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]
Water Babies Exhibition
Water Babies An Exhibition by William Burt March 11 – June 5, 2016 For 40 years, photographer William Burt has chased after the birds few people see: first rails, then bitterns, nightjars, and other skulkers – and now these, elusive creatures of a very different kind: the Water Babies. They are the subjects of his new book, and a new exhibition to be featured at RTPI. As in Burt’s earlier exhibitions, Water Babies showcases a selection of the best works featured in the book of the same title. It features 40 museum-quality...
read moreTufted Titmouse
This cute Tufted Titmouse may be building a home soon, if it is not already, depending on where you live. Have you ever put out dog fur for them to use as nesting material? Titmice, and other small songbirds that use nestboxes and cavities like the Black-capped Chickadee, will take fur that you put out in say, an empty suet cage, and use it to line their nest. Some have even been known to try to pull the fur right off a dog or another animal! You may want to be sure, of course, that the fur is free of any parasites or chemicals and is...
read moreFabiola Rodríguez – March 30
Speaker Series Event – March 30, 2016 at 7:00pm with the Roger Tory Peterson Institute Ornithological Club Title: The Ecology and Conservation Challenges of the Honduran Emerald in the Agalta Valley Presenter: Fabiola Rodríguez, Masters in Biology student Institution: Indiana University of Pennsylvania & Indiana University of Pennsylvania Research Institute The Honduran Emerald (Amazilia luciae) is the only endemic bird to Honduras. This hummingbird species is included in the IUCN’s Red List as endangered and its population is...
read moreRoss’s Goose
This Ross’s Goose (Chen rossii) was a pleasure to see today at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut after being discovered by Stefan Martin and Danny Williams. There have only been a handful of records for the species in the state. Don’t worry, it didn’t fly away – it was only stretching those wings! Ross’s Geese winter in the southwestern or far western U.S. and breed in the arctic. Presumably this bird was on the way north before being swept our way on the winds from the latest cold front. They have been...
read moreSmithsonian Museum Day Live was a Hoot!
Smithsonian Museum Day Live! at RTPI this past Saturday was a great experience for all who attended. Thanks to those who participated and came out to celebrate the positive impacts of ‘GIRL POWER’ on our environment! We hope you enjoy the photographic showcase! Stop in anytime to discover the many wonderful Art, Education and Conservation programs happening at RTPI!
read moreAAfCW Training Completed
On Saturday, March 12, the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (Audubon Connecticut and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History), the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection completed successful training sessions for many of our fantastic past and new volunteer shorebird and tern monitors. Our collective staffs welcomed nearly 80 volunteers to Stratford Point, and thankfully we may end up near 100 regular monitors for the 2016 season. These citizen scientists and...
read moreRTPI Visits Cummins
Cummins Engine plant in Jamestown, New York strives to give their employees the opportunity to serve and give back to their community through volunteering. Today RTPI and other organizations came out to visit with Cummins employees and tell them what each has to offer and how Cummins can help. Thanks to all who participated, and thank you and best wishes to Cummins event organizer Angie Peck, as she prepares to enjoy retirement! Linda Pierce RTPI Development Director
read moreWinter Raptor Internship
There are a number of bird species that call Chautauqua County their home. In particular, there are two species, Northern Harriers (Circus cyaneus) listed as ‘threatened’ and Short-eared Owls (Asio flammeus), listed as ‘endangered’ in New York. The Roger Tory Peterson Institute is now in its third year of helping the DEC conduct surveys for these birds. The primary focus of these surveys is to determine where Northern Harriers and Short-eared Owls are spending their time to roost and feed during the winter months. The Northern Harrier is...
read moreRusty Blackbird Blitz Begins
Citizen scientists – the 2016 Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz is now a go, and coming to a state near you! I am the statewide Connecticut coordinator for the Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz, running from March through mid-June across the continent and focused in Connecticut from mid-March through April. This effort to save the one of the fastest declining once-common landbirds in North America needs your help. You can see more about the species in the below two-page informational document about the Rusty Blackbird (PDF...
read moreTomorrow – Smithsonian Museum Day Live!
The Roger Tory Peterson Institute is hosting a showcase of ‘female environmental stewards’ for the Smithsonian Museum Day Live on Saturday, March 12th from 10am to 4pm. Visitors can download free passes to RTPI for that day by creating an account at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/?no-ist This initiative is focused on girls and women in the fields of Environmental Science and Conservation in celebration of Women’s History Month. We have invited several female environmental science professionals and students to share information and...
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