by Kevin Shank | Aug 1, 2026 | 2026, 08 August, Articles & Stories, Hawks, Eagles, & Kites, Snakes
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Such noise! The birds were fussing, scolding, screaming, and downright hollering at the top of their little lungs, if birds holler. So much energy, so much racket.“There must be a snake,” I said to Bethany. We slipped down...
by Kevin Shank | Aug 1, 2026 | 2026, 08 August, Acrostic, Matching, Moon, Planets, Puzzles, Study Guide, Wildflowers
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Creative Commons licenses used: CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC-BY-SA 4.0.
by Kevin Shank | Aug 1, 2026 | 2026, 08 August, Articles & Stories, Gardening, Nature-Friendly Gardening, Wildflowers
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Birdsong Pleasure Garden. Photo © Kevin Shank. The hummingbird clearwing moth would hardly stay still long enough for a photo. Darting left, zipping right, zooming up, swooping down—he was always in a hurry looking for the...
by Kevin Shank | Aug 1, 2026 | 2026, 08 August, Camp & Cabin Cookin'
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by Kevin Shank | Aug 1, 2026 | 2026, 08 August, Articles & Stories, Hawks, Eagles, & Kites
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive You have likely learned, by now, that a “student” Red-shouldered Hawk has kept me entertained as I prepared this issue. While I’ve heard three birds calling at once, I normally don’t see more than one at a time. He perches...
by Kevin Shank | Aug 1, 2026 | 2026, 08 August, Focus Illustrated
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive This is a water drop splash I captured in front of a sunflower. It illustrates the July 2026 Photo Focus lesson titled, “Capture the Splash,” by Anna Mast. Photo © Daniel Escbach.
by Kevin Shank | Aug 1, 2026 | 2026, 08 August, Butterflies, Moths & Skippers, Favorite Focus, Plants & Fungi, Rockets
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Last month we published this photo of a rocket fuel dump, and yesterday Esther Solum called to ask what the details were behind it. I thought it was a good question, and one that I would answer here so everyone can know.The...
by Kevin Shank | Jul 1, 2026 | 2026, 07 July, Caption This, Ungulates
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive “Dentures? Yes, they might help.”Photo © Darren Bennett|iStockphoto.com. We invite you to submit your caption for this photograph of an elk bugling. The photograph will be used on the back of the November issue,...
by Kevin Shank | Jul 1, 2026 | 2026, 07 July, Articles & Stories, The Birders' Trail, Warblers
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Swainson’s Warbler singing from a branch. Photo © epantha|iStockphoto.com. What was Cheryl telling Bethany? We were at a family reunion in Kentucky, and Cheryl was reporting a “find”—a life bird for her.I followed them...
by Kevin Shank | Jul 1, 2026 | 2026, 07 July, Butterflies, Moths & Skippers, Carnivores, Hummingbirds, Pictures and Poems, Warblers
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by Kevin Shank | Jul 1, 2026 | 2026, 07 July, Bees, Creation Close-ups, Reptiles & Amphibians, Turtles, Warblers
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Snapping turtle. Photo © Hannah Zaha. Prairie Warbler. Photo © Japheth Yoder. Honeybee swarm. Photo © Abigail Werner.
by Kevin Shank | Jul 1, 2026 | 2026, 07 July, Fish, Saltwater, You Can Draw Submissions
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by Kevin Shank | Jul 1, 2026 | 2026, 07 July, Articles & Stories, Astronomy, In Our Skies, Lunar Eclipse, Meteors, Planets, Solar Eclipse
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive July 28, 29 Delta Aquarids meteor shower. The show runs for over a month, from July 12 to August 23. This year it peaks the morning of July 29. However, the full moon will majorly impact the number of meteors that will be...
by Kevin Shank | Jul 1, 2026 | 2026, 07 July, Acrostic, Crossword, Fill-In-The-Blanks, Study Guide, True and False, Turtles
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by Kevin Shank | Jul 1, 2026 | 2026, 07 July, Articles & Stories, Camp & Cabin Cookin'
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by Kevin Shank | Jul 1, 2026 | 2026, 07 July, Astronomy, Blackbirds, Orioles, Meadowlarks, Favorite Focus, Storms
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Lightning bolts. Photo © Jeremy Beachy. Rocket fuel dump. Photo © Jeremy Beachy. Baltimore Oriole in cedar tree. Photo © Melissa Booz.
