Registration is now open for the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s summer 2026 one-day Junior Game Warden Camps

By Steven Brodsky

… Details are in this Pennsylvania Game Commission news release that was issued on May 28, 2026:

HARRISBURG — Whether collecting forensic evidence that will bring poachers to justice, tracking down lost hikers or live-trapping black bears for research, Pennsylvania State Game Wardens have among the most unique, diverse and exciting careers in wildlife conservation.

This summer, youths ages 12 to 15 can experience some of it for themselves.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is holding one-day Junior Game Warden Camps across the Commonwealth, providing those who attend a structured, fun-filled day learning about the career of a Pennsylvania State Game Warden.

Campers will spend the day with game wardens, gaining insight into the job and the Game Commission’s mission of managing and protecting the state’s wildlife and habitats while promoting hunting and trapping. Campers will join wardens in light physical fitness activities, confidence-building exercises and hands-on learning stations. Campers will learn about wildlife forensics and methods used by wardens to catch poachers and solve wildlife-related crimes. Other activities will involve wildlife-capture techniques, woodland tracking and outdoor survival.

 Registration can be completed online. Registration is limited to those who have not attended a camp held previously.

The dates and locations for the camps are as follows:

·        Northwest Region – Saturday, June 27, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Butler City Hunting & Fishing Club, 200 Grant Ave, East Butler, PA 16002. Registration is limited to 40 participants.

·        Southwest Region – Thursday, July 23, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Game Commission Southwest Region Office, 4820 Route 711, Bolivar, PA 15923. Registration limited to 40 participants.

·        Northcentral Region – Tuesday, June 30, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at Scotia Building, State Game Lands 176, Scotia Range Road, Warriors Mark, PA 16877. Registration is limited to 30 participants.

·        Southcentral Region – Saturday, June 20, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at Greencastle Sportsman’s Association, 3260 Sportsmans Road, Greencastle, PA 17225. Registration is limited to 40 participants.

·        Northeast Region – Thursday, July 30, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Moscow Sportsmen’s Club, 230 Union Mill Rd. Covington Township, PA 18444. Registration is limited to 45 participants

·        Southeast Region – Friday, July 24, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitor Center, 100 Museum Road, Stevens, PA 17578.

Posted 5-29-26

Many spring gardening seasons 

By Steven Brodsky

… have come and gone since Elvis Presley recorded C. Austin Miles’ hymn “In the Garden” on May 26, 1966.

Enjoy the recording, spring gardens, and worshipping the Lord (in gardens and elsewhere).

“In the Garden” was written in 1912.

Posted 5-27-26

A reminder to leave young wildlife alone

By Steven Brodsky

… comes to us by way of this Pennsylvania Game Commission news release that was issued on May 20, 2026:

HARRISBURG, PA – With Memorial Day being the unofficial kickoff to summer, the Pennsylvania Game Commission reminds those spending time in the great outdoors to leave young wildlife alone.

While some young animals might appear to be abandoned, usually they are not. It’s likely their mothers are watching over them from somewhere nearby. When encountering young wild animals, whether deer, birds, raccoons or something else, the best thing you can do is leave them alone.

“Mid-to-late spring and early summer are popular times of the year for humans to encounter newborn and young wildlife on the landscapes,” said Pennsylvania Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management Director Matthew Schnupp. “Whether enjoying their backyards or recreating in the woods or water, it’s common for humans to witness the new generation of wildlife in their natural habitats. The best thing people can do when encountering any wildlife is to simply let them be.”

Adult animals often leave their young while they forage for food. Typically, the adults will not venture far and will return. Wildlife also often relies on a natural defensive tactic called the “hider strategy,” where young animals will remain motionless and “hide” in surrounding cover while adults draw the attention of potential predators or other intruders away from their young.

When deer employ this strategy, fawns are sometimes assumed to be abandoned when, in fact, their mothers are nearby.

The Game Commission urges Pennsylvanians to resist the urge to interfere with young wildlife or remove any wild animal from its natural setting.

Such contact can be harmful to both people and wildlife. Wild animals can lose their natural fear of humans, making it difficult, even impossible, for them to readjust to the wild.

For humans, anytime wildlife is handled, there is an inherent risk of contracting diseases or parasites such as fleas, ticks and lice.

Wildlife that becomes habituated to humans also can pose a public-safety risk. In a documented incident, a six-point buck attacked and severely injured two people. An investigation revealed that a neighboring family had illegally taken the deer into their home and fed it as a fawn, and continued to feed it right up until the time of the attack.

From a legal standpoint, it is illegal to take or possess wildlife from the wild. Under state law, the penalty for such a violation is a fine of up to $1,500 per animal.

Under no circumstances will anyone who illegally takes wildlife into captivity be allowed to keep that animal, and under a working agreement with state health officials, any “high risk” rabies vector species confiscated after human contact must be euthanized and tested; none can be returned to the wild because the risk of spreading disease is too high.

Animals infected with rabies may not exhibit obvious symptoms, but still could still transmit the disease. Though any mammal might carry rabies, the rabies vector species identified in the agreement are: skunks, raccoons, foxes, bats, coyotes and groundhogs.

Humans can contract rabies from the saliva of a rabid animal if they are bitten or scratched, or if the saliva gets into the person’s eyes, mouth or a fresh wound.

Only wildlife rehabilitators, who are licensed by the Game Commission, are permitted to care for injured or orphaned wildlife for the purposes of eventual release back into the wild. For those who find wildlife that truly is in need of assistance, a listing of licensed wildlife rehabilitators can be found on the Pennsylvania Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators website, www.pawr.com.

If you are unable to identify a wildlife rehabilitator in your area, contact the Game Commission by phone at 1-833-PGC-WILD or 1-833-PGC-HUNT.

Posted 5-23-26

National Safe Boating Week is underway

By Steven Brodsky

… National Safe Boating Week continues through May 22, 2026.

From a news release that was issued by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) on May 14, 2026:

“Excitement is beginning to build statewide for the unofficial start of the summer boating season, which typically occurs over the Memorial Day holiday weekend,” said Mark Sweppenhiser, Director of the PFBC Bureau of Boating.  “With so many options for boating in Pennsylvania, from paddling, waterskiing, fishing, or just relaxing on a pontoon boat, National Safe Boating Week is a reminder to begin every boating adventure with a few safety steps.  By always putting safety first, you can focus on having fun on the water.”

