Autumn Meadowhawk
Here is that other fall dragonfly I was talking about earlier this week – the Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum). Their common name certainly reflects when they are sighted, and fiery red males like this one add a little pop to the decaying leaves as they devour the last of the flying insects, from moths to mosquitoes. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreRTPIOC Meeting Tonight
Looking for some plans this evening? Please join the Roger Tory Peterson Institute Ornithological Club and speaker Dr. Gerald Rising! Current Agenda When: Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at 7:00PM Announcements: RTPI and JAS activities Program: The Roger Tory Peterson Institute Ornithological Club will meet on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, at 7 pm in the meeting room as usual. This meeting will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of RTPIOC. Our speaker will be Dr. Gerald Rising, a nationally recognized educator and writer. He is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus at the...
Read MoreField Sparrow
The Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) is an underrated little bird! Look at that bold eye ring and those beautiful brown tones with a pretty pink bill. Whenever I see those Fields in numbers in October it always suggests we are nearing the end of autumn avian migration. If we are lucky we may be able to spot one or two overwintering in the region, perhaps on a Christmas Bird Count, but most will be seeking less snowy quarters so they can enjoy easy to reach seeds all winter long. Nevertheless, if there aren’t any fields, grasslands, farms or other open areas – or if these habitats...
Read More
Injured Rusty Blackbird
I am a huge fan of the Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus), something you may have learned by reading my posts over the last few years here at RTPI. Beyond fandom I am also a member of the International Rusty Blackbird Working Group and help to coordinate spring migration blitzes to record the species with birders and the public to learn more about vital aspects of their biology in an attempt to save one of the fastest declining birds on the continent. October is a great time to spot them heading south for the winter in wooded wetlands, marshes, ponds and agricultural areas. They may be...
Read More
