by Sarah Treanor Bois, Director of Research & Education for the Linda Loring Nature Foundation According to Butterflies and Moths of North America (butterfliesandmoths.org) there are 172 species of moths and butterflies that have been documented from Nantucket County. As such, that means there are that many caterpillars out and […]
Island Science
Astronomical Show on Nantucket
by Sanibel Chai The total solar eclipse occuring this Monday, August 21 is particularly rare because it is the first time the path of totality exclusively crosses the continental United States from coast to coast in nearly a century—the last time was on June 8, 1918. It is also the […]
A Whale of an Auction
Sunday, August 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) will hold a reception and auction highlighting the dangers of plastic flotsam in our oceans through sculptures made from plastic beach trash. The auction will be held at the MMA’s property located at 33 Washington Street, […]
Fighting a Beautiful Devil
by Sarah Treanor Bois, Director of Research & Education for the Linda Loring Nature Foundation Along some sandy roadsides and ruderal areas right now, you can see a tall, herbaceous plant with many small purple flower heads in bloom. Reminding many people of thistles, these beauties don’t boast any thorns, […]
Meteors This Week, Eclipse Next
by Sanibel Chai Though the Great American Eclipse will be visible at midday in Nantucket on August 21, the island is not in the path of totality. This means we will only observe a partial solar eclipse. If you are looking for a nighttime astronomical spectacle, the peak of the […]
Poison Ivy – A Master of Disguise
by Sarah Treanor Bois, Director of Research & Education for the Linda Loring Nature Foundation Poison ivy, Toxicodendron radicans, is a native, woody plant prevalent throughout Nantucket. As the name implies, it is “toxic” or “poisonous” to the touch for many of the public. While 85 % of Americans are […]
Foraging for Fruit
by Dr. Sarah T. Bois, Director of Research & Education for the Linda Loring Nature Foundation Berry season is upon us on Nantucket. While the strawberries have come and gone, there is a plethora of native, wild berries available for the picking. In and among the grasslands and heathlands of […]
The Low Down on What’s Up with Ticks
by Dr. Sarah T. Bois, Director of Research & Education for the Linda Loring Nature Foundation Ticks have become a fact of life for islanders and visitors. Once an uncommon occurrence, deer (or black-legged) ticks that carry Lyme’s disease are now found in more than half the counties in the […]
Angling Nantucket
by Dr. Sarah T. Bois, Director of Research & Education for the Linda Loring Nature Foundation Some may think of Captain Ahab and whaling when they think of Nantucket fishing tradition. However, there is a long history of fishing on Nantucket with many species available to catch (and eat!) today […]