Boaters are encouraged to follow a checklist of basic safety guidelines before and during each boating adventure, including:

• Always wear a life jacket
• Never boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Have a float plan to let someone know when and where you will be boating
• Check the weather forecast for storms and high-water conditions
• Take a Boating Safety Education Course
• Have proper registrations or launch permits for your boat

As a reminder, the legal limit for operating any watercraft in Pennsylvania is .08% blood alcohol concentration, and penalties for boating under the influence are similar to those for driving a motor vehicle while impaired.  PFBC Waterways Conservation Officers will be on patrol throughout the boating season looking for impaired boaters.

For more information on safe boating, to take a Boating Safety Education Course, and to purchase launch permits, boat registration renewals, and fishing licenses, visit Fishandboat.com.

Posted 5-18-26

Poison ivy

By Steven Brodsky

… exposure results in lots of itchin’ (and bitchin’). Exposure is dangerous.

Exercise caution when you are around poison ivy (and other plants that contain urushiol).

A cautionary message about another kind of “poison ivy” is conveyed in this song that was written by Leiber and Stoller:

There we have it, an article intended to remind us to avoid exposure to poison ivy.

“Poison Ivy” was recorded by the Coasters in 1959.

Posted 4-26-26

Did you know that the fiction writer mentioned in a hugely popular song recorded by The Police was a lepidopterist and a scientific illustrator of butterflies?

By Steven Brodsky

… That fiction writer, Vladimir Nabokov (the author of Lolita), was born on April 22, 1899.

This article appears here in commemoration of Vladimir Nabokov’s birthday tomorrow.

“Don’t Stand So Close To Me,” written by Sting and recorded by The Police, alludes to the novel Lolita and namechecks Nabokov. (The pronunciation of the name “Nabokov” on the record is different than how Nabokov pronounced it.)

About Nabokov and butterflies: Lolita’s Butterflies – California Academy of Sciences.

Want to learn more about Nabokov and the passion that he had for lepidopterology? Read his memoir Speak, Memory.

Posted 4-21-26

Final approval to Pennsylvania’s 2026-2027 hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits was given by the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners

By Steven Brodsky

The following news release was issued by the Pennsylvania Game Commission yesterday, April 11, 2026:

FINAL 2026-27 HUNTING SEASONS APPROVED

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to the 2026-27 hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits.

All 2026-27 seasons include the Sundays that fall within their listed start and end dates.  Also, seasons that previously ended on Saturdays largely will end on Sundays, providing additional days of opportunity throughout the year.

The lone exception is for migratory game birds. There will be no Sunday hunting for migratory game birds – including waterfowl, woodcock and mourning doves – this coming season.

The Game Commission surveyed migratory game bird hunters in recent weeks, which showed a slight preference for keeping Sundays out of migratory seasons, allowing seasons to stretch farther.  That, combined with federal rules that say if Pennsylvania starts incorporating Sundays into migratory seasons, it must do so always – there’s no going back – led commissioners to exclude Sundays for the 2026-27 seasons. Agency staff and board members say they will revisit the issue prior to 2027-28 after further study and input.

The full slate of migratory game bird seasons, which are set through federal frameworks, will be announced after they are finalized.

The approved 2026-27 seasons include several significant changes:

• For wild turkeys, a bag limit of one spring gobbler is approved to offset possible additional harvest due to the inclusion of Sundays and ensure that harvest rates remain within sustainable levels. Hunters are reminded that no Sundays are open for the upcoming 2026 spring gobbler season. Sunday hunting for spring turkeys won’t begin until 2027.
• For white-tailed deer, minor adjustments to date structures of extended firearms, flintlock and late archery seasons are approved to reduce complexity and to ensure season lengths correspond to sporting-arm efficiency and management objectives.
• For black bears, in WMUs 3C and 3D, a longer archery bear season (overlapping with the entire first segment of the archery deer season) is approved to increase harvest in response to bear-human conflicts in these areas.
• For elk, a new early October firearms season segment is approved to limit crowding and maintain hunter satisfaction under current and potential future increased license allocations. The late firearms elk season is approved to be moved later in January to avoid conflicts with major holidays.
• For small game, the squirrel, ruffed grouse, rabbit, pheasant, bobwhite quail and woodchuck seasons all are approved to remain open during the firearms deer season.
• For furbearers, WMU 5A is approved to be opened to bobcat hunting and trapping, and WMUs 2G, 3A, and 4C are approved to be opened to river otter trapping. Habitat and population data indicate that these units can support sustainable harvest for these species.

The Game Commission also announced 1,469,000 antlerless deer licenses will be allocated statewide for 2026-27, which is up from the 1,312,000 licenses allocated for 2025-26.

Allocations by Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) are as follows, with the allocation from the previous license year appearing in parentheses. WMU 1A – 52,000 (46,000); WMU 1B – 44,000 (44,000); WMU 2A – 49,000 (44,000); WMU 2B – 62,000 (59,000); WMU 2C – 117,000 (93,000); WMU 2D – 112,000 (96,000); WMU 2E – 63,000 (51,000); WMU 2F – 67,000 (51,000); WMU 2G – 57,000 (57,000); WMU 3A – 21,000 (21,000); WMU 3B – 53,000 (53,000); WMU 3C – 57,000 (57,000); WMU 3D – 52,000 (52,000); WMU 4A – 64,000 (64,000); WMU 4B – 71,000 (60,000); WMU 4C – 51,000 (51,000); WMU 4D – 120,000 (83,000); WMU 4E – 61,000 (61,000); WMU 5A – 65,000 (46,000); WMU 5B – 86,000 (86,000); WMU 5C – 101,000 (98,000); and WMU 5D – 44,000 (39,000).

Once again this year, each Pennsylvania resident hunter will be guaranteed one antlerless deer license in the Wildlife Management Unit of their choice, as long as they buy the license before sales open to nonresidents. Resident hunters can purchase a guaranteed tag at any time between 8 a.m. on June 22, when 2026-27 hunting licenses go on sale, and 8 a.m. on July 13, when nonresidents are eligible to purchase an antlerless license in WMUs where licenses remain available.

All hunters may purchase a second antlerless license for any available WMU in the second round of sales to begin July 27 at 8 a.m. Similarly, the third round begins at 8 a.m. Aug. 10, when a hunter can get a third license. The fourth round – during which hunters can purchase additional tags to reach their personal limit of six active antlerless licenses – begins Aug. 24 at 8 a.m.

After the guaranteed period closes, though, all antlerless licenses are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis, with tags only available before the allocated number for the WMU is sold out.

