EXPLORING THE NIAGARA FRONTIER: The red-bellied woodpecker
Red-bellied woodpeckers have made their way to the Niagara Frontier in the last 50 years. Photo courtesy Wisconsin Division of Natural Resources. If you have a suet feeder in your…
EXPLORING THE NIAGARA FRONTIER: Deer sheds: A winter treasure hunt for the whole family
Getting the family outdoors in late-winter can sometimes be a daunting task. If they aren’t into downhill skiing or ice skating it’s a hard to get kids gung ho about…
EXPLORING THE NIAGARA FRONTIER: Fox squirrels – a relatively new addition to WNY forests
A good chunk of my nature library is made up of books I accumulated as a kid. For the most part, they remain accurate because animals and their behaviors really…
EXPLORING THE NIAGARA FRONTIER: The brown snake — a snake for all seasons and all places
You might be thinking to yourself “here it is, the dead of winter, and Confer’s writing about snakes?” I am, because you never know when these limbless reptiles will make…
EXPLORING THE NIAGARA FRONTIER: Mark your calendars: What 2019 will bring for WNY skywatchers
Chances are, that if you live in rural Western New York you’re a backyard astronomer of sorts. You might find yourself outdoors on a cool, clear winter night marveling at…
EXPLORING THE NIAGARA FRONTIER: What to get an outdoorsperson for Christmas
Trying to figure out what to get an outdoors enthusiast for Christmas can be a daunting task, especially if the shopper really isn’t an outdoorsy person. So, for the past…
EXPLORING THE NIAGARA FRONTIER: The invasion of the nuthatches
If I was asked to make a short list of my favorite birds the red-breasted nuthatch would be on it. Not only are the birds cute and friendly, but their…
EXPLORING THE NIAGARA FRONTIER: Butter and eggs – an attractive late-season “weed”
Late-season flowers are derisively considered “weeds” by many people, which downplays their beauty. One such plant that shouldn’t be overlooked is butter and eggs. This invasive species also goes by…
EXPLORING THE NIAGARA FRONTIER: The Erie Canalway Trail: From Orangeport to Canal Road
Western New Yorkers are blessed with an incredible number of public assets — from town parks to state forests – that allow locals and tourists alike to explore the Niagara…
EXPLORING THE NIAGARA FRONTIER: Ridgewalk – explore WNY’s wilderness for a good cause
Many readers of this column hail from the lake plains (where the terrain can be flatter than a pancake) or from the middle portions of Western New York (where gentle…