Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

  • Fate of A Hornet

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  • Butterflies

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  • Wee Snapper

    Most of the turtles in Brooklyn are refugees from the pet industry. It’s actually illegal to sell them if they have smaller than 4″ carapaces, but we’ve all seen sidewalk hustlers selling tiny ones. (In Boston, I met a turtle who was given away as a wedding reception gift; every table got some.) This is…

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  • Raptor Wednesday

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  • Taking a Bite Out of the Little Apple

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  • Mammal Monday

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  • FroBee

    What’s in your Igloo? A sandwich? Beer? Body parts? Well, sure, you’re a doctor….. Well, as it happens: I had frozen invasive bees in mine. A researcher at the University of Ghent got in touch with me via iNaturalist and asked if I would collect Sculptured Resin Bees (Megachile sculpuralis) and European Wool-carder Bees (Anthidium…

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  • Dog-day Afternoon Cicada Delight

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  • Odonata Update

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  • Eumenes mediterraneus

    This potter wasp is a recent introduction to the NYC region. (You may remember that I helped in confirming the identification). Is it benign, is it invasive? Probably too soon to tell. I’ve generally seen them gathering nectar, but like other wasps they’re carnivores, too. This one had a caterpillar of some kind.

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