American Oystercatcher
I have been posting a lot about Piping Plovers in our work for the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, so I thought I should give our American Oystercatcher friends some love, too. After all, who doesn’t like their look? Even the average beachgoer takes note of this beautiful bird and its bold bill. Unfortunately a lot of storms and high tides have washed a number of Oystercatcher nests away from our beaches in Connecticut this spring. However, those that lost their eggs have been re-nesting. Our early totals are extremely promising despite these weather difficulties. We have hope...
Read MoreFirst Field Guide Experiences
Do you remember your first experience with a field guide? Steven Brodsky, author of the column “Entertainment, Culture and More” on delcoculturevultures.com, asked this question of several leading biologists (including RTPI’s president, Twan Leenders), and shared their responses in his latest article. Read Steve’s column here: http://delcoculturevultures.com/entertainment-culture-and-more/. And if you find yourself inspired to pick up a new field guide yourself, stop in to RTPI’s Nature Store to browse our extensive selection! Our motto: Learn It, Love It, Protect...
Read MoreWelcoming Morgan and Becky to PWA
Please join us in welcoming this year’s Project Wild America Youth Ambassador Crew Leaders, Becky Rew and Morgan Motherwell! Becky joins us from Jamestown Community College, where she studied Environmental Science as well. Becky will be transferring to SUNY ESF this fall to pursue Conservation Biology. Morgan participated in PWA last year as a crew member, and has completed her first year at the Rochester Institute of Technology where she is studying Environmental Science. Both of these bright and dedicated young ladies will be leading our crew through a busy summer season, exploring...
Read MoreSwedish Consulate General Visits RTPI
Swedish Consulate General Leif Pagrotsky visited Jamestown, a city rich with Swedish American history, on May 22nd. The Consulate General of Sweden in New York focuses on the promotion of Sweden. This includes coordination and support of events to showcase Swedish culture and promote Swedish interests in the New York area as well as facilitating exchange between organizations, companies and institutions in Sweden and the U.S. Jane Johnson and Linda Pierce were thrilled to have the opportunity to give the Consul General a tour of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, and to provide him with a...
Read MoreRose-breasted Grosbeak
This is a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheuticus ludovicianus) photographed by RTPI President Twan Leenders in his backyard in Jamestown, NY. These are medium-sized songbirds with heavy, seed-crushing bills. In his ‘Field Guide to Birds of North America’, Roger Tory Peterson described their song as resembling that of the American Robin, but delivered with more feeling! Have you seen any at your backyard feeders this spring?
Read MoreBaby Skunk
As we enter mid-June we find ourselves in one of the quieter times of the avian season as nearly all of our northbound migrants have found their way to their nesting grounds. A few birds may still be trickling through, but most of what we see now is breeding in our region. This seasonal bird post is being hijacked to deliver another message with a Sunday skunk! Isn’t it adorable? I saw this baby skunk earlier this week, and it reminded me to put out a brief message about the many miniature mammals we see emerging as we head into summer. While they are so very cute, we want to treat...
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