Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)
This is one very startled-looking Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)! He was actually just extremely engrossed in looking for some cracked corn, one of their favorites when visiting bird feeders. Please remember you are looking at one of the fastest declining species in North America here. Their silent downfall is only now getting the notoriety that it deserves, and our help is greatly needed. On that end I will soon be making an announcement on how we at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History are contributing to helping out the Rusty Blackbird. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation...
Read MoreRed Knots Federally Threatened
Last week the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced that the rufa subspecies of Red Knot was officially added to the United States Endangered Species Act, designated as “threatened”. In this photo by Twan we have a group of Red Knots in front of some Black-bellied Plovers on a beach in Stratford, Connecticut in September 2011. They are an uncommon shorebird in the state but there can be pockets of them found, especially in the fall. Many times one records a handful of birds occasionally mixed in with larger congregations of other shorebird species, like in the shot. We have...
Read MoreJamestown Christmas Bird Count Tomorrow – Snowy Owl in 2013
Tomorrow is the Jamestown, New York Christmas Bird Count! We hope you will be able to participate if you are in our area. The compilation is once again at RTPI as well. Here’s one of my highlights of the Jamestown count last year, a Snowy Owl that I photographed at the Jamestown/Chautauqua County Airport. Who knows what will be seen this year – good birding to all! Learn more about CBCs here: http://rtpi.org/christmas-bird-counts/ Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreContinuing Winter Raptor Surveys
This a friendly request and reminder that we at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History are surveying for wintering Northern Harriers and Short-eared Owls in Chautauqua County, two state-listed raptors that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is tracking in Western New York. Fortunately they share habitat with other beautiful birds like the Snowy Owl and you may end up being in productive locations for them often in the next few months. If you find any of the two species from now until spring please let us know with as much information on the sighting as...
Read MoreTundra Swans
Chautauqua Lake provides an excellent feeding ground for a number of migrating ducks, swans and geese throughout the cooler months. Just yesterday, over 200+ Tundra Swans filled Bemus Bay along with numerous Canada Geese and Mallard ducks. These large and beautiful swans captured the attention of several lake-side residents as they belted out their high pitched honks while feeding on the abundant vegetation within the shallows of the lake. As winter progresses more waterfowl will make their way to the Great Lakes and Chautauqua Lake to reach needed food resources after their long trips from...
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