Rufous vs Gray
From the Peterson Field Guide.
The Eastern Screech Owl is a species that have two distinct morphs and live within the same population (polymorphism). It is generally known that gray-morphed Screech Owls are more frequently found in the North and the rufous-morphed birds are mostly found in the South. Many publications will discuss this relationship with the rufous-morphed birds not being able to handle the colder winters and I know there are some studies are trying to prove that. I did find an interesting publication by Mosher and Henny (1976) who explains how the rufous-morphed Screech Owls oxygen uptake is greater than the gray-morphed birds when exposed to lower temperatures. I have also heard about the relationship with the different morphs and tree species that are found in the areas !! (more…)
Groundhogs Day
To all my Blogging friends; I Allegany Tom on the 2nd of February 2008 did not see my shadow when I woke up this morning. I predict that spring will come early this year!! I just love this holidays and on a side note . . . . Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow this morning! He is predicting that there will be “six more weeks of winter”! (more…)
Short-eared Owl [video]
Short-eared Owl on Telephone Pole
Yesterday evening I was invited to join a State Biologist from the Department of Environmental Conservation in banding some Short-eared Owls up in the Buffalo, NY area. If you know me . . . . I couldn’t resist this opportunity to seeing such an amazing bird up close. I decided to take a half day from work and drive the 2 hours up north for these marvelous birds! Chuck and his team had already finished setting everything up and was about to starting to test the equipment (sunset was approaching fast). Just as he felt that everything was ready . . . . the most beautiful Short-eared Owl suddenly appeared from behind us as if it was a flying ghost!! I never saw so many people scatter to there vehicles as I did then!! (more…)
Remembering Summer Bugs [Wordless Wednesday]
Things we don’t normally think about during the winter months when you live in snow country!
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Fun Skiing Day [Video]
Hmm . . . Pizza after Skiing!
I joined Young Naturalist C, J and E today for a fun skiing day over at the Holimont Ski Resort in Ellicottville, New York. This is our annual skiing day that we do each year and the kids keep on getting better and better . . . . I continue to have a harder time keeping up with them!! We are always guaranteed many laughs and I will probably feel the fun we had tomorrow morning once my muscles relax!! (ugg) This (2:35 minute) video is only a sample of our excellent day!! (more…)
Forest Junk
An old bus in the woods.
These photos were taken this fall over on the Red House side of Allegany State Park. They are off trial on the edge of the forest and an old field. Last time I saw this bus was probably 10 years ago when it was still standing upright (I have a slide of it then here somewhere . . . ).
Do you ever photograph forest junk?
Winter Blues
Today was not the best day to be out birding and I found myself taking some winter pictures along Red House Creek. Since temperatures have been reaching near 0°F this past week (and will continue to be for the next week) . . . . I have found myself with some “winter blues” and desiring the return to the spring/summer temperatures. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to reflect how one particular spot can look almost 6 months later when temperatures were near 90°F. (more…)
Old Allegany State Park Pictures
Administration Building in 1928
I did a talk for the Allegany State Park Historical Society this weekend on the daily life of a naturalist here in Allegany State Park. It is the same program that I have been doing for the many photo-clubs, bird-clubs, etc.. over the past year. Even with the white-out snow conditions . . . . we still had an excellent turnout. Speaking of old park history . . . it has been a while since I have posted any old park pictures. (more…)
Photographing the Earth, one millimeter at a time . . .
Vatican Museum in Rome by CalevPhoto
Many start blogging to easily share there daily activities with family (but more than your family find your blog and you start talking more about nature)!! Others use there blog to talk about olden days when we were kids!! Like turning 8 years old and visiting my Aunt and Uncles campsite here in Allegany State Park. Joe (my cousin) and I would spend numerous hours playing in the stream trying to catch the largest crayfish. Darn those Raccoons . . . . they must have recognized the camper because they could always find our best hiding spots (when keeping the Crayfish overnight)! I still don’t understand why my Aunt and Uncle wouldn’t let us keep them inside the camper? (more…)
Another Redpoll Video
Check out the Jamestown Audubon article on Winter Redpolls written for the local newspaper! They emailed me yesterday asking to use two of my photos for the article! Thanks Jen and Sarah. This is an almost Wordless Wednesday video post!
