Plastic 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 MoreRed-tailed Hawk
I recently found this calm, cool and collected Red-tailed Hawk hanging out over a pond and not minding a few gawkers like myself passing by for a look and a photo or two. Some birds are just more habituated to humans than others, and this one was content to sit here peacefully – even the songbirds were not paying it any attention. Occasionally it would look down at the frogs below, perhaps pondering about having them as a snack or looking for a snake. For the most part mammals are the biggest part of the menu for them, and maybe this bird was being inquisitive more than anything else....
Read MoreOrange-crowned Warblers
As I mentioned previously my first bird of 2015 was the Blue Jay, one of the most well-known species in all of North America. They even have their own team thanks to Toronto. On the opposite end of the spectrum would be a bird like the Orange-crowned Warbler, an uncommon warbler even in some of the more common parts of its range, and a tough one to find in the Northeast in the winter (or any time, really!) regardless of their seemingly higher than average numbers this year. The species has a rather quiet and unassuming behavior and appearance with mostly drab colors, the orange crown being...
Read MoreBlue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
I feel as if I am still being constantly reminded of the many Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) around with acorns crunching under my feet and calls of busy birds screeching out of yards, parks, and woodlands. They can look so vibrantly blue on sunny days, but that color is caused by sunlight being scattered by specialized cells in their feather barbs. Yep, the Blue Jay has no blue pigment! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreNorthern Pintails: male and female
As we get deeper into autumn we also receive a greater diversity of waterfowl joining us in the Northeast. I wanted to share some photos of male and female Northern Pintails (Anas acuta) that I took last week in the middle of a large flock of Mallard and American Black Duck. Some of them were more interested in mating than anything else making it difficult for the Pintails trying to feed, preen and stretch. I noticed the male first due to its distinctive plumage that always helps it stands out well in a crowd. Northern Pintails are slender birds and males have a long, pointed tail that help...
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