Wild Watch
The green heart of Tokyo
Feb 20, 2011 An unexpected whickering whistle had me mystified. I circled, trying to pinpoint the direction it was coming from, and puzzled over its origin. ...
A dream comes true with the blues
Jan 16, 2011 My last great wildlife adventure of 2010 began in darkness to the sound of waves crashing on an idyllic beach. ...
Singing the praise of the silent majority
Oct 17, 2010 It is a peaceful autumn day here in Hokkaido; a Black-eared Kite banking, wheeling and gliding effortlessly on outspread wings just outside my workroom window tempts me out for a walk in Nopporo Forest near where I live. There, I stroll among trees that now seem somewhat threadbare; the extreme density of summer foliage has begun to thin. The trail...
Taking up residence uninvited
Sep 19, 2010 Alien species can wreak havoc on complex natural habitats in most unexpected ways....
Relics of Ice Age Japan
Aug 15, 2010 Scrambling across hillsides may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but we naturalists are determined folk and take such activities in our stride when exploring our environment. ...
Bathing in northern 'megaherbs'
Jul 18, 2010 Botanical giants are not solely found in the subantarctic zone the way some claim, as eye-opening trips have lately made clear....
Flying high with alluring aosagi
Jun 20, 2010 Grey herons stalk their prey with patience, and taking time to observe their ways pays off, too....
Antics of 'shadow tail' lead the great spring show
May 16, 2010 The summer birds are here! They arrive travel-weary yet eager — telling, in their courtship songs, tales of months spent in insect-filled forests far to the south, remembering the lazy droning of sweat bees, the buzz and saw of cicadas, the whine of mosquitoes, the flashing colors of tropical butterflies and the dripping humidity of Malaysia, Tha...