Murmuration of Starlings
A Murmuration of Starlings
What is a Murmuration of Starlings? It really isn’t much except being a fancy way to describing a group of European Starlings that you might find together. The Encarta Dictionary says; mur•mu•ra•tion (noun) 1. murmuring – an act or sound of murmuring 2. starlings collectively – a flock of starlings! Many other critters have different names for describing there group gatherings. . . . here are a few my favorite examples; “a cloud of gnats”, “a walk of snipe” and “a band of gorillas”!! I wonder if the gorillas have hippy gorillas or monkeys who follow them from gig to gig?? (more…)
Annual Waterfowl Survey
Today a few of us from the Cattaraugus County Bird Club participated in the NYS DEC / NYSOA annual waterfowl survey. Each January a quarter of a million ducks across New York State are counted by bird clubs, state officials and your average birder. We are also participating in the Mid-winter Bald Eagle Survey, where we are locating Eagles wintering along the Allegheny River. The results of these two surveys will help determine the long-term monitoring of waterfowl and Eagle populations within New York State during the winter months.
Canada Goose with a cold wake up call.
An Interesting Office Visitor
Have you ever been inside Wal-mart or Home Depot with birds flying around the store?? I feel sorry for those birdies and I find myself wondering who’s job it is to get them back outside safely?? Well, you know who gets the call whenever something is flying around the offices in the Administration Building!! I have rescued Chimney Swifts who accidentally fell down the chimney because someone forgot to close the damper. I am the one who saves the Little Brown Bats who accidentally finds there way inside whenever someone leaves a doors or window open due to hot temperatures during the summer. I have even rescued things like a Luna Moths (stuck between the storm windows), Hummingbirds, Meadow Jumping Mouse, Flying Squirrels, Ring-necked Snakes, and a ton of Chipmunks!! But I am rarely called upon during the winter months for unexpected critters that find there way into the offices (well, unless they are mice)!
Today’s Black-capped Chickadee.
Trying to Catch Up!
Snow Bunting from 15 Dec 2007
It has been a busy week with limited time to take any pictures or do any blogging! We lost power a few nights ago to that huge storm that moved through the area. Last night I did a slide program for the Cattaraugus County Camera Club and I now need to prepare for my next slide program on the 19th. I have lucky come across a few first for the year (cool) birds this week! The weekend started with a Northern Shrike (check) who made an appearance at the entrance of Red House off I-86. Yesterday a flock of ~12 Snow Buntings (check) were doing their thing along the road side near Red House Lake. I then noticed a small raft of Buffleheads (check) swimming in the middle of Red House Lake this morning (yep, the lake has thawed out already). This spring weather has really made me crave looking for spring birds like the American Woodcock! Then I remember that it’s a few months early before I can start doing these activities!! (more…)
Wordless “video” Wednesday
Fun Black-capped Chickadee Video
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Before the Snow Melted!
White-tailed Deer about to run from me.
This weekend the Deer were feeding on bright green grass which was peaking through the snow! The Raccoons were breaking through the thin ice and fishing for things along the streams edge ! Birds have slowed down at the bird feeders and are now finding seeds elsewhere!! Well, after record high temperatures (60°F) today . . . . the snow has significantly melted away and now they have even more opportunities to find food! Can you believe its mid January with such warm temperatures? Expect even more warmer temperatures tomorrow!! (more…)
Winter Berry
Winter Berry
Jen did a wonderful Colors of Winter post, which encouraged me to get out and find some color before the snow started falling! I did not find as much color as Jennifer did but I was happy to get out to find something!!
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Birds – 2007 Checklist
Red-necked Grebe that was rescued.
I decided to split up my 2007 Nature Checklist into 5 different categories; Butterflies & Skippers, Amphibians, Reptiles, Mammals and Birds! Birds are my last species in this series that I have been keeping track of within Western New York State, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. I have also taken the birds and split them up between non-passerines (88) and passerines (111). This was one of my best “bird” years with many great species and 6 lifers (5 of which were at Cape Cod)! Although, it would have been nice to have gotten one more species to make it exactly 200 for 2007! Maybe I can break that 200 barrier in 2008 and do a little traveling (which is how so many are able to get their numbers up)?? (more…)
Mammals – 2007 Checklist
I decided to split up my 2007 Nature Checklist into 5 different categories; Butterflies & Skippers, Amphibians, Reptiles, Mammals and Birds! Mammals (28) are the next family in my series of species that I have kept track of within Western New York State.
Red Squirrel
Reptiles – 2007 Checklist
I decided to split up my 2007 Nature Checklist into 5 different categories; Butterflies & Skippers, Amphibians, Reptiles, Mammals and Birds! Reptiles (6) are the next family in my series of species that I have kept track of within Western New York State.
Common Garter Snake (more…)
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