Destination: Wildlife

07/17/2026

This June, Destination: Wildlife traveled to 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗮, with a small group of conservation-concerned wolf lovers to witness firsthand how scientists gather data for wolf studies. We shadowed ( and learned from) Kayla Frett and her 𝗞𝟵 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 dogs. That's Barley showing us where to find a wolf "deposit."

S**t can offer a wealth of information, including diet and prey preferences, and for the 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗼 𝗪𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀, DNA from collected s**t (p**p) will also help determine their health status, number, and whether the population is large enough for healthy breeding. But first, you have to find the wolf deposit! K9 Conservationist dog, Barley, is a master finder!

K9 Conservationist sniffer dogs find the evidence that can tell the wolf story.

Thank you to Kayla Frett and K9 Conservationists for allowing us to shadow them and for sharing their amazing work!

Interested in wildlife adventure that helps to protect wildlife and their habitat by giving back 10% to conservation? Contact us

07/15/2026

Can 𝙙𝙤𝙜𝙨 help to save 𝙬𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨? Yes, if they are assisting scientists in learning about wolves' prey preferences, health, and other needs.

Destination: Wildlife took a small group to Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, to shadow Kayla Frett and her K9 Conservationist Dog, Skipper, on her multiyear mission to learn about the habits and health of the island’s Alexander Archipelago wolves. The more we know about the wolves, the more we can protect them.

Interested in joining us on our next wildlife adventure? Contact me through the Destination: Wildlife website.


K9 Conservationists Discover POW Island Alaska

07/12/2026

𝗩𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 (𝑷𝒐𝒐𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒖𝒔) is not just another “little brown job.” The Vesper Sparrow is a true 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱 and the only member of its genus, Pooecetes, meaning "grass dweller"! And they are the first to disappear when the grasslands they need are developed or turn into forest. Because of their shrinking grassland habitat, Vesper Sparrow populations are rapidly decreasing.

The Vesper Sparrow sings well into dusk, hence its name. Look for the distinctive white eye ring and, when in flight, its white tail feathers.

Read how the Grassland Bird Trust is preserving vital habitat for grassland birds in New York State on the Destination: Wildlife website.
https://zurl.co/WkagO

Thanks to for his beautiful photography.



Grassland Bird Trust Washington County NY Tourism

07/09/2026

𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸 (𝑺𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒏𝒂) is a year-round resident in America’s warmer, eastern states, but breeds in New York State, where this one was photographed. They are 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱s, dependent on rapidly shrinking grasslands – and so their populations are also rapidly shrinking.
Look for them on fenceposts along pastures and fields. They love to sit atop a post and send their lovely song across the open spaces.

𝙁𝙪𝙣 𝙁𝙖𝙘𝙩 : Meadowlarks are not Larks, but are part of the Blackbird family!

Thanks to for his beautiful photography.

Read how the Grassland Bird Trust is preserving vital habitat for grassland birds in New York State on the Destination: Wildlife website
https://zurl.co/aiz2L

# Washington County NY Tourism

07/07/2026

𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗿 (𝑨𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒖𝒔) They are not just shorebirds! Look for them along river, stream, and lake edges, too. You’ll recognize their never-still teetering motion.

Spotted Sandpiper ladies have an unusual approach to family life. They mate with up to four males. Each male builds a nest into which the female deposits her eggs. She then leaves the males to incubate them and raise the chicks – although some of the females stick around and help a little.

The Spotted Sandpiper is another bird whose population traditionally spans across the US but is in steep decline due to habitat loss.
Read how the Grassland Bird Trust is preserving vital habitat for grassland and other birds in New York State.
https://zurl.co/KW8Wt

Thanks to for his beautiful photography.

07/05/2026

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆!
The 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗘𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗲 (𝙃𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙪𝙘𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙨) is ONLY found in North America. Since 1782, they have been the United States' (unofficial) national bird and symbol and finally gained official status on December 24, 2024, when President Joe Biden signed it into law.

This majestic bird is also one of our greatest stories of conservation's power. It was nearly extinct due to the use of DDT on our croplands. The chemical made their (and other birds') eggshells too weak for incubation – no chicks survived. From many thousands of pairs in 1776, by the 1960s there were only 417 pairs in the entire lower 48 states – and zero pairs in New York and Pennsylvania.

Today they are back!
This pair are resident breeders in Washington County New York

Thanks to for his beautiful photography.

07/03/2026

The 𝗨𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗿 (𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙖) is a true 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱 and avoids wetlands! They strut through prairies, pastures, and other grasslands looking for grasshoppers and other insects. They are so connected with grasslands that they are considered an indicator bird – meaning the health of an ecosystem can be judged by their presence, or lack of presence.

The Upland Sandpiper was a bit of a puzzle for taxonomists and was called Upland “Plover” until 1973!

Read how the Grassland Bird Trust is preserving vital habitat for grassland birds in New York State.
https://zurl.co/rQLYY

Thanks to good friend, Gordon Ellmers, for his wonderful photography!

07/02/2026

𝘽𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠, (𝘿𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙮𝙭 𝙤𝙧𝙮𝙯𝙞𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙪𝙨)
IUNC listed: Near Threatened and Decreasing. 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱. How to identify a Bobolink? It looks very much like a bird wearing a backward tuxedo! The males have a distinctive buttercup cap on, too. During breeding season, these birds will have you fascinated for hours with their mating dances along the top of tall grass – perfect height for observing!
These are long-range migrants – traveling up to 12,500 miles / 20,000 km from their wintering grounds in South America to breeding grounds in the north – including Washington County, New York

Read how the Grassland Bird Trust is preserving vital habitat for grassland birds in New York State. Read how the Grassland Bird Trust is preserving vital habitat for grassland birds in New York State. https://zurl.co/QxUEx

Thanks to for his beautiful photography. Grassland Bird Trust

The Grassland Bird Trust and clean energy company, Boralex, reached a compromise that will benefit people, the earth, and especially threatened grassland birds. Read the about the agreement and see images of the birds

07/01/2026

We have been friends for years, and I STILL don't know what will happen next when I'm with Wendy Stuart!! 𝙒𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮

Get the backstory on Destination: Wildlife and this city girl trekking the wilds for conservation, biodiversity, and a healthier future for all of us. From Alaska to Uganda to the mountains of Colombia - Hey! If she can do it - so can you!

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 (𝗼𝗵 𝗻𝗼!!!!) 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝘆𝗺 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗻 "𝑰𝒇 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝑾𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑻𝒂𝒍𝒌" 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟬𝟭 𝗮𝘁 𝟮 𝗣𝗠 𝗘𝗦𝗧! 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗢𝗥 𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸.

She's The Last Model Standing Destination: Wildlife Pangea Restaurant
Tune in here!
https://zurl.co/BJ9YY

06/28/2026

𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥, 𝙄 𝙎𝙏𝙄𝙇𝙇 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄'𝙢 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙒𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙮 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙩!
Join me LIVE (oh no!!!!) with Wendy Stuart and Tym Moss on "If These Walls Could Talk" Wednesday, July 01 at 2 PM EST! wherever you get your podcasts OR on Facebook.

Get the back story on Destination: Wildlife and this city girl trekking the wild for conservation, biodiversity, and a healthier future for all of us. From Alaska to Uganda and the mountain of southern Colombia - hey! If I can do it, so can you!! https://zurl.co/BJ9YY

She's The Last Model Standing Destination: Wildlife Pangea Restaurant