I love this time of year. After the exuberance of summer and the vibrant colors of fall, I’m thankful for the days growing shorter. The nights longer. Temperatures falling. Silhouettes of bare branches against a leaden sky promising snow. All of nature winding down. Encouraging quiet. Reflection. Introspection. [more]
Snowy Owl Flight
I took a grand total of one photo of a Snowy Owl today, and here it is! Yes, literally one shot, but it was worth it to capture a bird on a very cool location – an abandoned hangar. I am so glad everyone has been enjoying all of the Snowy action and my photos here, but these are only the pretty parts of a busy year of conservation and education. If you want to make a difference with RTPI please show it by giving us and someone you care about a gift this holiday season! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach...
read moreDark Snowy Owl
Today’s Snowy Owl was photographed in light snow and appropriately dark, arctic conditions. This heavily marked bird was a target of mine as the presumed juvenile female had been in the area for about a week. Do you notice anything else in the photos? You can see some bloody spots on the light from a recent meal. I only watched the bird for a few minutes as this was not a good place to linger, but others had reported seeing it eating rats in recent days. When I left the owl was still sitting there while countless drivers passed not...
read moreUpdate on RTPI’s Winter Phone Cell Tour
For some, snow is simply a burden. But for myself (and I’m sure there are others!), snow brings a positive change in attitude. Hearing Christmas music for a month straight doesn’t necessarily put me in a celebratory mood, but a blanket of snow illuminated by colorful lights and accompanied by a quiet stillness that seems to intensify as every flake descends really gets me into the holiday spirit. Along these lines, snow also gets me excited for outdoor recreation opportunities and for being able to enjoy the landscape with a...
read moreSnowy Owl Take Two
Snowy Owl, take two! Here are photos from today after spending some time with what seemed to be the same owl as Sunday’s bird. The irruption is building as there are now four of them in and around Stratford, Connecticut. Let us hope some decide to stick around all winter long (Snowy in snow, please). I included a wider photo taken at 500mm because I wanted to show everyone concerned about giving them space what happens with my shots. I was at the same distance from the owl, the precise position, in all of the beach photos. I crop quite...
read moreSnowy Owl Arrival
Last week I posted a photo of a Merlin that I took after missing my first Snowy Owl of the season by a few minutes, lamenting my luck. I was hopeful I would be able to pick one up again soon considering the major Snowy flight south that is occurring now. Thankfully today I spent a few hours capturing the beauty of this bird! For the most part this time was filled with chatting with friends while observing it snoozing away. A few times the very calm bird (planes, diving gulls, unintentionally close beachgoers – no problem) did a bit of...
read moreGiving Tuesday 2017
Giving Tuesday is Today! – Your Gift Will be Matched All donations made to the Giving Tuesday campaign will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $5,000, by our generous challenge match donors. When you donate to the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, you are helping to provide training and opportunities for high school and college students in the field of natural history study and research through our Conservation & Education Programs, funding stewardship of the Roger Tory Peterson Archives & Collections, and helping RTPI educate...
read moreMeleagris gallopavo
With the arrival of the holiday season, many folks will enjoy celebratory feasts with family and friends. The centerpiece for many merry meals 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 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...
read moreSmall Business Saturday, Nov. 25th 2017
Stop in to RTPI to do some of your Holiday shopping on Small Business Saturday(Nov 25th)! We have a unique selection of gift ideas including many new items in our Museum Store, and everything will be 20% off during this special event! You can also take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy our current exhibitions featuring works by Neil Rizos and of course Roger Tory Peterson! RTPI will be open from 10am-4pm for Small Business Saturday! Details and updates can be found on the event...
read moreNeil Rizos: The Art of Exploration
Our current exhibition, Neil Rizos: The Art of Exploration, Showcases Rizos’ creative talent and his love for birds. The artwork included in this exhibit, on view through January 7th, is available for purchase. Preview the pieces and view prices here: http://www.rizosart.com/peterson-institute.html. Be sure to come in to see this outstanding show while it’s still here!
read moreAwesome Amphibian Affair
This is Tweeg – one of our RTPI’s resident Eastern Hellbenders showing off his wrinkly awesomeness! Don’t miss your chance to meet him during our Hellbender House Party tomorrow (11/18) from 10am-1pm. This fundraiser event will have something fun for everyone! Details can be found on the Facebook event page or here: http://rtpi.org/hellbender-house-party-1118/
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