Destination: Wildlife

03/04/2025

Winter is a great time to look for the 𝙉𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙃𝙖𝙬𝙠 in New York State, and that is where captured this beauty. We know this is a male by its light gray coloring, the females are brownish. When hunting in its favorite habitat, the male looks like a spirit floating against the edges of frozen winter grassland or fields against the dark forest fringe. It is always a treat to see the Northern Harrier Hawk. Have you been to the Grassland Bird Trust ? They preserve the habitat that these threatened birds need to survive.

02/22/2025

Beavers!! Who would guess that these funny, tree-felling rodents could be so helpful to humanity!! Fire prevention????

𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧 as 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 ?? Yes! Studies, including in Idaho, have shown that wildfires tend to be less intense and do less damage when there is a presence of beavers. The governor of California signed a beaver reintroduction bill for precisely that reason. "engineering" also helps restore aquifers. The EU is repopulating 𝙀𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨, like this little guy, all across Europe for the same reasons: water , , and help in keeping less intense and destructive.

Read more: https://zurl.co/NuwuC Image by: ©Andreaobzerova

02/21/2025

Tomorrow, the adventure begins! Our annual 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙒𝙤𝙡𝙛 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙔𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 raises funds for the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, New York. Their work in wolf advocacy, rewilding, and education is invaluable! It is an honor and pleasure to help them raise funds for their vital programs - and it's fun!! We never know who we will meet on the frozen slopes. Last year, as the sun rose, we found ourselves watching the Junction Butte pack with the author and wolf interpreter Rick McIntyre and world-renowned wolf biologist Diane Boyd. Later that evening, Ms. Boyd treated us to a private lecture on her work. What a thrill!

Interested in joining us next year? Let us know

02/20/2025

𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙁𝙖𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙣 at rest – but look fast! This bird can dive up to 200mph (323 k) to catch its prey!! These birds aren’t just fast – they are adaptable. They live in a greater diversity of habitats than practically any other raptor. They might be found in mountains and deserts and even cities! We have them in NYC! Some Peregrines breed in the Arctic and then migrate to South America for winter. These are tough and resilient birds – but by the 1970s, they ( and other raptors, including Bald Eagles) were almost extinct because of the effects of the pesticide DDT. Thankfully, with the outlawing of DDT use, they have made a comeback and are off the Endangered Species list!

Thank you to the 𝙀𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝘼𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮 (𝙀𝙋𝘼) ) for protecting our wildlife and us! Keep up the good work!

This bird was photographed in Washington County, New York, by good friend and wildlife photographer, Gordon Ellmers

02/19/2025

We are only a few days away from the start of our annual 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙒𝙤𝙡𝙛 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙔𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 tour for the Wolf Conservation Center Cannot wait! We never know who we will meet on those snowy slopes! Last year, as the sun rose, our group found themselves with author and wolf interpreter Rick McIntyre! It is always a thrill to meet up with Rick and hear his fascinating stories. What a treat!!

Shout out to Kim, Amy, Penny, Peter Rick McIntyre, me(!), Doug and our guide, Cara McGary of In Our Nature guiding service

02/17/2025

𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧 as 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 ?? Yes! Studies, including in Idaho, have shown that wildfires tend to be less intense and do less damage when there is a presence of beavers. The governor of California signed a beaver reintroduction bill for precisely that reason. "engineering" also helps restore aquifers. The EU is repopulating 𝙀𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨, like this little guy, all across Europe for the same reasons: water , , and help in keeping less intense and destructive.

Read more: https://zurl.co/NuwuC Image by: ©Andreaobzerova

02/16/2025

Did you know that the 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧 is a Keystone species? To help restore lost biodiversity, Europe has been restoring beaver populations. Beavers are "eco-engineers"; their dams create wetlands that support birds, amphibians, mammals, and creating more robust ecosystems and a healthier environment. This is a young 𝙀𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧 in Germany.

