Happy ice skating wishes go out to those column readers who will again (or for their first time) be ice skating on the more than 9,500 square foot sculptures-surrounded National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink.
Posted 10-26-26
The National Gallery of Art’s 10th National Gallery Nights series will begin on September 10, 2026
By Steven Brodsky
… and will continue on the second Thursday of October and on the second Thursday of November 2026 in the National Gallery’s East Building.
My memories of art classes are positive. My art teachers were outstanding; they were quite unlike the fictive first teacher that appears in this linked Harry Chapin song: https://youtu.be/4cVpkzZpDBA?si=Fm5xt2z3NyWncCL3.
Fortunately, that fictive teacher would likely now be no longer teaching and subjecting students to lessons that most would view as best to be unlearned.
Posted 8-17-26
A Conversation With Victoria Browning Wyeth
By Steven Brodsky
Victoria Browning Wyeth is the granddaughter of Andrew Wyeth and the niece of Jamie Wyeth. She is the great-granddaughter of N.C. Wyeth. Victoria is widely known for her dynamic gallery talks and lectures on the life and art of Andrew Wyeth. Victoria is a gifted photographer; her photos have been exhibited at a number of museums.
What are some of your fondest memories of your grandmother?
One of my fondest memories of my grandmother were our nicknames for each other. I always called my grandmother by two names: “Betsy” or “Mamma Sheep Turd.” I realize the second name might raise a few eyebrows so let me explain. I grew up in New York City, but would spend every summer in Cushing Maine with my grandparents. As a young girl, and as a grown woman, I have always detested sand, dirt and bugs. When I was about nine or so, my grandparents purchased Allen Island (near Port Clyde, Maine), and, in addition, a very large flock of sheep to help with the lawn “maintenance. Along with the sheep came sheep turds…. EVERYWHERE. So, she called me “City Slicker” and I called her “Mamma Sheep Turd.” When I was in college and we wrote each other letters, the post office at my college would giggle when they handed me a letter because of the return address. I always smile when I think of the looks people gave us when we used these names for each other.
My second fondest memory was when she taught me to put on makeup and put my hair in a French twist. I can still feel her hands in my hair helping me pin it up. When it came to applying makeup she would always say, “Vic… less is more.” To this day I am not much of a makeup person.
Finally, my most recent favorite memory involved cooking for my grandmother (and my uncle Jamie) on Sunday nights. Betsy was the chef in the family – her meals were simply out of this world yummy. Mashed potatoes, cookies, creamed eggs, popovers, etc. You name it and she could make it. After my grandfather died she scaled back her cooking quite a bit. Around six or seven years ago I started cooking Sunday dinners for my family. I wasn’t the best chef at first; I burned fish more than I would like to admit. One of the things that still brings a smile to my face was watching her gobble up every last morsel. She would look at Jamie and me and say, “mmmmm this is good.”
Betsy handled much of the business affairs of her husband Andrew. What prepared her for this?
She always had such a powerful business sense. I’m not quite sure where this came from, but she handled Andy’s business affairs with such grace and intelligence. She was quite the inspiration.
Please describe how Betsy furthered the career of Andrew?
My grandmother helped further his career by supporting him in numerous ways. The most important was through her love: she loved him with all of her heart. She would always tell him what she thought of his newest painting – if he needed to simplify something, if the color was too intense, etc. She was also very instrumental in titling many of his paintings.
What was the extent of Betsy’s involvement in titling the paintings of her husband?
She had a huge role in the titles. Take the painting Wind from the Sea. When my grandparents were discussing the piece Betsy said, “It looks like a wind is coming in from the sea.” Andy replied, “That’s it!! Wind from the Sea.” Her vocabulary was most impressive. For example, she would do the New York Times crossword puzzles in ink. This gave her an incredible bank of words to choose from when she helped to title the work.
Her ability to title wasn’t limited to paintings: when I was in graduate school and writing long research papers, I would call her and tell her my paper topic. She would then call me back with a title. For example, I wrote a paper on shell shock in British troops during World War I. She came up with the title “Over the Top.”
Were you able to observe Andrew while he was painting? If you were, did he discuss what he was working on?
