived threat to yellow jacket nests can quickly inspire the residents to come out with their stingers blazing. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/19/20: Yellow Jackets first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/12/20: Toads Burrowing

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 12 Sep 2020 13:30:43 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark With the encroachment of winter and being cold blooded, all of our amphibians get a bit creative with how they make it through the cold season. Toads get digging. Starting roughly in September, they will back themselves into the soil and use their powerful hind legs to excavate a burrow. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/12/20: Toads Burrowing first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/5/20: Mullein

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 13:30:08 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Mullein, scientifically known as Verbascum thapsus, is not native to North America, though it is now considered naturalized as it has been here for more than 200 years. When Europeans came to North America in search of a better life, long before the Revolutionary War, their packing list included the seeds of mullein. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/5/20: Mullein first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/29/20: White-marked tussock moth caterpillars

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 29 Aug 2020 13:30:25 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark When it comes to caterpillars, if they look a little crazy and colorful with spiky hairs and are as carefree as a porcupine in the lawn, it’s a good general rule not to touch them. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/29/20: White-marked tussock moth caterpillars first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/22/20: Monarch Caterpillars

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 13:30:20 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Adult monarch butterflies seek out milkweed in particular to lay their eggs. Milkweed is a native species so named for the slightly toxic milky sap that oozes from the broken leaves or stems. This diet of milkweed, which the monarch caterpillars evolved to not be harmed by, is actually essential to their survival. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/22/20: Monarch Caterpillars first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/15/20: Chicken Mushrooms

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 13:30:40 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark The chicken mushroom grows on hardwood trees, typically oak, all across North America. The brilliant sulphur yellow and orange of this shelf mushroom makes it easy to identify and it’s a delicious edible mushroom. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/15/20: Chicken Mushrooms first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/8/20: Hermit Thrush Songs

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 13:30:57 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark There truly are no words to capture the beauty and purity of this bird’s song. The notes are crisp yet wavering, sad and reflective yet untroubled. This song captures and conveys human feeling and human emotion across a barrier of fur and feather, beak and lips. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/8/20: Hermit Thrush Songs first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/1/20: Sea Lavender

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 01 Aug 2020 13:30:12 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark At high tide, this flowering plant is often submerged in saltwater, light purple blossoms swaying beneath the green sea. Sea lavender’s juicy, thick leaves have an important role in this task: they are specialized to be able to pump salt out of their tissues. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/1/20: Sea Lavender first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/25/20: Wild Maine Blueberries

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 25 Jul 2020 13:30:38 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark I’ve often heard it said that the wildness of lowbush blueberries make them far superior to highbush blueberries. But in truth, our lowbush blueberries are actually a diverse collection of species, and our highbush blueberries are as wildly Maine as pine trees and lobster. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/25/20: Wild Maine Blueberries first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/18/20: Deer Flies

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 13:30:22 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Deer flies lay their eggs in or around water where they will hatch and the young larvae will grow up eating decomposing organic matter. When they emerge as adults the males tend to feast exclusively on fruit and nectar, but the females—compelled by the increased metabolic demands of motherhood—look for energy dense food in the form of blood, and fresh blood at that. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/18/20: Deer Flies first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/11/20: Evening Primrose

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 11 Jul 2020 13:30:37 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Because evening primrose grows in places we usually associate with non-native weeds, it is a plant that is often overlooked. But this native biennial is one of our many local treasures that should be appreciated wherever you find it. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/11/20: Evening Primrose first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/4/20: Loons

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 13:30:08 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Loon chicks are hatching now, so your lake explorations might be rewarded with the sight of a fluffy, charcoal gray loon chick riding its swimming parent’s back. While loons have had millions of years to adapt to life on and in the water, they have not had as long to adapt to the loud noises of fireworks. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/4/20: Loons first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/27/20: Mayflies

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 27 Jun 2020 12:30:32 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Mayflies are aquatic insects belonging to the scientific order of Ephemeroptera, derived from ephemeral, or short-lasting. They are insects of fresh water, and while they are most often seen as elegant winged adults, they spend most of their lives in their nymph stage crawling along the bottom of these water bodies feeding on decomposing leaves and vegetation. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/27/20: Mayflies first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/20/20: Blue Flag Iris

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 20 Jun 2020 12:30:05 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Blue flag irises are actually a collection of species native all over the continental United States, Alaska, and Canada with the exception of the desert southwest. Even here in Maine, what is typically called blue flag iris is actually a couple of species such as Iris versicolor and the ever so rare Iris prismatica. Our blue flag irises are plants of wet places, so are often found in soggy patches of meadows and fields, marshes, swamps, ditches, and shorelines. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/20/20: Blue Flag Iris first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/13/20: Swallowtail Butterflies

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 11:30:44 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Swallowtail butterflies are a group of large and colorful butterflies that exist all over most of the planet. As we start to head to beaches in late spring, so do they. Sandy beaches, gravel, mud, and puddles are ideal places to look for groups of these butterflies now, engaging in a behavior called “puddling.” Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/13/20: Swallowtail Butterflies first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/6/20: Gray Tree Frogs

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 12:30:56 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark For such a small, elusive frog, their call is anything but elusive. The call of the gray tree frog is one of the loudest calls of all North American frogs. They breed later than most other local frogs, so we start hearing them after the clacking of the wood frogs has ended and once the chorus of peepers in the evening is no longer a novelty. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/6/20: Gray Tree Frogs first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/30/20: Hawthorns