Meanwhile, 155 elk licenses (80 antlered, 75 antlerless) were allocated across four 2026-27 elk seasons, which includes a new October season in which rifle hunters will get to experience some of the elk rut.

For the Sept. 12-27 archery elk season, 15 antlered and seven antlerless tags are available across open Elk Hunt Zones. For the new Oct. 3-11 season – the first regular firearms elk season segment – 15 antlered and 15 antlerless licenses are available. The Oct. 31-Nov. 8 second regular firearms season provides 26 antlered and 25 antlerless licenses, while the Jan. 9-17, 2027 third regular firearms season offers 24 antlered and 28 antlerless tags.

Elk license applications for the 2026-27 seasons go on sale May 1. The application process will be different this year, and the Elk Hunt Zones are being reconfigured and renamed, so hunters might need to familiarize themselves with these changes prior to applying.

Antlerless deer and elk license allocations are based on scientific data and staff recommendations tailored to meet population objectives within each WMU and Elk Hunt Zone.

The final 2026-27 hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits appear below.

FINAL 2026-27 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS

 

SQUIRREL, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Sept. 12-27 (6 daily, 18 in possession limit after second day).

SQUIRREL, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Sept. 12-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2027 (6 daily, 18 possession).

RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 17-Dec. 24 (2 daily, 6 possession).

RABBIT (Cottontail): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and Mentored Permit Holders age 16 and under – Oct. 3-18 (4 daily, 12 possession).

RABBIT (Cottontail): Oct. 17-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2027 (4 daily, 12 possession).

PHEASANT: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and all mentored hunters, regardless of age – Oct. 10-18 (2 daily, 6 in possession). Male and female pheasants may be taken in all WMUs. There is no open season for taking pheasants in Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas, except as authorized by executive order.

PHEASANT: Oct. 24-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2027 (2 daily, 6 in possession). Male and female pheasants may be taken in all WMUs. There is no open season for taking pheasants in Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas, except as authorized by executive order.

BOBWHITE QUAIL: Sept. 1-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-March 31, 2027. No limit. There is no open season for the taking of bobwhite quail in the Letterkenny Army Depot Bobwhite Quail Recovery Area.

WOODCHUCK (GROUNDHOG): July 1-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-June 30, 2027. No limit.

HARE (SNOWSHOE RABBIT) OR VARYING HARE: Dec. 26-Dec. 31, statewide (1 daily, 3 season).

CROW: Aug. 20-March 21, 2027, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. No limit.

STARLING AND ENGLISH SPARROW: No closed season, except during the regular firearms deer season. No limit.

WILD TURKEY, FALL (Male or Female): WMUs 1A, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B and 4D – Oct. 31-Nov. 15; WMUs 1B, 3D, 4C and 4E – Oct. 31-Nov. 8; WMUs 2A, 2F, 3B and 3C – Oct. 31-Nov. 15 and Nov. 25-27; WMUs 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E – Oct. 31-Nov. 20 and Nov. 25-27; WMUs 5A and 5B – Oct. 31-Nov. 3; WMUs 5C and 5D – CLOSED TO FALL TURKEY HUNTING.

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, and mentored hunters 16 and under – April 24-25, 2027. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt.

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): May 1-31, 2027. Daily limit 1, season limit 1. From May 1-16, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon; from May 17-31, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 19-Nov. 27 and Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit. One antlered deer per hunting license year.

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Oct. 3 –Nov. 20 and Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.

DEER, ANTLERLESS MUZZLELOADER (Statewide): Oct. 17-25. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.

DEER, ANTLERLESS SPECIAL FIREARMS (Statewide): Oct. 22-25. Junior and Senior License Holders, Mentored Permit Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard only, with required antlerless license. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.

DEER, REGULAR FIREARMS (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Nov. 28-Dec. 13. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.

DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (Statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer may be taken with a general license antlered deer harvest tag, and an antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.

DEER, ANTLERLESS EXTENDED REGULAR FIREARMS (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D): Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.

DEER, ANTLERLESS EXTENDED REGULAR FIREARMS (WMUs, 4A, 4C, 4D and 5A): Dec. 26-Jan. 18, 2026.  An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.

DEER, ANTLERLESS EXTENDED REGULAR FIREARMS (Statewide DMAP): Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027. Only on properties enrolled in the Deer Management Assistance Program. An antlerless deer with each required DMAP harvest permit.

DEER, ANTLERLESS (Military Bases): Hunting permitted on days established by the U.S. Department of the Army at Letterkenny Army Depot, Franklin County; New Cumberland Army Depot, York County; and Fort Detrick, Raven Rock Site, Adams County. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.

DEER, ANTLERLESS (Agricultural Deer Control): Aug. 1-April 15, 2027. An antlerless deer with each required agricultural deer control harvest permit.

BLACK BEAR, ARCHERY (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D): Sept. 19-Nov. 27. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR, ARCHERY (WMUs 3C, 3D and 5B): Oct. 3–Nov. 20. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR, ARCHERY (WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A): Oct. 17-25. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR, MUZZLELOADER (Statewide): Oct. 22-25. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR, SPECIAL FIREARMS (Statewide): Oct. 22-25, Junior and Senior License Holders, Mentored Permit Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard only. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR REGULAR FIREARMS (Statewide): Nov. 21-24. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR, EXTENDED FIREARMS (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D): Nov. 28-Dec. 13. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR, EXTENDED FIREARMS (WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E and 5A): Nov. 28-Dec. 6. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

ELK, ARCHERY (Antlered or Antlerless): Sept. 12-27. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.

ELK, REGULAR FIREARMS – FIRST (Antlered or Antlerless): Oct. 3-11. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.

ELK, REGULAR FIREARMS – SECOND (Antlered or Antlerless): Oct. 31-Nov. 8. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.

ELK, REGULAR FIREARMS – THIRD (Antlered or Antlerless): Jan. 9-17, 2027. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.

FINAL 2026-27 FURBEARER HUNTING SEASONS

 

COYOTE: No closed season. No limit. Outside of any big game season (deer, bear, elk and turkey), coyotes may be taken with a hunting license or a furtaker license, and without wearing orange. During any big game season, coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting big game or with a furtaker license.

OPOSSUM, STRIPED SKUNK and WEASEL: No closed season, except during the firearms deer season. No limit. May be hunted any hour, day or night, from July 1–Nov. 27 and Dec. 14–June 30, 2027. May only be hunted from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise from Nov. 28–Dec. 13.