Andy HATED having people watch him paint. He felt that having you watch him paint was an invasion. The only times I watched him paint were: (1) outside my window in the summer. He would work on watercolors or drawings outside my parent’s house in Cushing, Maine. He didn’t know I was looking, but I was. I couldn’t help myself. This is when I was a young girl (under 13). (2) When I would accidentally walk into the house when he was working on something. I would apologize and he would smile and say, “Hi darlin’. I’m just finishing up.” (3) When I posed. This was my favorite because we got to discuss everything. I would barrage him with all sorts of questions about his work, his life, his friends, etc. The last time I posed (back in 2005) I was giving lectures at the Brandywine River Museum. It was so cool because I would incorporate what we talked about into my gallery talk that day.
How sensitive was Andrew to what critics wrote about him?
He couldn’t have cared less what the critics thought.
Which paintings of his do you believe he remained most attached to?
He was almost always most attached to the painting that he was working on.
To your knowledge, were there times in Andrew’s life when he was without artistic inspiration? If there were, how did he reacquire inspiration?
To the best of my knowledge this never happened. Even when he was in the hospital (for a hip replacement) he drew his hospital room and the view out the window. He was inspired by everything and everyone.
Of the photos that you took of Andrew Wyeth, is there one that especially evokes cherished memories? Can you share those memories with us?
The one I took of him painting outside my window in Cushing, Maine. He was painting me and we would start working very early in the morning – 6:45 a.m. I overslept one morning and rushed downstairs. As I looked out of the living room window, I found him sitting out there with his watercolor pad on his lap, tissues everywhere (to blot the paper) and his watercolor box by his side. Whenever I get sad and miss him, this is what I think of and it always makes me smile.
You’ve given many pro bono talks. Which of those talks have been most gratifying to you? Please tell us why.
My favorite talks, pro bono and paid, have been the ones I have done at the state and local prisons. I feel that those who are incarcerated should be exposed to art as much as possible. Since they can’t go to a museum, I bring a museum to them. For example, this past January I lectured on the work of my grandfather to the gentlemen at the Maine State Prison in Maine. I went on January 16th – which is a very special day for me – the anniversary of my grandfather’s death. It was a beautiful snowy day and I packed my car up with a bunch of my uncle’s and grandfather’s watercolors and drawings and headed to the prison. I thought it would be fun to create a pop-up gallery in the prison and even more interesting to bring one of my grandfather’s models with me. It was a very special day for all of us. I will never forget looking at the reactions on the guys faces as they looked at the art.
The Brandywine River Museum of Art is currently closed to the public (as are other museums) because of the COVID-19 crisis. Is there a painting in the Museum’s collection by Andrew Wyeth that, at this moment, you are especially looking forward to seeing when the doors reopen?
I love seeing my grandmother’s portrait – Maga’s Daughter. I’m very excited to go visit her and say hi.
Stay safe while driving on Pennsylvania roads during the fall deer breeding season
By Steven Brodsky
Photo by Steven Brodsky
The Pennsylvania Game Commission issued the following news release on October 21, 2026:
Pennsylvania Game Commission Urges Drivers
to Stay Alert as Deer Activity Peaks
Deer are becoming increasingly active this time of year and with daylight-saving time set to end on November 1, 2026, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is urging motorists to slow down and remain vigilant on the roads.
Autumn marks a surge in deer activity as the fall breeding season, known as the “rut,” approaches. During this period, many yearling bucks leave their birth areas in search of new territory, sometimes dozens of miles away. At the same time, adult bucks are actively roaming their home ranges in pursuit of doe, often chasing those they encounter.
The end of daylight-saving time means more vehicles will be on the road during dusk and dawn, which are the peak hours for deer movement.
“The rut is an exciting time for hunters but needs to be a time of heightened awareness for drivers,” said Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith. “Whitetails are ramping up their activity levels and expanding their home ranges, so it’s imperative that motorists exercise increased caution and attentiveness during this time of year.”
Data from around the country has shown that Pennsylvania drivers face some of the highest risks of vehicle collisions with deer or other large animals. However, drivers can reduce their chances of collisions with deer by staying alert, obeying the state’s cell phone laws and understanding deer behavior. Paying close attention while driving on stretches marked with “Deer Crossing” signs can make a difference.
Deer often travel in groups and walk single file. So even if one deer successfully crosses the road in front of a driver, it doesn’t mean the threat is over. Another could be right behind it.
A driver who hits a deer with a vehicle is not required to report the accident to the Game Commission. If the deer dies, only Pennsylvania residents may claim the carcass. To do so, they can call the Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-HUNT or 1-833-PGC-WILD and an agency dispatcher will collect the information needed to provide a free permit number, which the caller should write down.
