"… to be used for nature study and as a preserve for birds and other wildlife."- Carmen Hambleton Warner
It is with deep sadden that we at Wahkeena Nature Preserve acknowledge the passing of a truly GREAT naturalist and FRIEND, Dennis Profant. Dennis was an instructor at Hocking College in the School of Natural Resources. 1956 – 2015 I echo the sentiments that… Continue Reading “In Memorium”
Well, here we are at the end of the third week is April and things are really stating to happen now. The first tree has leaved out. Pictured above, the Yellow Buckeye (Aesculus octandra) is the first of our native trees to reveal their… Continue Reading “A Day in the Life…Part16”
And so the skies split open and the rains poured from the heavens and not even the dams of the beaver could contain them. And back in the woods along the trail, the small stream was flowing rapidly, zigzagging its way over the sandstone… Continue Reading “A Day in the Life….Part 15”
As the saying goes….April showers, bring May flowers….but first they bring April flowers, like the ones below. The Daffodils, also appropriately known as Easter Lilies, are beginning to bloom and will be reaching peak blooming over the next couple of weeks. Glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa luciliae)… Continue Reading “A day in the Life…Part 14”
What the !*#?% is going on! Wednesday saw day time temperatures in the high 60’s and today the high was 35 degrees … and some snow flurries. What another crazy week in the life of Wahkeena. Early in the week, I got a notice… Continue Reading “A Day in the Life… Part13”
Just in case anyone is out there listening…..we believe that tomorrow (Wednesday March 25) will be the big night for Spotted Salamanders to mass migrate to the breeding pools. Wahkeena will reopen at 7:30 PM until 11 PM for anyone who would like to… Continue Reading “Amphibian Alert”
Wahkeena is now singing with the sounds of spring. The Spring Peepers are peeping, the Wood Frogs are clucking, and the Eastern Phoebes have announced their return, reciting their name: “fee-be”, “fee-be”. The Barred Owls are unusually noisy now. The lone owl who has… Continue Reading “A Day in the Life….Part 12”
The second week of March brought some long awaited weather changes….50+ degree days and SUN!On Monday, the snowdrops were peeking through the snow again and by Thursday the snow was finally gone and the flowers officially in bloom. These cultivated bulbs are a legacy… Continue Reading “A day in the Life…..Part 11”
When last we met it was snowing…and then came the thaw. The picture above is looking upstream of the small pond northeast of the nature center. There was still thick ice, but the warm temperature and rains had melted the snow covering. Notice the… Continue Reading “A Day in the Life…Part 10”
Not much has changed since last week…..lots of snow and very cold temperatures have kept nature in check. And I had to keep Nora from jumping into the large spring in the sandstone outcropping. She wanted to take the plunge so I would have… Continue Reading “A Day In The Life Part 9… Throwback Thursday Post”