The Message of the Monarchs by Becky Nystrom
Nature and her creatures are suffering, and they’re calling for our help. The message of the monarchs (Danaus plexippus), a once widespread and iconic organism now threatened with extinction, is but one of many species in unprecedented decline, pleading for our attention and action. Monarchs have much to teach us, and the plight of this amazing and ancient organism is a warning to us all that an ecological Armageddon may be underway. The eastern monarch’s mind-boggling three thousand-mile multigenerational migration between Mexico and North America is unlike any other in the world. On their...
Read MoreRTPI to host: Snakes, Spiders, and Bats! Oh, My!
The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History invites you to join us for “Snakes, Spiders, and Bats! Oh, my!” on Friday, October 11th from 5:30-8:00 pm. The Buffalo Zoo’s education department will be on site from 5:30-6:30pm with their “Zoo Mobile” to introduce guests to an array snakes, bats and spiders, and from 6:30 to 8:00 three knowledgeable and passionate local biologists (Twan Leenders, Becky Nystrom, and Jonathan Townsend) will explore the causes and consequences of the common misconceptions surrounding these creatures that so many consider creepy. This seasonally appropriate...
Read MorePlastic Pollution Awareness and Action Events in Jamestown – September 27
Plastic Pollution has become one of the greatest issues of our time; we’ve all seen the heartbreaking images of seabirds entangled in six pack rings, beached whales with bellies full of debris, and that video of the sea turtle with a plastic straw stuck in its nostril! Feel like you need to get out and DO something to protect our great outdoors and environment? Let’s do something together! The third week of September marks the first-ever National Nature Cleanup Week! Join some of the Jamestown area’s environmental ambassadors for one or both of the following programs on Friday,...
Read MoreAn introduction to Chautauqua Lake’s Aquatic Invasive Plants
Many aquatic plants exist within Chautauqua Lake; its nutrient-rich sediments provide a fertile growing bed for vegetation. Some of these plants are native to our area and provide critical ecological and environmental benefits, while others were introduced from distant locales and have been wreaking havoc on the ecological function, recreational and economic value of Chautauqua Lake. Surprisingly, some of the most prevalent invasives have been with us for decades already, while a steady stream of nearby or newly arriving species poses additional challenges to the future health of the lake....
Read MoreRTPI hiring for ‘Project Wild America Youth Ambassadors’ summer program
The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History (RTPI) is currently hiring area high school and college students to work alongside its conservation staff this summer for the fifth annual Project Wild America Youth Ambassadors (PWA) Program in Jamestown. Building on the successes from the past four years, students enrolled in RTPI’s PWA program will immerse themselves in Jamestown’s ‘urban ecosystem’. These students will investigate, monitor and improve habitat for threatened species in the area and raise public awareness about our important natural resources, environmental challenges...
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