The seasonally cool weather has had a silencing effect on the nighttime chorus of insects, amphibians and most other animals. The frogs and cicadas have taken shelter in anticipation of the imminently arriving warmer months. With the exception of the barred owls, even much of the avian population is silently waiting out the dark hours….Read more
Nuts are a popular snack for people and many animals. In panhandle Florida many can be produced in home gardens and orchards. Wild hickories and oaks annually produce a bumper nut crop for the squirrels, deer and other wildlife which are dependent on the fat and nutrients to make it past the cold season. Pecans…Read more
Looks, as the old saying goes, can be deceiving. It is a cautionary pronouncement from experience in springs past, usually painful and expensive, to serve as a warning to those who follow and hopefully to avoid similar complications if the advice is heard. In most situations a threat in nature can be easily identified and…Read more
The old saying identifies the lion as the king of the jungle, feared and respected by all. Every creature which lives in or enters its realm, be it jungle or savanna, must respect the hierarchy of the order. Legend has it the regal creature can be generous with vassals or savagely brutal. The reason or…Read more
There are certain sounds which cannot be ignored. They convey an immediate message which calls the listener to be alert and prepared. These noises, even in the panhandle, are uniquely distinct and are not likely to be confused with other audio messages. One of these acoustic alarms is buzzing, especially in close proximity. While there…Read more
Having a distinctive and easily identifiable physical feature can often prove to be a beneficial resource. This visible trait makes it easy for the viewer who encounters the notable subject to quickly know and make the necessary accommodations. The distinguishing trademarks in humans can include from unusual height, striking eye color, or even a dignified…Read more
The warmer weather’s approach has many residents of the panhandle believing the winter of 2021/22 is soon to be finished, and it might be. The nightly ruckus of toads and frogs staking out their territory becomes louder each evening, and even mosquitos have returned in small numbers. Unseen in most cases, but just as active…Read more
As February closes in on March, some are asking the age-old question: “Is spring here?” A few moderately warm days will stimulate interest in the topic for a variety of reasons. Methods to determine the seasonal transition vary widely. Calendar dates aside, some forecasting methods have a basis in scientific observation, and others in folklore…Read more
Life can be lonely at the top, but there are certain advantages. Command of the heights is an entrenched doctrine of every military unit on the globe. The value of this convention lies in the simple fact that controlling the high ground allows gravity to do some of the work of hitting targets fast and…Read more
North Florida has a relatively mild climate, but most of the state does occasionally experience below freezing temperatures. The lowest temperature on record in Florida occurred in Tallahassee on February 13, 1899 when the temperature dropped to – 2° F (two degrees below zero). Fortunately, temperatures haven’t fallen that low since. Recently, on January 29,…Read more
