The Message of the Monarchs by Becky Nystrom
Nature and her creatures are suffering, and they’re calling for our help. The message of the monarchs (Danaus plexippus), a once widespread and iconic organism now threatened with extinction, is but one of many species in unprecedented decline, pleading for our attention and action. Monarchs have much to teach us, and the plight of this amazing and ancient organism is a warning to us all that an ecological Armageddon may be underway. The eastern monarch’s mind-boggling three thousand-mile multigenerational migration between Mexico and North America is unlike any other in the world. On their...
Read MoreRTPI to host: Snakes, Spiders, and Bats! Oh, My!
The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History invites you to join us for “Snakes, Spiders, and Bats! Oh, my!” on Friday, October 11th from 5:30-8:00 pm. The Buffalo Zoo’s education department will be on site from 5:30-6:30pm with their “Zoo Mobile” to introduce guests to an array snakes, bats and spiders, and from 6:30 to 8:00 three knowledgeable and passionate local biologists (Twan Leenders, Becky Nystrom, and Jonathan Townsend) will explore the causes and consequences of the common misconceptions surrounding these creatures that so many consider creepy. This seasonally appropriate...
Read MorePlastic Pollution Awareness and Action Events in Jamestown – September 27
Plastic Pollution has become one of the greatest issues of our time; we’ve all seen the heartbreaking images of seabirds entangled in six pack rings, beached whales with bellies full of debris, and that video of the sea turtle with a plastic straw stuck in its nostril! Feel like you need to get out and DO something to protect our great outdoors and environment? Let’s do something together! The third week of September marks the first-ever National Nature Cleanup Week! Join some of the Jamestown area’s environmental ambassadors for one or both of the following programs on Friday,...
Read MoreUpdate: 35 Stories in Celebration of RTPI’s 35th Anniversary
Can you believe that it’s June already? 2019 – the year in which RTPI is celebrating its 35th Anniversary – is almost halfway over. And while we’ve already written many chapters in the story of this milestone year, we still have many more to compose! As you may recall, one way that we are celebrating RTPI’s 35th Anniversary is by sharing “35 Stories”; a collection of ideas, memories, experiences, and more, that make our journey together special. We thought that this would be a good time to provide an update on this initiative! So here goes! The following links showcase some of the...
Read MoreAn introduction to Chautauqua Lake’s Aquatic Invasive Plants
Many aquatic plants exist within Chautauqua Lake; its nutrient-rich sediments provide a fertile growing bed for vegetation. Some of these plants are native to our area and provide critical ecological and environmental benefits, while others were introduced from distant locales and have been wreaking havoc on the ecological function, recreational and economic value of Chautauqua Lake. Surprisingly, some of the most prevalent invasives have been with us for decades already, while a steady stream of nearby or newly arriving species poses additional challenges to the future health of the lake....
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