Spring May 6th 2019

Finally, it may be close to Spring.

Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!

Sitting Bull

 

From June 18, 2018 WATCH HERE

 

 

 

 

 

Dreams of Summer

“Spring flew swiftly by, and summer came; and if the village had been beautiful at first, it was now in the full glow and luxuriance of its richness. The great trees, which had looked shrunken and bare in the earlier months, had now burst into strong life and health; and stretching forth their green arms over the thirsty ground, converted open and naked spots into choice nooks, where was a deep and pleasant shade from which to look upon the wide prospect, steeped in sunshine, which lay stretched out beyond. The earth had donned her mantle of brightest green; and shed her richest perfumes abroad. It was the prime and vigour of the year; all things were glad and flourishing.”

—Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist

First Fish

My grandson’s first fish, Watson’s Pond, Taunton, MA. Around 1999.  A fishing trip is much more than just going to catch fish. It teaches a child about patience, makes them aware of the sights and sounds of the outdoors, and provides a great sense of accomplishment from baiting a hook to catching that first fish. We all need to take the time to bring our children outside and teach them about taking ownership in caring for the natural environment.

1963, I was 8 years old, what a grand time.  I believe my father knew he had only a brief opportunity to introduce me to the love of nature.  Living only 100 meters from a beautiful river in the Taunton area, gave me the exposure that would last without end and make his task unproblematic.  I crawled through mud and swamps while looking for any kind of creatures by the river banks.   I constantly pressured my dad to take me fishing, spring, summer or fall. He would  provide me a time that would commence the adventure. I stayed in a chair and relentlessly glanced at the clock on the wall and when the hands were just right on the face, I was at the door , geared up to go. We grew vegetables, I dug holes for imaginary canals in his garden climbed great trees and hiked. Watched turtles within feet of our back door laying their eggs.  I was guilty of sneaking out on my own many a time unsupervised. I remember one day in the middle of winter, snow fell heavy and the wind was rattling the old windows, I saw a hare, what today i believe was a Snowshoe Hare.  Barefoot, out the door before my grandmother could stop me.

64 years old now, and still the love of nature exists in my soul.

There’s no better way to have fun together as a family than fishing together or just spending time outdoors. Make it a point to take your kid exploring.

 

 

Wareham Street, Middleboro MA, Herring Run

The Incredible Journey Continues, right down the street from you.

 

Nemasket River, Oliver, 4/9/2019

Nemasket River, Oiiver Mill, 3/30/2019

Wareham Street, Middleboro MA, Herring Run

March 25, 2019

March 25th Oliver Mill Park Herring Run

Past Videos Here

“Humans are natural born scientists. When we’re born, we want to know why the stars shine. We want to know why the sun rises.” — Michio Kaku

 

“The beauty of a living thing is not the atoms that go into it, but the way those atoms are put together.” ― Carl Sagan

Downy or Hairy Woodpecker

Downy and HairyWoodpecker. I would say, Downy.

Look for a key difference in bill size. This is the easiest way to tell the two species apart.

  • The Hairy Woodpecker’s bill is long and chisel-like, and almost the same length as its head.
  • In contrast, the Downy’s bill is short and dainty, roughly 1/3 the length of the bird’s head.
  • If this is difficult to gauge, a good trick is to imagine turning each bird’s bill around, so that it points toward the back of the bird’s head. How far across the head does it appear to extend? If it is the length of the head, you are looking at a Hairy Woodpecker.

 

 

Raptor Fan Michael Panarelli

 

Michael J. Panarelli, 71, of Dighton, MA has been a longtime fan of raptors and other birds. So much so, in fact, that in his retirement he has built specialty roosting and nesting bird houses for local birds. Mike has worked closely with local Audubon organizations to make sure that his bird houses aren’t simply beautiful: every measurement, material, and addition to the houses is created with the bird in mind.

Mike learned of the Lloyd Center’s resident rehabilitated screech owl, Koko, through his good friend and author of “Owlet Rescue…” Cheryl Aguiar. Upon learning of our pint-sized animal ambassador, he decided to create and donate one of his bird houses to Koko. The house he built is a beauty! It is made using all non-toxic materials, built using native white pine, and the roof is shingled with real cedar. The exterior is sealed and there are venting slots in the upper portion to prevent heat buildup and drain holes in the floor. Most appreciated by Koko’s caretakers are the pivoting side panels that open for easy and thorough cleaning. Finally, Mike inscribed Koko’s name on the front of her house!

On Friday, September 8th, Mike brought his gift to Koko. Alongside Lloyd Center Educator Erika Fernandes, he was able to meet Koko up-close and personal. Koko was calm and happy; she was in a particularly amazing mood during the meeting—it’s as if she knew! The happy feeling was mutual. About the meeting, Mike claims, “Truly, what a thrill. Words can’t express how exciting and enjoyable this is for me. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience”. Lloyd Center Educator / Outreach Specialist, Ashley Gesner, also presented our stunning red-shouldered hawk, “Hawk”, to Mike. Witnessing Hawk’s powerful presence, Mike shook his head. “You don’t get many days like this one”.

The Lloyd Center, Koko, and her caretakers, are incredibly thankful for Mike’s kindness and generosity. His well-made and thoughtful gift is built to last and will benefit Koko for years to come. We—and our little owl— look forward to seeing Mike again this upcoming Saturday for our Koko and Friends: Animal Encounters Event. Join us on Saturday, September 23rd, to see Koko and her amazing new roosting house!

Visit Mike’s Shop Here

New Digs

Master of Disguise