Peterson’s Quest is Fulfilled – by Dale W. Mitchell
The publication of a new bird field guide is always a cause for celebration among birders. Even if the region it covers is rather distant, there are still many of us who would applaud its debut, want a peek at its glossy plates and gear up to gossip about its expertise and design. Well, there have been several interesting guides trotting onstage recently, but one is special in a way unprecedented and, dare I say it, even historic. For late last year out came Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea, by Eaton, van Balen, et al. As these books go, it seems to cover its...
Read MoreWILD AMERICAN SKIES
It was a young Roger Tory Peterson’s close encounter with a Northern Flicker right here in Jamestown which ignited his love for birds. The wild birds of North America were at the heart of his passion for nature and were the impetus for the actions he took to preserve our living world. Venerated for embodying freedom, grace, and beauty in flight, birds inspire a deeper connection with nature and evoke a fascination with exceeding the limits of our earthbound human existence. This summer there are many opportunities to meet and be inspired by these wonderful animals in Chautauqua County. Roger...
Read MoreRemarkable Recapture
Golden-winged Warblers are among the most imperiled birds in North America. Their numbers have plummeted nearly 70% in the past 50 years, and this species continues to decline at a staggering 2.5% each year. Outside of their core breeding range in the upper Great Lakes Region (mostly Minnesota and Wisconsin) they have just about disappeared altogether, and several northeastern states now no longer have viable populations of Golden-winged Warblers around. What causes these declines? Well, a number of factors play a role here. Golden-winged Warblers prefer to live in open, wet areas that are...
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 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?
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