Red Postman (Heliconius erato) Butterfly
The Red Postman (Heliconius erato) is a heliconians butterfly species that shows wide diversity in color over its range across the tropics. It is mimicked by Heliconius melpomene, the two can be distinguished by the number of red dots on the forewing, as H.erato has four while H.melpomene has three. Photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Costa Rica while on assignment for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History with The Marvelwood School.
Read MoreRed-winged Blackbird Male in Flight
It’s takeoff time! Red-winged Blackbirds are pouring back into marshes, wetlands, ponds and coastal areas throughout the Northeast. Males are back on territory, and here we can see one showing off those fiery shades. Spring is ready to explode! Even if it may start with more snow for some of us…
Read MoreBanded American Oystercatcher Discovered
Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History President Twan Leenders recently returned from Bradenton, Florida where he was attending RTPI board meetings. In between sessions he made sure to find an hour or two for some bird surveys, especially targeting species relevant to active RTPI conservation projects. Our work as a partner in the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds has us focused on the terns, long-legged waders and threatened shorebirds like the American Oystercatcher seen here. Did you happen to notice the silver federal band on the bird’s right leg? This would be very...
Read MoreBirds Blending In
Here we have the backs of two different bird species – can you identify them? I have posted them both recently as opportunistic winter birds, and this Horned Lark in a roadway and Savannah Sparrow in grasses have another thing in common here with wonderful camouflage working in two very different situations. It cracked me up how well the Lark blended in to the snow, dirt, salt and sand in the road, even in the bright sunlight. While that is not evolution it certainly worked out well. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreSnowy February
With the sort of active, stormy and snowy weather we have been experiencing in the last few weeks the landscape takes on a very different appearance. Heavy snow in desolate, mature woodlands covers everything and leaves only hints of colors. Did you even notice that this photo is actually really and truly black and white?
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