I Spy With My Little Eye
As warmer temperatures are finally arriving in Western New York, wetlands like the beautiful one pictured here are rapidly thawing out. These wetlands scattered throughout the area become an attractive place for many breeding bird species to belt out their songs and flit about, attempting to attract a mate. In this particular photograph there are two bird species common to wetland habitats, can you find them? Elyse Henshaw Conservation Technician
Read MoreSkunk Cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus
Although snow cover has been increasingly thinning over the past few weeks, this skunk cabbage plant (Symplocarpus foetidus) wasn’t about to wait any longer for the snow to thaw completely on its own. Similar to a bird or mammal, skunk cabbage is able to thermoregulate its internal temperatures regardless of the outside temperatures. Simply put, skunk cabbage is able to keep itself warm and keep from freezing under the snow. Some studies have shown that skunk cabbage can heat itself up to nearly 70°F, even when ambient temperatures are in the single digits! Due to this ability to heat...
Read MoreSign Removal
Spring has seemingly sprung, and that means we are wrapping up our winter projects and beginning to plan for the upcoming summer field season. With the conclusion of winter, our “Nature at Your Fingertips” winter trails cell phone tour signs are coming down off the trail and will be stored away until fall. We’ll be posting more updates soon on how this year’s tour went and what cell phones tours will be going up elsewhere in our area.
Read MoreReturn of the Osprey
The Osprey have returned! Make sure your nesting platforms are erected and ready to go, and soon enough we will be seeing birds like this one toting enormous branches across our blue and warming skies.
Read MoreRed Fox Entering Snowy Den
I had a split second to raise my camera, aim, and shoot at this Red Fox on Wednesday before it quickly darted back into its den. I included the first photo of it looking at me despite the fact I unfortunately focused on the grass that covered its eye, bah! If my aim had been a fraction of an inch to the side, or that one blade was not in the way, I would have been a very happy man. That is the nature of…nature…photography when you often do not get a second chance for a great shot. Nevertheless, I loved the red and brown colors of this animal contrasting against the still...
Read More
