Follow the Trail with Bill Reid,
The Last Green Valley's Chief Ranger

What do three types of mayfly, four types of stonefly and five types of caddisfly have in common? Each of these micro-invertebrates begins their life in water. Each of these species is also sensitive to water pollution, and therefore serve as an indicator of the…

“The world’s favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May.“ Edwin Way Teale It seems as if a switch turned on, or perhaps it was due to the night of soft rain, but the morning of April 14 I remarked to my…

Bird nesting season has arrived. Migratory birds have returned and, along with our year-round birds, are actively seeking nesting territories, attracting mates, building nests, laying eggs and rearing young. Every bird builds a nest characteristic of its species. Bald eagle nests are built of large…

Too often, we don’t recognize the treasures in our own backyards. Living in The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor means there is a rich array of both natural and cultural resources within reach. When thinking of a museum to visit, we often go to…

I spent March 23 at Wesleyan University in Middletown with more than 550 other people for the Connecticut Land Conservation Council’s annual conference. Gathered at the conference for training and workshops on the myriad issues facing conservationists were landowners, students, educators, municipal commission members, land…

“On this chill uncertain spring morning, towards twilight, I have heard the first frog quaver from the marsh. It always seems to me that no sooner do I hear the first frog trill that I find the first cloud of frog’s eggs in a wayside…

“The truth of the matter is, the birds could very well live without us, but many – perhaps all – of us would find life incomplete, indeed almost intolerable without the birds.” – Roger Tory Peterson Last week, a reader called me looking for suggestions…

“There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” — Rachael Carson, “The Sense of Wonder” Winter waited until March 4 – more than 60 days after the winter solstice –…

Old Furnace State Park in Danielson is only 12 miles from my house, so we frequently visit on those spur-of-the-moment mornings when someone says, “hey let’s go for a hike somewhere.” Winter is a great time of year to hike in our state forests and…