FOX and RACCOON: Oct. 24-Feb. 21, 2027. No limit. May be hunted any hour, day or night, from Oct. 24-Nov. 27 and Dec. 14–Feb. 21, 2027. May only be hunted from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise from Nov. 28–Dec. 13.

BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A): Jan. 9-Feb. 3, 2027. One bobcat per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.

PORCUPINE: Oct. 10-Nov. 27; Dec. 14-24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 31, 2027. (3 daily, season limit of 10).

FINAL 2026-27 TRAPPING SEASONS

 

MINK and MUSKRAT: Nov. 21-Jan. 10, 2027. No limits.

BEAVER (Statewide): Dec. 19-March 31, 2027 (Limits vary depending on WMU).

COYOTE, FOX, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, STRIPED SKUNK and WEASEL: Oct. 24-Feb. 21, 2027. No limits.

COYOTE and FOX, CABLE RESTRAINTS (Statewide): Dec. 26-Feb. 21, 2027. No limits. Participants must pass cable restraint certification course.

BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A): Dec. 19-Jan. 10, 2027. One bobcat per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.

FISHER (WMUs 1B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E): Dec. 19-Jan. 10, 2027. One fisher per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.

RIVER OTTER (WMUs 1A, 1B, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C and 4E): Feb. 13-21, 2027. One river otter per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.

FINAL 2026-27 FALCONRY SEASONS

 

SQUIRREL (combined): Sept. 1-March 31, 2027 (6 daily, 18 possession).

BOBWHITE QUAIL Sept. 1-March 31, 2027 (No limit).

RUFFED GROUSE Sept. 1-March 31, 2027 (2 daily, 6 possession).

COTTONTAIL RABBIT Sept. 1-March 31, 2027 (4 daily, 12 possession).

PHEASANT (Male or Female combined): Sept. 1-March 31, 2027 (2 daily, 6 possession).

SNOWSHOE OR VARYING HARE Sept. 1-March 31, 2027 (1 daily, 3 season).

MINK, MUSKRAT, FOX, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, STRIPED SKUNK and WEASEL Sept. 1-March 31, 2027 (No limits).

MIGRATORY GAME BIRD Seasons and bag limits shall be in accordance with Federal regulations.

Posted 4-12-26

For many magnolias

By Steven Brodsky

… spring is the season to come into bloom.

Enjoy the sight of blooming magnolias.

Many people have pleasant magnolia-related memories.

Memories of a “magnolia mother’s love” are revealed in the lyrics of this linked song: Billy Joe Shaver Magnolia Mother’s Love.

Posted 3-30-26

A Conversation With Katie Fallon, Author of ‘Vulture: The Private Life of an Unloved Bird’

By Steven Brodsky

Katie Fallon is a co-founder of the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia. She’s worked with many species of raptors and other kinds of birds. Katie’s books include Cerulean Blues (2011) and the recently released Vulture: The Private Life of an Unloved Bird. Her essays have appeared in a number of literary journals. She has a lifelong love of nature. I’ve heard that the first word she ever spoke was “bird.”

Your new book gives vultures, particularly turkey vultures, the positive attention these non-predator raptors deserve. What brought about your interest in these maligned birds?

I’ve been fascinated by vultures for at least fifteen years. There was a roost near where I lived in West Virginia; every day I’d drive by this big, old dead tree with ten or so turkey vultures hunched in it. They became a familiar sight, and I looked forward to seeing them. Vultures are big and kind of dramatic, and in flight, there’s nothing more beautiful. In addition, they’re the ultimate recyclers—they turn death into life.

Many people in the U.S. have an aversion to vultures. Speak about this.

I think vultures remind people of their own mortality. It can be a little creepy to think about a large, dark bird waiting to consume your body when you die. In general, I don’t think people in the US are comfortable with thinking of our bodies as food. Vultures remind us that life will continue after we die, and that some life will continue because we die. They remind us of our animal bodies. Which can be unnerving!

In the absence of vultures, we’d have major health issues to contend with. Tell us why.

Vultures clean up our ecosystems by removing animal carcasses that could potentially contaminate soil and water. They can eat animals that have died of anthrax and botulism. In the absence of vultures, mammalian scavengers could increase in number, and many mammalian scavengers such as raccoons, skunks, feral dogs and cats can spread rabies; vultures do not. Several vulture species in India have suffered catastrophic population crashes in the last twenty years, and public health has suffered. India leads the world in human rabies cases, and the number of cases has increased as the number of feral dogs increased in the absence of vultures.

People get close to vultures by attending your presentations that feature non-releasable birds. How are these birds acquired? How are they trained?

The nonprofit I co-founded, the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia, keeps eight non-releasable raptors for educational purposes (you need permits from the US Fish & Wildlife Service to do this, of course – the birds aren’t pets or personal property). All of our birds were injured wild birds that cannot return to the wild. We have three vultures. Lew the turkey vulture was hit by a car and suffered an injury to his shoulder that prevents flight. His “girlfriend,” Boris, was shot in the wing, and by the time she reached us the bone had already healed incorrectly. Our black vulture is Maverick, and he was hit by a car, which resulted in a shoulder injury that prevents adequate flight.

Our birds are all trained using positive reinforcement. We avoid negative reinforcement and punishment, and we try to empower the birds to have some control over their environments. We condition behaviors by offering food rewards when the birds perform the behaviors. Vultures (especially our black vulture!) learn quickly, and they are a lot of fun to work with.

What myths and misunderstandings about vultures do these presentations help to dispel?

People are surprised at how clean and charismatic the vultures are – and how beautiful they are up close, despite their featherless heads.

What vulture behaviors do people find to be most interesting?

People often ask if vultures throw up on us; our education vultures usually don’t (unless they get scared). Vultures also expel liquid waste on their legs and feet, probably to clean them as well as to keep cool. This often fascinates people as well.

Which species of vulture are found in Pennsylvania and neighboring states?

We have turkey vultures and black vultures. During the last Ice Age we may have had California condors, too, and possibly some other now-extinct vultures.

What has been learned about migration of these species?

Hawk Mountain has taken the lead on turkey vulture migration research. Dr. Keith Bildstein and his team have placed transmitters and wing tags on turkey vultures all over the Americas. They’ve learned that our eastern turkey vultures are partial migrants—some spend the winters in Florida, some on the New Jersey shore, some in Virginia, and in many places in between. Many western turkey vultures are complete migrants, leaving their breeding ranges in Canada and heading all the way to South America. And still others in the American southwest migrate into Central America and return. It’s fascinating how the different subspecies have different migratory strategies. Dr. Bildstein and his colleagues have ongoing research projects about turkey vulture migration, and are discovering more all the time.