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 30 May 2020 11:30:51 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Hawthorns are a group of large shrubs or small trees which grow across most temperate regions of the world. This time of year, they are draped in the flowery trappings of white and blush pink. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/30/20: Hawthorns first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/23/20: Rhodora

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 23 May 2020 12:30:53 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark It is hard to miss this shrub this time of year. If you see a large splash of bright pink in wet or disturbed areas, like roadsides or bogs right now, you can be pretty confident that it’s rhodora. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/23/20: Rhodora first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/16/20: Hobblebush

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 16 May 2020 12:30:50 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Large clusters of hobblebush flowers can be found now. Not only do hobblebush flowers trick pollinators into landing on them, but the plants really do trip walking animals and careless hikers more than your average shrub—hence the name hobblebush. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/16/20: Hobblebush first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/9/20: Nighthawks

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 09 May 2020 11:30:59 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Common nighthawks are part of the nightjar family, which includes whippoorwills. Birds in this family are all a bit strange-looking, with flat heads, stunted bills, short necks, big eyes, and feathery whiskers—a generally mousy appearance. These long distance migrants, which may have spent the winter somewhere between Mexico and Argentina, are one of our last migrating birds to return in the spring, so they are a clear reminder that summer is near. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/9/20: Nighthawks first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/2/20: Horsetails

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 02 May 2020 11:30:54 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Field horsetail, known by botanists as Equisetum arvense, shares a rough resemblance to a young pine tree—green in color overall and somewhat like a bottle brush in shape. These ancient plants are easy to notice now as they are just starting to emerge from wet fields and ditches. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/2/20: Horsetails first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/25/20: Coltsfoot

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 12:30:41 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark At first glance, coltsfoot flowers resemble dandelions. These two members of the Asteraceae family share the characteristic of having flower heads comprised of many individual flowers. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/25/20: Coltsfoot first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/18/20 Alewives: Enriching our Communities (Part 2)

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 12:30:39 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Last week we learned about the resounding success of alewife restoration efforts across the region due to dam removals and installation of better fish passage. Such efforts have resulted in tremendous revivals of alewife runs, such as on the mighty Penobscot River which just last year had a run of over 2.1 million fish. This increase in fish is not only a big win for conservation work and for that species in particular, but also represents an enriching in our whole community: fish, local ecosystems, and humans included. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/18/20 Alewives: Enriching our Communities (Part 2) first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/11/20: Alewives: A Success Story (Part 1)

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 12:30:52 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Perhaps there has been no greater contemporary environmental success story in New England than that of one silvery springtime fish that is at this moment ascending the rapids, runs, and falls of our waterways as they head to their ancestral spawning grounds: alewives. This will be part one of a two-part series exploring these fish and the conservation work that brought them back. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/11/20: Alewives: A Success Story (Part 1) first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/4/20: Spring Birds to Listen For

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 12:30:20 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark In today’s episode, I will share some bird songs to be listening for now. If you’re a practiced birder-by-ear, stay tuned for some opportunities to quiz yourself; if you’re new to the birding-by-ear world, you might grab a piece of paper and writing utensil to take a few notes. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/4/20: Spring Birds to Listen For first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/28/20: Crocuses

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 12:30:35 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Crocuses are a collection of thirty or so species and a plethora of hybrids all in the scientific genus Crocus in the iris family. While crocuses seem quite at home here in New England and across the northern tier of the United States, they are, like so many of us, far from their ancestral roots. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/28/20: Crocuses first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/21/20: Red-winged Blackbirds

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 12:30:58 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Like the first spring sighting of a robin or the first blooming dandelion of the year, red-winged blackbirds can inspire the phenology observers in all of us. Males return ahead of the females to determine their territory and belt their characteristic radio static “conk-la-ree” calls from marshes throughout Maine. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/21/20: Red-winged Blackbirds first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/14/20: Chipmunks

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 12:30:21 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark There are twenty five species of chipmunks in the world, and all but one species is found in North America. The chipmunk species we have here in Maine is the eastern chipmunk, the biggest of all the chipmunks at up to eleven inches long and no heavier than a D-battery. February to April is the first of chipmunks’ two breeding seasons, so you may see them running around in pairs or making their characteristic “chipping” calls now. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/14/20: Chipmunks first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/7/20: Sumac

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 12:30:45 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Highbush cranberries with their outrageously bitter and sour berries are one such fruit that will linger long into February, but it would appear that the dry fuzzy berries of sumac win as the least desirable and longest storing fruit of summer past, despite the fact that for us humans, sumac berries make a refreshing summer drink just as soon as they are ripe. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/7/20: Sumac first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/29/20: Partridges in Winter

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 12:30:24 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Most folks across the ruffed grouse’s range know them by that name, though if you have spent any time talking about wildlife in Maine, you likely know them by their colloquial name: partridges. Whatever you call them, partridges are chunky ground birds about the size and shape of a small chicken, but draped in the mottled gray, brown, red, and tan trappings of a wild bird. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/29/20: Partridges in Winter first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/22/20: Golden-crowned Kinglets

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 12:30:29 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Kinglets are decidedly tiny birds. At only three inches long from tip of beak to tip of tail, most of their bulk is made up of near weightless feathers. When placed on a scale, they weigh in at just four to eight grams—the weight of just two pennies. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/22/20: Golden-crowned Kinglets first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/15/20: Red Foxes Breeding

