Highways of Silk
John Weeks talks about Tent Caterpillars and their effect on apple and cherry trees. Weeks explains how these insects, usual thought of as pests, serve a necessary role in the ecosystem. In fact, the...
View ArticleThe Melting Pot of Nature
John Weeks discusses the many unique and beautiful local plants that are not native to U.S. soil. Weeks explains the multitude of ways these plants arrived in the Americas. Some came to be used for...
View ArticlePowerline Bird Watching
John Weeks explains that keeping an eye out for birds while driving can be both relaxing and informative. The power lines bordering highways provide an abundance of opportunities to sight beautiful...
View ArticleWhen a Rail... It's Dry
Inspired by the sight of a rail bird, John Weeks discusses local marshes. These "pea soup pastures" are growing drier and drier, destroying their complex and diverse life cycle. However, when the...
View ArticleOn Hayfields... Past, Present and Future
John Weeks reflects on how hayfields have changed since his youth on the family farm. While the technology of haying has evolved dramatically, hayfields still serve as a home for a wide variety of...
View ArticleFinding Beauty in Abandoned Fields
John Weeks describes how the open fields and roadside ditches of Central New York can be a beautiful sight in early July. A vast array of colorful flowers blooms in these usually ignored spaces. Weeks...
View ArticleThe Screech Owl: A Bird That Insists On It's Rights
John Weeks discusses the appearance of young Screech Owls. Normally hatching in early June, by Independence Day these fuzzy small owls begin venturing out of the nest. Weeks explains the interesting...
View ArticleThe Red Fox
John Weeks dispels the myths surrounding foxes. These small mammals are not nearly as sly or cruel as Aesop's Fables would lead you to believe. Weeks discusses the curiosity and beauty of foxes. Not...
View ArticleSuper Flowers
From the Rice Creek Field Station, John Weeks contemplates the bright flowers that speckle summer grass. Many of the flowers reveal beautiful, subtle details upon closer inspection. Weeks describes the...
View ArticleReminiscing About Gardens
John Weeks discusses his mediocre gardening ability and the grief it often causes him. Still, Weeks continues to garden every year. Why? Weeks claims it's because of his fond memories of gardening and...
View ArticleNature's Viewpoints on Drought
While we like to assign value to weather conditions, such as considering a drought being bad, John Weeks explains that in nature extreme weather is simply part of a cycle. He discusses how it is the...
View ArticleRevisiting My Past and Finding Something Rare
John Weeks reminisces on his early life in the countryside of central New York. Since childhood, Weeks has studied nature. He recounts the plants and wildlife that left a lasting impression on him...
View ArticleThe Great Lakes Week
John Weeks discusses the events of the 1984 Great Lakes Week. This festival included Native American storytelling, water sports, film screenings and concerts.WeeksThis essay describes the activities...
View ArticleWhat Autumn Contributes to My Enjoyment Of Winter
As the equinox approaches, Weeks explains the rules of winter ecology and the basic rules of supply and demand as they apply to the critters gathering food in preparation for the winter months. He also...
View ArticleSounds That Are Fading Away
John Weeks recounts the delicate choral movements that can be heard when listening to, what he calls, a "symphony" of bird sounds. He urges us to seek out the dawn and dusk choruses while they still...
View ArticleFall Colors & Emotions
John Weeks discusses the phenomenon of early autumnal coloration and the importance of color when it comes to communicating about nature. He also talks about the emotions that certain colors evoke,...
View ArticleRecycling
John Weeks discusses the early days of Onondaga County's recycling program. He also talks about the shortfalls of the recycling program from an environmental standpoint and urges listeners to tighten...
View ArticleMysteries of Sight Sound and Other Senses
From birds using celestial navigation, to salmon using chemical sensors to "smell" their way home, John Weeks discusses the migration phenomenon of various species. Weeks notes that many migration...
View ArticleMallard Duck, Waterfowl Commoner
Weeks discusses watching wetland wildlife as a younger man and his growing interest in waterfowl. He talks in depth about the mallard and the interbreeding between the mallard and the black duck.
View ArticleEcology, Conservation and People's Minds
John Weeks discusses influential figures from his past and shares some excerpts from a book written by one such man, Aldo Leopold. Weeks relays some strategies to "preserve the sanity of our wild...
View Article
