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Posts Tagged "Home"

Black-capped Chickadee

Posted on Sep 7, 2016

Black-capped Chickadee

The Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is as familiar a backyard resident as can be, but did you know these birds migrate, too? Well, some of them anyway, in a particular way. Young birds move south and irrupt during certain years based on the reproductive success of the summer and the local conditions. The best way to see this is finding a number of them in migratory hotspots in the autumn. If you are at an area such as a beach along the shore of Lake Erie where you typically find zero and suddenly see a flock of six or eight, there you go. I have seen up to 18 in a little flock...

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Grapevine Borer Beetle

Posted on Aug 2, 2016

Grapevine Borer Beetle

This seems to be a Grapevine Borer Beetle (Pelidnota punctata) as I found and photographed on this door screen last week. Their common name betrays their preferred plant and behavior, eating the fruit and even the leaves of grapevines, though apparently not to extreme pest levels. I was also not the only one to think about how it looks like a huge ladybug in some ways. You never know what new sorts of neighbors you will find even at your own door… Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator

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Backyard Botanical Bothers

Posted on Jul 12, 2016

Backyard Botanical Bothers

New York Invasive Species Awareness Week – NYISAW Backyard Botanical Bothers Wednesday July 13th, 2016 – 11am – 1pm – 108 East Third Street, Jamestown What are those green things growing in your neighborhood, and what’s living on them? Are they native to this area or are they invasive pests?  What does it matter? Meet us in front of RTPI’s new satellite office at 108 East Third Street, to learn a thing or two about ‘Backyard Botanical Bothers’ – specifically which plants and insects mean trouble for our ecosystem – and what you can do if you encounter them. RTPI’s Project Wild...

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Great Spangled Fritillary & Eastern Purple Coneflower

Posted on Jul 4, 2016

Great Spangled Fritillary & Eastern Purple Coneflower

I am finally seeing more butterfly abundance and diversity as we enter July, and I could not be happier about that! I photographed this appropriately named Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) nectaring on a fresh Eastern Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) during the morning of Independence Day. These pollinator plants are gorgeous and great for attracting beneficial insects to your yard. On Sunday, July 3, I was thrilled to finally see my first of the year Monarch butterflies. What species have you spotted recently? Have you planted anything in your garden to help pollinators...

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Baltimore Oriole

Posted on May 30, 2016

Baltimore Oriole

Those Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) do love to stay high in the canopy of trees, and often enough all you can do is catch a quick glance of orange and black zipping by. If you know their call you probably end up hearing them far more than seeing them. This adult male did give me a minute to snap his shot as he came down to the mid-levels. He and his mate were busy feeding, and I presume they have a nest and eggs already on the way. If you have a pair in your neighborhood and would like an even better viewing opportunity then I suggest putting out half of an orange or two in your yard....

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