Today’s edition of Nature Zen will be short and sweet, as our staff prepares for #GivingTuesdayNow, coming up next week on May 5. This annual day of giving usually falls on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, but organizers have added a second call for donations this
words and photos by Melissa McMasters, Conservancy Director of Communications I’ve been thinking a lot lately about emergence. When we’re all able to come outside of our homes again, how will we have changed? It seems certain that our concept of safety and security will
words and photos by Fields Falcone, Overton Park Conservancy Visitor Services Coordinator When you enter the Old Forest, what senses are first engaged? Where in space do you focus? Admittedly and immediately I fall into a lifelong visceral habit of focusing upward with my ears
Words and photos by Melissa McMasters If there’s one question I’m asked most often as a birder, it’s “What’s that bird that sings [distinct whistling song]?” The answer–the singer of the melody often translated as “Oh, sweet Canada Canada“–is the white-throated sparrow. (Listen to it here. To my ears,
Words and photos by Melissa McMasters April greetings, park friends! We know that many of you won’t be visiting the park as much as you’d like this spring, so we’ll continue to bring it to you. It’s peak wildflower season in the Old Forest, which means
Words and photos by Melissa McMasters, Director of Communications As winter turns to spring, we’ll soon see an influx of migratory birds. But for now, let’s spotlight some of the stars of the winter forest: the woodpeckers!Seven species of woodpeckers are regulars in the Old
Words + Photos by Melissa McMasters, Director of Communications Something I try to practice every year at this time is looking more closely. In a few weeks, when spring bird migration is in full swing, I’ll be distracted by explosive song and flashes of yellow
words and photos by Melissa McMasters A huge part of Overton Park Conservancy’s mission is connecting the people of Memphis, so it’s hard to accept that one of the kindest things we can do for each other–particularly for the most vulnerable among us–is to keep
Now that Bucks for Birds is over, I wanted to share my favorite photo of each species that I captured over the past few weeks. In many cases, my favorite photo was not the one I initially posted (thanks for coming through, summer tanager!). I’ve
It’s time for the final set of birds in our April Bucks for Birds promotion, and we saved our most fascinating visitors for last. Over the past couple of weeks, I spotted nine different warblers, which brings our final tally to 54 species photographed in
