#36—Dogwoods And Hummingbirds: Sure Signs Of Spring

#42—Bats In Our Trees, But Not In A Belfrey

Thirty-two tiny teeth, paper-thin wings, and a life spent among the leaves—meet the Eastern Red Bat in Installment #42 of “This Week At Hilton Pond North.” Our latest podcast also talks about a Hooded Warbler, nestling Eastern Bluebirds, and a beetle whose wing covers resemble a Turkish rug, as well as our latest banding results. After listening, check out the photo essay at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260701.html Enjoy!

#41—Bears? Yes, We Have Bears. Lots!

Thanks to trail cams and personal observations we concluded “This Week at Hilton Pond North” we’re hosting at least EIGHT American Black Bears on our forested 35-acre property! These big furry mammals are out and about day and night, as described in our latest “Deep Dive” podcast. Give a listen and learn something new about these amazing wild creatures; then take a look at our bear videos in photo essay #41 at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260616.html that also includes info about recent bird banding and recaptures. Happy Nature Watching!

#40—Eastern Box Turtle: Mayapple's Designated Driver

Mayapple is a favorite native wildflower across the eastern U.S.; parts are highly toxic but many of its seeds are disseminated by box turtles. “This Week At Hilton Pond North” we discuss this complex relationship and talk about birds we’ve recently banded or recaptured, including Eastern Wood-Pewees and Gray Catbirds. All this and more in Podcast #40. After listening, check out the full photo essay at: https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260601.html Happy Listening!

#39—Black Bears, Coyotes, and More! Our Annual Trail Cam Special

Trail cameras offer a glimpse into the secret lives of wild creatures that often pass unnoticed in our forests. In this episode, we review highlights from our second annual collection of video clips recorded at Hilton Pond North, featuring mammals and birds ranging from Black Bears and Coyotes to White-tailed Deer and Red-tailed Hawks. We also summarize recent bird-banding activities and seasonal changes observed on our Blue Ridge Mountains study site. After listening, be sure to check out the full photo essay, complete with videos and photographs, at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260522.html.

#38—A Quintet Of New Warblers (Plus A Hummingbird Flower)

For a birder (or a bander) hardly anything is more enjoyable than spotting the first warblers of the new spring season. “This Week At Hilton Pond North” we showcase five of these colorful creatures, plus a couple of other migrants. There’s also an account of a much-overlooked native hummingbird flower you might plant, with our usual lists of all birds banded or recptured during the period. Learn about all this in our “Deep Dive” Podcast #38 for 6-21 May 2026. After listening you can view the complete photo essay at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260506.html Happy Nature Watching—And Listening!