Discover nature on a deeper level
Pacific Yew: Thriving in the shadows of towering conifers
In the dim light below canopies of towering Douglas-fir, spruce, cedar or hemlock, the little-known Pacific yew resides. Unlike most other trees that rocket towards the sky competing for sunlight, the yew thrives in the understory of moist forests in the coastal and Inland Northwest. Since yews are not large trees, they are often stumbled…
Nuthatches: The upside-down bird
While woodpeckers search for insects by spiraling up a tree, the nuthatch zig-zags down the trunk head-first. Foraging upside-down may seem unnatural to us but nuthatches have a knack for it. Nuthatches don’t rely on their tail feathers like woodpeckers to prop themselves against the trunk while foraging for insects. Instead nuthatches have a large…
Can woolly bear caterpillars predict winter weather?
What will winter be like? Many look to the woolly (wooly) bear caterpillar for a prediction. The black and orangish-brown banded caterpillars may be the most widely recognized creature for predicting winter. According to folklore, if the woolly bear caterpillar has more black area than orangish-brown then the winter is going to be long, snowy…