Want to be Jealous?

I'll Just Leave This Here - This Was My Evening. Be Jelly.

Squirrel!

During some field work, Paul, Bryan, and I were in the field and totally stumbled upon a really cool find - we observed a melanistic Gray Squirrel. Melanistic, meaning all black, is a development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or appendages of an animal. It is the opposite of albinism. This was definitely a rare sighting on the Ridge!

TheChristyBel

A Really Cool Find in the Field Today!

Kestrel Banding - Pt. II

Little Fluffers!

This morning, I participated in a second session of Kestrel Bird Banding with Mohonk Preserve Research Associate, Zach Smith. In the kestrel box off of Pine Road, Zach banded five immature kestrels. While banding and collecting data on each of these birds, we were able to watch the parents hanging out on the telephone wire and trees surrounding the box. Enjoy some of the photos from me and Marc.

TheChristyBel

Dr. Elizabeth Long (Director of Conservation Science & One of My Bosses)
and Zach Smith (Mohonk Preserve Research Associate & Elizabeth's Husband)
Collecting Measurements in Addition to the Banding
Photo Credit: Marc Sweet

Sometimes, the Kestrel will Cooperate and Sit Still While They Get Weighed & Photographed
Photo Credit: Marc Sweet