Read more https://zurl.co/nQAxF



Image: Frank Fichtmueller

02/15/2025

𝙀𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙇𝙮𝙣𝙭 are sometimes called "The Ghosts of the Forest" by northern European peoples. Wildlife photographer Ondřej Prosecký captured this 𝙀𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙇𝙮𝙣𝙭 deep in the snowy woods of the Czech Republic. The beautiful long, dense fur and well-developed webbing between their toes are adaptions to the cold and conditions.

Read more at Destination: Wildlife blog: "Europes Keystone Species Are Back! A Tale of Cats and Beavers!" https://zurl.co/kwdVf



Image by ©Ondřej Prosecký

02/14/2025

𝙀𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙇𝙮𝙣𝙭 are larger and have softer coloring than their Iberian cousins. This beautiful cat was extirpated (killed off) from most of its European range and left with only a few disconnected islands of population. That was not sustainable. REWILDING Europe and the EU's LIFE Project have done a remarkable job giving this beautiful cat a second chance for survival.

Read: https://zurl.co/wK56j "𝙀𝙪𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 𝙆𝙚𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠! 𝘼 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨!" on our blog.



Image by ©Ondřej Prosecký

02/13/2025

The 𝙄𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙇𝙮𝙣𝙭 is BACK from the brink of extinction thanks to captive breeding, habitat restoration, and years of hard work from teams of conservationists. In 2001, there were only 65 Iberian Lynx in the wild – today, there are over 2000. Are they out of danger? No. But, with luck, monitoring, and continued community and scientific support, there is hope for the species' survival! Read the story!



Image: Ondřej Prosecký

https://zurl.co/tYsdM

Once nearly extinct, beaver and lynx, are part of Europe’s plan to restore biodiversity and combat climate change. Entire ecosystems are being restored land preserved, and extinct or nearly extinct species reintroduced and protected thanks to cooperative government and NGO programs, volunteers and

02/12/2025

Welcome Carden! One of the two newest additions to the 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝗡𝗢𝗪𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺 wild 𝙎𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙮 𝙊𝙬𝙡 tagged family! Both females were caught and tagged in Canada, close to where another Snowy Owl, Atwood, was tagged last year! "...𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅-𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒇𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒓𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝑱𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚 31 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝑨𝒍𝒗𝒂𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝑺𝒊𝒎𝒄𝒐𝒆, 𝑶𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒐. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒘𝒍 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑭𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒔." From Project SNOWstor

We are so excited to be exploring the Wintering Owls and other birds in upper New York State with a special small-group tour that benefits SNOWstorm 's vital work!

Thank you to Project SNOWstrom and ©Charlotte England for your magnificent photography.

02/11/2025

Today we begin our annual tour for 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝗡𝗢𝗪𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺 – a collaboration of dozens of scientists and organizations studying 𝙎𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙮 𝙊𝙬𝙡𝙨 ! Our trips for them raise money to help purchase the vital transmitters that send Snowy Owl data back to researchers and is changing what we know about Snowy Owls! This year Scott Weidensaul, Co-founder of Project SNOWstorm, is joining us on the trip! I cannot wait to hear his insights and stories from a lifetime of studying migratory birds.

Why is the study important? Snowy Owls breed on Arctic tundra - permafrost. Climate change is turning ground that has been frozen for millennia into mush. What does that mean for the owls and other Arctic breeding raptors, the lemmings they depend on, and a multitude of other Arctic wildlife? We are only just beginning to learn - and Project SNOWstorm is adding invaluable data. It is an honor to raise funds for their mission.

Keep watching for updates – and if you’d like to join us next year, let us know!



Thanks to Gordon Ellmers for his beautiful photography!
https://zurl.co/yhva4

THIS TOUR BENEFITS PROJECT SNOWSTORM ----- 5 Days - 5 Nights Explore the Great Lakes region of New York State, a favorite wintering ground for many Arctic breeding raptors and others, and important research territory for Project SNOWstorm! SOLD OUT February 12 - 17, 2025 Special Gu

01/23/2025

𝙄𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙄𝙗𝙚𝙭 (Spanish Ibex, Spanish wild goat, or Iberian wild goat) is endemic to the mountainous regions of the Iberian Peninsula, particularly along Spain’s eastern region, where Ibex sport hunting is very popular. Like many herd animals, Ibex live in groups of either males or females and juveniles, mixing at breeding time. An Ibex will sound the call when alarmed, and the herd will quickly follow an experienced individual to safer grounds.

