Tag Archives: wildlife

Taxonomy By Night

Posted on January 17, 2013 by newenglandkiwi

We had a brief thaw here last week, enough to melt almost all the snow (though it was replenished quickly enough). Turns out one of the side-effects of “warm” (translation: above freezing) temperatures and low winds on an area with … Continue reading →

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Lovecraft Country

Posted on October 22, 2012 by newenglandkiwi

It’s nearly impossible to overemphasize the importance of Hallowe’en in the American holiday calendar. I don’t know how it plays out in California or Mississippi or Florida – places where the days are longer and the trees greener in October … Continue reading →

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Public Spaces

Posted on June 19, 2012 by newenglandkiwi

New England is so crowded by American – and Kiwi – standards that I have trouble believing sometimes that Massachusetts really is the ridiculous percentage forest that it is, although it’s helped somewhat by the American habit of building houses … Continue reading →

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Fall

Posted on October 3, 2011 by newenglandkiwi

It’s officially fall autumn dammit autumn here in New England, now the autumn equinox has been and gone. I was interested to discover the other day that I am not the only one who thinks the American season-marking system is a … Continue reading →

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Summer

Posted on May 22, 2011 by newenglandkiwi

It’s now pretty officially summer at UMass, even though it technically doesn’t start until, what, the 21st of June? (I am never going to get used to this “starting seasons on the solstice” thing, seriously.) The undergrads have all cleared … Continue reading →

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It Just Bugs Me

Posted on May 15, 2011 by newenglandkiwi

I can’t remember exactly where I saw this, but sometime last year, when we got to Massachusetts, I was told or read a joke about the four seasons in New England: snow season, mud season, bug season, and tourist season. … Continue reading →

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Oh, Christ

Posted on April 21, 2011 by newenglandkiwi

One thing I’m really missing about home this week is the anticipation of the long Easter weekend – although it’s the beginning of proper warm weather here, rather than the last blush of anything resembling summer, a four-day weekend seems … Continue reading →

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Tweet

Posted on December 11, 2010 by newenglandkiwi

It’s getting really rather cold here – colder than usual for this time of year, in fact. Yesterday morning it was minus fifteen when I left the house (Celsius, not Farenheit – it’s not that bad yet). The campus pond … Continue reading →

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I Do Science

Posted on October 31, 2010 by newenglandkiwi

Or, more accurately: I talk science. The Ridge 2000 conference has now concluded, which means I have been allowed out of the (admittedly extremely nice) hotel we’re having it in to see Portland in daylight before I fly back home … Continue reading →

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Seasons

Posted on September 26, 2010 by newenglandkiwi

It seems only yesterday that I was complaining about a summer heatwave, but it’s definitely autumn now – the morning air has taken on that crisp quality, and the leaves on the trees are turning russet and gold and orange.The … Continue reading →

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