“Although it’s hard to maintain the perspective, the whole world is a watershed” - Gary Snyder Wonder. It is May in northern Michigan and you awake in the lake house you acquired at the end of the last season. During the winter you prepared it for a summer’s use and now you are here. A … Continue reading The Wonder of Place

What do a Nature Conservancy (TNC) Preserve in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (the UP), a Pennsylvania Congressman, flash bulbs, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) all have in common? The story may surprise you, but it really shouldn't. Fortunately, I hiked right into it a few years ago, and a recent New York Times story … Continue reading Protecting Migratory Birds: the UP connection

The Outer Banks, North Carolina - Cape Hatteras is the small triangular island in the middle of the photo Over 30 years ago, a ribbon of sand caught me up, and over many encounters that ribbon has wound its away around my heart. The Outer Banks in North Carolina are a narrow strip of stranded … Continue reading Coastal Loss, Climate Grief

Thanks for joining me again. For several years, I was on a quest to visit all preserves of The Nature Conservancy in Michigan. I did pretty well, and I still am taking time to explore special places in the Great Lakes, but I came to realize that nature is not contained in areas set-aside for … Continue reading The Journey Continues

Governments don't lead, they follow.  This truth came to mind as I tried to look past the disappointment of President Trump's decision to reject the Paris climate agreement.  His choice to give up America's leadership toward a clean energy future will hurt not only the planet's environment, but also damage our national economy and our … Continue reading Where Will We Find Leadership to Save the Planet?

I am not one who attends marches.  I was not raised in a family of protest or social activism. Rather, my parents leaned conservative, both in their political positions as well as in their predilection to respect authority, be cautious of change, and work within the system.  I was a boy scout.I was also raised … Continue reading Why I Am Marching for Science

I have taken up a new, positive social media practice and every Friday I am posting a conservation success story on my Facebook page.  Unfortunately, environmental protection has come under attack the last few years.  These stories are a reminder of what can be accomplished when creative and committed people apply on science, economics, and … Continue reading Conservation Success Stories