Two weeks in a row my missive contains an apology. No, I will NOT forget a jigsaw puzzle this week but I do need to apologize for the shortness of the message.

Tuesday, as you will recall, marks the return of our Awards Banquet and, well, it's been a pretty crazy week getting ready. I just haven't had time or focus for our Loyal Readers and for that I apologize. We'll hit a few highlights and promise to work on doing better next week! 

A second apology goes to visitors this week to our Exploring PA Parks and Forests Book of Faces group. Apparently while we were focusing so intently on getting all the banquet pieces in place some nefarious posters slipped into the page and posted objectionable content. I didn't see it but we did eventually get complaints directly to the administrators (us) - it was removed and the poster (and some others who seemed potentially harmful) were blocked and banned. We really want to keep that page public so anyone can enjoy the park and forests photos that are shared there. All we ask is that to join you answer a few simple questions to assure us that you are real. A few got through without that threshold. We had some additional volunteers step forward to help us monitor and for that we are grateful!

Grateful, too, that this week saw a serious return to spring. Snow is gone - I hesitate to say "for good this spring" - and the greens are a welcome sight! So is the masthead view of a Susquehannock State Park sunset from Hawk Point Overlook. 

As we visit Little Buffalo State Park early in the week for the banquet, we hope you will be sharing that "I Love My State Parks" all next week with your posts and shares and hashtags. Don't forget to check in our social media for lots of goodies as the week goes on.

I hope I don't "scoop" Tasha TOO much with this but a series of "Insider View" posts will be among those included. Check out this one from the Friends of Laurel Hill! (Click the pic to download a version in English and Spanish.)

Share your adventures to socials with #ILoveMyStateParks #ILoveMyStateParksWeek #NASPF

These are a few of our favorite things: Water. Birds. Mom!

Celebrate this weekend. Take Mom birding on Saturday and to her favorite state park on Sunday.

The theme for World Migratory Bird Day this year is indeed water, with the Spring day on Saturday (return for Fall migration in October). 

Water is fundamental to life on our planet. The vast majority of migratory birds rely on aquatic ecosystems during their life cycles. Inland and coastal wetlands, rivers, lakes, streams, marshes, and ponds are all vital for feeding, drinking, or nesting, and also as places to rest and refuel during their long journeys.

Unfortunately, aquatic ecosystems are becoming increasingly threatened around the world and so are the migratory birds that depend on them. The increasing human demand for water, as well as pollution and climate change, are having a direct impact on the availability of clean water and the conservation status of many migratory birds.

Thank you to the Friends of the Delaware Canal for sharing their anniversary video and a beautiful history lesson. Happy 40th anniversary, Friends!

Visual trivia again this week. If you're on the Book of Faces at all, you're likely to see a shot of one of these guys. And if you're lucky, you see the real thing when you're out hiking like Calvin Dziewulski did recently at McConnells Mill when he spotted Exhibit A on the left. 

Who's older? Exhibit A or Exhibit B?

Enter each week to increase your chances of a fabulous prize at the end of the month when I'll draw one entry from all correct answers received during the month.

Green boxes are pictures and news. Blue boxes (events) will be back next week. Check out the DCNR Calendar of Events in the meantime and you'll know what's what.

May 16 - Love a Tree Day
Poem by Angie Weiland-Crosby