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 12:30:21 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark While we may struggle to see a red fox year-round, their smell this time of year provides a big clue to their whereabouts. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/15/20: Red Foxes Breeding first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/8/20: Winter Photosynthesis

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 12:30:27 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Light is used as the energy source for plants to put together carbon dioxide and water into simple and complex carbohydrates like sugars (food now), starches (food later), and cellulose (which serve as building materials). And the byproduct of all this labor is oxygen. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/8/20: Winter Photosynthesis first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/1/20: Bear Cubs Being Born

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 12:30:15 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Maine has only three true hibernators: groundhogs, little brown bats, and jumping meadow mice. While black bears do hunker down in order to conserve energy for the winter, they aren’t technically hibernators, but rather go into a similar process called torpor. Knowing that black bears do wake up occasionally during the winter makes it seem a bit more understandable that females can give birth during this time of year. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/1/20: Bear Cubs Being Born first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/25/20: Snowflake Formation

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 12:30:32 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark When liquid water evaporates or solid ice sublimates, it transform into the gas we know as water vapor. In the case of snow formation, the water vapor becomes super chilled far below the freezing point of water, so when it comes into contact with dust, pollen, or smoke, that water vapor instantly forms a microscopic crystal of ice in a process called deposition. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/25/20: Snowflake Formation first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/18/20: Cedar Waxwings

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 12:30:16 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Bigger than a sparrow, smaller than a cardinal, and draped in buff yellows, browns and grays, cedar waxwings are most distinguishable by the size of their flocks to the unaided eye. Throughout the year, I tend to find cedar waxwing flocks numbering around a dozen or so individuals, though those flocks can contain 100 or more individuals this time of year. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/18/20: Cedar Waxwings first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/11/20: January Thaw

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 12:30:48 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark A January thaw occurs when the outside temperature increases somewhat suddenly compared to the usual temperatures in the surrounding weeks. Depending on how far north you live, this increase in temperature may not actually go above freezing and cause a thaw, but the occurrence holds onto the name “January thaw” nonetheless. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/11/20: January Thaw first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/4/20: Owls Courting

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 04 Jan 2020 12:28:14 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark These still and silent January nights are one of two times per year when you have a very good chance of hearing owls singing. In late summer, we hear young owls vocalizing to announce their new territory. But in this part of early winter, owls are vocalizing to attract mates. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/4/20: Owls Courting first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/28/19: Firewood

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 12:30:06 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark During the warmer months, forests don vast canopies of green leafy glory. These leaves absorb sunlight and use that energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into simple sugars which they can use immediately or store for longer term as more complex carbohydrates such as fibers and starches—making wood. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/28/19: Firewood first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/21/19: Christmas Fern

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 21 Dec 2019 12:30:08 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark The urge that many of us have to bring evergreens indoors in late December is a tradition that not only pre-dates Christianity, but also has existed in many cultures around the world for centuries on the winter solstice. Polystichum acrostichoides, or Christmas fern as it is more commonly called, is an evergreen fern found from eastern Texas northeast through Maine and into Nova Scotia. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/21/19: Christmas Fern first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/14/19: Mice Coming Inside

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 12:30:43 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Like any mammal, mice need suitable shelter to provide protection from predators, nesting materials, and a spot to retreat out of the elements year-round. In the wilds this time of year a thick, insulating snowpack is important for the survival of mice. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/14/19: Mice Coming Inside first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/7/19: Geminids

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 12:30:04 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Night in the northern tier comes much earlier in the winter than in the summer. For an added bonus, during our colder months we also happen to have the best shot at getting crystal clear skies thanks to the lower humidity. This week, in fact, you can watch the Geminid meteor shower at a conveniently early time and revel in the abundance of “earthgrazers,” or meteors that barely enter our atmosphere at a very shallow angle and create notably long, bright, colorful tails as a result. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/7/19: Geminids first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/30/19: Crows Roosting

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 12:30:58 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Why a group of American crows is called a “murder” is, perhaps, anyone’s guess, for this term is so old it is chronicled in fairytales and folklore. As such, there are many colorful rationales for this grim name that all seem to stem from the fact that crows are opportunistic scavengers, so wherever there is death, there is often a group of crows not too far off. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/30/19: Crows Roosting first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/23/19: Wild Turkeys

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 23 Nov 2019 12:30:29 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark The fall phenology of wild turkeys, plus some turkey facts to wow your Thanksgiving guests. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/23/19: Wild Turkeys first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/16/19: Ladybugs

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 16 Nov 2019 12:30:44 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark If your home isn’t completely tight (whose is?), you probably have some ladybugs accumulating now. Like us, ladybugs seek a warm winter dwelling to help in their survival of the cold season. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/16/19: Ladybugs first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/9/19: Winterberry

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 09 Nov 2019 12:30:13 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark In October, the bright red fruits of winterberry often go unnoticed amidst the stunning range of red, orange, yellow, and green painting every nook and cranny of the natural world. But come November, when the landscape turns nearly grayscale, that splash of lipstick red on the landscape is a most welcome sight. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/9/19: Winterberry first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/2/19: Warblers Eating Cluster Flies

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 12:30:50 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark I watched a flitting dart of a small bird zooming one way, then I’d hear a brief scuffing against the clapboard of the building with its diminutive feet and wingtips, then darting back from where it came and disappearing. This happened over and over again as if mechanized. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/2/19: Warblers Eating Cluster Flies first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/26/19: Ring-billed Gulls