Vultures have spectacular flying ability. What makes this possible?

Turkey vultures are very light – they have almost the same wingspan as a bald eagle but weigh less than half what an eagle weighs. Their wings are long and broad, and are made for soaring.

How high can they fly?

The Ruppell’s vulture holds the record for the highest-flying bird. Unfortunately for that individual, it was hit and killed by a jet flying over Africa at 37,000 feet.

Vulture: The Private Life of an Unloved Bird informs readers about lead toxicity in vultures. What is the extent of the problem? How do vultures ingest lead?

Vultures (and eagles, hawks, crows, ravens, and owls) can ingest small pieces of spent lead ammunition in animal carcasses or “gut piles” left by hunters. When someone shoots a white-tailed deer, for example, the deer is usually field-dressed, and many of the organs are left. This can be a delight for vultures and other scavengers! In ecosystems, scavengers often follow the big predators to clean up the leftovers; here, the same thing is happening—a human is the big predator, a gut pile is the leftover, and a vulture or eagle is the scavenger. However, if small lead fragments are still in the gut piles, avian scavengers can inadvertently ingest the lead and become sick. Lead toxicity from spent ammunition is the biggest obstacle in the way of California condor recovery.

The Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia provides rehabilitation for injured birds. What kind of care do vultures receive?

We’ve treated vultures with a wide variety of injuries and ailments—broken bones, head trauma, lead toxicity, soft tissue injuries. Every bird we admit receives an immediate comprehensive examination by an avian veterinarian, and is then treated as necessary with antibiotics, antifungals, anti-inflammatories, fluid therapy, or chelation therapy. They also receive orthopedic surgery if necessary. We do our best to get the birds back out in the wild if possible.

It must be very joyful to enable an injured bird to regain flight ability. Please tell us about a memorable release.

Two and a half years ago we released a female turkey vulture that had been shot with a shotgun—she had three pellets embedded in soft tissue. We had to leave the pellets in her body because removing them would cause damage. Once she was nursed back to health, we released her wearing a transmitter to track her movements. We learned that she travels to northern Georgia in the winters and comes back to West Virginia in the breeding season. We are thrilled that this vulture was able to return to the wild—and thrive!

Vulture watching is growing in popularity. Turkey vultures are very widespread. Where are some of the best places and times to observe them?

In many parts of the southeastern United States, you can see turkey vultures any day of the year in a variety of habitats. In the winter, vultures can be observed roosting together in and near many cities: in Virginia, check out Leesburg, Staunton, Radford, Pulaski, and Charlottesville; in West Virginia, many vultures can be observed migrating in the fall over Hanging Rock Tower in Monroe County and over Harper’s Ferry in the eastern panhandle. During the summer and fall, the overlook at Cooper’s Rock State Forest near Morgantown, WV, is a sure place to see turkey vultures. Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania, of course, is an excellent place to watch turkey vultures and birds of prey during migration, especially in September and October.

What stimulated your interest in nature?

I’ve always been an outdoors person. I grew up in northeastern Pennsylvania, and I had horses as a kid. I spent a great deal of time with my horses, trail riding and competing, and when I got a bit older I often went hiking and camping with friends and family. One of my favorite childhood hiking spots was Ricketts Glen State Park—it’s filled with hemlock trees and many gorgeous waterfalls. It’s definitely worth checking out if you visit northeastern PA.

Was “bird” your first word?

Yes! My parents had bird feeders in their yard when I was a baby (well, they still do) and my mother says she used to hold me in front of the window to show me the birds at the feeder. One day, she said, “Look at the birds! Look at the birds outside.” And I nodded and said, “Bird.” I haven’t stopped talking about them since.

Katie Fallon’s website address is: www.katiefallon.com.

Posted 4-6-17, Reposted 10-29-19

 

Stephanie Morales, the director and choreographer of Servant Stage Company’s soon-to-open production of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ is featured in a new Servant Stage promo video

By Steven Brodsky

… Enjoy:

Servant Stage Company’s production of this musical will be presented in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, June 5 – August 16, 2026.

Consistent with Servant Stage Company’s mission to make outstanding theatre experiences accessible to everyone, all tickets are pay-what-you-will.

Visit Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat — Servant Stage for additional information and a link to order your tickets.

The story of Joseph is hugely impactful in my life and in the lives of some of the readers of this section of my column. You can find Joseph’s story in Genesis 37-50.

Posted 5-22-26

A very short Bible verse

By Steven Brodsky

… the shortest verse in most English translations of the Bible, communicates immense compassion that Jesus felt when He confronted the death of Lazarus.

You’ll find that verse, John 11:35 (and John 11 in its entirety), at: John 11 (NASB20) – Now a certain man was.

Those who’ve received the Lord’s gift of salvation know that Jesus has immense compassion for them.

Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Posted 5-17-26

‘Mamma’s Heart’

By Steven Brodsky

… will resonate in the hearts of readers of this column on this Mother’s Day weekend: Mamma’s Heart.

God knows our hearts.

Hallelujah, God can heal and transform a heart on holidays like Mother’s Day and on every other day and night of the year.

Have a blessed Mother’s Day weekend.

Posted 5-9-26

‘A Mother’s Prayer’ 

By Steven Brodsky

… for us to enjoy in advance of Mother’s Day:

Mother’s Day will be celebrated on May 10, 2026.

Hallelujah for the prayers of godly mothers!

Posted 4-27-26

Scarred?

By Steven Brodsky

… We all are.

Those who are heaven bound can look forward to not having scars in heaven.

John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

What does it mean that today is the day of salvation? | GotQuestions.org

Posted 4-28-26

‘I’ve got a fire’ for the Lord

By Steven Brodsky

… as do some of this column’s readers, hallelujah!

Lukewarm? See Why did Jesus speak so strongly against lukewarm faith? | GotQuestions.org.

Posted 4-24-26

There’s room at the table

By Steven Brodsky

 

… to eternally enjoy fellowship with God for those who know and for those who will come to know God as their Lord and Savior!

 

 

Posted 4-17-26

Yes, ‘the God of the mountain is the God of the valley’

By Steven Brodsky

… Amen to this and other declarations in the lyrics of “Graves Into Gardens”:

Some people come to know God as their Lord and Savior on the mountain, in the valley, and in other places, hallelujah!

