An introduction to the Naturally series. 

  Sara King.

The Todd Bird Club completes its 30th year of Christmas bird counts, including 75 species and 6,991 individual birds.  Margaret Higbee.

Tulip poplars are one of the most majestic trees in Pennsylvania and in White's Woods and have a long and interesting history. Dana Driscoll.

There is much to learn from and about the raptors who live nearby.  Anthony Frazier.

As days begin to lengthen and thoughts turn to spring, one of the earliest signs of the forest reawakening are the sights and sounds around vernal pools.  Greg Podniesinski

The northern spicebush (lindera benzoin), a small understory tree or large shrub that is bountiful and native in our region.          Dana Driscoll

There are so many you can actually hear them sounding like the rustling of leaves. It was an incredible experience being surrounded by thousands of monarch butterflies. The whole migration sequence is absolutely mind boggling. The butterflies weigh less than a gram and they fly more than 3,000 miles each year.  Cindy Rogers

Sassafras (sassafras albidum) is a whimsical understory tree that is common all along the Appalachian Mountains. Sassafras trees are abundant in Indiana County, including throughout White’s Woods.  Dana Driscoll

R In early December, a group from Todd Bird Club had an opportunity to travel to southern Indiana County to watch the banding of a rufous hummingbird that was visiting a feeder.                                           Carol Guba

Native to Japan and eastern Asia, Japanese barberry is now widespread in the United States and is considered invasive in our ecosystem throughout the Eastern Seaboard.   Dana Driscoll

The presence of seal salamanders in White's Woods is a strong indicator of the ecosystem there.

                                             Ed Patterson

It is the quiet of the woods that allows one to listen to the forest.             Sara King

Beautiful specimens of northern red oak, white oak, black oak, and chestnut oak are found in White’s Woods.Some oaks live as long as 600 years and are important to the health of forest ecosystems in a variety of ways, including providing food for animals and humans.   Dana Driscoll                                   

Polllinators, animals whose work supports the production of much of our food and support of our ecosystem, feed on the nectar produced by flowers and carry the pollen to other plants of the same species, enabling them to set seed and produce fruit.  Sara Steelman

Ramps, which can be found in White’s Woods, are also called wild onions, wild garlic or wild leeks. In France, they call it “bear garlic” because it is one of the first greens bears feast on to help them emerge from their winter lethargy.  Marie Olson

Studies show that time spent outdoors can substantially improve one’s physical and mental health. Spending time in places like White’s Woods can be so beneficial to us. Here is one technique to enhace your enjoyment in outdoor places like White’s Woods.  Dana Driscoll

Turtles, an ancient species first appearing more than 200 million years ago, face ever-increasing challenges of survival in the modern world. Encountering a wood turtle is now an “out of the ordinary” experience.   Ed Patterson

Walking in White’s Woods along many paths you can find copious amounts of garlic mustard (alliaria petiolate). Garlic mustard is an herb native to Europe, but, unfortunately, it has spread here and now can cause ecological disruptions.The good news is that it is a very delicious and abundant wild edible.

I work for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources at Yellow Creek State Park as an environmental education specialist. My job is to develop and lead outdoor recreation and environmental education programs for the public, schools, private groups and other organizations.

   The mudpuppy is a salamander that is aquatic its entire life with a slender brown-to-gray body and irregular spots and feathery gills protruding behind its neck. Although they are large for a salamander, reaching up to 14 inches in Pennsylvania, their secretive nature and aquatic habitat have limited our knowledge of them.Ed Patterson, Director, Indiana County Parks.

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American chestnut (Castanea dentata) once dominated nearly 200 million acres of land in the eastern Appalachian forests of the United States.

The work to restore the American Chestnut to our forests started in the mid-1900s, but initially had little success. Currently under investigation are three strategies that are showing progress.

Mike Tyree and Peyton Vashie Eckard