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 12:30:43 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Ring-billed gulls flock together to feed in open spaces in the fall and spring in Maine on their way to more northern summer haunts and more southern winter haunts. And haunting they can certainly be if you’re a person who gets uneasy about seeing large flocks of birds in one place. Just ask Alfred Hitchcock what could happen. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/26/19: Ring-billed Gulls first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/19/19: Apples

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 19 Oct 2019 12:30:59 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Despite their reputation for being a staple of the New England diet and landscape, apple trees are actually native to what is now Kazakhstan at about the same latitude as Bangor, Maine. Apples reveal a crisp slice of human history as rich as the flavor of apple pie. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/19/19: Apples first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/12/19: Landlocked Salmon

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 12:30:30 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Maine is doubly famous when it comes to salmon. For one, Maine is the last stronghold in the country for wild sea-run Atlantic salmon. Their populations have been so reduced because of overfishing, pollution, and dams that they are listed as a federally endangered species and fishing for them is illegal. Landlocked Atlantic salmon are more often simply called “landlocked salmon” in Maine to help differentiate them from their sea-run brethren. These landlocked populations were stranded in inland lakes and ponds after the last ice age. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/12/19: Landlocked Salmon first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/5/19: Leaf Change

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 12:30:12 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark I drive by that copse of poplar trees every day and yet I have not stopped to absorb or photo-document their splendor. But to these wayward travelers from perhaps a city or suburb, our dead end road was as strange, quaint, and special as Tolkien’s Middle Earth. Sometimes it takes tourists to remind me of just how special our place is. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/5/19: Leaf Change first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/28/19: Sunchokes

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 12:30:25 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Sunchokes are also commonly known by the ridiculous name “Jerusalem artichokes,” for these are neither from Jerusalem, nor are they artichokes. Instead they are plants that are native to North America from Newfoundland to Saskatchewan and down to Georgia. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/28/19: Sunchokes first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/21/19: Canada Geese Flocking

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 11:30:35 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark The beginning of the school year is marked by flocking behavior that Canada geese embody so well. But why flock? Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/21/19: Canada Geese Flocking first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/14/19: Fall Tomatoes

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 12:30:27 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark For roughly 200 years after the tomato was introduced to Europe, it was considered perhaps the least edible thing in European and American gardens thanks to a number of false accounts of their toxicity all seeming to stem from their unfortunate beginnings as table fare on the plates of some aristocratic foodies. Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/14/19: Fall Tomatoes first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/7/19: Black Trumpets

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 07 Sep 2019 12:30:08 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark These charcoal gray to dark brown funnel-shaped mushrooms are so well camouflaged on the forest floors where they reside that they can often be missed. But once you find one, you are almost guaranteed to see many more. A classic case of “the more you look, the more you see.” Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/7/19: Black Trumpets first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/31/19: Chokecherries

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 31 Aug 2019 12:31:17 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Some trees bore cherries as dark as ebony, others were scarlet red and caught the sun like so many plump rubies. I walked over to a tree whose fruit were a dark rich red reminiscent of Washington state’s bing cherries. I plucked two cherries from a cluster and popped them into my mouth to savor their wild sweetness. But as soon as my teeth crushed the thin pulp of these cherries, the juice squished across my tongue and my mouth was instantly flooded with unfettered tartness, bitterness, and puckering astringency as though my mouth was stuffed with cotton. I spat out the pulpy pits from my mouth along with as much juice as I could.

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/31/19: Chokecherries first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/24/19: Mountain Cranberries

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 12:29:20 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. While most folks state-side are familiar with the almost grape-sized cranberries of bogs, the mountain cranberry is a much smaller plant with berries that are as small as wild blueberries. As for their flavor, mountain cranberries taste just like their boggy brethren, though perhaps they pack a little bit more flavor into their diminutive forms.

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/24/19: Mountain Cranberries first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/17/19: Goldenrod

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 17 Aug 2019 12:27:12 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. If you’re a person who suffers from spring allergies but you get relief during the heat of summer, you might be edging into another bout of allergies now. Not only is goldenrod not the most likely culprit for these late season allergies, it has historically been used to combat maladies like hay fever and urinary tract infections due to its antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties. The genus of the many species of goldenrod that exist around the world is “Solidago,” which in Latin means “to make whole”—a reference to goldenrod’s many medicinal uses.

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/17/19: Goldenrod first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/10/19: Sawyer Beetles

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 12:30:05 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of this hefty beetle was its elegant antennae which extended from its head a full two times the length of its body and formed a brilliant delicate jointed arch which curled slightly at the tip. These two long antennae, sometimes called horns can get this bumbling native beetle into a heap of trouble.

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/10/19: Sawyer Beetles first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 8/3/19: Seed Dispersal

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 11:23:22 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. No matter the size of a seed, whether it’s smaller than a poppy seed or as large as the 40-pound coco de mer seed, all seeds have a few things in common: they have an embryo, which will develop into a more familiar-looking adult plant, a food source for that developing embryo, and a seed coat, which protects it. Seeds emerge on a flowering plant after the flower has been pollinated and developed into a fruit, which surrounds those seeds. The whole point in this process, of course, is to ensure the survival of the next generation.

The post The Nature of Phenology 8/3/19: Seed Dispersal first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/27/19: Raspberries

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 27 Jul 2019 12:00:10 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. A perfectly sun-ripened wild raspberry still glistening with morning dew is one of the loveliest wild indulgences. The word “picking” when applied to these berries feels somewhat wrong. Ripe raspberries slip effortlessly off the plant, leaving their greenish-white core behind, unlike their close relatives, the blackberries. As a result, raspberries end up looking like a ruby red thimble sized for a child’s finger.

