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]
Holiday Open House – December 2nd
RTPI cordially invites you to attend our annual Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 2, 2017, from 10:00AM – 4:00PM. Guests will enjoy free admission into our current exhibits, programming by our staff, light refreshments, and they will be entered into a drawing to win a gift bag filled with unique items from our museum store. There will also be silent auctions held for signed, limited-edition Roger Tory Peterson artist prints. This event is part of Swedish Christmas Market Day in Jamestown – Julmarknad, organized by the...
read moreSpider in an Ant Costume
Here’s a nifty, local natural history discovery by RTPI President, Twan Leenders: “I’m used to seeing this kind of trickery in the tropics, but not inside my house. Coolest find of the day: Ant-Mimic Jumping Spider (Myrmarachne formicaria)!”
read moreBirds; Eloquent Expressions of Life
Roger Tory Peterson once said; “Birds are eloquent expressions of life and vitality, and watching them makes you a bit more alive….” Judging by his remarkable artistic renditions of a multitude of avian species, artist Neil Rizos would wholeheartedly agree with this statement. The Canada Goose shown here – created with mixed media – is one of many beautiful pieces in RTPI’s current exhibition, “Neil Rizos; the Art of Exploration”. Don’t miss your chance to view this outstanding show while it’s here this fall. For...
read moreBaby Snapping Turtle
It’s ‘Meet Your Neighbours’ Monday! Here we have a baby Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) – photographed by RTPI president Twan Leenders in Jamestown, NY. Most folks are at least somewhat familiar with these short-tempered freshwater turtles, but have you ever seen one so small?
read moreSolar Chautauqua
Are you interested in doing good for the environment while saving money on your energy bill? RTPI is working with the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Economic Development and other community partners to get the word out about the Solar Chautauqua Initiative! Visit www.solarchautauqua.org for details.
read moreBaltimore Oriole
They may be gone from our yards for the winter but I thought that as we near Halloween it was very appropriate to post this male Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula). I enjoyed watching it feeding in an oak tree this past spring on a cool, cloudy and windy day. Do you ever have any luck getting them to come down to eye level at your feeders? I certainly do not, and this bird hopping down to the lower branches of the tree for a minute was a real treat. I hear them every day all summer long but rarely get the chance to see a glow like this one up...
read moreThe Art of Exploration
RTPI’s current exhibition, Neil Rizos: the Art of Exploration, showcases Rizos’ artistic talent and reflects his keen perception of the living world through a myriad of media including bronze sculptures, paintings, drawings, pastels, etchings, lithographs and woodcuts. “Pintails”, shown here, is just one of over 70 different pieces depicting various species of birds. Be sure to visit RTPI this fall to view this outstanding show!
read moreHemlock Woolly Adelgid Citizen Scientist Training November 1st
Although autumn is just beginning here in Western New York, the winter season will soon be upon us. The colder months, November through March to be exact, is the perfect time of year to search the area’s forests for an invasive forest pest known as Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA). HWA is an aphid-like insect, originating from Asia, which feeds off of the food storage cells below the needles of an Eastern Hemlock tree and hides itself under white woolly masses for protection. Within only a matter of 4-10 years an individual tree can succumb to an...
read moreBonding while Bird-Banding
Artist Neil Rizos, shown here with RTPI President Twan Leenders, enjoyed participating in bird banding efforts at RTPI during his stay in Jamestown. Although Neil is no longer in our area, his art is still here! RTPI’s current exhibition, ‘Neil Rizos: the Art of Exploration’, showcases Rizos’ artistic talent and reflects his keen perception of the living world through a myriad of media. Have you been in to experience his amazing work yet? Don’t miss the chance to see Rizos’ art on view through January 7th.
read moreDrake Northern Shoveler
I finally had the chance to properly photograph a beautiful drake Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) late last winter. This bird was on the way north for the breeding season, stopping off at a warm spot along a river marsh. I post him now because earlier this week a colleague of mine saw a small flock of Northern Shovelers flying by on the way south already! It is hard to believe we are that deep into the season, but the winter waterfowl are on the way. What is your favorite species of duck? Any you can’t wait to add to your life list?...
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