Shadows: excurrent branching, photo y Mary Stebbins. Click on image to view larger.

This s a pin oak, or the shadows thereof. It has "excurrent" branches, like a pine or spruce. Actually, though, only the branches halfway up the trunk come straight out. The ones aove go up and the ones below go down. 

Milkweed Pod

Milkweed Pod, left over from last year. Photo by Mary Stebbins. The eeds releasing now in spring will be growing int new milkweeds and feeding the monarchs soon. Clcik on image to view larger. 

Season/signs of spring: Skunk Cabbage Flowering

Season/signs of spring: Skunk Cabbage Flowering, taken 3-27-06 at Hamlin. In upstate NY, one of the signs of sring is the flowering of the skunk cabbage in the swamps, and here it is, in full flower.Click on image to view larger. Photo by Mary Stebbins 

Protective Coloration

Rabbit Photo by Mary Stebbins. This rabbit was really hard to spot!!! 

Mourning Doves

Mourning Doves, photo by Mary Stebbins. Click on image to view larger.

These doves and another pair took over 2 old robins' nests in the past, but the nests have been ruined by bad weahter over the winter and they are hanging around. I wonder if they will build or find another nest.

Anyone know anyting about dove behavior? Last year and the three previous years, I had one et nesting in my bedroom window and one set in my sudy window. It was great to watch them raise their young.