Dandelion Feast
The dandelion is one of the most widespread and widely known flowering plants there is, and while they may not be the best for agriculture or maintaining the “perfect” manicured lawn, they are very helpful for our early pollinators. Undoubtedly you have seen bees, butterflies and other flying insects feeding on them when there is little else blooming. Here’s to them! Besides, they’re pretty little things once you stop thinking about making the grass look “neat” and “tidy”. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach...
Read MoreYoung Chipmunk
This adorable little Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) liked me enough to stay on its tree and say hi for a minute before dashing back down underground. Now if this young one would only please remember to stay out of most of these trees and bushes when it grows up because I would rather it choose food other than young birds or eggs from nests each spring. Thanks in advance, pal! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreGray Squirrel
This Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) was darting around like the summer had ended and fall was upon us again last week. After such a warm February and March, compared to long-term averages, the chilly start to April and freezing temperatures – not to mention snow – had plenty of animals scurrying back to cold mode. The squirrel was grabbing food and looking at me like, “Shouldn’t you be doing this, too?” as I walked past. Thankfully those days are over because hello, spring! This welcome change in the weather should keep us warm for a while and...
Read MoreNot So Sleepy Bears
While the landscape in Western New York is rapidly changing thanks to some lake effect snow, earlier this week the ground was completely uncovered, temperatures were above normal and some normally sleeping wildlife were out foraging on available food resources. These photos were taken by my dad while he and a friend were out on a walk. As you can see, that black shape isn’t a wandering cow in the corn field rather it is an American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) awake from its “hibernation.” According to NYS DEC and the North American Bear Center, the black bear is not a...
Read MoreDowny Woodpecker
As I speculated a few days ago, this is now the time when you will be finding more birds at your feeders – like this Downy Woodpecker. It goes beyond the ground being frozen, ice covering some food sources, or snow blanketing everything. While it is harder to literally feed, it is also much colder now, and the birds need many more calories in order to survive. A lot of people were inquiring about why their feeders were so quiet towards the end of 2015, and I think it was certainly related to the fact that we had some days with temperatures in the 60s and 70s across the region and...
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