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Subtle signs of spring

When the long winter months come to its final days, we all desperately search for any signs that will bring a break from nature’s cold darkness. Instead of watching the forecast or refreshing your weather app for the millionth time, you can find subtle signs of spring from the ground you ...

A spotlight on Skunk Cabbage

It’s finally beginning to feel like spring is around the corner at Audubon Community Nature Center. Plants are beginning to sprout, animals are waking from hibernation, and birds have begun to migrate north again. Red-winged Blackbirds especially have returned in droves to ACNC and you can ...

Nature as a healer

From the moment I step into a forest I always feel a deep and innate truth: nature heals. It is not merely a place to visit or an aesthetic backdrop to our busy lives; it is a force that soothes our bodies, calms our minds, and nourishes our spirits. Science and personal experience alike ...

Scientific illustrations always worth a 2nd look

Creativity and science are sometimes viewed with an antagonistic relationship. In school, maybe you were good at art, but didn’t get great grades in biology, or maybe you were great at math, but couldn’t draw more than a stick figure. However, separating creative and scientific minds does ...

The shape of trees

Leaves are probably the most common feature used to identify trees. But in winter, when so many trees have dropped their leaves, combinations of other features are needed. The bark, along with the pattern and shape of buds on branches can be used to determine species. The bare branches of ...

Bird feeders and the joy of casual birding

An easy way that I stay connected to nature, even if I have a busy schedule, is taking a moment to look out a window and watch birds at a bird feeder. It is both simple and, in my opinion, brings an extra bit of joy into one’s life. When I arrive at the Nature Center in the mornings and sit ...