“Amphibians All Around” at Long Point State Park
Check out these free nature education programs at Long Point State Park on Chautauqua Lake featuring some of our partner organizations and fellow experts! You definitely have to attend the “Amphibians All Around” program by RTPI Conservation Techician Elyse Henshaw this Saturday, July 16. Events start at 10AM at the Overlook Gazebo.
Read MoreNature Books
Speaking of all these pollinators and plants, nature and wildlife, and all the cool creatures we love – how about adding to your book collection in our Nature Store? Visit RTPI today!
Read MoreWood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)
This Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) surprised me yesterday while I was walking with my dog Zach. At first I thought a leaf had blown across the grass under his furry stomach, but I said…wait, no way, that moved way too directly, too low, and too quick. After about 20 seconds of looking at the ground, sure enough, there it was. I took a few photos of it in between its hops back to the woods. The frog was heading in the right direction, and after showing Zach – he likes to watch wildlife because he has grown up around me simply observing and not interacting with it – we...
Read MoreAngry Groundhog
This is one angry looking Groundhog, Whistlepig, or Woodchuck (Marmota monax)…you can use any name, but this rodent was not happy with me. It was not my fault, I swear! Do you know what the problem is here? I was standing on a porch, and under this porch happens to be a burrow with young groundhogs. Every time I have seen one of them they scurry away as fast as can be in a non-stealthy manner back into the closest entrance to the burrow. However, this parent was not pleased, and no scurrying happened after we startled one another with a stare down commencing. Those two huge incisors...
Read MoreGreat Spangled Fritillary & Eastern Purple Coneflower
I am finally seeing more butterfly abundance and diversity as we enter July, and I could not be happier about that! I photographed this appropriately named Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) nectaring on a fresh Eastern Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) during the morning of Independence Day. These pollinator plants are gorgeous and great for attracting beneficial insects to your yard. On Sunday, July 3, I was thrilled to finally see my first of the year Monarch butterflies. What species have you spotted recently? Have you planted anything in your garden to help pollinators...
Read More
