Migrant Monarch
Today I was thrilled to see several dozen Monarch butterflies as I surveyed a classic fall migration spot on the Connecticut coast. While this total may far under historic sums seen there it is still better than the last couple of years. This male, sexed by the black patches on the hind wings, was one of the more cooperatives individuals. I’ll share more photos of them all week. What are your Monarch counts looking like? Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MorePlease use eBird!
Are you using eBird? If you are logging all of your bird sightings there, helping scientists around the world via personal observations, fantastic – please share and recommend it to a friend! If not check it out yourself and sign up. It’s fast, easy, and free, and you’ll soon be addicted to entering all of your birds. You’ll have your own data stored forever alongside that of millions of others allowing us to better understand and help global avian populations. We especially need more citizen scientists filling in the blanks here in the Chautauqua-Allegheny...
Read MoreApex predator or small meal?
When looking at a “teenage” Timber Rattlesnake from above like this it seems rather insignificant and certainly unimposing. We know it is a venomous snake, which may add a bit of intimidation, but we should also know it is shy, passive and uninterested in harming a human unless it is being directly threatened. At this time of year there are much smaller Timber Rattlesnakes – some less than a foot long – in the form of neonates. These newly-born young have fangs and venom but a significant percentage will perish in their first year from a variety of threats. Twan...
Read MoreAmerican Lady butterfly (Vanessa virginiensis)
I have yet to see a Giant Swallowtail for 2014 but I was happy to photograph this American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) while looking earlier this week at RTPI. How are your butterfly numbers doing? I’ve spotted a Monarch or two here and there when out for prolonged periods but it’s still slow.
Read MoreMonarch butterflies
Here it is, one Meet Your Neighbours display that needs no introduction – the Monarch (Danaus plexippus), with a female on the left and a male on the right. We must all continue to work to make certain that future generations can enjoy them in real life and not simply via beautiful photos like these. Only through a collective effort to combat deadly chemical pollutants from intentionally entering our ecosystem, protecting vital habitat during all seasons and educating our children can we turn the tide on the decline of once abundant and now fading species like these. They may not be in...
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