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/27/19: Raspberries first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/20/19: Pickerelweed Blooming

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 20 Jul 2019 12:00:09 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. In my book, the plentiful pickerelweed need no more virtue than being abundant and beautiful during the dog days of summer. The lavender flower spikes may be the most conspicuous feature on this small aquatic plant, but every bit of this plant is spectacular.

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/20/19: Pickerelweed Blooming first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/13/19: Great Horned Owls

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 12:00:13 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Great Horned Owls 7/13/19 Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. I distinctly remember my first owl observation as a child: I watched a great horned owl soar across my backyard river in broad daylight, then perch on a branch and stare right back at me. This time of year provides a heightened chance for just that kind of owl observation because great horned owls are busily out hunting more than usual to feed their growing chicks.

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/13/19: Great Horned Owls first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 7/6/19: Japanese Beetles

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 12:00:35 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. At this point in the year, you may have already started to notice the handiwork of Japanese beetles. While they can be a nuisance, Japanese beetles might be tied with the electric blue six-spotted tiger beetle in a beauty contest of Maine beetles.

The post The Nature of Phenology 7/6/19: Japanese Beetles first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/29/19: Milkweed

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 29 Jun 2019 12:30:21 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Why should this small unassuming plant create something so beautiful and so sweetly scented? The theologist may argue that it’s proof of a greater divine plan. The ecologist may argue that it is an enticing indicator of nectar meant to reward diligent pollinators that aid in milkweed reproduction. The honeybee would eschew such idle speculation and remind us that it’s time to get back to work before the flowers pass with the season.

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/29/19: Milkweed first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/22/19: Great Blue Herons

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 12:30:28 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to watch a solitary heron seeking food, you know that they are the epitome of patience. Long, thin legs and neck provide an ideal vantage point from which the bird can wait motionless in shallow fresh or saltwater as a dagger-like bill points at unsuspecting prey. Their wispy pale blue-gray feathers always match the background, whether it’s a cloudy sky, a stormy sea, or a placid pond.

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/22/19: Great Blue Herons first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/15/19: Milbridge 3rd Graders Share Spring Phenology

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 15 Jun 2019 12:30:45 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Since the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year, I have been taking some students and their teachers at Milbridge Elementary School outside each week to learn about nature here in Downeast Maine. This spring, they were excited about paying attention to phenology and sharing what they observed with you since there are so many exciting things going on during spring. They practiced their observation, writing, and reading skills outdoors all spring and on May 9th we sat under a spruce tree together behind their school where I recorded them sharing their writing.

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/15/19: Milbridge 3rd Graders Share Spring Phenology first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/8/19: Phoebes

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 12:32:20 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. It seems like nearly everyone who lives in Maine has had a phoebe nest on or very near their home. They are easy to identify by ear because phoebes yell their own name. But they are also quite easy to identify by sight due to their habit of bobbing their tail up and down when perched and their characteristic short flights to snatch their insect prey with their small bills adapted perfectly for the job.

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/8/19: Phoebes first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 6/8/19: Nutrient Cycling

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 12:30:51 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. At one point in time the matter that makes up the coffee you are drinking right now was probably a blade of grass, or a cow, or even a dinosaur. This process is intimately familiar to the organic farmer who spends their time worrying about composting food as much as they do about growing it. I find this nutrient cycling to be profoundly comforting because it is so tangible. I can sink my hands into a pile of well-rotted compost, feel the warmth, and apply it to a bed of carrots and know that this year’s carrots will grow from last year’s scraps.

The post The Nature of Phenology 6/8/19: Nutrient Cycling first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/25/19: Warblers

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 25 May 2019 12:30:27 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Warblers can be very challenging to identify, mostly because they’re hard to spot as they hardly ever stop moving, they’re quite small, and they are easily obscured in their leafy environs. Taxonomically, warblers aren’t really a group at all—warbler to warbler may not be particularly closely related. But what they do have in common is that they’re small, they eat bugs, they’re quite vocal, they can be quite drab in color, making them hard to identify, and they’re hard to get a close look at.

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/25/19: Warblers first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/18/19: American Shad

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 18 May 2019 12:30:24 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Shad run at various times in the year depending on where they live along their range from Florida to the Atlantic provinces of Canada. Here in Maine, that time is in the spring. Shad are large fish that can grow up to 30 inches with the males being considerably smaller than the females. They are relatively thin fish that are brilliant silver on their bellies fading into rich metallic purple on top. Their strong tail is deeply forked.

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/18/19: American Shad first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/11/19: Shadbush

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 11 May 2019 12:30:28 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. So varied are the names used to identify shadbush, I inevitably find myself rattling off all the names for this stunning little shrub in the hopes that one of those names will sound familiar to my friends and fellow plant nerds. Some of these names include shad, serviceberry, servicetree, Juneberry, saskatoon, and Amelanchier, which is both the genus of this small tree and the name most often used by gardeners. While it may seem that this plant has enough names, they are also names which cover a great number of species and all of these species will hybridize freely forming fertile crosses that make identification of individual species nearly impossible for all but the foremost Amelanchier expert.

