Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) by Scott Kruitbosch
The clattering of several Marsh Wrens was a pleasant surprise for me today in Jamestown. While not unexpected the species was assuredly absent from my mind this morning until I heard that familiar sound.
Read MoreEastern Spiny Softshell Turtles (Apalone spinifera) by Scott Kruitbosch
They’re backkk! Well, they never left, but here they are in the open – that’s one male and two female Spiny Softshell Turtles, a New York State ‘Special Concern’ species, as seen a couple hours ago here in Jamestown by RTPI conservation staff and SUNY JCC interns.
Read MoreApril migrants at the College Lodge
This morning I visited the SUNY College Lodge, a site which you can find in our Natural History Atlas at this link. Our staff is currently conducting a year-long plant and wildlife assessment of the approximately 200-acre property owned and operated by the Faculty Student Association of SUNY Fredonia. My main target today was the beginning of the big push of migrant birds we will be enjoying throughout the region for the next month. Despite the cool weather there are still many species filtering into through the area in late April, as usual. One of the first birds I heard was the...
Read MoreCommon Green Darner (Anax junius) by Twan Leenders
I was fully counting on seeing several new birds I had not come across yet in Western New York this year during yesterday’s Buffalo Ornithological Society spring bird count (and I did – what a great day to be outside it was!) However, I was very surprised to see no fewer than six Common Green Darners (Anax junius). These guys are migratory dragonflies and are usually among the first species to show, arriving on the same weather systems that bring avian migrants. The 2014 dragonfly and damselfly crop will start to emerge from their aquatic habitats in a few weeks. Can’t...
Read MoreApril speaker – Luke Tiller
RTPI is thrilled to welcome our friend Luke Tiller as our April speaker on Monday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. The Great Lakes are an incredible spot for bird migration of all kinds but perhaps particularly notably for raptors. Join hawkwatching expert Luke Tiller to hear about one of the best raptor migration sites, that happens to just be a stones throw away from Jamestown in Western New York. Luke will talk about among other things: Braddock Bay, the history of hawkwatching, how to get the best out of the hawkwatching experience and about some of the pitfalls of trying to identify a bird in...
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