Wildlife & Ecology
Roadkill lesson’s – Signs O’ the Times
Remarkable numbers of porcupine roadkill, giant piles of porcupine quills, and sure signs of disturbance all lead MCHT steward and Nature Bum Kirk Gentalen to believe something peculiar was going on. Because of his impressive tracking skills and with help from his handy game camera, Kirk was able to solve this mystery!
Summer at the Wells Reserve: An Office in the Marsh and Forest
Each week, donned with work gloves, mosquito nets, and layers to prevent the brush from scratching us, we uprooted many invasive plants.
A whisker of shrewlets
When MCHT steward and nature bum Kirk Gentalen stumbled upon a whisker of shrews (as they say), he was in for a treat! These youngsters were far too busy feeding and playing to pay Kirk any attention.
May isn’t just for migration anymore!
May is a great time for migrating songbirds, making it Kirk’s favorite month of the year. But as we know Kirk loves to learn and he’s learned May can be filled with so much more.
Parasites are selfish, and so am I
For a nature bum like Kirk Gentalen, deciding what to write about can sometimes be challenging. Kirk sees cool things every day and there’s so much to choose from! In the latest Nature Bummin’ article, Kirks explores something that’s been hidden in plain sight!
Blood in the Tracks
The mother Fisher delivers a litter with one to six (average two – three) youngsters called “Kits”, born blind, helpless, and are partially covered with fine hair.
Mornings Are For Otters
When is the best time to see an otter? Nature Bum, Kirk Gentalen gets this question a lot and has thought long and hard about when and where you’re most likely to find an otter. Read on to learn more!
The Curious Case of the Red Crossbill
Did you know it was the summer of the Red Crossbills? Well neither did most people, but MCHT Nature Bum Kirk Gentalen was well aware and eager to spread the word.
5 Blissful Days & a Big “Take Back!”
If you read Kirk’s Nature Bummin’ column “Favorite Tree – The Trail, The Blood, and The Fisher” you know his favorite tree is a Big-tooth Aspen. Well… at least it was. Since then, Kirk has learned quite a lot and it’s changed things for him… as far as favorite trees go.
I Miss Dendroica…
After Nature Bum Kirk Gentalen’s favorite genus of warbler becomes absorbed by another genus, he begins to ponder the idea of change and how “we” (the royal “we”) adapt to it.
A Calendar of My Own
If you live in Maine (or New England for that matter) you’ve probably experienced the turbulent transition from winter to spring. MCHT steward Kirk Gentalen has a solution and it involves using a calendar of his own creation.
Friendly Neighborhood Thissells
“Neighborhood.” When you think about your neighborhood, you might be thinking about the people that live down the street or across the road. For Nature Bum, Kirk Gentalen, the word “neighborhood” extends beyond people. But, every once in a while, Kirk finds himself enjoying time with his human-neighbors. And even considers them friends!
You Had Me at Snow Fleas…
A story about love… Kirk’s love for tracking and snow fleas specifically.
Ice Is My Happy Place
Most ice skaters don’t quite understand why Kirk Gentalen spends so much time on the ice and so little in ice skates. But to Kirk, the magic of a frozen marsh goes beyond ice skating. The magic lies in the stories a frozen world can tell and the wildlife that lives in it!
Gift of Hope
Essay by Rebecca Rockefeller Lambert, part of the Voices from the Coast project to celebrate peoples’ deep connection to the Maine coast and MCHT’s 50 years of land conservation.
The Friends of Oophila Amblystomatis
In his ongoing salamander egg studies, MCHT land steward Kirk Gentalen learns about the super special algae that turns salamander eggs green.