A resident must call within 24 hours of taking possession of the deer. A passing Pennsylvania motorist also may claim the deer, if the person whose vehicle struck it doesn’t want it.
Those taking possession of road-killed deer are reminded that rules related to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) are still in effect.
If a deer is struck by a vehicle but not killed, drivers are urged to maintain their distance because some deer might recover and move on. However, if a deer does not move on or poses a public safety risk, drivers are encouraged to report the incident to the Game Commission or another law-enforcement agency. If the deer must be put down, the Game Commission will direct the proper person to do so.
To report a dead deer for removal from state roads, motorists can call the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation at 1-800-FIX-ROAD.
Posted 10-23-26
Made by God
By Steven Brodsky
… is the very impressive oak tree pictured here:
Photo by Steven Brodsky
The poet Joyce Kilmer (December 6, 1886 – July 30, 1918) would agree: His poem “Trees” states that “only God can make a tree.”
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Corry State Fish Hatchery in Erie County has been operating for 150 years
By Steven Brodsky
The 150th anniversary of the Corry State Fish Hatchery is spotlighted in a Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission news release.
I’m sharing this excerpt from that news release:
Corry, PA (October 15) – Quite the milestone for the Corry State Fish Hatchery in Erie County today, as the facility celebrated its 150th anniversary. The hatchery was founded in 1876 as the ‘Western Hatchery’ and is the oldest continuously operating hatchery in the Fish and Boat Commission’s hatchery system. Staff at the Corry hatchery raise more than 330 thousand Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Golden Rainbow Trout each year, accounting for about ten-percent of the state’s stocked trout. The occasion was marked by a walking tour and proclamations from Governor Josh Shapiro and the state Senate and House of Representatives. The Corry State fish hatchery operates 365 days a year, even on holidays, and is open daily from 8am to 3pm for public tours.
Posted 10-16-26
A ‘Do Not Eat’ advisory has been issued by the Pennsylvania Departments of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Health and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) that extends to all species of fish within the entire Wissahickon Creek Basin
By Steven Brodsky
This news release was issued by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC):
HARRISBURG, Pa. (October 7) –The Pennsylvania Departments of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Health and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) have issued a “Do Not Eat” advisory for all species of fish in the Wissahickon Creek Basin, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, due to the high levels of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS). PFOS, a “forever chemical,” was found in sampled fish tissue above the 0.04 parts per million “Do Not Eat” advisory level.
The “Do Not Eat” advisory extends to all species of fish within the entire Wissahickon Creek basin.
Because of this consumption advisory, the PFBC has canceled a trout stocking that was scheduled for October 15, 2026, on Wissahickon Creek, Section 04, in Philadelphia. To address the loss of angler opportunity on this stream and gather public input on future options for stocked trout management on Wissahickon Creek, the PFBC will hold a public meeting on Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 6-7 p.m. at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, located at 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road, Philadelphia, PA 19128.
PFOS is one of a group of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemical substances (PFAS) that readily build up in fish tissue. Pennsylvania’s Fish Consumption Advisory Program has been evaluating sport-caught fish in Pennsylvania waters for various contaminants, including Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, and heavy metals. Pennsylvania recommends different quantities and frequencies for fish consumption based on the species and where it is caught. Pennsylvania began collecting fish tissue samples to test for PFOS to incorporate those findings into the recommendations. Levels detected in fish tissue sampled from Wissahickon Creek were over the 0.04 parts per million (40.0 ng/g) “Do Not Eat” advisory level.
The breached Hoffman’s Mill dam on the Brandywine Creek in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania has been removed
By Steven Brodsky
… Hooray!
The site of the dam removal project as it appeared on October 6, 2026:
Photo courtesy of the Brandywine Conservancy
Before sharing an excerpt from a Brandywine Conservancy news release about the completion of the dam removal project, I’ll make this recommendation to readers of this column: don’t miss the exhibition By Design: The Worlds of Betsy James Wyeth at the Brandywine Museum of Art.
By Design: The Worlds of Betsy James Wyeth will remain on view at the Brandywine Museum of Art through January 10, 2027.
From the aforementioned Brandywine Conservancy news release:
Chadds Ford, PA, October 7, 2026 — A stretch of the Brandywine Creek in Chadds Ford is now flowing freely again following the removal of Hoffman’s Mill dam, a late-19th-century low head dam located just upstream from the U.S. Route 1 bridge in Chadds Ford and Pennsbury Townships. The work to remove the breached dam completes a nearly six-year effort led by the Brandywine Conservancy.
