The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History wishes you a very Happy New Year! Here are some of our most popular blog posts and memorable highlights of 2016 at RTPI…
This Snowy Owl blog entry from last January claimed the #1 spot in 2016, and considering our logo, we feel this is very appropriate! Check out those eyes: http://rtpi.org/snowy-owl-eyes/
One of the more touching days of our year was a celebration of Noble Proctor’s life at a BioBlitz Challenge at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, Connecticut on May 14. Noble Proctor was one of Roger Tory Peterson’s dearest friends and protégés, playing an integral role in forming the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History (RTPI) in Jamestown, New York. Noble’s passion for natural science was nationally and internationally known. His vast knowledge and enthusiasm excited a lifetime commitment to natural history and environmental stewardship in many of his students: http://rtpi.org/noble-proctor-bioblitz-challenge-at-hammonasset-on-may-14-2016/
Keeping the World Wild, the art of John and Suzie Seerey-Lester, was RTPI’s summer exhibition, giving visitors a glimpse into the inspiring work of this incredible artist duo: http://rtpi.org/keeping-the-world-wild-exhibition/
Whether it was via stewardship and education, signage or QR codes, and even coasters, RTPI has introduced Jamestown and Chautauqua County to the Spiny Softshell Turtle, a species of Special Concern in New York that is found in the Chadakoin River and Chautauqua Lake: http://rtpi.org/rtpi-meet-your-neighbours-spiny-softshell-turtle/
Our Project Wild America Youth Ambassadors were responsible for most of this terrific work in Jamestown, and they even caught a Spiny! http://rtpi.org/success-on-the-chadakoin/
Over in Connecticut the Bridgeport WildLife Guards also continued their education and conservation work on the shore, reaching thousands of visitors over the summer and making a difference for rare or endangered plants and wildlife on Pleasure Beach while creating the next generation of environmentalists: http://rtpi.org/wildlife-guards-learning-educating/
Our work in the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds yielded another tremendously successful year with yet another record for Piping Plovers: http://rtpi.org/2016-aafcw-totals/
RTPI continued to work on several projects at our office at Stratford Point including waterfowl counts and pollinator surveys, but one of the most memorable and stunning moments of the year was this spectacular severe thunderstorm: http://rtpi.org/severe-thunderstorms/
RTPI President Twan Leenders led critical tropical research trips on birds and amphibians for another season in 2016. Here you can see non-invasive skin swabs being taken from an endangered Limosa Harlequin Frog (Atelopus limosa) in CREA’s Cocobolo Nature Reserve, Panama, to assess its response to a deadly chytrid fungal pathogen: http://rtpi.org/limosa-harlequin-frog-atelopus-limosa/
The fourth iteration of RTPI’s “Nature at Your Fingertips” cell phone tour recently kicked off at the Mayville Snowmobile Show. Join us this winter and navigate through Chautauqua County’s many unique stories and landmarks on this innovative platform: http://rtpi.org/nature-will-soon-be-at-your-fingertips/
We thank you all for being with us in 2016, and we could not do any of this without you. Please take this opportunity to give back and help RTPI continue Roger Tory Peterson’s great work.
Your generous gift benefits our programs directly, and also has long term effects on those that we serve by giving them the knowledge to make a difference in the world. We look forward to working together to inspire people to learn, love and protect nature – see you in 2017!
