ROGER TORY PETERSON’S WILD AMERICA NATURE FESTIVAL AT PANAMA ROCKS JULY 28 & 29
Roger Tory Peterson’s Wild America Nature Festival is returning for its second year on July 28 & 29. Headlining the event are Roger Tory Peterson’s son, Lee Peterson, nationally best-selling author Jennifer Ackerman, and famous animal expert Jeff Musial (with his animals). Lee Peterson, the younger of two sons of Roger Tory Peterson, has worked in the world of natural history his entire life and is the author/illustrator of A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants of Eastern and Central North America. As a gastronomic botanist, he has lectured throughout the United States and Canada and, as a...
Read MoreMonarchs Moving
Anecdotal Monarch reports continue to be encouraging across North America! From what I have read on social media and heard from friends plenty of people are spotting sizable numbers of the species even still now in November as they make their way to Mexico. Do YOU have anything to report? Scott Kruitbosch RTPI Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreMonarch Butterfly on Butterfly
Here is a look back to this summer at a butterfly on butterfly – in this case it is the Monarch (Danaus plexippus) on a Butterfly Bush (Buddleia). Look at all the glorious details on this stunning individual! Bask in the warm glow of the hot sun on the beautiful orange wings. Do you feel less cold yet? Butterfly bushes are a difficult subject. On the one hand, they are non-native, and it seems that in certain areas and regions they can readily spread and exclude some of our native vegetation. Native plants also often do provide more nutrition for native species of insects, birds, and...
Read MoreButterfly Weed Party
Below is a photo of an absurd scene that became normal this August on any Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) that I could find – look at all those butterflies! The fiery orange flower is a native milkweed and extremely attractive to a wide variety of species looking for some nectar. We have an Orange Sulphur, Crescents, and the iconic and wonderfully matched Monarchs all feeding here. Just how many Crescents can we fit on one bloom? Take a look at this Monarch as it is showing some signs of wear and tear. This individual likely took a long journey to us and now it will mate, lay eggs,...
Read MoreWildLife Guards Planting & Removing
The Bridgeport WildLife Guards do even more than educate beachgoers about the wildlife around us or conduct avian surveys on the shore as they, like the Project Wild America Youth Ambassadors, get hands-on with our local habitats. The Guards recently came to Stratford Point for the day in order to help enhance and maintain the increasingly spectacular site as upland habitats are completely overhauled with a focus on benefiting migratory songbirds and various pollinator species. They planted everything from butterfly weed to serviceberry while removing non-native invasive species such as...
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