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/11/19: Shadbush first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 5/4/19: Bluets

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 04 May 2019 12:30:17 +0000

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Bluets are small, mostly white flowers that grow in dense clumps, usually in lawns. They sport four petals, often tinged with blue and with a yellow center, that are fused together into a tube in the flower’s center. The small leaves are arranged opposite each other, which is one of the many defining characteristics that place bluets into the coffee, or Rubiaceae, family.

The post The Nature of Phenology 5/4/19: Bluets first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/27/19

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 27 Apr 2019 12:30:04 +0000

Rhubarb Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. All plant nomenclature and physiology aside, rhubarb is a most beloved fruit-like food in our far northern climates because unlike so many of the lovely true fruits we find in the grocery store, rhubarb is an extremely cold hardy perennial—which is to say, it will come back year after year despite the worst our weather has to throw at it. This fact is evident by the enormous rows of rhubarb one can see growing behind the farmhouses which dot the sweeping bucolic landscape of northern Maine between Houlton and Presque Isle.

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/27/19 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/20/19

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 12:30:49 +0000

Big Night Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. When weather conditions are just right for the first time in the spring—temperatures above 40, rain, or especially high humidity—over half of the breeding population of many of our local amphibians migrate to their breeding pools on what is referred to as “Big Night.”

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/20/19 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/13/19

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 13 Apr 2019 12:30:53 +0000

Ospreys Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Unlike me, with my catch-and-release tendencies, ospreys live an exclusively fish-based diet, giving them their other name: ‘fish hawks.’ Everything about these incredible raptors has been optimized and specialized to pursue their piscine prey.

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/13/19 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 4/6/19

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 12:30:52 +0000

Timberdoodles Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn Host: Hazel Stark Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. This chunky, long-billed, gourd-shaped bird is also called an American woodcock, mudbat, or bog-sucker, among other descriptive names. He flew straight up—100 feet or more–-and began to fly loop-de-loops in the sky, accentuated by lyrical wingbeats. On his ascent, quick high whistling notes drew our attention (and ideally, the female of the species); on his descent, slower “kissing-sounds” burbled in the sky before his gentle thud back down to the old field.

The post The Nature of Phenology 4/6/19 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/30/19

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 12:30:33 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Beaked Hazelnuts Flowering Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. What comes before the nuts—in fact, what allows for the nuts to emerge at all in the long term–are the shrub’s flowers. Before the bright green leaves burst forth from their buds in the coming weeks, two types of flowers emerge from its branches. The yellow-brown male catkins hang like pendulums, ready for a gust of wind to carry their pollen away. Above the male catkins appearing from the twig tips are the female flowers, which for the most part are quite inconspicuous, but for the fiery fuchsia feathery fibers spilling from its tip.

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/30/19 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/23/19

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 23 Mar 2019 12:30:50 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Spring Equinox Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. March 20th marked our celestial halfway point in our travels from winter to summer: the spring equinox. Rather than our axis being pointed towards the sun, as it is in summer, or pointed away from the sun, as it is in winter, during an equinox, our axis is exactly half way to either extreme. This means that on March 20th we had almost exactly 12 hours of daytime and 12 hours of nighttime.

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/23/19 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/16/19

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 12:30:28 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Red Squirrels Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. On a brief romp through the thick wintery Downeast woods, I was startled away from the tranquility of the chickadees chirping, trees creaking, and the soft “flump” of my wooden snowshoes pushing through the snow’s surface when I was immediately overwhelmed by the alarm call of a small yet charismatic creature. It was sitting on the stump of a broken spruce bough only 8-12 feet above my head. This pint-sized terror didn’t blink twice at my approach—even when I was just a few yards off! Instead, it sat upon its perch and let out a punishing holler with a twitch of the tip of its voluminous tail with each squeekish shout.

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/16/19 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/9/19

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 09 Mar 2019 12:30:15 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Mourning Cloak Butterflies Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. When their wings are folded closed, mourning cloak butterflies are perfectly camouflaged against tree bark. The undersides of their wings are mottled with shades of brown, gray, and cream, giving the impression of a flake of bark. But when they open their wings, they display a velvety deep red-brown pair of wings with a cream border beyond a row of bright blue spots.

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/9/19 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 3/2/19

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 12:30:42 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Mad as a March Hare Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Right now in early March begins a very special time for our furry snowshoe-footed friends: time to start planning for the next generation of hares. Through the winter, hares keep to a small patch of spruce trees. When spooked, they will run a large figure-eight track and return right back to the hidden snowy depression, called a form, they were spooked from. But as the breeding season begins, the little hares start acting a bit crazy… mad, you might say.

The post The Nature of Phenology 3/2/19 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/23/19

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 12:31:28 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Raccoons Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. These cold, still days can make it hard to believe that several species are in the midst of their breeding season. One macabre clue, in this age of rapid transportation, that can help us ascertain some of the goings-on in the natural world this time of year, unfortunately, is roadkill, and every year at about this time, I notice an increased amount of roadkill of a particular masked opportunist and the topic of today’s episode, raccoons.

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/23/19 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/16/19

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 12:30:53 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Doves, Wild and Feral Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Last month we had an intriguing inquiry from a WERU listener. This person was curious about why so many pigeons are found throughout our more built-up towns and cities, and yet only a few minutes from these places, nestled among the trees, only native mourning doves find their way to winter birdfeeders and never pigeons. To unearth the answer to this great question, we must first look to the life history of these two feathered marvels.

