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Posts Tagged "territory"

Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius)

Posted on Jul 10, 2015

Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius)

It might not look like an unusual butterfly, but the Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius) is North America’s only carnivorous butterfly. That’s right, flying around in our very own woodlands is a carnivorous butterfly! Its larval stage feeds on aphids usually found on Alder trees instead of a host plant. The adults will eat the honey dew excreted by aphids or tree-hoppers. These butterflies can be very difficult to find, usually only discovered while resting on the ends of leaves during territorial and mating disputes. Photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser for the Meet Your...

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Mock vs. Chuck

Posted on Jul 9, 2015

Mock vs. Chuck

This Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) was not taking too kindly to this young Woodchuck, Groundhog, or any other common name you’d like (Marmota monax) as it was only trying to nibble on a few delicious green snacks on a cloudy morning. You can see their relative sizes are not that far off, with this young chuck wondering why mom and dad did not explain the joy of birds before. Mockingbirds can be vicious pests if you are anywhere near they’re nest doing…well, anything, like existing in their space! I can recall being attacked and whacked by them as a small child...

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Nonstop Song

Posted on Jun 5, 2015

Nonstop Song

How do Song Sparrows even have time to breed and raise young? All they do is sing, sing, and sing…

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Jamestown Airport Birds

Posted on May 16, 2015

Jamestown Airport Birds

The boys are back in town! Bobolinks have taken over the grasslands around the Jamestown airport again and it makes me happy! Our plant and bird surveys are kicking into gear again – hoping for the return of Grasshopper and Henslow’s Sparrows soon. One of these birds was a nice surprise today – likely a late migrant, but perhaps the Northern Harrier will stick around and attempt to nest? Time will tell… Twan Leenders President

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Black-and-white Warbler

Posted on May 11, 2015

Black-and-white Warbler

I couldn’t let Twan have all the fun with the Black-and-white Warblers (Mniotilta varia), and this little creeper was spotted last week as it furiously crawled and flew all around tree trunks for its insect prey. You can even see one such snack in the last photo. These birds seem like they have so much personality, but when they are visiting us in May they are move, too busy to stop to chat for too long. I am envious of anyone who gets to enjoy them while they are more relaxed on the wintering grounds. However, even then they are said to be aggressive and territorial. Did you know that...

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