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]
The Historic Sporting Art of M.C. Weiler
Artist Dale Weiler wrote in a recent article about his father’s art: “Do you remember way back when the sporting magazines had bright, flashy paintings for their covers and illustrations? I always looked forward to seeing the newest edition of “Sports Afield”, “Field & Stream” and “Outdoor Life”. To stare in awe at the bigger-than-life rendering splashed across the cover was always exhilarating to me, especially when I knew my father’s painting was the monthly feature.” Our current exhibition, “The...
read moreNew Arrivals
On this Wild America Wednesday, we want to take a moment to announce RTPI’s new arrivals! Please join us as we welcome Oneka and Tweeg, two seven year old hellbenders that will be moving from the Buffalo Zoo to our facility in Jamestown tomorrow! Originally a part of the NYS hellbender headstart program, these salamanders were kept to be used for educational purposes. Oneka and Tweeg will serve as ambassadors for their species, helping us to raise awareness of their conservation status, the need to learn more about them, and what can...
read moreSpring Ephemerals
Trilliums like the one shown here – and other ‘spring ephemeral’ wildflowers – only bloom for a short period of time in early spring; they then die back to their underground root system. But what a welcome show they put on each year, after we’ve been seeing nothing but snow for months! Before the tree canopy in our forests fully leaf out, the forest floor is briefly carpeted with flowers. Please enjoy them where they are found – in their native woodland habitat. Tempting as it may be to transplant some to your garden, most of...
read moreYellow-headed Blackbird
Here is a bird you do not see too often around these parts – the Yellow-headed Blackbird! This immature male, found a few weeks ago by Stefan Martin, should ordinarily not be farther east than Illinois or Wisconsin. However, it took a wrong turn during migration and ended up all the way on the Atlantic Coast with us at Stratford Point, CT. He has been hanging out with Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Brown-headed Cowbirds while feeding on seed we put out plus whatever insects it can find. The bird has started singing, too,...
read moreA Different Variety
We have a special species to feature in this week’s Salamander Saturday: the Red-cheeked Salamander (Plethodon jordani)! This salamander is another southern Appalachian species, primarily occurring between southwestern Virginia and extreme northeastern Georgia. It is a fairly common resident in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, otherwise known as the “Salamander Capital of the World.” This salamander typically resides within deep mountain gorges near streams and seeps. It also tends to prefer spruce-fir forests, but...
read moreOl’ Three Toes the Bull Frog
This piece – carved from a rock known as Utah alabaster by artist Dale Weiler – is currently on view at RTPI. Weiler explains: “This was my very first stone carving, which I created in Maine in 1992 at my first (and only) stone sculpting class. I was smitten the moment my hand touched stone and I knew I was born to be a stone sculptor.” Come in and see all of the pieces by Dale and his late father Milton C. Weiler that comprise “The Weiler’s Evolution: a Father and Son’s Artistic Journey”...
read moreThe Wilderness Next Door
Think you need to take a week off and travel far to access’Wild America’? Think again. This panoramic photo was taken within the limits of the village of Fredonia just a few weeks ago! Amazing discoveries await just outside your door wherever you may be. Take some time to tune in to the wilderness next door to wherever you are! Check out RTPI’s Natural History Atlas to discover the gems that surround those of us fortunate enough to reside in Western New York. Natural History Atlas In the spirit of Roger Tory Peterson, we...
read moreSneak Peek: “The Weiler’s Evolution: A Father and Son’s Artistic Journey”
The image shown here depicts a still life painting and a shorebird sculpture, both part of a special series of pieces created by artist Dale Weiler. Dale explains: “I wanted to pay homage to my father for the artistic gift he passed along to me. I chose to recreate two of his still lifes painted for a Winchester Press Publication, “Classic Shorebird Decoys”. For this book, my father painted 24 magnificent watercolors of classic shorebirds carved by the most notable bird carvers of the late 19th and early 20th century.”...
read moreFox Sparrow
Any time we see snowfall from mid-March on, we might notice an increase in the number and species diversity of birds at our backyard feeders. Those who pay close attention might also have the opportunity to view more elusive birds – those that would otherwise just be passing through or returning to the area relatively unnoticed – that are driven out of their preferred habitats by the extreme conditions in search of food. One such bird that can seem to appear out of nowhere is the Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca). These large...
read moreI Spy
I spy with my little eye, something brown. Not a big enough clue? How about, I spy with my little eye something with big eyes and a big mouth? Can you see it yet? Any idea of what it is? I’ll give you a hint, its a species not found in western New York or Pennsylvania. Give up? It’s a Shovel-nosed Salamander (Desmognathus marmoratus) poking out of a small opening within a damp rock face! This species is a common resident in the streams and seeps of the Appalachian mountains, including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I had...
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