Bernd Heinrich

Bernd Heinrich presented a talk for for Maine Audubon entitled "The Nexus of Art and Science." He spoke in Orrington on March 3, 2016. . Dr. Heinrich has spent decades studying birds and other wildlife, and sharing his findings and reflections in bestselling books. He is also an accomplished wildlife photographer, painter and sketch artist. By weaving together stories of his artwork and his field research, Dr. Heinrich’s talk will connect the scientific pursuits of biology and ecology with various forms of artistic expression

Sherry and I are huge groupies and were happy to tell him about the Hancock County Master Gardener Book Group. We read one of his books each year.

Naturalist Beginnings

1. I retired in October 2015 and spent the autumn days watching the leaves fall.

And looking at fungi in the woodpile.

And I saw some white stuff on an alder twig at the Great Pond Mountain Conservation trust greens gathering in the Wildlands. WTF is it? After some investigation, I find out. - wooly alder aphids (Paraprociphilus tessellatus).  Really?? Aphids?

 It is November 29, 2016 and I also see Cladonia cristatella, which is commonly known as the British soldiers lichen, 

And there is a stunning foliose lichen on a tree.

And February came and I was looking at catkins.

But I don't really understand what they do. They are purple and might be hanging on alders.

I have been accepted  into the Maine Master Naturalist Program. So now real learning will begin.