Pine Siskin & American Goldfinch
The feeders of Western New York are brightening up as the surrounding gardens and woodlands are, with birds like this Pine Siskin, on the left, passing through now, and the American Goldfinch, on the right, turning into neon yellow, glowing lights. The American Goldfinch nest so late in the season compared to some of our other resident birds that they can still be using their energy for molting now, taking advantage of feeding on all those also yellow sunflowers later on. The Pine Siskin is more of a nomadic species than anything else, and they will likely be breeding not much further to our...
Read MoreViolet-crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania colombica)
Here we have both the male and female Violet-crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania colombica) hummingbirds, with females visiting their tropical feeders much more often than males according to Sean. Have you welcomed your Ruby-throated Hummingbirds back yet this spring?! 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.
Read MoreAmerican Robin in Winter
I photographed this American Robin (Turdus migratorius) this week as it and a few friends fed on various types of berries in my neighborhood. At this time of year we get emails and calls about American Robin sightings because yes, you will still find them here in the Northeast despite the snow and frigid temperatures. Some certainly fly south for the winter and many here and there will form large flocks, thus the frequency of our overall sightings of the species go down for multiple reasons. They’ll feed on wild berries but will not be interested in what we put out at feeding stations...
Read MoreSwarm of hummingbirds! Costa Rica, December 2014
I guarantee you have never seen this many hummingbirds in your yard! It is the definition of “you have to see it to believe it”, but I have seen it numerous times and still do not believe it. Check out this unfathomable swarm of 11 species in a feeding frenzy in Costa Rica last week by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser. It looks like CGI! This is a movie…but it is not a movie. This is a typical day for our friends in the rainforest. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach...
Read MoreHead-turning Tufted Titmouse
This Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) is a real head-turner! Yes, I will be here all week, every week…but did you know these gals and guys are still expanding their range northward? Back in my grandfather’s (and Roger Tory Peterson’s) day in they were very rare in New York and New England. In the middle of the last century they started a massive surge to the north likely thanks to climate change, the spread of feeding stations, and changing habitats as the suburban and developed landscape opened up for their arrival. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach...
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