Friends of Goodwin Forest

09/07/2026

Some hearts see past appearances and simply say, “Your life matters too.”

09/07/2026

I am a dobsonfly. Up to five inches long, wings wider than your hand, and pincers that look like they belong in a fossil exhibit. The males have enormous curved mandibles that cross like swords. They look devastating. They are too long and too thin to generate any bite force.

The female has shorter, sharper mandibles and can pinch, but she won't seek you out. I'm a terrible flier, attracted to light, and I showed up because you left the light on. That's the whole story.

🐾 My adult life lasts about a week. I don't eat. I mate, lay eggs near running water, and die. The giant on your screen door is the finale, not the main act.

The main act was the three years I spent as a hellgrammite, an armored aquatic larva living under rocks in the creek behind your property. Three years underwater for one week with wings.

The monster on your screen door spent longer getting here than you've lived in this house 🐾

09/07/2026

09/07/2026

Save these dates, two full moons will light up the autumn sky.

The Harvest Moon arrives on September 26, 2026, followed by the Hunter’s Moon on October 26, 2026. Each full Moon will rise into an autumn landscape, creating two beautiful opportunities to step outside and watch the night sky.

The names come from traditional seasonal and agricultural traditions, not from different kinds of Moons. Look for the full Moon rising near the horizon around sunset, when its warm color can be especially noticeable.

Save this, best nights to observe are September 26 and October 26.

09/04/2026

🕷️ 10 Fascinating Wolf Spider Facts

1. They don’t spin webs to catch prey.
Wolf spiders are active hunters that chase and pounce on insects and other small creatures.

2. Mom carries her babies on her back. ❤️
After the spiderlings hatch, they climb onto their mother and ride around with her for days.

3. They have incredible eyesight. 👀
Their eight eyes help them detect movement, with their large front eyes particularly useful for hunting.

4. They hunt mostly at night. 🌙
Many wolf spiders become active after dark, searching the ground and vegetation for prey.

5. They can run surprisingly fast.
Their long, powerful legs make them excellent ground hunters.

6. They live almost everywhere.
Wolf spiders can be found in forests, grasslands, gardens, fields, deserts, and even around homes.

7. Some make burrows. 🕳️
Certain species create silk-lined retreats in the ground, while others hide beneath rocks, leaves, or debris.

8. They use silk—but not like web-building spiders.
Silk can be used to line shelters, create safety lines, and protect their egg sacs.

9. Their camouflage is part of their hunting strategy.
Their brown, gray, or patterned bodies help them blend into soil, leaves, bark, and other surroundings.

10. They’re helpful backyard predators. 🌿
Wolf spiders eat many insects and other small arthropods, making them natural members of the garden ecosystem.

The cutest part? A mother wolf spider can carry dozens of tiny spiderlings on her back while continuing to hunt. 🥹🕷️

09/04/2026

Thinking about taking your birdhouses down for winter?

You may want to leave them up.

After nesting season, some birdhouses get a second job: **winter shelter**.

Bluebirds, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, wrens, and small woodpeckers are among the cavity-using birds that may shelter in tree holes, nest boxes, or specially designed roost boxes during cold weather.

On especially harsh nights, several birds may even crowd into the same shelter to conserve heat.

For small birds, this can make a meaningful difference.

A chickadee has very limited energy reserves. During a freezing winter night, it may burn much of the fat accumulated during the day simply staying warm. Sheltered cavities help reduce exposure to wind, snow, and precipitation while birds use their feathers, metabolism, and even controlled drops in body temperature to conserve heat.

# # # A better fall birdhouse routine

**Leave the box up.**
It may provide winter shelter after nesting is finished.

**Clean it carefully.**
Once you're certain there is no active nest, remove old nesting material and debris. Mild detergent and water are usually sufficient. Heavily soiled boxes can be disinfected according to proper nest-box cleaning guidance.

**Repair leaks or loose parts.**
Winter shelter works best when it stays dry and secure.

**Reduce wind exposure.**
If practical, orient the entrance away from prevailing winter winds.

**Winterize only if appropriate.**
Cornell NestWatch suggests temporarily closing ventilation and drainage openings when converting a nest box specifically for winter roosting. Just remember to reopen them before the breeding season.

For an even better option, install a dedicated **roost box**. These can have a lower entrance, interior perching surfaces, and enough room for multiple birds.

Your whole yard can help, too.

Leave safe dead trees and snags where possible. Their old woodpecker holes and natural cavities are valuable wildlife shelters.

Grow dense native trees and shrubs, including evergreens that give birds protection from wind and snow.

And consider leaving a brush pile in a safe corner of the yard. Small birds can use it for shelter from storms and predators.

Not every bluebird migrates long distances, either. Depending on location, some remain relatively close to their breeding grounds, and young Eastern Bluebirds from later broods may stay with their parents through winter.

A birdhouse isn't necessarily finished working when nesting ends.

Sometimes it's just changing jobs.

09/04/2026

The deer frozen in your headlights isn’t being foolish. 🦌✨

Its eyes are built for low light, and when bright headlights suddenly hit, the intense light can overwhelm its vision. Freezing is also an ancient survival response—staying still can make it harder for predators to detect movement.

Unfortunately, headlights are a very modern problem for an instinct shaped over millions of years.

So if a deer appears in the road: slow down, stay alert, and give it time to move. ❤️

Sometimes what looks like confusion is simply ancient instinct meeting the modern world.

09/04/2026