Joe-the-Crow

Not a great photo, but I enjoyed seeing this Ruby-throated Hummingbird as it fed here at home. In a few weeks it will head south, crossing the Gulf of Mexico to spend the winter in Central America. #rubythroatedhummingbird #archilochuscolubris #hummingbirds #buffalo #eriecounty #wny

The Queen is a close relative of the Monarch. This one is feeding on nectar from a Mistflower at Estero Llano Grande. #queen #danausgilippus #mistflower #conoclinium #esterollanograndestatepark #weslaco #hidalgocounty #riograndevalley #texas

These amorous gannets were seen a couples years back on a trip to Machias Seal Island in Maine. A massive colony of Northern Gannets can be seen on Île Bonaventure, Quebec. #northerngannet #morusbassanus #birds #seabirds #machiassealisland

Black Chokeberry was covered with clusters of white blossoms, is loaded with berries, and will be vibrantly colored in fall. It’s an excellent alternative here in Western New York for the invasive Burning Bush. #blackchokeberry #aroniamelanocarpa #woodyplants #nativeplants #killyourlawn
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Saltmarshes, as seen here on Long Island, protect shorelines, filter nutrients, and pollution, and provide habitat for a number of species, like this Willet. Threats to these habitats include development and rising sea levels. #willet #tringasemipalmata #saltmarshes #longisland #cupsoguebeach

One of the more massive trees in the city of Buffalo, this American Sycamore can be seen on Franklin St. They are native to Western New York, where they are often found growing near creeks and streams. #americansycamore #platanusoccidentalis #trees #allentown #buffalony #eriecounty #wny

Bladderworts are carnivorous plants found in moist soils, marshes, or slow moving bodies of water. Depending on the species, they have bladder-like traps under the soil or underwater to catch small invertebrates. #bladderwort #utricularia #carnivorousplants #buffaloanderiecountybotanicalgardens #wny

Though the flowers were fading, I was still excited to see this plant - Great Rosebay growing near a bog in Western New York. In some parts of Appalachia, Rhododendrons from dense tangles called laurel slicks or laurel hells. #greatrosebay #rhododendronmaximum #rhododendron #wny

One of the many Atlantic Puffins seen on a trip to Maine in the summer of 2022. These charming seabirds are important drivers of ecotourism in Maine and elsewhere. #atlanticpuffin #fraterculaarctica #alcids #birds #seabirds #ecotourism #machiassealisland #maine

Pitch Pine seen growing in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Fire is an important part of their ecology, as noted by the charred trunks. #pitchpine #pinusrigida #pinebarrens #firedependentecosystems #newjersey

Like other tiger beetles, the Six-spotted Tiger Beetle is a predator. They feed on other small invertebrates. These striking insects are found in forests and woodlands. #sixspottedtigerbeetle #cicindelasexguttata #coleoptera #iroquoisnationalwildliferefuge #geneseecounty #wny

Several years ago this King Rail made an appearance at Iroquois NWR. This species is increasingly rare in the northern parts of its range, largely due to loss of wetland habitat. #kingrail #ralluselegans #birds #marshbirds #wetlands #iroquoisnationalwildliferefuge #geneseecounty #wny

Clubmosses are an ancient group of plants. Unlike the even more ancient mosses and liverworts, clubmosses are vascular plants. They can move water and nutrients through vascular tissue #clubmoss #lycophyte #plants #iroquoisnationalwildliferefuge #geneseecounty #wny

Galls are abnormal growths on plants, kind on analogous to warts on people. They may be caused by viruses, fungi and more. The galls here are the result of the Witch-hazel Cone Gall Aphid. #witchhazelconegallaphid #hormaphishamamelidis #insects #galls #eightteenmilecreek #hamburgny #eriecounty #wny

Cutleaf Coneflower is among my favorite native wildflowers. Like other coneflowers, it's very attractive to pollinators. At 6 feet tall, it is great along fences or in the back of garden borders. #cutleafconeflower #rudbeckialaciniata #wildflowers #eightteenmilecreek #hamburgny #eriecounty #wny

The Solitary Sandpiper breeds in the boreal forests of North America. Unlike most shorebirds, they nest in trees, using nest built by songbirds. #solitarysandpiper #tringasolitaria #shorebirds #birds #eightteenmilecreek #hamburgny #eriecounty #wny

Allegheny Monkey Flower seen growing streamside. It is a beautiful native wildflower found in moist settings here in New York. #alleghenymonkeyflower #mimulusringens #wildlfowers #eightteenmilecreek #hamburgny #eriecounty #wny

This Garden Phlox was growing on an islet in Eighteen Mile Creek. It's not native to New York, but naturally occurring populations can be found just over the Pennsylvania border. #gardenphlox #phloxpaniculata #wildflowers #nativeplants #eighteenmilecreek #hamburgny #eriecounty #wny

We have several species of Commelina in North America, some native, some not. Asiatic Dayflower is not native, but I don't mind having a few in my beds. The sky blue flowers are charming. #asiaticdayflower #commelinacommunis #weeds #allentown #buffalony #eriecounty #wny

It's generally due to cheaper real estate. Maybe at some point they will be able to have a sensible power grid, and voting districts that are more representative of the population. If the influx keep up, it's a possibility.

Swamp Milkweed likes moist soils. It is found growing along streams, ponds, marshes, and other wetland areas. Like other milkweeds, it is a host for Monarch caterpillars. #swampmilkweed #ascelpiasincarnata #wildflowers #hydepark #niagarafalls #niagaracounty #wny

Texas is actually pretty wonderful in a lot of ways. The leadership on the other hand it problematic.

One of the Duskywings, but I am not sure which one. They are among the skippers, a family that aren't entirely like other butterflies, and not quite like moths (but more like butterflies than moths). #duskywing #erynnis #skipper #butterfly #lepidoptera #artpark #niagaracounty #wny

Sounds good.

Goldenrod - up close. Goldenrods are blamed for hay fever, but ragweeds are the real culprit. They are an important food source for pollinators, and some make excellent garden plants. #goldenrod #solidago #wildflowers #nativepplants #woodlawnbeachstatepark #eriecounty #wny

A pair of Merlins, a type of small falcon, are feeding on a small bird on the top of a utility pole.

A not so good photos of a couple of my noisy neighbors having dinner. #merlin #falcocolumbarius #birds #allentown #buffalony #eriecounty #wny #urbanwildlife

We could nit pick on the details, but I suspect that we agree on the bigger picture. I certainly worry about access to the polls, and the stripping of rights - it's a bunch of nonsense.

This Bulbet Fern was growing on the bridge from Goat Island to the Three Sisters Islands in Niagara Falls. This fern is often seen growing on limestone. #bulbetfern #cystopterisbulbifera #ferns #goatisland #niagarafalls #niagaracounty #wny

Wild Bergamot has flowers that are attractive to hummingbirds and hummingbird moths. It is lovely to see growing wild or in landscaping. #wildbergamot #monardafistulosa #wildflowers #nativeplants #westsiderowingclub #buffalony #eriecounty #wny

I visited Michigan a couple years ago to see Kirtland's Warblers. I wish we did more to bolster native, naturally reproducing fish populations, do what you can, when you can. I appreciate that your concern for the Great Lakes and environmental issues. Keep fighting the good fight, and stay well!