Steve Prentice-Dunn
@stevep-d.bsky.social
Environmental and public lands advocate, Southwest archaeology student, retired psychology professor, weather geek, bird lover.
Two eastern bluebirds drinking water. One takes off.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
December 5, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Two eastern bluebirds drinking water. One takes off.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
The University of Arizona Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center has found a new jaguar in the United States. The jaguar was photographed on three different days in southern Arizona last month. This is the fifth jaguar known to be in Arizona since 2011.
December 4, 2025 at 12:02 AM
The University of Arizona Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center has found a new jaguar in the United States. The jaguar was photographed on three different days in southern Arizona last month. This is the fifth jaguar known to be in Arizona since 2011.
One of my favorite beers is this Belgian strong ale made with locally foraged native persimmons. It is available for only a few weeks a year and this is the first time it has been made in a couple of years. At almost 10% ABV, my backside is now firmly planted on the couch to enjoy it. Cheers!
December 1, 2025 at 2:56 PM
One of my favorite beers is this Belgian strong ale made with locally foraged native persimmons. It is available for only a few weeks a year and this is the first time it has been made in a couple of years. At almost 10% ABV, my backside is now firmly planted on the couch to enjoy it. Cheers!
Our low temperature was in the mid-20s last night and I forgot to take a small aerator out of the birdbath. This morning I have birdbath disk art.
November 28, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Our low temperature was in the mid-20s last night and I forgot to take a small aerator out of the birdbath. This morning I have birdbath disk art.
Laurie's family has a strong Norwegian heritage and a few years back my sister-in-law Wendy gave me this cap. Uffda ("OOF-dah") connotes surprise, bewilderment, and exasperation. I now recall Laurie’s mom mumbling it on more than a few occasions to react to something I did or said. 😊
November 23, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Laurie's family has a strong Norwegian heritage and a few years back my sister-in-law Wendy gave me this cap. Uffda ("OOF-dah") connotes surprise, bewilderment, and exasperation. I now recall Laurie’s mom mumbling it on more than a few occasions to react to something I did or said. 😊
Hangin with the trolls in Raleigh, NC. These five were created from recycled wood by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. We smiled the entire time we were in their presence.
November 21, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Hangin with the trolls in Raleigh, NC. These five were created from recycled wood by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. We smiled the entire time we were in their presence.
My view of Mule Canyon on Cedar Mesa, Southeastern Utah. October 2025. About to climb down to ledges below the rim on which Ancestral Puebloans built home sites. It was an honor to travel with their descendants, members of the Zuni and Hopi nations.
November 16, 2025 at 3:31 PM
My view of Mule Canyon on Cedar Mesa, Southeastern Utah. October 2025. About to climb down to ledges below the rim on which Ancestral Puebloans built home sites. It was an honor to travel with their descendants, members of the Zuni and Hopi nations.
The view from my tiny spot on this vast planet. Good morning, all.
November 16, 2025 at 11:37 AM
The view from my tiny spot on this vast planet. Good morning, all.
The squirrels and deer usually empty our Asian persimmon tree. For some reason they have passed it by this year and the result is a bumper crop, at last count over 120 of the tomato-size fruit.
November 14, 2025 at 10:32 AM
The squirrels and deer usually empty our Asian persimmon tree. For some reason they have passed it by this year and the result is a bumper crop, at last count over 120 of the tomato-size fruit.
Aurora Borealis last night from our back yard in Chapel Hill, NC.
November 12, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Aurora Borealis last night from our back yard in Chapel Hill, NC.
When my elephant's foot tree was given to me 53 years ago, it was 3 in. tall. This week it took three of us and an industrial-grade dolly to move it inside for the winter. My friend Keith said that we should always be kind to our elders, even those from another kingdom of life.
November 8, 2025 at 7:00 PM
When my elephant's foot tree was given to me 53 years ago, it was 3 in. tall. This week it took three of us and an industrial-grade dolly to move it inside for the winter. My friend Keith said that we should always be kind to our elders, even those from another kingdom of life.
The wave of chat bot letters to journal editors
The Editor Got a Letter From ‘Dr. B.S.’ So Did a Lot of Other Editors.
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:33 PM
The wave of chat bot letters to journal editors
Coletoons - John Cole political cartoons
November 7, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Coletoons - John Cole political cartoons
What a treat it is to check the daily news and smile. I had almost forgotten what that is like.
November 5, 2025 at 11:20 AM
What a treat it is to check the daily news and smile. I had almost forgotten what that is like.
When dogs come to visit, they always get treats. Humans?: Only if they sit, stay, and shake.
November 5, 2025 at 10:59 AM
When dogs come to visit, they always get treats. Humans?: Only if they sit, stay, and shake.
Interesting summary of the science along with some wise advice.
To optimize health, sync your habits with your body clock. Here's how
Scientists say the return to "standard time" is good for our health. But the time change can be disruptive and we must also adjust to more winter darkness. Syncing our habits to our body clock helps.
www.npr.org
November 3, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Interesting summary of the science along with some wise advice.
It’s high autumn here in Chapel Hill, NC.
November 3, 2025 at 10:44 AM
It’s high autumn here in Chapel Hill, NC.
I am beginning my 7th year of citizen science work for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Two days a week I am recording the birds I observe on and around my feeders. Observations are documented according to a strict protocol and my data are combined with those of others for a continent-wide picture.
November 2, 2025 at 10:59 PM
I am beginning my 7th year of citizen science work for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Two days a week I am recording the birds I observe on and around my feeders. Observations are documented according to a strict protocol and my data are combined with those of others for a continent-wide picture.
Laurie showed me a photo she took of one of our kitchen shelves. You know you are a veteran of Crow Canyon Archaeological Center trips when you amass these (and there are others floating around the house). Have water bottles, ready to travel.
November 1, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Laurie showed me a photo she took of one of our kitchen shelves. You know you are a veteran of Crow Canyon Archaeological Center trips when you amass these (and there are others floating around the house). Have water bottles, ready to travel.
Next addition to nature guides for reptiles
October 31, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Next addition to nature guides for reptiles
When I do my weekly volunteer work at the North Carolina Botanical Garden, one of my favorite plants to see is the carnivorous Whitetop pitcherplant (Sarracenia leucophylla). It’s in fine form right now.
October 30, 2025 at 10:55 AM
When I do my weekly volunteer work at the North Carolina Botanical Garden, one of my favorite plants to see is the carnivorous Whitetop pitcherplant (Sarracenia leucophylla). It’s in fine form right now.
Southeastern Utah, Bears Ears National Monument. October 2025.
October 24, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Southeastern Utah, Bears Ears National Monument. October 2025.
Two years today, Wes asked Grammy for help in decorating a cape for Halloween. Together they traced, cut, and placed letters on fusible web fabric and then ironed the letters on the cape. Presto-Chango and Wes had become the Spelling Wizard, because with the alphabet, he could cast "spells."
October 22, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Two years today, Wes asked Grammy for help in decorating a cape for Halloween. Together they traced, cut, and placed letters on fusible web fabric and then ironed the letters on the cape. Presto-Chango and Wes had become the Spelling Wizard, because with the alphabet, he could cast "spells."
