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Well, the 2007 Edition of the Waterman & Hill-Traveller's Companion aka The Nature Almanac is now out! If you visit this site even occasionally you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy since this site merely complements the printed version of the Almanac.

This year – in addition to the comprehensive Nature Almanac – we have sections on History (& salt), on Gardening, and on Weather Folklore.

We have an interesting mix of guest writers, on subjects as diverse as Blackberries and Illinois sightings of the Ivory-Bill Woodpecker,

For those who fish we have articles on Snapping Turtles and Narrow-mouthed Toads, and an expert angler on fishing for catfish.

And this year we have a special section on Weird Egypt. Funny, Jim's also written a book on that subject. Learn all about the new book on its own website, WeirdEgypt.com.

So order a copy of the Almanac today on-line or visit one of the numerous locally-owned shops in our area that distribute the Almanac and be prepared for days (some folks claim weeks but I think they're just slow readers) of more diverting, entertaining and educational facts on the natural world in our neck of the woods than you ever thought existed!

Highlights of the 2007 WHTC Nature Almanac

The Truth About Weather Lore

Award-winning amateur meteorologist Steve Gottschalk has been collecting weather sayings and tracking the weather in his native Iowa for most of his life. Recently he's taken to comparing the folklore predictions against the actual weather and come up with some surprising results.

The Washington Eagle

Did a third species of eagle used to live in North America only to die out shortly after the arrival of the European settlers? Audubon. (and contemporary ornithologists as well) thought so and documented this giant eagle - North America's largest - in scrupulous detail. Scott Maruna has uncovered this all but forgotten chapter in the great naturalist's life and shares his findings in this fascinating article.

Ivory-bills in Illinois?

Two years ago the ornithological world was rocked by the announcement of the Ivory billed Woodpecker's rediscovery in Arkansas on the Cache River. Much closer to home — on our own Cache River in Johnson County — birding sleuth Jesse Gilsdorf believes he's located the birds again! Sightings, tell-tale scalings and recorded calls of what can only be Ivory-bills makes this fascinating article very provocative reading.

The Silverbell Tree

An interesting and informative article on one of the rarest trees in Illinois - the Carolina Silverbell. Local naturalist Bob Dunlap of Paducah has tracked them to a Preserve just outside of Metropolis and gives us the low down on this charming - but unfortunately rare - member of our flora.

Weird Egypt

Did you ever wonder where ghosts come from? What they're up to? Or why here? Your indefatigable (but stubborn, opinionated and bilious) editor believes he's found the answer - or part of it -and in the process has uncovered some little-known geological phenomena that go a long way toward explaining why Egypt is as weird as it actually is. In fact, he's written a book about it, called - you guessed it! - Weird Egypt. The new book has its own homepage, WeirdEgypt.com, but you can get a preview of his findings here ... strange but true!

Contents of the 2007 WHTC Nature Almanac

Weather Folklore

The Truth about Weather Sayings by Steve Gottschalk

Steve shares (and tests) the truth about weather folklore

The One True, Correct and Infallible Way to Read a Wooly Worm

A reprint from our very first commercial edition ... but it works!

The Robin as Weather Forecaster

Steve concurs - Robins do know the coming weather ...

Winter Weather Forecasting

Persimmons may be a noble fruit but abject failures as weather prophets

The Astronomical and Natural Events Almanac

How to Use

The Almanac Pages

More Guest Writers

The Washington Eagle by Scott Maruna

Audubon identified a third species of eagle, but was it a real species?

Ivory-bills in Illinois? by Jesse Gilsdorf

For an extinct bird, this one sure gets around

Rara Avis

... and the only thing we're certain of is our ignorance.

The Carolina Silverbell by Bob Dunlap

A tree grows in (or at least near) Metropolis

Wild Blackberries by Mick Youther

In spite of ticks, chiggers and poison ivy, they're worth it!

Natural History

A Natural History of Poison Ivy

If you're going for blackberries it pays to know your enemy!

Possums and Rabies

If they only had a brain ...

The Fishing Section

A Natural History of the Snapping Turtle

Short fuse + Ill-temper = Handle With Care

Narrow-mouthed Toads

Seldom seen and little known

How to Use the Animal Activity Almanac

for fish ... and it works!

Moon Fishing Almanac

Catfish by Mike Stearns

Once again Mike shares his expertise and secrets

History

The Gallatin Salines

An unfortunate and sordid business from Illinois' earliest days

The French Occupation of Equality

An unexcavated (and nearly unknown) early French settlement

Other Salt Springs in the Region

So that's why that town is there!

Making Your Own Salt

Create your own do-it-yourself salt mine ...

Va Bache

A crucial but little-known event that stopped the French in their tracks

The Gardening Section

Priscilla's Hollyhocks

Priscilla is long gone but her flowers remain

Heirloom Vegetables

Preserving our future by preserving the past

Succession by Ray Hunter

Rayon the cycles of Nature

Standard Planting Guides

Zodiac Planting Guide

Planting by the signs - when and how

Why Trees Go Hollow

Hollowness in trees is no accident

Weird Egypt

Our Faults

Is there a connection between faults and ghosts?

Spooklight Hill, Indiana

More earth lights and lost heads ... go figure ..

... and Yet More Earth Light Locations

Will we ever find them all?

The Very Strange Encounter of Claude Tanner

Was it an omen or did he die of fright?

The Hamp Mine Monster

What's going on in Hardin County?

The Most Haunted Place in Union County

Bogers and haints from the Civil War era

(And if that's not enough weirdness for you,

Check out Jim's new book, Weird Egypt, the Case for Supernatural Geology, at WeirdEgypt.com)

The Last Page

On the Official Recognition of Cougars

Cougars? What Cougars? We don't see no Cougars.

2007 WHTC is only $5.95.

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Please note that the information in the WHTC is tailored to Southern Illinois, Southwest Indiana, Western Kentucky, and Southeast Missouri.

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