Wild America Nature Festival July 29th & 30th
The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History (RTPI) and Panama Rocks Scenic Park will co-host the first annual Wild America Nature Festival at Panama Rocks on July 29th & 30th. The festival will feature nationally-renowned speakers; a juried fine nature art and craft show and competition; a local food cook-off competition and farmer’s market; live music; live animals, and classes, workshops, and fun activities for all ages! Art lovers will not want to miss the festival’s Wild America Fine Nature Art and Craft Show & Competition, which will feature 40 local,...
Read MoreSnowy-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia edward)
This is an appropriately named tropical hummingbird for what we have seen in the Northeast in the past several weeks: the Snowy-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia edward). This species was captured infrequently during the early years of banding at the Cocobolo Nature Reserve in Panama. The Rufous Hummingbird, another Amazilia species, was the most commonly caught hummingbird. Things have changed in the past few seasons, and the Snowy-bellied is the most commonly captured Amazilia at Cocobolo. Sean suspects the main reason for this shift is the maturation of the forest where banding takes place....
Read MoreLittle Brown Jumper
A most amazing encounter in a small, drab package… I am a fortunate man…I’ve traveled to all sorts of exotic locales and am lucky enough to have encountered some pretty spectacular wildlife in the process. Photographs of some of these wonderful frogs, birds, snakes and other treasures have graced these posts in the past. This time around I would like to share with you something tiny and drab instead, but something that made me profoundly happy to encounter! During a recent trip to Costa Rica I had a brief opportunity to detour from my already scheduled destinations in hopes of...
Read MoreGoodbye to green and growing season
We have already had multiple frosts and freezes in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region. This weekend may bring the first…I’ll say flakes and avoid using the s-word for now! This photo is about as green as it is going to get for several months as we say goodbye for now to both green and growth. Winter brings its own joys and adventures with a new selection of life to take in. Please be sure to read the exciting developments in our winter trails cell phone tour as it expands across Chautauqua County! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreVesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)
In the continuing spirit of “it’s time to find [bird X]”…it’s right about time to find the Vesper Sparrows! This large sparrow has a bright, bold white eye ring that stands out in nearly any conditions. It can find the perfect habitat for migration throughout the Chautauqua-Allegheny region favoring farms, grasslands, fields and even scrubby or rocky areas like this one. If you ever spot a Vesper Sparrow during nesting season please let us know so we can help you do all you can to protect the habitat. They are decreasing in many areas of their range including...
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