Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
I feel as if I am still being constantly reminded of the many Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) around with acorns crunching under my feet and calls of busy birds screeching out of yards, parks, and woodlands. They can look so vibrantly blue on sunny days, but that color is caused by sunlight being scattered by specialized cells in their feather barbs. Yep, the Blue Jay has no blue pigment! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MorePowerline corridors, plants and wildlife
Powerline corridors, as well as gas and oil pipeline right of ways, are often an unexpected habitat oasis. They cover millions of acres of land in America. They may also provide a tremendous benefit to plants and wildlife that favor scrub or early successional habitat, a type that we do not favor in our development otherwise. Certain bees and butterflies to flowers and birds can all end up winning if these strips are managed properly – limiting mowing, chemicals, invasive plants and so forth. As humans have worked to protect forests we have neglected to do the same for this habitat...
Read MoreHunting Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
This Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is on the hunt and you can tell this is the case by seeing where its head and eyes are pointed – straight down. It is also holding its wings and tail in positions for a lazy, floating flight. While it is not hovering it is using the wind to slowly comb over the landscape in search of small mammals. Even if you are far from the bird, like I was in this photo, you can often still see the distinctive “belly band” of dark splotches across the white undersides. We are about to hit the peak of their migration in the Northeast so be on the...
Read MoreExplosive fall foliage continues
The explosive fall foliage continues throughout the Northeast! I took this photo several hours ago on a warm, sunny and gorgeous October afternoon. I have been all over New York and Connecticut in the past month and it seems to me we are having a protracted season of autumn colors without an all-encompassing week. There are plenty of bare trees, some still green, and many showing off sparkling fall shades. We will be sure to show you more of these seasonal sights this week along with some Halloween fun in the mix, too. Walking out the door on days like this makes me happy! Scott Kruitbosch...
Read MoreFireball in the blue
I took this photo yesterday minutes from RTPI in Jamestown. We are about to hit the peak of fall foliage in Western New York and this weekend’s clear, deep blue, autumn skies made for some magnificent moments. If you have the day off from work or school tomorrow please be sure to find some time for a hike, birding, a run, some biking – anything to disconnect and get outdoors for a while. I’ll continue to share more scenes from the season all week long. I hope you share the sentiment with your friends and family. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach...
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