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/16/19 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/9/19

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 12:30:12 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Bird Irruptions Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. In parts of Canada, where many of these finches would happily spend their winters, there is a particularly poor food crop this year. Alder and birch seeds, mountain ash fruits, spruce and other conifer seeds are in low supply this year—as happens from time to time. This food scarcity drives these birds that are adapted to those food types further south to places like Maine where the food crop isn’t as bad this year.

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/9/19 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 2/2/19

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 12:30:21 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Groundhogs Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. There is one animal above all that strikes the most fear and worry into the hearts of farmers and gardeners. They thieve from our carefully tended vegetable gardens, whistle in alarm at the mere sight of us, bolt like a sack of muffins to the safety of their dens, and even allude our most devious schemes for their removal. And yet, on the second of February each year, we bow to the mystical powers of the “Seer of Seers”, the fluffy and foreboding, the earthy oracle, the paunchy plunderer: the groundhog.

The post The Nature of Phenology 2/2/19 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/26/19

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 12:30:55 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Ermines Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Short-tailed weasels are year-round Maine residents, but we tend to call them ermines in the winter when they change from light brown with pale bellies to pure white with black-tipped tails. The unusually bright white quality of their winter fur made ermines especially desirable for the royalty of yesteryear who cherished their skins to create those famous black-spotted bright white fur collars and trim on their red velvet capes.

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/26/19 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/19/19

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 12:30:58 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Frogs in Winter Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. May and June are two months that are almost entirely defined by frogs—their cheery chorus sounds from vernal pools and along pond edges hoping to entice a mate to come for a swim. This time of year, however, we instead sit in relative quiet but for the howl of wind, the rattle of bare tree branches, the roar of a woodstove, the moan of ice, and the somber call of a raven. During this time of year, one might wonder the fate of the subject of today’s episode, our flipper-footed friends: frogs.

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/19/19 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/12/19

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 12:30:12 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Queen Anne’s Lace Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Finding animal tracks, listening to the nighttime calls of barred owl pairs, or spotting a perfectly camouflaged snowshoe hare or ermine offer a sense of excitement and change during a season that might otherwise feel still and unending. But today I’m here to argue in defense of the excitement of plants, and one plant in particular whose seed heads have curled up into what may look like a perfect tiny bird nest on the end of a stem: Queen Anne’s lace.

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/12/19 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 1/5/19

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 12:30:29 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Ice Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. “Frozen” is the operative term that can be applied to our neck of the woods for the coming months, though it is easy to keep warm and stave off the cabin nasties when shuffling across the frosty world on a pair of skates, skis, or snowshoes. Now that we are in the depths of winter, folks will be taking advantage of the peculiar physical properties of water as it freezes into the subject of today’s topic: ice.

The post The Nature of Phenology 1/5/19 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/29/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 11:57:38 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Snowy Owls Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Not many people would imagine Maine being a warm respite in the winter, but to snowy owls, Maine is the perfect vacation. This large, mostly white owl spends summers living and nesting on the Arctic tundra where it eats small animals such as lemmings, voles, and ptarmigan. Come winter, when these primary food sources are as scarce as sunlight on the Arctic landscape, snowy owls come south for more abundant food and to catch some rays.

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/29/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/22/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 22 Dec 2018 11:55:29 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Frostfish Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. For those of you with a fondness for feasting on fine fish, you are probably quite familiar with various members of the cod family, which scientists refer to as the Gadidae. These gadiformes include many of the common firm, white-fleshed saltwater fish that one can find at a local monger like cod, haddock, pollock, red hake, white hake, and silver hake. Those among us that are ice fisher-folk might also be well acquainted with the cusk, or burbot, which is the only freshwater gadiform. But the tomcod live a life both in the salt and freshwater of our coastal waterways.

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/22/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/15/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 12:00:39 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Eagles at Dams Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. As our seasons grow colder and bodies of water freeze, eagles are forced from their summer haunts on lakes, ponds, and large rivers to open water in search of food. The agitation of a surface-drawn dam, or the warm temperatures of a bottom-drawn dam mean that the water downstream is often completely clear of ice which allows the eagles to access their favorite food: fish. But there is a more sinister reality at play. Along with the flow of water, fish that are intent on migrating down our rivers will try to make the leap over or through the dam. Whether simply stunned or killed outright from the poor fish passage of New England’s plethora of antique dams, many of these fish will float up where they are easily observed and snatched by the hungry eagles.

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/15/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/8/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 12:00:46 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Bees in Winter Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. There are many adaptations that insects in cold climates employ to ensure the success of their species through a northern winter. Some leave only hardy eggs behind and count on their winter survival, with all adults dying off. Others tuck themselves away in protected areas, perhaps underground or behind some tree bark, and rely on their amazing capacity to produce their own kind of antifreeze so their cells don’t get damaged from sub-freezing temperatures. Honeybees and bumblebees, however, each do something quite different.

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/8/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 12/1/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 12:00:00 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Muskrats Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Muskrats build little pop-up shelters on frozen waterways where they can catch their breaths and eat. They chisel through the ice and push mud and plant matter up through it to make a miniature shelter that does just the trick. Little did we know that ice fishermen were just copying muskrats when they bring their shacks onto the ice in the winter.

The post The Nature of Phenology 12/1/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/24/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 12:30:16 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Woodpeckers Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Most people know them due to their noisy evidence. Whether chattering loudly, slamming on a telephone box in the spring, or pounding into a hollow tree in hopes of finding some bugs to eat, woodpeckers are pretty charismatic. But why don’t they get concussions from all their head-banging?

