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Nature Notes by Bill Dunson

Home News & Blog Nature Notes by Bill Dunson

Bill Dunson, born in rural Georgia, skipped 12th grade and went directly to Yale. Bill subsequently received a PhD in Zoology from the University of Michigan, studying softshell turtles. Bill is Professor Emeritus of Pennsylvania State University thanks to a career spent entirely at that institution, teaching and doing research on the physiological ecology and ecotoxiciology of reptiles, amphibians and fish. Always curious about nature, Bill has dedicated his life to learning and sharing his knowledge with others. He has served on many advisory boards here in Southwest Florida to preserve the water that gives life to our region. Join Bill as he walks among wildlife and plant life throughout our neighborhoods here in Southwest Florida and his Virginia Farm. Each month we feature one of Bill’s fascinating and educational nature notes.

The Avian Trans-Gulf Migrants Are Here!

April 12, 2024

We continue to have some very beautiful sunrises and this was the view April 6 from my

Springtime Nature in SW Florida

March 28, 2024

Now that we are clearly into springtime (I am writing this on March 26 with spring arriving

The Roles of Fire and Water As Major Determinants of Habitat Types in SW FL

March 16, 2024

In many parts of Florida fire is considered to be the major factor that determines the types

Spring Creeps in Gradually in SW FL

March 9, 2024

Spring is of course an astronomical phenomenon but in eastern N America we think of it more as an event

Winter Doldrums Not a Problem for Nature Lovers

February 20, 2024

You might think that mid-winter in SW FL would be rather bleak but such is not the case. Although few

Mid-Winter Nature Dazzles

February 7, 2024

Sunrises are each different and I never tire of watching the sun come up across Lemon Bay beyond our

Winter Tightens its Grip on Nature in SW Florida

January 24, 2024

In middle January we have had some very cool nights and windy days as weather fronts approach and pass

SW Florida Nature in December 2023

December 28, 2023

With all the talk about global warming and sea level rise it was interesting to have a very

Nature Notes By Bill Dunson

December 22, 2023

Dr. Bill Dunson is a long-time member of our LBC volunteer family. His volunteer roles include leading guided walks,

Nature Shines Just as Fall Expires

December 14, 2023

Late Fall is a time of minimal wild flowers in bloom perhaps due to the relative lack

The Nature of Florida as Winter Approaches

December 2, 2023

Although the first day of Winter is not until Dec. 21, we have had some very warm and some

The Nature of November in SW Florida

November 22, 2023

Rainbows are ephemeral and rarely seen, especially during the dry season, so this double circular rainbow seen on Nov. 15

Returning to Florida

November 8, 2023

After we have been away from our Florida property for six months, it with some uncertainty that we return

A Last Look at Nature in Early Fall Along the Haw River, NC

October 9, 2023

We are getting ready to migrate to FL along with some of the birds on Oct. 14. Since it

End of Summer Wonders of Nature, Haw River, NC

September 20, 2023

The end of Summer is a bittersweet time for the naturalist. Most animals have stopped breeding, birds are hardly singing,

The Flying Flowers of a NC Piedmont Summer

August 4, 2023

July is a peak season for perennial flowers and flowering shrubs and is thus a great time to observe butterflies.

A Random Nature Walk in Early Summer Along the Haw River, NC

July 9, 2023

There is much to see during a nature walk along the Haw River in middle to late June

Honeybee – Friend or Foe?

June 19, 2023

The honeybee Apis mellifera is native to Europe and was brought to N America in the 1600’s by

Wildlife Gardening in May Along the Haw River, NC

June 4, 2023

My philosophy of gardening has gradually morphed over the years from selecting plants that primarily please me to instead selecting

Nature in Late Spring Along the Haw River NC

May 12, 2023

Spring comes in many guises in the Piedmont lowlands of NC. It may be the passage of migratory birds, or

Fire and Drought Affect Nature in SW FL During the Dry Season

March 27, 2023

In middle to late March weather conditions in SW FL are becoming very dry. There is very

Early Spring on the Haw River in North Carolina

March 2, 2023

We spend most of our winters in SW FL, but this year we were at our new nature preserve along

Life Endures After the Storm

January 11, 2023

Life in our area of SW Florida changed dramatically on Sept. 28, 2022, when hurricane Ian passed though (slowly).

A Nature Walk in our New NC Haw River Backyard

November 19, 2022

My wife and I recently purchased two parcels of 36 acres total adjacent to the beautiful Haw River in Alamance

Aquatic Life in Our Haw River Backyard

August 5, 2022

At our new 36 acre private nature preserve along the Haw River near Graham, NC, there are a surprising variety

Summer Insects Astonish at my Haw River Wildlife Preserve

June 30, 2022

In middle to late June

Springtime Along the Haw River

May 31, 2022

We drove from FL to NC on April 9 planning to enjoy some of the natural pleasures of springtime at

Birding Bonanza at Drying Lemon Lake

April 4, 2022

Although the exact dates are unpredictable, it is certain that Lemon Lake will dry up possibly several times of year

Here Come the Pollinators

March 7, 2022

Finding butterflies and other pollinators is slim pickings in January and February in SW FL with recurring cold fronts and

Backyard Nature in SW FL in Late Winter

February 17, 2022

Winter definitely slows down nature watching in terms of total species to be seen, but there is still a good

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