Category Archives: Animal Behavior

Why animals do what they do. The sounds and body language that tell you what’s going on in their lives.

Spidey’s Tighty Whities

True Believers! Once again, Kelly Rypkema, our unabashed advocate for nature, jumps boldly into the wilds of New York. In today’s episode, Kelly tests the superhero strength of spider silk and shares the answer to one of life’s greatest questions. more »

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Posted in Animal Behavior, Habitats of City Wildlife, Spiders and Insects, Videos | 1 Comment

Why don’t spiders stick to their own webs?

Is the thought of walking face first into a spider web enough to make you scream? In this episode of Nature in a New York Minute, biologist Kelly Rypkema shares a little experiment to help you face your inner demons more »

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9/11 Tribute in Light Attracts Many Eyes…and Birds

The “stars” in this photo are actually migrating birds circling around the 9/11 Tribute in Light memorial. The lights appear to draw the birds off their course, but thankfully the Municipal Art Society, which produces the memorial, is cooperating with more »

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Posted in Animal Behavior, Animals, Articles, Birds, Fall, Nature by the Seasons, News, People and Nature, Spring, Wildlife Conservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Video: Cicadas – Tiny Tymbals, Big Sound

Have you ever wanted to ask Cicadas why they’re so loud, but thought it would be Brood 2 ask? Biologist Kelly Rypkema ventures into the thick of the 2013 appearance of Periodical Cicadas to answer the questions of why, who, more »

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Posted in Communication, Mating and Courtship, Spiders and Insects, Summer, Videos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

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 »

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Posted in Animal Behavior, Articles, Habitats of City Wildlife, Mating and Courtship, News, People and Nature, Spiders and Insects, Summer | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

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 »

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Posted in Animal Behavior, Animals, Articles, Birds, Mating and Courtship, News, Spiders and Insects, Spring, Story Bites | Tagged , , | 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.

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Posted in Animal Behavior, Birds, Habitats of City Wildlife, Mating and Courtship, Spring, Videos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 »

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Posted in Animal Behavior, Animals, Birds, Habitats of City Wildlife, Mating and Courtship, Nature by the Seasons, News, Photos, Spring | Tagged , , , , , | 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 »

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Posted in Animal Behavior, Animals, Articles, Mating and Courtship, Nature by the Seasons, News, People and Nature, Reptiles and Amphibians, Spring, Wildlife Conservation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 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 »

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Posted in Animal Behavior, Animals, Mating and Courtship, News, Photos, Reptiles and Amphibians, Spring, Winter | Tagged , , | Comments Off