Blog

I frequently see a small flock of Western Bluebirds at the Arboretum. When the mistletoe berries are ripe, I see them in the oak trees around the parking lot.

This week’s subject is a teeny beetle with skimpy biographical information. It’s hardy enough to survive winter as an adult, and has features that can fake out an expert. 

A familiar sound at the arboretum is the rustle of leaves from Spotted Towhees foraging. They hop backward with both feet to sweep away the leaf litter in search of food. Their diet consists of insects, spiders, seeds, acorns, and berries.

Recently, I have been fortunate to observe a muskrat out in the lily pond area.

Water striders live on the surface of the water, as if it were solid ground. They perform some other magic tricks too.