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/24/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/17/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 12:30:33 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn River Otters Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. November: it’s not my favorite month. As a person who has, in some people’s eyes, an unreasonable appreciation for all things outdoors, this is saying a lot. Despite all of November’s shortfalls, over the past few years I have figured out something that I can appreciate about this time of year: river otters.

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/17/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/10/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 12:30:52 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Heavy Frosts Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Frost can certainly skate fairy-like across our glass windows but can also drill its way like thousands of microscopic daggers into the fragile bodies of unprotected insects, breaching cell membranes as it goes.

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/10/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 11/3/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 12:30:43 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Hackmatacks Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Hackmatacks are a coniferous needle-bearing tree that, from a quick glance, can blend in with the rest of its pokey kin in our northern forest. A closer look and feel, however, reveals that the stems are dotted with feathery crowns of soft needles that sit atop short spurs on the fine twigs of the tree. But kinship with its coniferous comrades ends here.

The post The Nature of Phenology 11/3/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/27/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 12:30:23 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Peak of Beaver Activity Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Late October is the peak of beaver activity. Busily they work to put on the final layers of mud and sticks to their lodges and to fill their larders full of fresh branches and twigs to ensure they are warm, secure, and well fed for the long winter ahead of them. All this work must be done before the rivers, ponds, and streams freeze over and lock the beavers into a winter of either swimming in the water beneath the ice or snoozing in their lodges.

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/27/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/20/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 20 Oct 2018 12:30:09 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Witch Hazel Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Growing along the sprawling branches of this shrub that can grow up to fifteen feet tall are small flowers with thin, crinkly petals reminiscent of one-inch strips of yellow tinsel arranged haphazardly around a center point—as if a spider were frozen mid-gallop, legs splayed in every direction in an effort to move fast despite an excess of legs. Its blooming time coinciding with Halloween and its spider-like yellow flowers make “witch hazel” an appropriate name for this unique plant.

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/20/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/13/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 12:30:46 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Birch Boletes Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. I once heard someone say, “my favorite color is October.” Here in New England, that attitude is quite understandable this time of year. The color palette of October can be a sight to see, but concealed under all that color is the thick, brown, spongy, and delicious flesh of an often-missed mushroom: the birch bolete.

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/13/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 10/6/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 12:30:42 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Cranberries Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com. Cranberries are a perfectly accurate representation of a New Englander. Rather crunchy, quite sour, and perhaps even a bit bitter at times. But if you take the time to get to know them—perhaps in the good company of a bit of maple syrup and some time by a woodstove—they will easily win you over! And so here I am, a New Englander through and through, out in my iconic shin-high rubber-footed leather boots kneeling in my canoe and meandering lazily from low island to low island across a stunning autumn lake in pursuit of a perfectly New England berry.

The post The Nature of Phenology 10/6/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/29/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 29 Sep 2018 12:00:55 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Beech Nuts Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Beech trees can be readily identified by their smooth gray bark. I recall the many hikes I went on with my parents as a young child and how my mom would teach me my trees. She would always tell me that the trunks of beech trees looked like elephants legs. When I came upon a great beech tree, I would place my hand on its smooth bark and imagine that the forest would transform into a wandering herd of docile elephants when no one was around. The husks of the beech nuts, however, are anything but smooth. Instead, the small nuts are covered in a husk with countless soft hooked spines.

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/29/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/22/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 12:00:44 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Wild Cucumber Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com An unusual plant caught my eye as it climbed, twined, and draped across the rough forest edge while dangling its kiwi-sized fruits covered in weak spines. I cut a sample and brought it to my professor’s office. “What’s this?” I asked while tossing the cut specimen limply upon her desk. I’m not sure if her answer was truthfully ignorant or if she was feigning naïveté to encourage my own self-discovered learning, but with an air of certainty she said, “I have no idea, but it is certainly a cucurbit!”

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/22/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/15/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 12:00:48 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn The Moose Rut Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Here in Maine, the peak of moose rut is at the beginning of October, but individuals may begin displaying some rut behaviors towards the beginning of September. Spoiler alert: if you’re one of those people who think of moose as resplendent, calm animals full of gawky charm and patience, what I’m about to tell you about what they’re up to right now might spoil your adoring impression of them.

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/15/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/8/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 12:00:25 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Cluster Flies Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Cluster flies are a non-native member of the blow fly family who, contrary to their persistence indoors, will not actually reproduce in home or office, but rather are simply looking for a warm sunny window upon which they can persist through the cold winter months of the New World. They are larger than houseflies, hairier, slower, much less coordinated in flight, and of course amass in their iconic numbers. In fact, cluster flies are their very own species called Pollenia rudis and they certainly are the rudest guests I have ever hosted!

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/8/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology 9/1/18

WERU-FM 89.9 — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 12:00:33 +0000

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn Northern Flickers Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com Flickers are the nonconformists of the woodpecker world. While they share some characteristics with our other local woodpeckers, such as long bills and tongues with barbed tips for accessing hard-to-reach prey, a preference for nesting in cavities, and the classic woodpecker flying habit of making a few heavy wing flaps, gliding and falling a bit, then flapping heavily again, flickers do their thing a little differently.

The post The Nature of Phenology 9/1/18 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The Nature of Phenology (formerly “Mainely Phenology”)

WERU-FM 89.9 — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 18:17:37 +0000

Effective September 1st, 2018, “Mainely Phenology” will become “The Nature of Phenology”. New features will be archived in this section each week. Older episodes of “Mainely Phenology” may still be found here

The post The Nature of Phenology (formerly “Mainely Phenology”) first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.