I remember back when I started college that one of my professors was telling me “your life is like a tree … but it is up to you to decide which branch of the tree to sit on …. some branches might break …. you might get a little bored sitting on some branches ….. some branches might hold you strong forever …. but it is up to you to decide where to sit!”. Looking back to my past, I now seem to better understand his points that he was trying to get across to me. Read the rest of this page »
Goldfinch visiting me just outside the Administration Building here in Allegany State Park, NY
Took the Wordless Wednesday idea from Barbara. Wait, have I said too much already?? Darn!
Photo of a visit to Costa Rica by an old friend and great naturalist.
What is a naturalist? If he makes systematic observations, keeps careful records, and tries to interpret them, he is certainly a scientist, yet he differs profoundly from other scientist, even from other biologist. Many a scientist is never happier than when he can bring into his laboratory whatever phenomenon he is investigating, isolate it, and study it under controlled conditions. His triumph is to summarize his observations in a neat graph or a mathematical formula. He lives in middle-class comfort like any other professional man. To the true naturalist, the concrete experience of living things in their natural setting is at least as precious as any generalization or “law” that he can derive from his observations. To gain this experience, he is willing to endure discomforts and privations in far places. Read the rest of this page »
My Phoebe (princess) enjoying my slide shows during a practice run.
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This evening I caught the princess coming out of the bathroom with wet feet! Went over to the toilet and found the seat all wet! What does this mean? I have a potty cat princess? I have been suspicious of this for a while now and finally caught her in the act! She use to only be a tub cat!
…. ugg
While coming home from work yesterday, I accidentally flushed a Red-tailed Hawk doing something behind the house. You know that look on a child’s face that something just happened and there is no way that they are going to tell you? Well, this was the same feeling I had with this Red-tailed Hawk who took off carrying something in its talons. I would have loved to follow it for a good photo opportunity but I needed to get the cats fed and get ready for the Kenn Kaufman talk. I did hiked through the deep snow for CSI – TOM to investigate those fallen remnants from under its perch (before I rudely interrupted is dinner). Read the rest of this page »
Kenn Kaufman spent the evening talking to many guest and members of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute (RTPI) in Jamestown, New York. Kenn is the fourth author who has been invited to speak at the Distinguished Speaker Series at RTPI (funded through the Johnson Foundation). Kenn is best known as the author of the book Kingbird Highway and his Kaufman Focus Field Guides. Tonight was the official release date for his newest Focus Guide on the Insects of North America and it looks like a very useful guide for any nature enthusiast (I know its going in my library).
Been busy with committee meetings, working on a power point slideshow and don’t forget the Kenn Kaufman talk tomorrow night at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. I promise to catch up with everyone’s photostream and blogs here soon.
After our Committee Meeting this eveing; I heard an Eastern Screech Owl out in the parking lot and called everyone over. I was able to get the owl to do a fly by in the overhead lights and then return vocalizing so that everyone could hear it. Was fun hearing/seeing the Screech Owls again.
More good news:
Yeah!! Got my Moo Cards in the mail today!! If you have no idea what I am talking about, go to: http://www.moo.com/flickr/.
Early night in bed!! Yeah!!
Picture taken two days ago at the released
Yesterday, while heading into town; I checked two times and didn’t see the Red-necked Grebe anywhere along the Allegheny River. Although I did see many ducks swimming around like the Common Merganser, Black Duck, Mallard, Canada Goose, Common Goldeneye and a Long-tailed Ducks. It was very possible that the Red-necked Grebe was down stream (where I didn’t have access to look). Read the rest of this page »
This morning a fellow employee came into the office saying “Tom, we have an injured bird in the snow!!” He told me how “a bird watcher found this bird and asked if he would go get some help”. I agreed to help out and while looking for a box; I started asking questions like “how big was it?”, “what was it doing” etc.. I quickly realized that the bird being described was probably a grebe species. I went down the hall and asked “Randy” a fellow naturalist to give me a hand with the bird. Read the rest of this page »
Welcome to the mon@rch nature blog and I hope you join us in some of our nature adventures through the Allegany State Park area!
I am a naturalist, field biologist and nature photographer from the Western New York area. I have started exploring nature writing through this blog and it truly has been fun sharing my numerous adventures with everyone. Thanks to the many other authors that help me with my post and they will be sharing some of their nature explorations.
I have always had a latent interest in birds and photography and have been lucky enough to find time to explore these interests over the last few years. I am very thankful to the Cattaraugus County Bird Club for getting me started, sharing their wealth of knowledge and for their wonderful programs. And many thanks to Tom for letting me share some of my adventures and photos on the Monarch Nature Blog.
Thank you for taking the time visiting and commenting on this blog.
Wordpress Blogs - Calevphoto - Nature Woman - A Passion for Nature BFK Photography - Natureal Notes 3 - Dragonfly Eye
Blogger Blogs Kenn and Kim Kaufman - Julie Zickefoose - Bill of the Birds - Stokes Birding Blog - David Sibley - Mary's View - Susan Gets Native - Nature Knitter - Body, Soul, and Spirit - KGMom Mumblings - Brownstone Birding Blog - Dharma Bums - Wrenaissance Reflections - A Spattering - Q’s Corner - Red Tin Heart - Joan's Nature Journal - Looking Up - Northview Diary - Nestled in Singing Woods - Ohio Nature Blog - Greenbow - Rondeau Ric - Sngcanary
Other Blogs Wildcast - 10,000 birds - Ladybug’s Leaf - Birdfreak Birding Blog - Fairweather Zealot - Zen Birdfeeder - Nature Shutterbug - DC Birder - Oceanic Wilderness
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 