Originally built to power Hoffman’s Mill—now part of the Brandywine Museum of Art—the dam supported an active sawmill until the mid-20th century. In recent decades, it served no functional purpose and was breached on its western side. The Conservancy began evaluating the removal of the dam in 2020 and concluded it would be a net benefit to the Creek and the surrounding community. The dam removal will: improve safety and recreation by eliminating a hazard for paddlers, tubers, and other users of the Creek who needed to portage around the dam to continue downstream; restore aquatic habitat and fish migration previously blocked by the dam; and help reduce flooding in the Chadds Ford area. With no real storage reservoir, the dam trapped debris carried by floodwaters—increasing the artificial height of the impediment—which exacerbated flooding events in Chadds Ford and upstream of the dam. The removal of the dam was also identified as a recommended flood mitigation project in the 2025 Brandywine Flood Study—published and led by the Conservancy in partnership with Chester County Water Resources Authority and University of Delaware Water Resources Center.
“After nearly six years of planning, design work, and permitting, it’s incredibly rewarding to see the removal of the dam and the Brandywine Creek returning to its natural free-flowing state,” said Rob Daniels, project manager and Assistant Director of Community Services at the Brandywine Conservancy. “Freeing this stretch of the Creek benefits our broader mission and some of our ongoing efforts to improve recreational access to the Brandywine, lesson flooding in the Chadds Ford area, and to assist in a regional effort to facilitate the migration of American shad up the Brandywine to spawn, a migration pattern that has been stalled since the first dams were constructed in Wilmington, DE back in the early 1700s.”
“This project is a win for everyone who loves the Brandywine Creek, from the paddlers and anglers who use it to the neighbors who live alongside it and the fish and wildlife that call it home,” said Grant DeCosta, Director of the Brandywine Conservancy. “We’re grateful to our funders, partners, and broader community who have helped make this long-awaited moment possible.”
The dam removal project was funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Chadds Ford Township, and Pennsbury Township. Engineering consultant Ramboll provided design services, guided the extensive permitting process in partnership with Conservancy staff, and oversaw the construction work. Stonewood Landshaping, a firm experienced in stream restoration and stormwater projects, conducted the dam removal.
The Conservancy coordinated with a variety of stakeholders in the vicinity of the dam site, including the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, PECO, and the East Penn Railroad. As part of the larger permitting process, input was also sought from both Townships, the Chadds Ford Historical Society (a neighbor of the project), the Chester County Planning Commission, and the Delaware County Planning Department.
To honor the site’s history, the Conservancy documented the dam with photography and video and is evaluating ways to reuse materials from the site. The Conservancy will also develop educational opportunities to share the history of Hoffman’s Mill dam and the role it played in the Chadds Ford area.
Posted 10-9-26
In God’s timing
By Steven Brodsky
… leaves of deciduous trees are displaying vibrant autumn colors.
Hallelujah for God’s timing and for the beautiful foliage of autumn!
… this garter snake appeared to be using a shrub as an ectotherm’s equivalent of a hammock:
Photo by Steven Brodsky
The garter snake wasn’t being sluggish (not-so-good pun alert: slugs are part of its diet) on what was a hot afternoon. It was thermoregulating on top and among the branches and leaves of a shrub.
Nearby, humans were drinking cold beverages while resting on hammocks, chaise lounges, and lawn chairs when they weren’t taking refuge in airconditioned rooms.
Posted 8-27-26
Lovely
By Steven Brodsky
… you might agree, is this exquisite butterfly chrysalis:
Photo by Steven Brodsky
Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Posted 7-30-26
On a dog day afternoon
By Steven Brodsky
… these world-class foxhounds enjoyed the thrill of the chase:
Photo by Steven Brodsky
The foxhounds were doing what they were bred and trained to do; lucky dogs they were (and are).
Enjoy the photo on a dog day afternoon (or at any other time) from the comfort of your home.
Posted 7-13-26
Reminding us of the pleasure of spreading one’s ‘wings’ in the great outdoors
By Steven Brodsky
Photo by Steven Brodsky
… is the cormorant pictured above.
In the coming weeks, many people will be spreading their wings while engaging in outdoor recreation (re-creation)!
Posted 7-6-26
It’s a season to enjoy the great outdoors
By Steven Brodsky
Photo by Steven Brodsky
… God’s creation, the natural world.
May this also be a season for many people to come to know God as their Lord and Savior.
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.
