Of all the flora and fauna in the region, snails are not one I think about very often. On hikes, they fall into the “just” category. Oh, it’s just a snail. Oh, it’s just a crow. Oh, it’s just a dandelion. They are so easy to overlook because they are commonplace. But there are other ...

Last week, I was replacing the suet on my balcony, and started thinking about upgrading and getting an actual bird feeder. These days, my indoor cat is probably more invested in keeping that thing stocked than I am, but when I first got it, it was just me staring out the sliding glass doors, ...

Next time you are touring your garden, walking on wooded trails, or exploring a beachside scenery, look for immaculate swirling patterns. These can be found in the center of a sunflower, a snail’s shell, the base of an unopened pinecone, and seen as a fern just begins to unfurl its leaves. On ...

On a warm spring day, if I gaze out into the backyard pond at Audubon my first impression is of calm, clear water. Though the water may seem empty at first, the longer I look, the more I notice. First might be a bit of plant matter floating on the surface or a hint of debris stirred up from ...

Photo submitted to the Times Observer Members of Chief Cornplanter Council and Gyantwachia Lodge went on a Nature Hike at Chapman State Park recently. From left are Kelsey Johnson, Liam Johnson, Jack Monroe, Ethan Zimmerman, Alex Hanes, Alex Gulnac, Cole English, Noah Rodgers and Trenton Hanes.

Some animals appear so bizarre it is hard to believe they are real. Narwhals, the toothed Arctic whale seems more magical than factual. Pangolins, with their armored plates seem like they evolved from a fantasy book rather than in Asia and Africa. Another strange looking creature, which is ...