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 Weiler’s Evolution; A Father and Son’s Artistic...
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 be done to help the wild American population! Our...
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 these plants don’t survive and they are becoming...
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, perching on various trees, snags, wires, and shrubs...
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 is sometimes found in mixed hardwood forests as...
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” exhibition.
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