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: A typical red fox summer
There is a brief window of time, only six to eight weeks, when we are privy to the inner workings of red fox (Vulpes…
It’s Only Natural: Heard, but seldom seen—gray tree frogs get a grip
A gray tree frog. (Photo by Mary Holland) Melodic, birdlike trills lasting up to several seconds emanate from the woodlands this time of year.…
It’s Only Natural: Great blue herons—colonial nesters
Great blue herons have been reusing their nests year after year—long before recycling became fashionable. A wonderful example clearly visible to all is the…
It’s Only Natural: Trees—the other spring flowers
Male and female flowers of the speckled alder. (Photo by Mary Holland) For some reason, trees don’t naturally come to mind when we think…
It’s Only Natural: What red and gray squirrels do for food
Thousands of gray squirrels have been seen migrating together over land and water. (Photos by Mary Holland) Red squirrels and gray squirrels are no…
It’s Only Natural: Biomimicry—Taking inspiration from nature
The way in which fine hooks on the tips of the individual common burdock seed casings easily catch on the fur of passing animals…
It’s Only Natural: Not every pine cone is a pine cone
American larch or tamarack: Unlike most conifers, the American larch, or tamarack, is deciduous. Every fall its needles turn a golden yellow before falling…
It’s Only Natural: Some plants have a lot of gall
Cedar apple gall: The majority of galls are caused by insects, but fungi are responsible for some, including the cedar-apple gall. Fungi permeate cedar…
It’s Only Natural: The star nose … not your average mole
The star-nosed mole is a semi-aquatic animal that prefers swamps and wet fields as its habitat. (Photos by Mary Holland) Streamlined body, strong, wide…
It’s Only Natural: ‘Tigers’ that live on bug juice
Two twelve-spotted tiger beetles. (Photo by Mary Holland) Picture a predatory creature with huge, bulging eyes and large, three-toothed mandibles—a creature that, if the…
