Supermoon 2018
Happy New Year from all of us at RTPI! Here was the New Year’s Day supermoon rising out of the water this frigid evening off of Stratford Point. Here’s to a superb 2018 full of gorgeous sights like this one! We have a lot to accomplish this year, and I hope you’ll be with us every step of the way. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreSnowy Owl Flight
I took a grand total of one photo of a Snowy Owl today, and here it is! Yes, literally one shot, but it was worth it to capture a bird on a very cool location – an abandoned hangar. I am so glad everyone has been enjoying all of the Snowy action and my photos here, but these are only the pretty parts of a busy year of conservation and education. If you want to make a difference with RTPI please show it by giving us and someone you care about a gift this holiday season! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreUpdate on RTPI’s Winter Phone Cell Tour
For some, snow is simply a burden. But for myself (and I’m sure there are others!), snow brings a positive change in attitude. Hearing Christmas music for a month straight doesn’t necessarily put me in a celebratory mood, but a blanket of snow illuminated by colorful lights and accompanied by a quiet stillness that seems to intensify as every flake descends really gets me into the holiday spirit. Along these lines, snow also gets me excited for outdoor recreation opportunities and for being able to enjoy the landscape with a completely different view. It also draws countless...
Read MoreFox Sparrow
Any time we see snowfall from mid-March on, we might notice an increase in the number and species diversity of birds at our backyard feeders. Those who pay close attention might also have the opportunity to view more elusive birds – those that would otherwise just be passing through or returning to the area relatively unnoticed – that are driven out of their preferred habitats by the extreme conditions in search of food. One such bird that can seem to appear out of nowhere is the Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca). These large sparrows really enjoy scratching at the ground with both...
Read MoreScaup Surge
Thanks to recent warm temperatures and favorable winds, Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) like those shown here are now on the move back to the north, and during the past couple of weeks their numbers have been growing across the region. While you can find some throughout the winter in open areas on large bodies of water such as Lake Erie, most members of this species migrate south to evade the cold. We have been able to enjoy several thousand – probably 5,000 or 6,000 and maybe more – in the waters of Long Island Sound off Stratford Point. Most stay rather far offshore and away from...
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