Page 6 - Thom Smith News Today

Q I just listened to a podcast about poison ivy and learned that Massachusetts has a five-leaf variety. Who knew?! Because I live near the state forest, I went to

There are exceptions to all birds being equal in my book. And one of them is the lazy brown-headed cowbird female, who neither makes a nest nor raises her young.

NatureWatch columnist Thom Smith explains why chipping sparrows were once called “a hair-bird."

  "He gave so much for so long, we just cant overlook that part of his contribution to our community," Executive Director Jeff Rodgers said, who referred to Chuck as an "ambassador" for the local museum.   "I cant imagine how many peoples lives were touched by their interactions with Chuck and hopefully it helps them to pursue their connection with the natural world in new and better ways."   Visiting Chuck was a favorite activity for visitors of all ages. He was an integral part of th...

A young visitor watches the red-footed tortoises at the Berkshire Museum in 2015. Chuck is the largest of the three. EAGLE FILE PHOTO PITTSFIELD — He loved to munch on dandelions and bananas, liked to frolic on the front lawn of the Berkshire Museum, and even let staffers wax his shell. His name was Chuck, an elderly red-legged tortoise who arrived at the Berkshire Museum 35 years ago and never left. A fixture at children’s birthday parties since 1986, ...

Spring has sprung! That’s what the calendar says, and if the forecast I am reading today as I write is correct, it will truly feel like it has sprung. With the arrival of spring and warm weather, there is a temptation to immediately jump into gardens and start digging. However, that could create a problem if soils are still quite wet. Even if not digging or tilling, just walking on wet soil can disrupt its structure due to compaction. The same also applies to stomping around on moisture-sa...

My wife, Susan, has always been a cat lover; that’s not to say she hasn’t adapted quickly to each dog that has come to live with us, and soon accepted them as family members. Susan has long wanted to add a feline to our family; our assorted dogs would not have appreciated one in “their” dominion. And since our dog of 15 years passed away last month, even I have given thought to the feasible addition of a kitten in our home. I do worry about having an outdoor cat, though. The...

If youre getting out to enjoy this warm weather, columnist Thom Smith wants to remind you that any day above 35 degrees is tick weather.

My favorite new March quotation is by Clarence Fanto in the March 1 edition of The Berkshire Eagle, "Around here, at least until May, spring is more of an aspiration than a reality — a guest who pops in for a day or two, then beats a hasty retreat as winter refuses to hit the exits." It is mud time for friends living along gravel roads — and potholes for the rest of us. Soon, it once again will be time to get out the rake, although, its work will be far less than the other side of win...

Q: "Im emailing you because I just finished reading the piece you did with The Berkshire Eagle about black vultures last April. I was researching black vultures in Massachusetts because I saw one yesterday in the backyard in Deerfield! I was able to grab a couple videos. No one seems to be as excited as I am about it, so I figured you might be. I was out with my chickens and though I know they prefer carrion, they can still find prey. I was in awe, they are so beautiful. I can see why they beca...