The Nature of Things
The Nature of Things is a weekly broadcast about our area’s native flora and fauna, hosted by Irvine Nature Center’s Executive Director Brooks Paternotte. At the start of each week, The Nature of Things offers an eco-friendly perspective on everything from our changing seasons to the sounds of our migrating birds to the plants invading our yards, fields and forests.
-
There are 27 kinds of snakes in the state of Maryland, but only two are dangerous to humans.While both species are in the pit viper family, the more… -
As the tender buds of spring flower and bloom to make way for summer’s lush greenery, an annual battle begins anew. This clash pits our big human brains… -
A few weeks ago, I visited a friend. We were sitting outside, enjoying the weather with a couple local brews while his daughter played nearby. Suddenly,… -
Moths are often regarded as the less appealing cousins of butterflies.Moths are seen as the night-flying pests that harass our summer porch lights and eat… -
The Animal Care Team at Irvine Nature Center is always busy. When they’re not caring for Irvine’s 60-plus Animal Ambassadors, they’re fielding interesting… -
On a walk through the forest you might spot rows of shallow holes in tree bark. In our listening area, this is likely the work of the yellow-bellied… -
A few weeks ago, I was getting ready for bed after a long day; I was looking forward to tucking into the covers and the book I had been reading. I turned… -
Weeding in my garden this weekend, I saw a tiny flash of green and red speed past the brim of my hat. As I looked up, I just caught wind of a miniscule… -
If you’ve ever met me, you know that I love fly fishing. Spending the morning on the tranquil waters of Gunpowder Falls has to be one of my top ways to… -
If you like oysters, you have lots of choices this season. You can buy a dozen Choptank Sweets, or you can go Skippy Dippers. The Hongatonks are plump and… -
A few weeks ago, I was out later than usual attending a dinner. The food was delicious, but I was eager to get home and rest for the evening. When I… -
I was out for a walk recently when I thought I saw a small bird flying in the distance. Its wings were a purple-ish brown color with buttery yellow edges…