Posted 4-10-26

May readers of this column be drawn closer to the Lord

By Steven Brodsky

… when they’re in valleys and when they’re above valleys!

King David had valleys in mind when he wrote Psalm 34:18.

Psalm 34:18: “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

Posted 4-7-26

He is risen.

By Steven Brodsky

… He is risen, indeed.

See Luke 24:6, Matthew 28:6, and Where does the saying “He is risen; He is risen, indeed” come from? | GotQuestions.org.

Enjoy:

 

Have a happy and blessed Easter 2026.

Posted 4-5-26

On the day of the night before Easter 

By Steven Brodsky

… and in the coming days, readers of this column will be reflecting upon what happened in a tomb on the night before Easter AD 33.

Be eternally blessed by a relationship with the Savior who arose from a tomb!

Posted 4-4-26

On Good Friday 2026

By Steven Brodsky

… I’m thankful for what Jesus did for us on “an old rugged cross” on Good Friday AD 33.

Sinless Jesus willingly died on that cross so that we sinners may have everlasting life in His presence.

Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus loves us.

Posted 4-3-26

On Palm Sunday

By Steven Brodsky

… be blessed by prophesied events that took place on the week that Jesus entered Jerusalem on the back of a donkey.

Questions about Palm Sunday? See: https:/a/hewww.gotquestions.org/Palm-Sunday.html.

(The vocalization of a donkey is called a bray.)

Posted 3-29-26

Christina Rossetti’s poem ‘Good Friday’

By Steven Brodsky

… is an example of exemplary writing that expresses worship: Good Friday by Christina Rossetti – Scottish Poetry Library.

The poem may inspire devotional writing by readers of this column; it will remind some readers that the Lord transforms stony hearts.

Good Friday draws nigh.

A Bible verse about drawing nigh to God, James 4:8: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

Posted 3-27-26

Palm Sunday arrives on March 29, 2026

By Steven Brodsky

… opportune (it’s always opportune!) to “look up and see the cross.”

Jesus loves us.

Prophesied centuries before Jesus’ scourging and crucifixion: Isaiah 53 (KJV) – Who hath believed our report?.

Posted 3-24-26

Before, on, and after 3-16, i.e. March 16, 2026

By Steven Brodsky

… may we come to a deeper understanding of 3:16, i.e. John 3:16, to the glory of the Lord!

John 3:16: ^“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Posted 3-15-26

Praying Psalm 143:8 in the evening

By Steven Brodsky

Perhaps you have considered, or will consider, including the words and/or sentiment of King David’s Psalm 143:8 in your evening prayers.

Psalm 143:8 KJV: “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”

https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/psalm/psalm-143.cfm

May we hear God’s lovingkindness in the morning and know the way that we should walk.

Posted 2-20-26

Frost and thaw

By Steven Brodsky

Many millions of Americans have been greatly impacted by frost and thaw in recent weeks.

On January 14, 1866, congregants of the Metropolitan Tabernacle church in London, England were reflecting on frost and thaw, and God, as Charles Haddon Spurgeon (who was known as the “Prince of Preachers”) was delivering his sermon “Frost and Thaw.”

Be blessed by “Frost and Thaw”: The Spurgeon Library | Frost and Thaw.

Posted 2-13-26

Jesus loves black sheep 

By Steven Brodsky

… and all of the people who were present when this video was filmed, including Ben Fuller:

And Jesus loves us!

Posted 1-26-26

 

 

Servant Stage Company’s upcoming production of the musical ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ to be presented in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, June 5 – August 16, 2026

By Steven Brodsky

… Details are in this excerpt from a Servant Stage Company news release that was issued on May 6, 2026:

Lancaster, PA – Servant Stage is thrilled to present Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, running June 5-August 16 at venues across Lancaster County. This beloved, family-friendly musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice brings the biblical story of Joseph to life through an unforgettable score filled with pop, rock, calypso, and country influences.

Told entirely through song, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat follows the journey of Joseph, a dreamer blessed with extraordinary gifts—and burdened by the jealousy of his brothers. Sold into slavery and taken far from home, Joseph faces immense trials but ultimately rises to a position of great influence in Egypt, discovering purpose, forgiveness, and redemption along the way.

Bursting with color, humor, and heart, this Servant Stage production features a dynamic cast of performers of all ages, dazzling choreography, and the iconic multicolored coat that has captivated audiences for generations. From the energetic “Go, Go, Go Joseph” to the heartfelt “Any Dream Will Do,” the show offers something for every audience member.

Directed by Stephanie Morales, this production highlights both the spectacle and the deeper message of the story. “This production will celebrate joy, theatricality, and humor, while being anchored in humanity,” says Morales. “Joseph shows us that reconciliation is the most powerful dream of all, and through Joseph’s love for his family, we are reminded that even the most colorful dreams are rooted in something beautifully simple: the desire to be known, forgiven, and home.”

In keeping with Servant Stage’s mission to make outstanding live theatre accessible to everyone, all performances of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will be offered on a pay-what-you-will basis. This unique approach allows audiences of all ages and backgrounds to experience exceptional theatre regardless of financial means.

Performances will be held June 5-14 in the auditorium at Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Road, Lancaster and August 7-16 in the auditorium at Warwick High School, 301 W Orange St, Lititz, as well as other venues across Lancaster County throughout the summer. Tickets can be reserved online at ServantStage.org or by calling (717) 455-0255. Advance reservations are recommended to ensure seating before shows sell out.

Performance Schedule:

At Lancaster Alliance Church

• Fridays, June 5 & 12 – 7:00 PM
• Saturdays, June 6 & 13  – 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM
• Sundays, June 7 & 14 – 3:00 PM

At Warwick High School

• Fridays, August 7 & 14 – 7:00 PM
• Saturdays, August 8 & 15 – 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM
• Sundays, August 9 & 16 – 3:00 PM

About Servant Stage:
Servant Stage is a non-profit theater serving Lancaster County since 2011. Through its innovative approach to theatre, Servant Stage reaches more than 50,000 audience members each year with Pay-What-You-Will performances. Upcoming performances include Anne of Green Gables (September), and Joy to the World (November-December).

Posted 5-11-26

Shackled and unshackled listeners

By Steven Brodsky

… have been enjoying episodes of UNSHACKLED!, the iconic radio drama show, since 1950.

Episodes of UNSHACKLED! are accessible at: https://unshackled.org/on-demand/browse-all-programs/.