We are headed to Sain in March with Grassland Bird Trust and Birding The Strait. Will we see Spanish Ibex? I hope so! Join us https://zurl.co/iaULN



Image: ©Birding the Strait

01/22/2025

The 𝙄𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙇𝙮𝙣𝙭 almost disappeared into extinction less than two decades ago. In 2002, there were only an estimated 100 Iberian lynx left in the wild – with only 25 females of reproduction age. The cause was simple but complicated: habitat loss and a deadly disease killing its primary food source, wild rabbits. Today, thanks to a team effort by national and regional Spanish administrations, the WWF and others, and the European Union through the “Life”, projects, here are 2000 Iberian Lynx across Spain and Portugal. But the lynx are not out of danger. Vehicle strikes accounted for 80% of Lynx deaths last year.



Image: Ondřej Prosický

01/21/2025

The 𝙍𝙚𝙙-𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙜𝙚 is an Iberian peninsula near endemic (you will find some in France) They have been extirpated from their one-time range in Germany’s Rhineland and are considered to be rapidly declining in the rest of its range. Attempts at reintroduction in Germany have failed. Red-legged partridge like hilly, dry areas with small bushes for hiding and foraging on the ground in plenty of company – flocks of up to 70 birds have been counted! These birds are still hunted in Spain but are “restocked” by captive-bred birds in some of the more frequently hunted areas.

Read about the Red-legged Partridge and 9 more fascinating birds in our story about Southern Spain's birds here: https://zurl.co/WC3sQ

Image by ©Alcaproc

01/20/2025

The critically endangered 𝘽𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙘 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 is one of the two rarest birds in Europe and rapidly declining, with extinction predicted in less than 60 years. According to Cornell Lab of Ornithology, there may be only 1,800 to 2500 breeding pairs, most of which nest in Mallorca. The Balearic Shearwater is pelagic, meaning that it lives most of its life at sea – coming ashore only to breed. But weathering the open sea is not ia problem, fisheries by-catch and predation by introduced mammals (feral cats and rats) are.

We hope to see Balearic Shearwaters in or around the Strait of Gibraltar in March with the Grassland Bird Trust and Birding The Strait We will also be visiting with some of the organizations reintroducing (extirpated) White-headed and Marbled teal ducks. We have 3 spots left. Join us. https://zurl.co/w2MVE

01/19/2025

The nomadic 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠-𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙆𝙞𝙩𝙚 is expanding its Spanish population; look for it in Southern Spain’s dehesas; there, in the open woodland pastureland with scattered oak trees, it will hunt for rodents, bats, smaller birds, and sometimes reptiles. This is a small bird, (14in / 35cn) with an impressive wingspan of up to 39in (35.5cm)! Look for the adult Black-winged Kite’s red eye.

We will look for Black-winged kites and other raptors in the grasslands of Southern Spain in March with the Grassland Bird Trust and Birding The Strait We have a couple of spots still open. Join us! https://zurl.co/NgLto

Image: ©Alonso Javier Huerta

01/18/2025

𝙄𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙥𝙞𝙚 an Iberian Peninsula endemic, is unmistakable with Its black hood and blue upper wings against grey and white! The Iberian Magpie likes the company of loose flocks that can be loud and boisterous – and helpful. Watch for the jays that seek them out to steal the food the Iberian magpies have found.

We will look for Iberian Magpies in the grasslands of Southern Spain in March with the Grassland Bird Trust and Birding The Strait Join us! https://zurl.co/yepp5

Image by ©Joan Egert