As Nantucket Island prepares for its 69th annual Christmas Bird Count on December 31st, 2023, the call goes out to all bird and nature lovers—your help is needed! This event is a unique and festive way to celebrate Nantucket's spirit of giving and community. From its modest beginnings with three volunteers, this cherished tradition has flourished into a community-driven event with over 50 participants. Now, as we celebrate nearly seven decades of counting birds, we invite you to join the ranks and contribute to the success of this remarkable citizen science initiative.

It’s time to bring in the patio furniture, winterize faucets and dig out winter clothes from the back of the closet. As we ready ourselves and our homes for winter, nature is preparing for colder days too.

We know Nantucket is special for many reasons, among them the rich natural resources found here. The island is home to several rare species of birds, plants, and insects, and has large patches of habitat permanently protected. There are a number of organizations that serve as stewards of Nantucket’s natural resources, each with its own unique mission. The Nantucket Biodiversity Initiative is where all these groups come together in collaboration to accomplish more for our environment than any organization could alone.

As the leaves turn gold and the crisp autumn breeze sweeps across Nantucket Island, nature's eight-legged architects take center stage. Yes, we're talking about the often misunderstood and unfairly maligned creatures: spiders. Fall on Nantucket isn't just about pumpkin spice lattes and cozy sweaters; it's also spider season. Get ready for an arachnid adventure like no other! We're exploring the world of spiders found on Nantucket, including orb-weavers, funnel-weavers, wolves, and crabs.

Although the chill in the air is a trade-off, Nantucket’s most celebrated season is finally here! Yesterday, marked the beginning of recreational scallop season, a time-honored tradition loved by residents and visitors of all ages and backgrounds.

The secret is out: September is the best month to be on Nantucket. Most people will tell you this is the sweet spot of nice weather without hectic crowds- for the most part, anyway. Later this week is the first official day of fall. Time to break out maple, pumpkin and apple everything! At LLNF, we’re stoked for the astounding color that comes this time of year. New England has long been famous for stunning fall color, but Nantucket is often overlooked in this department. Fear not, we won’t miss out on the fun! Our landscapes will be changing dramatically in the coming weeks- here’s what to look for.

September is Climate Change Awareness Month on Nantucket. When we think of climate change on-island, many of us immediately think of erosion on the east and south coasts, flooding at certain roads, or too-hot summers. But there are other impacts to our island that are both directly and indirectly caused by our changing climate.

I equate the seasons to being like the flow of time throughout the day. Winter is the still, early hours when you are too cold to get out of bed; spring is the vibrant morning when everything seems full of life; summer is the hot midday; and fall is the beautiful, but ephemeral sunset. As we near the end of August and approach fall, now is the time to get your fill of warm-weather activities to make summer last a bit longer. One of Nantucket’s most unique summer activities is taking a nighttime swim in the bioluminescence.