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…)
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…)
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!!
(more…)
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…)
Amphibians – 2007 Checklist
I decided to split my 2007 Nature Checklist into 5 different categories; Butterflies & Skippers, Amphibians, Reptiles, Mammals and Birds! Amphibians are the next family in my series of species that I have kept track of within Western New York State in 2007. I have taken the Amphibians and split them up between Salamanders (9) and Frogs (7).
Spotted Salamander (more…)
Butterflies – 2007 Checklist
Monarch Pair
I decided to split my 2007 Nature Checklist into 5 different categories; Butterflies & Skippers, Amphibians, Reptiles, Mammals and Birds! I would like to start this series with the Butterfly (31) and Skipper (12) species I found within Western New York State. Between high gas prices and limited time to get out to look for butterflies in 2007, I ended up seeing a lower than normal numbers of butterflies. My first butterflies was in Allegany State Park on the 21st of April with an Eastern Comma and a Mourning Cloak. My biggest butterfly day was on the 10th of June 2007 with 19 species. Ya, Ya, I have had better years!! (more…)
Happy New Year Everyone!
I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year from all of us here at Mon@rch Nature Blog!
My Bird Feeders [videos]
I was asked by Nature Shutterbug to do post on the bird feeders in my backyard. Instead of making this post simple (sorry dial-up friends), I decided to get into this post multiple videos. I do feed the birds year-round but during the Spring-Summer-Fall months I bring the feeders inside at dusk due to the critters getting into them. The suet feeder comes inside at dusk during the winter months but I will fill the other feeders with a limited amount of seeds for when the critters find them. (more…)
End of 2007
Hummingbird Moth photo from August 2003
It seems like the end of 2007 has been just buzzing by so quickly. I had a hard time thinking of a critter that buzzed and suddenly I remember some older (2003) video that I captured of a Hummingbird Moth!! Hope you enjoy this cute little moth! (more…)
Redpoll or Northpole? [videos]
Common Redpoll Video [1:04]
No matter how hard you try . . . You will never be able to convince me that another bird species bird doesn’t have as much Christmas spirit as the Common Redpoll. Being an irruptive species . . . Santa visits my house more than the Common Redpoll does! But, they do breed in Alaska across northern Canada in areas not that far South from the North Pole. They have amazing little reddish-pink Christmas outfits with some white wing bars and a streaked belly. They have a black beard, mustache (almost like Santa) and bright red Christmas cap on their head!! Best part about the Common Redpoll is that whenever they arrive at your feeders . . . it feels like Christmas Day when you just opened your “big” present! (more…)
Christmas Fern
Christmas Fern
By Maxwell C. Wheat, Jr.
“Come see the Christmas stockings,”
Says Grandmother, taking our hands
Leading us to the stream in our back woods
There on the bank
She shows us fronds of ferns lined with leaflets
Each shape like a fat “L”
“They’ll fit on elves’ feet, Nanny.”
“They’re upside down,” my brother laughs
“The elves’ll fall out.”
“Why, Edmund,” Grandmother chuckles
“don’t you know why elves’ feet
Are pointed and curled?”
(more…)
Do you know your Bird Eggs? [QUIZ 2]
Looking at each egg will make you wonder what advantages or disadvantages it might have. Take for example cliff nesting birds who building their nest on large ledges. Maybe those eggs which are more pointed are less likely to roll off the ledge because they will instead roll in a tight arch?? Why are birds eggs colored differently?? Maybe from a predator’s vantage those green or blue eggs could look like a hole in the vegetation?? Those birds with white eggs might not need to be camouflage because both parents take turns incubating the eggs while protecting the white coloring from predators?? Maybe cavity nesting birds require that white coloring so that the parents don’t accidently break the egg while in the darkness of the cavity?? Are duck eggs oilier than normal eggs to help keep them more waterproof? So many questions that are being looked at by ornithologist today and their findings are helping us understand the unique features in the development of these eggs.
Checking out an Eastern Towhee Nest.
By posting these two birdQUIZs, I am hoping you will also look closer at each egg and try thinking why each egg looks the way that it does. This exercise will help you finding the proper owner of the broken or hatched egg shell that you find laying on the ground. Good Luck with the quiz!! (more…)
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 