Snowy Owls
In North America, Snowy Owl irruptions have become an almost annual event.
A Closer Look at Plants & Animals
Enjoy these feature stories about amazing life forms in the Finger Lakes region. Explore them further when you visit the preserves and volunteer.
The Ghost in the Woods
Ghost Pipes aren’t green because they don’t photosynthesize.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
It is the floral structure that is truly rich and strange.
The Red-Bellied Snake
When it cannot avoid conflict, it will try to bluff its way out of danger.
The Wild Turkey
The natural history of the turkey is intertwined with human history.
Our American Mink
The mink is a bioindicator for aquatic environments.
Lazarus of the Amphibian World
The North American wood frog is freeze-tolerant.
The Ever So Adaptable Fisher
Fishers are a lot more resilient than anyone had expected.
The Thrush in My Woods
The Wood Thrush often sings until nightfall.
The Mysterious Merlin
Merlins seem to be a particularly adaptable species.
The Surprisingly Common Bobcat
Although bobcats are secretive and solitary, they are fairly common.
Handle with Care! Snapping Turtles
The snapping turtle appears prehistoric because it is.
The Honey Bee: Our Friend in Danger
No one knows why the bees are dying or how to save them.
Winter for Black-Capped Chickadees
How does this tiny bird survive subzero temperatures?
Teasel: Our Prickly Relationship
Hard to eradicate from the landscape, but also useful and beautiful.
The Prickly Porcupine
Exquisitely adapted to a life high above the forest floor.
Masting: Survival of the Seediest
Masting has dramatic effects that ripple through forest ecosystems.
The Elusive Spotted Salamander
A secretive denizen of eastern U.S. and southern Canadian woodlands.
Forest Ephemera: Vernal Pools
Their role in the landscape is larger than one would expect.
Spring Wildflowers and Myrmecochory
Many spring flowers depend on ant colonies to spread their seeds.
