Scott Reed grew up in Rochester, NY. He lived in Hinesburg, VT for twenty-one years until he moved with his wife Penelope to the Fairview area. He has two children, Taylor age 27 and Alice who is 24. He also has two dogs and an african gray parrot. Scott spends a lot of time outdoors hiking and bird watching. Every September he makes the drive with his wife to spend a few hours at the vertical bog on the BRP.
by Linda Martinson Blue Ridge Naturalist
The month of September is a transition from summer to fall, from long days and leisurely evenings to the fall equinox and then shorter days and longer nights. And there are other corresponding natural changes in September, for example in leaf colors and in insect, bird and mammal behavior. The katydids and other night-singing insects are increasingly muted, and the hummingbirds are getting ready for their long migration to somewhere far far away. I’ve increased the proportion of sugar to water in our feeder to help the little guys pack on some weight (about 25-40% more) for their trip. The bears are also packing on weight in preparation for their hibernation in the winter, and there are plenty of acorns for them this year. The goldenrods and asters in the field by the river are glorious this year, and it’s been a good season for Monarch butterflies there, too.
Read morePhotos by Randy Richardson
On Wednesday October 9th, nine hardy hikers met at Clingman’s Dome for our 2019 high altitude hike. Many thanks to Ed Kelley, who stepped in for Ken Czarnomski at the last minute to lead the hike. We began with a climb to the Clingman’s Dome observation tower for a 360 degree view of the surrounding area, helped by recent rains that had minimized the usual haze that gives the Smokies their name. From there we followed the ridge line to the west along the Appalachian Trail. Descending 1200 feet over the next three miles, we were rewarded with distant views in some places, and a moss covered fairy forest in others. At one point Ed heard some familiar bird calls and pished to bring in the Ruby Crowned Kinglets. While they remained elusive, we were rewarded with a close-up view of three Red-Breasted Nuthatches, a bird that nests at high elevations in our area.
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