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Posts by Melanie Smith

RTPI Celebrates 35 Years With 35 Stories in 2019

Posted on Mar 4, 2019

RTPI Celebrates 35 Years With 35 Stories in 2019

This year we mark a milestone in our journey together – our 35th anniversary. In 2019 we’ll celebrate with events, exhibits, giveaways, special giving opportunities, some surprises, and “35 Stories”; a collection of ideas, memories, experiences, and more, that make our journey together special…things from the past, some happening right now, and some yet to come. This year we will share our stories about what started it all, what got us here, how we have changed the world (with your help), hopes and dreams for the future, and more! We also want to hear YOUR...

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RTPI Presents ‘Roger Tory Peterson’s Penguins’ February 8 – May 5, 2019

Posted on Feb 6, 2019

RTPI Presents ‘Roger Tory Peterson’s Penguins’ February 8 – May 5, 2019

“’Comical’ – ‘Adorable’ – ‘The little fellow in the dress suit,’ et cetera. It is tempting to be anthropomorphic about penguins. Using human comparisons, it is easy to think of them as little clowns, the ridiculous dwarfs that enliven the circus, waddling with baggy pants across the arena for our amusement. They are far from that; they are not little people dressed in feathers. They are highly specialized birds dedicated to penguinism, a life molded by the cold impersonal sea, harsh climate, and the crowded colonies in which they reproduce.” Visit RTPI’s galleries beginning Friday, February...

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Pieces Comprising Alberto Rey’s “Extinct Birds Project” Exhibition and Publication are Available for Purchase at RTPI

Posted on Dec 12, 2018

Pieces Comprising Alberto Rey’s “Extinct Birds Project” Exhibition and Publication are Available for Purchase at RTPI

Alberto Rey’s Extinct Birds Project is comprised of a somber, beautiful exhibition showcasing his original paintings depicting the study skins of 18 now extinct bird species, and a companion publication which examines the collecting practices, causes for extinction, and politics of categorizing endangered birds. In addition to the poignant oil paintings which comprise the Extinct Birds Project exhibition, Alberto Rey created a series of watercolor illustrations for the companion publication by the same name. Many of the pieces created for the Extinct Birds Project are currently on display...

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Origins of the Holiday Turkey

Posted on Nov 19, 2018

Origins of the Holiday Turkey

With the holidays fast approaching, many folks are beginning to plan their requisite feasts with family and friends. The centerpiece for many a merry meal will undoubtedly be a turkey; indeed, Americans will consume nearly 50 million turkeys on Thanksgiving and about half as many on Christmas. Given that the average American consumes over 15 pounds of turkey each year, I thought it would be interesting to briefly explore the natural history of this ubiquitous bird. The domestic turkey that you buy in the grocery store is the same species as the wild turkeys that you might see strutting...

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RTPI Presents Traveler and Photographer Jeanne Wiebenga November 28 at 7pm

Posted on Nov 8, 2018

RTPI Presents Traveler and Photographer Jeanne Wiebenga November 28 at 7pm

Jeanne Wiebenga will share photographs and stories from her Antarctic journeys during a presentation at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute (RTPI) on November 28 at 7:00pm. The Antarctic Peninsula and the subantarctic island of South Georgia are near the top of Jeanne Wiebenga’s list of favorite places. Twice, eighteen years apart, she made the trip by boat from Argentina, most recently in 2016 with a group of photographers under leadership of Dutch National Geographic photographer Frans Lanting. In her mind, nothing on this planet compares to the vast, pristine, untouched Antarctic landscapes...

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