Follow Us!
Join the Club!
-
Recent Posts
Author Archives: Kelly
When Wildlife Moves In – a Modern Parable
by Michele Dudas, PSQ Naturalist Interpreter I awoke to the faintest scritching sound (you know, not quite a scratching sound…something much more quiet and tentative), in my bedroom one night. When I was fully awake, I stayed very still in more »
Living Fossils Go to Town on NYC Beaches
New Yorkers, if you go to the beach tonight, you might witness some hanky-panky involving a lot of grabbing and intertwined…carapaces? Of course you know I mean spawning horseshoe crabs. Every May and June, during high tide around the new more »
Posted in Animal Behavior, Animals, Articles, Birds, Mating and Courtship, News, Spiders and Insects, Spring, Story Bites
Tagged horseshoe crab spawning, red knot, red knot migration
5 Comments
Nature Minute video: The Sordid Lives of the White-throated Sparrow
Biologist Kelly Rypkema introduces us to a secret benefit to birdwatching – dating advice. Trouble viewing? Watch on YouTube instead.
Posted in Animal Behavior, Birds, Habitats of City Wildlife, Mating and Courtship, Spring, Videos
Tagged Bird behavior, Bird courtship, Bird facts, bird song, Bird sounds, birding, birds, Birds in the park, Birds mate, birdwatching, City birds, Color morph, Nature and wildlife, Nature in a New York Minute, nature in the city, nature minute, sparrow, Sparrow bird, White-throated sparrow
8 Comments
Whazzat Bird?
While photographing the first flush of spring, I was surprised to find this bird in my viewfinder. I think of them more as a woodland bird, but here he was smushed in the confines of my tiny city park. Maybe more »
Posted in Animal Behavior, Animals, Birds, Habitats of City Wildlife, Mating and Courtship, Nature by the Seasons, News, Photos, Spring
Tagged bird identification, bird song, birds, kelly rypkema, nature in the city, nature minute
Comments Off
Confessions of a First-time Amphibian Wrangler
I remember the first time I saw a tadpole in mid-metamorphosis. It still had that small fishy mouth, and swimming tail…and then these strange little legs sticking out. I had studied all that in books, but to see it happening more »
Posted in Animal Behavior, Animals, Articles, Mating and Courtship, Nature by the Seasons, News, People and Nature, Reptiles and Amphibians, Spring, Wildlife Conservation
Tagged amphibians, Jefferson Salamander, kelly rypkema, spotted salamander, what is amphibian, wildlife conservation, wildlife of new jersey, Wood Frog
2 Comments
Wood Frog Love
Wood frogs partially freeze to survive the winter. And yes…those two wood frogs are doing what you think they’re doing. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Spring amphibian migration is only a couple weeks away, when certain toads, salamanders, and frogs, like more »
Posted in Animal Behavior, Animals, Mating and Courtship, News, Photos, Reptiles and Amphibians, Spring, Winter
Tagged amphibians, migration, Wood Frog
Comments Off
Nature Minute video: Woodpeckers leave their mark on NYC – and feed city wildlife
Without leaves to block our view, winter is an excellent time to take a peek into the lives of city animals and see the daily challenges they face. One type of woodpecker has drilled very distinctive designs throughout NYC’s parks more »
Posted in Animal Behavior, Birds, Fall, Habitats of City Wildlife, Trees, Videos, Winter
Tagged about animals, city animals, city wildlife, Green News, kelly rypkema, nature, Nature And Science, Nature in a New York Minute, nature minute, new york wildlife, Park, Parks, Science And Nature, tree sap, urban wildlife, video, what birds eat, what do birds eat, what do squirrels eat, what squirrels eat, what woodpeckers eat, wildlife in the city, wildlife watching, woodpecker, woodpecker facts, woodpecker holes, woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
1 Comment
Ask the Naturalist: Why do Hummingbirds Like Sapsuckers? A Nature Minute Video
If one species of animal can love another, then surely hummingbirds love sapsuckers. Find out why in this short video annotation. And see our episode: “Woodpeckers leave their mark on NYC” for the full story.
Posted in Animal Behavior, Birds, Communication, Fall, Habitats of City Wildlife, Spiders and Insects, Trees, Videos, Winter
Tagged about animals, bird migration, city animals, city wildlife, Green News, kelly rypkema, nature, Nature And Science, Nature in a New York Minute, nature minute, new york wildlife, Park, Parks, Science And Nature, tree sap, urban wildlife, video, what birds eat, what do birds eat, what do hummingbirds eat, what hummingbirds eat, what woodpeckers eat, wildlife in the city, wildlife watching, woodpecker, woodpecker facts, woodpecker holes, woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Comments Off
Who stole the Sap?
Which animal looks like a thief to you? Animals aren’t necessarily polite when it comes to getting food, and they have been known to steal from each other. In next week’s episode about Sapsuckers (a type of woodpecker), we caught more »
Posted in Animal Behavior, Animals, Articles, Birds, Mammals, News, People and Nature, Plants, Poop, Droppings, and other Calling Cards, Spiders and Insects, Trees
Tagged how do animals find food, kelly rypkema, Nature in a New York Minute, stealing food, tapping trees, tree sap, What do animals eat, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Comments Off
Story of the Day: Games with Squirrels
by Kelly Rypkema First published in Out Walking the Dog I’m heading out to treat myself to a nice Vietnamese dinner. I have yummy thoughts of cilantro, curry, and coconut milk swimming through my mind as I step onto the more »
Posted in Animal Behavior, Animals, Articles, Communication, Mammals, News, People and Nature, Talking with Animals
Tagged animal communication, gray squirrel, kelly rypkema, Nature in a New York Minute, observing animals, sciurus carolinensis, squirrels, staring contest, urban wildlife
Comments Off