A simple place for essays, experiments, and useful ideas.
Notes and essays, organized by date.
New Jersey Wildlife
54 published posts.
April 4, 2026
A goldfinch held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New J…
March 2, 2026
A cardinal held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Je…
January 6, 2026
A catbird held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jer…
May 15, 2025
A mourning dove held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban N…
May 8, 2024
Saw a goldfinch near the road and almost missed it. It was there, then it was gone. The street felt a little less ordinary for about five seconds.
May 7, 2024
A cardinal held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Je…
January 25, 2024
Saw a blue jay near the road and almost missed it. It was there, then it was gone. The street felt a little less ordinary for about five seconds.
August 26, 2023
Saw a crow near the road and almost missed it. It was there, then it was gone. The street felt a little less ordinary for about five seconds.
July 27, 2023
Saw a catbird near the road and almost missed it. It was there, then it was gone. The street felt a little less ordinary for about five seconds.
June 24, 2023
A cardinal held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Je…
May 28, 2023
A heron had the whole block to itself for a moment. Nobody else seemed to notice. That made it better.
May 22, 2023
A crow by the curb made the traffic look briefly ridiculous. Then the light changed and everyone went back to their errands.
February 3, 2023
A crow held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jersey…
January 16, 2023
Saw a cardinal near the road and almost missed it. It was there, then it was gone. The street felt a little less ordinary for about five seconds.
December 28, 2022
A crow held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jersey…
August 21, 2022
A catbird held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jer…
July 8, 2022
A deer held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jersey…
June 15, 2022
A crow held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jersey…
February 7, 2022
A mourning dove held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban N…
January 21, 2022
A heron held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jerse…
December 30, 2021
A mourning dove held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban N…
November 11, 2021
A red-tailed hawk held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban…
November 5, 2021
A heron held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jerse…
November 3, 2021
A cardinal held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Je…
October 28, 2021
A crow held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jersey…
October 26, 2021
A mourning dove held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban N…
October 17, 2021
A red-tailed hawk held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban…
October 10, 2021
A blue jay had the whole block to itself for a moment. Nobody else seemed to notice. That made it better.
October 7, 2021
Saw a cardinal near the road and almost missed it. It was there, then it was gone. The street felt a little less ordinary for about five seconds.
September 26, 2021
A rabbit held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jers…
September 8, 2021
A red-tailed hawk held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban…
August 31, 2021
A rabbit held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jers…
August 22, 2021
A heron held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jerse…
August 15, 2021
A goldfinch held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New J…
July 13, 2021
A deer held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jersey…
June 30, 2021
A red-tailed hawk had the whole block to itself for a moment. Nobody else seemed to notice. That made it better.
June 20, 2021
A goldfinch held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New J…
May 13, 2021
A heron held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jerse…
April 2, 2021
A blue jay held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Je…
March 17, 2021
Saw a mourning dove near the road and almost missed it. It was there, then it was gone. The street felt a little less ordinary for about five seconds.
March 11, 2021
A catbird held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jer…
February 20, 2021
A blue jay held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Je…
February 10, 2021
A heron held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jerse…
February 4, 2021
A goldfinch held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New J…
January 18, 2021
A red-tailed hawk held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban…
January 16, 2021
A mourning dove had the whole block to itself for a moment. Nobody else seemed to notice. That made it better.
January 9, 2021
A rabbit had the whole block to itself for a moment. Nobody else seemed to notice. That made it better.
December 29, 2020
A deer held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jersey…
December 16, 2020
A blue jay held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Je…
November 18, 2020
Saw a goldfinch near the road and almost missed it. It was there, then it was gone. The street felt a little less ordinary for about five seconds.
November 13, 2020
A catbird by the curb made the traffic look briefly ridiculous. Then the light changed and everyone went back to their errands.
November 11, 2020
A rabbit held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jers…
November 9, 2020
A deer held still near the road longer than I expected. Traffic kept moving. A door shut somewhere. The bird or animal did not seem interested in becoming a lesson. That is probably why I noticed it. Suburban New Jersey…
November 6, 2020
The deer moved like it knew the schedule better than I did. I was late. It was not.