John 8:36: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

Note to readers: This post appeared at: https://delcoculturevultures.com/2025/05/06/conversations-about-faith/.

Posted 6-6-24, Revised and reposted 5-6-25

 

On Eric Burdon’s 85th birthday

By Steven Brodsky

… Eric Burdon was born on May 11, 1941.

Let’s celebrate Eric Burdon’s birthday, by enjoying Burdon’s lead vocal performance on a record track that has much resonance for people who “gotta get out” of a place or situation and for those who’ve gotten out of a dire place or situation:

Happy birthday wishes go out to Eric Burdon.

Posted 5-11-26

Let’s commemorate the birthday of Bobby Vee

By Steven Brodsky

Bobby Vee was born on April 30, 1943.

In commemoration of his birthday, let’s enjoy Bobby Vee’s 1961 recording of “Take Good Care of My Baby.”

Some of the readers of this column will be singing the song’s lyrics while listening to the recording.

 Posted 4-30-26

On the 114th anniversary of the RMS Titanic’s collision with an iceberg

By Steven Brodsky

The RMS Titanic struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912; the ship sank on April 15, 1912.

More than 1,500 people perished.

To commemorate the anniversary of this tragedy, I’m sharing a video embed and a song link.

Harry Chapin’s “Dance Band on the Titanic” is the title track of Harry Chapin’s seventh studio album (the album was released in 1977): Harry Chapin – Dance Band on the Titanic – YouTube.

Posted 4-14-26

Janis Joplin’s album ‘Pearl’ was at the top of the Billboard 200 chart 55 years ago, on February 27, 1971

By Steven Brodsky

… The album, released on January 11, 1971, would go on to be in the number one position on that chart for a total of nine weeks.

From Pearl, Janis Joplin’s recording of the Kris Kristofferson-penned “Me and Bobby McGee”:

Janis Joplin passed away on October 4, 1970 at age 27.

Posted 2-27-26

One doesn’t need to be a grammarian

By Steven Brodsky

… to recognize the verity indicated by the double negative in this song’s title, and by the inclusion of the title’s words in the dialogue of the song’s speaker/character:

Though “I Don’t Think Much About Her No More” has no connection to Valentine’s Day, I’ll make a tie-in here to the upcoming unofficial holiday.

It’s easy to surmise that the song’s speaker/character could find Valentine’s Day to be especially difficult.

Same for many others.

It’s not always kind to wish people: “Happy Valentine’s Day.” These words can be hurtful to some people who won’t be having a happy Valentine’s Day.

Let’s be kind.

Posted 2-7-26

It’s magic

By Steven Brodsky

… when a song exceptionally and effectively conveys an emotionally charged inflection point.

That kind of magic kind is evident in “This Magic Moment,” a song penned by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman.

The Drifters recorded “This Magic Moment” on December 23, 1959, 66 years ago, with Ben E. King singing lead.

In commemoration of that recording session, enjoy the magic:

Posted 12-23-25

Cold turkey

By Steven Brodsky

… left over from Thanksgiving will have many of us “on the run” to refrigerators over the next couple of days.

Some (in the spirit of Thanksgiving) will be appreciative of having cooked and refrigerated turkey that’s left over from Thanksgiving. (I’d probably be more appreciative of left over pumpkin pie.)

“Cold turkey” has an entirely different meaning in this song:

Posted 11-27-25

18 minutes and 36 seconds

By Steven Brodsky

… is sufficient time for readers of the Entertainment, Culture and More column to enjoy this recording of “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” in its entirety:

Some radio stations have a tradition of airing the recording on Thanksgiving Day.

We don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving Day to enjoy “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree”!

Arlo Guthrie recorded “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” in 1967.

Posted 11-20-25

There’s a correlation between dusty Bibles

By Steven Brodsky

… and how people feel.

This post originally appeared at: Conversations About Faith – delcoculturevultures.com.

Posted 10-22-25, Revised and Reposted 11-8-25

On Art Garfunkel’s 84th birthday

By Steven Brodsky

… happy birthday wishes go out to Art Garfunkel!

Art Garfunkel was born on November 5, 1941 in New York City.

Posted 11-5-25

Two trippy songs

By Steven Brodsky

… are being shared here today on the 58th anniversary of the release of a beloved rock album.

The album: Disraeli Gears.

The band: Cream.

Disraeli Gears was Cream’s second studio album.

Disraeli Gears was released on November 2, 1967.

From Disraeli Gears:

 

Posted 11-2-25

Time may be on your mind upon waking up on Sunday, November 2, 2025

By Steven Brodsky

… Daylight saving time ends on November 2, 2025 at 2:00 a.m.; clocks will fall back an hour in most of the U.S.

And time may be on your mind today.

Posted 11-1-25

With up to 20 inches of snow in weather forecasts for a number of states in the U.S.

By Steven Brodsky

… memories related to literal and metaphorical cold fingers come to mind.

I’m acquainted with the discomfort of literal (very) cold fingers, having experienced fingers-numbing conditions while ice fishing, snow shoveling, etc.

And I’m not lacking experience with metaphorical cold fingers.

Most of us can recall personal experiences with cold fingers.

Whatever our experiences have been or are with cold fingers, we can be grateful that Bill Morrissey addressed the cold fingers theme with great artistry and vulnerability:

Posted 10-27-25

This’ll be a day to enjoy

By Steven Brodsky

… this recording of “That’ll Be the Day”:

The single for Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be the Day” was in the number one position on the Best Sellers in Stores chart on September 23, 1957, 68 years ago.

Posted 9-23-25

‘I’m just a long-haired son of a sinner’

By Steven Brodsky

… sings Jelly Roll in “Son of a Sinner” (one of my favorite Jelly Roll songs):

We’re all children of sinners.

And all of us have sinned.

Nonetheless, God loves us.

Romans 5:8 KJV: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

This post appeared at: Conversations About Faith – delcoculturevultures.com.

Posted 8-20-24, Revised and Reposted 12-6-24

Paul Simon heard Jessy Dixon perform ‘The Wicked Shall Cease Their Troubling’

By Steven Brodsky

… in Radio City Music Hall in 1972, which prompted Paul Simon to invite Jessy Dixon to sing with him on Saturday Night Live. The two would go on to tour together in the U.S. and overseas for eight years.

Enjoy this video of Jessy Dixon singing “The Wicked Shall Cease Their Troubling” at The Dome:

 

Job 3:17: ^“There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.”

