A baby manatee is called a calf. The calf will stay close to the mother for one to two years to learn travel routes and the location of food, rest areas, and warm water refuges.

Juvenile Cooper's Hawks have yellow eyes. As they become adults, their eyes turn red.

Barn Swallows continue to feed fledglings for about a week after they have left the nest.

More than apples growing in the apple tree.

The Silver-spotted Skipper has compound eyes which give it ultra-violet perception to see patterns and lines leading it down the throat of a deep flower. It almost never visits yellow flowers but favors blue. I love the white map of West Virginia on this summer pollinator.

The female Ruby-throated Hummingbird has a white throat. Not only does she migrate thousands of miles, she does all parental care. She selects the nest site, builds the nest, incubates the eggs, and feeds the chicks. And, she may raise up to three broods per year.

The Eastern Chipmunk is basically a pygmy squirrel with large internal cheek pouches used for transporting food. This guy worked all day collecting sunflower seeds. Now he is resting in the sun for a few moments.

Barn Swallows build their nests out of mud. They carry the mud in their mouths and shape the nest into a cup lined with dried grass, feathers, and horsehair.

American toads can live almost anywhere. They are common in gardens and agricultural fields. During daylight hours they seek cover beneath porches,flat stones, boards, logs, wood piles, or other cover. This little fellow lives in this hole in our stone patio.

The Clouded Sulphur is one of the most widespread butterflies in North America. It is most abundant in hay fields, especially with alfalfa and clover.

The bright yellow feathers of the American Goldfinch occur right before mating season in late June or July when milkweed and thistle have produced plenty of seeds to feed their young. Until then, they love sunflower seeds from the feeder.

The Red-spotted Purple Admiral occurs in forests and woodlands and is typically on the wing in mid-June.

Schell House circa 1890

The Common Snapping Turtle is native to West Virginia. I found this one moving across the back of our property from the creek to the pond. Snapping turtles usually cover themselves in mud and wait for frogs or other aquatic prey to come along. They can live 30 to 50 years.

This pair of Gray Catbirds has a nest in the trumpet vine and they protect it with scolding and mewing notes. Catbirds have black caps and the male has bright rusty feathers under the tail. They often sing from a high perch that gives rise to the idiom, "sitting in the catbird seat," which refers to someone in an advantageous position.

Barn Swallow babies usually hatch in May. After they fledge in June, they perch on fences or rooftops and open their colorful mouths waiting for a parent to fly by with a feeding.

Red-tailed hawks are common in the Lost River Valley. They hunt from high perches over the open fields and swoop down to capture prey with a controlled dive and outstretched legs and talons.

Every spring I look out my kitchen window to see purebred Angus cows with their calves grazing in Branson's lush green pasture next door.

Lost City School. In 1892, Lost City became the site for a tannery, which requires water, wood for furnaces, and tannin from the bark of chestnut oaks. The town had 17 houses, stores, a barber shop, hotel, movie house, dance hall and a funeral parlor. Today, the old school is a community center which distributes clothing to families in need.