Moisture Levels
Mosquitoes bothering you lately? Or have they been fewer in number than normal? Depending on your location in the Northeast you likely have differing answers. This map shows the precipitation minus the precipitation evapotranspiration, the total of evaporation and plant transpiration of water from the Earth’s surface. Preliminary research by the Northeast Regional Climate Center and Cornell Entomology “indicates that adult mosquitos (Culex) populations are typically high during periods of time when precipitation exceeds evaporation”, which are the positive values shown. The...
Read MoreRed-winged Blackbird Female
People often think of the Red-winged Blackbird strictly as a species of ponds, cattails and marshes, but they can be found in all sorts of old and wet fields, pastures, coastal grasslands and even golf courses with areas of water. Their ability to take to a sizable variety of habitats has helped them become one of the most abundant birds on the continent. Here we have a female who was vocalizing because of a nearby nest. In a couple of months they will be starting to form flocks and staging before heading south. While most of the species will leave our area some will push through the autumn...
Read MoreRaindrop Explosion
It is not quite “stop and smell the roses”, but if you pause and take in what is immediately around you then you may end up with some beautiful surprises. I have tried to do this more recently, and avoid staring at the birds or bugs that I know well, those flashy flowers, or some cool weather phenomenon. A recent day saw just a few drops of rain falling from a passing shower. A raindrop landed on this leaf, “exploding” and leaving us with this…the very basis of life! There was not a single drop on any other nearby surface that I could find. This was it, and it...
Read MoreProject Wild America Youth Ambassadors
Tomorrow we officially begin our summer stewards program: Project Wild America Youth Ambassadors! This summer our crew comprised of two college student leaders and six area high school students will be exploring the wild places along the Chadakoin River that flows right through downtown Jamestown. They will be studying the many species that call the river corridor home, and I’m certain we will find some incredible species as well as learn more about the species we know occupy specific niches created within this urban environment. Our students will also be connecting to the local...
Read MoreSpring Sunset
The sun is setting on the spring soon as the longest days of the year are here. We hope you get outdoors to enjoy all of the light and life surrounding us in our Wild America this weekend. Have a wonderful time!
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