American robins in winter
A robin eats from a sumac tree. (Photo by Mary Holland) Editor’s note: This column by longtime former Harvard Press contributor Mary Holland first…
It’s Only Natural: Birds in Winter
Editor’s note: This column by longtime former Harvard Press contributor Mary Holland first ran in the Feb. 21, 2014 edition of the paper. With…
It’s Only Natural: Antlions
Antlion—the very name conjures up visions of an improbable combination of two distinctly different creatures. In fact, the name is derived from the ferocious…
It’s Only Natural: Nuts! Why so many squirrels and chipmunks?
Editor’s Note: This column was first published in the Harvard Press on Nov. 9, 2012, another year in which New England’s rodent population boomed.…
It’s Only Natural: Insect Overwintering Strategies
This article was originally printed in the Dec. 13, 2013, issue of the Press A click beetle overwinters as a larva under the bark…
It’s Only Natural: Bidding farewell to Harvard
Mary Holland cuddles a bear cub. (Courtesy photos by Mary Sue Henszey) My natural history column, which went by the name of “Naturally Curious,”…
It’s Only Natural: Beavers stay busy preparing for winter
Note: This article was originally published in the Nov. 11, 2011, issue of the Press. A beaver eats a poplar leaf: Poplar or…
It’s Only Natural: Halloween Species
The month of October culminates with images of pumpkins, witches, and goblins. Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, is the beginning of the Christian religious…
It’s Only Natural: Moose love is in the air
Note: This article was originally published in the September 24, 2010, issue of the Press. Autumn is not commonly associated with the breeding…
It’s Only Natural: Flowers, insect mouthparts, and evolution
Cicadas have a unique mouthpart for feeding known as a beak. Its four stylets are used for piercing small twigs in trees and bushes…
It’s Only Natural: Bumblebees as pollinators
A queen tricolored bumblebee collects nectar from trailing arbutus. (Photo by Mary Holland) The honeybee’s plight gets a great deal of attention, as well…
