Native Plants Fuel the Hummingbird Highway

North Central Washington is on the map for migrating neotropical Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned hummingbirds, as they fly thousands of miles from their wintering habitats in the mountains of Western Mexico northward, as far north as southern Alaska. During migration they fly during the day, and use early mornings and late evenings to fuel up on nectar, insects, and sugar water in feeders. Abundant nectar-producing flowers on early-blooming native shrubs like Serviceberry and Currents offer critical calories that fuel long-distant flight. Continue Reading →

Look Up! Birds and Other Natural Wonders Just Outside Your Window

“Look Up! Birds and Other Natural Wonders Just Outside Your Window” is a collection of essays about the joys of establishing a personal practice of ‘looking up’. Woody offers simple advice on how to get started and tells stories of the marvelous things we can encounter when we take the time to genuinely see that which is around us. Continue Reading →

Curious About … Blooming Balsamroot?

Arrowleaf balsamroot is a long-lived perennial wildflower that blooms in the shrub-steppe. Many animals and insects use it for food and it is adapted to re-grown after wildfire. Continue Reading →

Consider Becoming a Wenatchee Naturalist!

If you are looking for a way to deepen your connection to both the natural and human aspects of our collective home, consider becoming a Wenatchee Naturalist!  Registration opens in mid-August for the next 50-hour in person Wenatchee Naturalist in-person course offered by Wenatchee Valley College (WVC) Continuing Education, Sept. 21-Dec. 14, 2022. Continue Reading →

Curious About … Arriving Turkey Vultures?

Turkey vultures are arriving to North Central Washington from wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. Look for groups roosting in tall black cottonwood trees. Continue Reading →

Ideas for Beating the Heat

The extreme heat forecast for the coming week might provide an opportunity to stay inside and do some armchair natural history adventuring. This is National Pollinator Week , so you might want to learn a bit about our Pacific Northwest pollinators. Continue Reading →