Palm Warbler
Yesterday morning I went out to bird for a bit and had my sights set on a few target species. It may have only been April 23, but the birds have been early thanks to the warm past couple of months, and some of our spring migratory species are already peaking. I definitely wanted to photograph a Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) in their bright spring yellows before they escaped me to the north for the nesting season. Thankfully this individual delivered, posing for me for about 15 seconds in between foraging. I had followed it for a minute along the forest floor and it took notice –...
Read MoreSwamp Sparrow
Swamp Sparrows can sometimes be difficult to photograph, but no one told this bird that it was not supposed to be captured this way! Those brush piles can be very productive at this time of year. Make sure to have one or two in your yard this winter, especially if you have bird feeders nearby. They provide cover and a great photographic opportunity.
Read MoreFall Trail
This is typically a terrific October weekend to get outside and enjoy the beautiful fall foliage starting to peak in the Northeast. However, we will be seeing some chilly temperatures and snow in some areas…that just means you have to bundle up a little more before you head to the great outdoors. Walk, hike, run, bike, bird, photograph – something, anything, outside this weekend. Soak in the environment and all the shades. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreThrowback Thursday-MYN
Throwback Thursday! I took this photo of our President, Twan Leenders, photographing a Dragon’s Mouth Orchid (Arethusa bulbosa) this past spring Meet Your Neighbours style. This particular flower is quite a sight as it only exists in very rare habitats and is one of only two species of Arethusa on the planet! It is an imperiled species throughout much of its range and can be easily overlooked due to its small size. As you can see here, it took Twan a bit of contorting to get an eye level view of the flower in order to get the perfect shot. Meet Your Neighbours is an international...
Read MoreNorthern Flickers
Earlier this week we were looking for a Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) photo because, as you have likely seen, over 99% of the content we use we make ourselves. This is something we take pride in at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. We write, we photograph, we record, we film, and we create. We do not use outside materials except when there is no other alternative…and then we immediately try to get out and get the missing content ourselves. Twan and I did not have many Northern Flicker pictures, each of us with only one real usable image. They fall into that...
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