Frog Friday
Last Wednesday was an unusually warm day in the northeast. Temperatures reached 60 degrees in some places, and several of our friends in Connecticut reported hearing Spring Peeper calls emanating from the woods. Of course, a mere 24 hours later the area was buried by more than a foot of snow, reminding us that winter is still in full swing. You might think that frogs are not quite as adept at predicting winter weather as, say, groundhogs, but that is not really true. Our days are getting noticeably longer and the increased day length is making animals respond in kind – insects now appear...
Read MoreRoger at Hawk Mountain
We hope that you keep cozy and warm this weekend, much like Roger Tory Peterson appears to be doing in this photo from our archives! It was taken during a visit to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania ~ 1950.
Read MoreStart of a New Season
Happy 1st day of winter everyone! Today marks the first day of a hopefully snow-filled season as well as the official beginning of the snowmobiling season. Remember before hitting the trails on your snowmobile, skis or snowshoes to grab your cell phone so that you can explore the many fascinating stories waiting to be told through the “Nature at Your Fingertips” cell phone tour. This tour couldn’t have been possible without the help of the Snowmobile Clubs of Chautauqua County (Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club, Cherry Creek Sno-Goers, Ellery Sno-Cruisers, Lake-Effect Trail...
Read MoreHave a Drink
It is getting tough to find a drink out there in the frozen tundra. If you have any heated bird baths or ponds near your home you may end up with far more than songbirds stopping by! Consider setting something up in your yard to see what wildlife you may assist during these difficult months.
Read MoreSnowy Owl Season
Welcome back to Snowy Owl season! I took these photographs of a very calm and sleepy Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) today at Silver Sands State Park in Milford, Connecticut. One had been reported about a week ago in the area, though it was not seen again until the last couple of days. I was able to go over and briefly enjoy this bird sitting on a rock jetty along Long Island Sound with a few other birders. It was in the perfect place to be seen and not disturbed, and unknowing folks taking a walk or jogging were mostly on the nearby boardwalk and far enough away from the owl so that it did not...
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