A series of public meetings has been scheduled to discuss a proposal to run a 500 kilovolt transmission line across the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, the Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recrational River, and through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Over the years there has been passing interest to a wild and scenic corner of West Virginia being added to the National Park System, and in the coming weeks the National Park Service will begin to take a look to see if the area in question is suitable for inclusion.

This past year we started a bimonthly column on birding in the national parks, which is a great way to enjoy the parks while learning more about the hundreds of species that flit about the National Park System. Here's a look back at those columns.