by Kevin Shank | Jun 1, 2026 | 2026, 06 June, Creation Close-ups, Gamebirds, Pictures and Poems, Thrushes, Warblers
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by Kevin Shank | Jun 1, 2026 | 2026, 06 June, Articles & Stories, Learning By Doing
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Nature Arts and Crafts 2026 Submission Handcrafted natural checkerboard. Photo © Benjamin Martin. For the checkerboard, I started by cutting 2” strips of walnut and curly maple. Then I glued them side by side.Next, I ripped...
by Kevin Shank | Jun 1, 2026 | 2026, 06 June, Wrens, You Can Draw Submissions
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by Kevin Shank | Jun 1, 2026 | 2026, 06 June, Camp & Cabin Cookin'
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by Kevin Shank | Jun 1, 2026 | 2026, 06 June, Articles & Stories, Bats, The Photo Focus
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive The ladder rattled under my weight as I made my way up to the eaves of an old farmhouse, camera in tow. I had already positioned a C-clamp on the ladder about 20 feet (6 m) above the ground, 3 feet (1 m) away from “the hole”...
by Kevin Shank | Jun 1, 2026 | 2026, 06 June, Favorite Focus, Herons, Egrets, & Bitterns, Rodents
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Skyscape. Photo © Daniel Kublitskiy. Great Egret. Photo © Colette Park. Eastern chipmunk. Photo © Serena Nolt.
by Kevin Shank | May 1, 2026 | 2026, 05 May, Gamebirds, Pictures and Poems, Shorebirds, Waterfowl - Geese, Swans, Ducks, Loons, Grebes
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by Kevin Shank | May 1, 2026 | 2026, 05 May, Beetles, Blackbirds, Orioles, Meadowlarks, Butterflies, Moths & Skippers, Cardinals, Tanagers, & Allies, Creation Close-ups
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive A Ugandan beetle. Photo © Estella See. Eastern Meadowlark. Photo © Japheth Yoder. This was the first sighting of a Scarlet Tanager for most in our family. Photo © Brian Stauffer. Great spangled fritillary. Photo © Janette...
by Kevin Shank | May 1, 2026 | 2026, 05 May, Fish, Saltwater, You Can Draw Submissions
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by Kevin Shank | May 1, 2026 | 2026, 05 May, Caption This, Rodents
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive “Last time anyone is pulling my wisdom teeth!” Photo © Michael Gollop/iStockPhoto.com. We invite you to submit your caption for this photograph of a chipmunk. The photograph will be used on the back of the...
by Kevin Shank | May 1, 2026 | 2026, 05 May, Articles & Stories, Astronomy, In Our Skies, Meteors, Moon
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive The night of May 5-6 is the Eta Aquarid meteor shower. The peak will be in the early morning hours of May 6, though the moon will be quite bright and will interfere with viewing. May 31 the moon will be full for the second...
by Kevin Shank | May 1, 2026 | 2026, 05 May, Crustaceans & Mollusks, Exploring Nature, Fish, Gamebirds, Ungulates, Waterfowl - Geese, Swans, Ducks, Loons, Grebes
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Largemouth bass spawn when the water reaches 55°F-65°F (13°C-18°C). Smallmouth bass spawn when the water temperature reaches the low 60s (~17°C). Grouse eggs are hatching. Spring caribou migration is underway. Crayfish...
by Kevin Shank | May 1, 2026 | 2026, 05 May, Acrostic, Crossword, Fill-In-The-Blanks, Owls, Study Guide, True and False
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by Kevin Shank | May 1, 2026 | 2026, 05 May, Astronomy, Comets, Favorite Focus, Moon
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive The Moon, taken from Earth at Nature Friend. Photo © Adrian Shank. Comet PanSTARRS C/2025 R3. Photo © Kevin Shank.April 8, this comet became faintly visible to the unaided eye. It was low on the eastern horizon shortly...
