Enjoying Our Natural Areas
This past week my husband and I enjoyed a walk through Long Point State Park, a RTPI Natural History Atlas location and a beautiful natural area just a short walk from our home. While we were out, we took a quick look in a stream and seep for some salamanders and found a good sized Northern Dusky (Desmognathus fuscus). Although the salamander was exciting to see, I was most excited to see my husband flipping rocks and enjoying this naturally rich area as much as I was. While fall is soon approaching, there is still plenty of time to get outside and explore the county’s abundant natural...
Read MoreLate Summer Toadlets
This past week we visited another Natural History Atlas site, Canadaway Creek Wildlife Management Area, to survey for a diversity of species and update our past information about the site. While we were out exploring and recording the species we came across, we noticed a number of tiny American toads (Anaxyrus americanus), or toadlets, hopping across the trail. Only about half an inch long, these little toads were recently metamorphosed from nearby ponds and pools. These amphibians waste no time at all, as it only takes them about 1-2 months to go from a gelatinous egg to a free swimming...
Read MorePartridge Berry (Mitchella repens)
While we were out visiting Boutwell Hill State Forest, a Natural History Atlas location, we came across some interesting plant communities supported by the rich soils found in the mixed deciduous and coniferous forest stands. This little plant is often overlooked, but these bright white flowers and the scarlet red fruits that will soon follow are hard to miss!
Read MoreWashington Park in Warren, Pennsylvania
Washington Park, an RTPI Natural History Atlas site, overlooking Warren, Pennsylvania. Has the weather been gorgeous or what lately?
Read MoreApril migrants at the College Lodge
This morning I visited the SUNY College Lodge, a site which you can find in our Natural History Atlas at this link. Our staff is currently conducting a year-long plant and wildlife assessment of the approximately 200-acre property owned and operated by the Faculty Student Association of SUNY Fredonia. My main target today was the beginning of the big push of migrant birds we will be enjoying throughout the region for the next month. Despite the cool weather there are still many species filtering into through the area in late April, as usual. One of the first birds I heard was the...
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