Jessy Dixon passed away on September 26, 2011 at age 73. This post appeared in the Conversations About Faith section of the Entertainment, Culture and More column. 

Posted 1-10-21, Reposted and Revised 8-19-24

How meeting Livingston Taylor at a concert affected the career of John Flynn

By Steven Brodsky

John Flynn has been interviewed several times for this column. In a 2011 radio interview, John and I spoke about Livingston. We did so again last year in this interview for this column.

John, where and when did you first meet Livingston Taylor and how old were you at the time?

Gene Shay introduced me to Livingston back in the ’80s. It was prior to one of his appearances at the old Bijou Café in Philadelphia. I was in my early twenties and just starting out. I was a big fan of Livingston’s and I had just appeared on Gene’s radio show on WMMR. I heard Gene mention that he was going to host Livingston’s show, so I asked for an intro. Gene was just too nice to say no.

What was going on in your life?

I was playing some bar gigs, writing songs and mailing demos to Nashville. This was a few years before I got signed to my first publishing deal down there.

Describe what took place. What did Livingston tell you?

To begin with, Livingston was incredibly gracious. As a performer, I really see that now in hindsight, because usually the last thing I want to do before a show is to meet new people and have them sing their songs to me. Actually, I don’t think I’ve met anyone before or since who would have extended themselves in this way to a stranger. But that’s exactly what happened. Gene apparently bragged about me enough to get Livingston to hand me his guitar and sit down directly in front of me. He asked me to play him a song and listened with an almost unnerving, totally focused attention. When I was done he asked if I had any more. I did a second song and he asked for another. I was only too happy to oblige, figuring that if he’d listen to three songs he must be hearing something he liked. When I finished singing, Livingston kind of scrunched up his face and got real thoughtful. There was a long pause. Then he said, “John, there are so many wonderful ways to spend your time in this life. Take a walk, read a good book, spend some time with someone you love. Please do ANY of these things rather than write any more mediocre songs.” The rest was a little bit of a blur. He talked about Cole Porter and Yip Harburg, writers I didn’t really know much about at that point. He really challenged me to study the greats. He spent like ten minutes talking about song structure, and he played me these long-forgotten but really beautiful introductions to popular old standards. – Unknown (at least to me) musical salutations from bygone eras, that had been intended by their composers to set the mood and put the listener in the proper frame of mind to receive the coming song. He even explained that he would be doing relatively few of his own songs in his show that evening because great songs are rare, and a song should be great if you’re gonna sing it. That was the bottom line. If you weren’t going to try to write a great song, then why write one at all?

How did you respond to this at the time?

I guess I was disappointed. But disappointment wasn’t all I took away from the encounter, because Livingston could have easily tossed me a few compliments. He was probably never gonna have to see me again so that would have been the easy thing to do. But I sensed that he respected songs and songwriters too much for that. He chose the harder path and told the truth. He threw down the gauntlet. And, in my way, I accepted the challenge that night. I determined to work much harder at my craft. To really try to write great songs. I’m not saying that’s what I’ve always accomplished. But he got me to aim there. I’ve always been grateful for that.

How did the encounter impact your life?

I’m here forty years later answering questions about music.

Author’s note to readers: Livingston Taylor is a professor at Berklee College of Music.

John Flynn’s website address is: http://johnflynn.net/.

Posted 3-29-19, Reposted 8-6-24

Thinking about Solomon Burke

By Steven Brodsky

… after recalling this morning that the City of Philadelphia had honored Solomon Burke by having declared that July 19, 2002 would be “Solomon Burke Day.”

Solomon Burke (March 21, 1940 – October 10, 2010) was born in Philadelphia.

Posted 7-19-24

There weren’t many attendees at Bob Dylan’s Carnegie Hall debut performance

By Steven Brodsky

… nearly 62 years ago, on Saturday, November 4, 1961. Reportedly, 53 people purchased tickets to see the then 20-year old Dylan perform in a small auditorium that was located in Carnegie Hall. Tickets were priced at $2.00.

Bob Dylan did not perform “Blowin’ in the Wind.”

The song hadn’t been released nor had it been recorded.

Bob Dylan recorded “Blowin’ in the Wind” on July 9, 1962 at Columbia Recording Studios.

The recording was released on the A-side of a single on August 13, 1963 (the B-side is “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right”); it appears as a track on the album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, released on May 27, 1963.

Bob Dylan’s Philadelphia debut didn’t draw much of crowd either, as this concert too was performed prior to the release of “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Gene Shay invited Dylan to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to perform the concert. The concert took place on Saturday, May 3, 1963 at the Philadelphia Ethical Society building on Rittenhouse Square. Approximately 45 people were in attendance. Tickets were priced at $1.50.

A few months before Bob Dylan’s Philadelphia debut, Dylan performed “Blowin’ in the Wind” on a television show:

Gene Shay told me that Dylan’s Philadelphia debut concert almost didn’t take place: the sound system components for the concert were inaccessible.

Gene Shay passed away from COVID-19 on April 17, 2020. He is greatly missed.

Posted 10-4-23

He was the ‘Jackie Robinson of television’; on his ‘show rode the hopes and fears and dreams of millions of people’; his show debuted nationally on November 5, 1956

By Steven Brodsky

… He was Nat King Cole, the first African American to host a television show on nationwide television. That show was The Nat King Cole Show. Today is the 66th anniversary of the national debut of the Nat King Show on NBC TV.

Nat King Cole ranks among the most acclaimed jazz and pop musicians of all time. Born as Nathaniel Adams Coles in Montgomery Alabama in 1919, he would go on to achieve recording and concert performance success that was nearly unmatched by others of his generation. “Mona Lisa,” “Unforgettable,” “The Christmas Song,” are among the nearly 700 songs that he recorded. Well over 100 of Nat King Cole’s records charted. He was a prominent presence on national television shows (he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show on six occasions).

The Nat King Cole Show was popular and attracted some of the most sought-after entertainers, but it could not secure a national sponsor (other than a few sponsors for brief periods of time before the show expanded from 15 minutes to a half hour). There were 30 sponsors with cooperative arrangements supporting the show across the country on local stations, but nationwide—not one.

In an essay in the February 1, 1958 issue of Ebony titled “WHY I QUIT MY TV SHOW” by Nat King Cole (as told to Lerone Bennett Jr.), Nat King Cole said, “For 13 months, I was the Jackie Robinson of television… On my show rode the hopes and fears and dreams of millions of people.”

Posted 11-5-22