Posted by: jberry in Untagged on
Feb 04, 2010

Liz Rosenthal authored a terrific biography of Roger Tory Peterson that was first published in 2008 during the Peterson's Centennial year celebration. It is being republished in paperback and will hut the store shelves in March, 2010. Naturalst and Peterson colleague George Harrison said the book is... "Brilliant, a definitive biography."
Posted by: jberry in Untagged on
Dec 10, 2009


Guitarist and singer Dan Vogan performed at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute Open House on Saturday December 5, 2009. Our visitors enjoyed Dan's style of contemporary and classic popular music while they took-in the Mapping the Birds of New York exhibit on display throughout the building.


Dan & Barb Vogan are active members and volunteers of RTPI and are known for their enthusiastic support of several of our area nonprofit organizations. Thanks Dan & Barb from all the staff and volunteers of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute!

Posted by: jberry in Untagged on
Dec 01, 2009
Roger Tory Peterson studio in Old Lyme will become 'extinct' if it's not preserved
By Jenna Cho
The Day
New London, CT
Published 11/21/2009
Old Lyme - Roger Tory Peterson was a giant in his field, and his name resonates to this day as someone who revolutionized the world of birding.
There's the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History in Peterson's hometown of Jamestown, N.Y. The penguin exhibit at the Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration is named after the late ornithologist, naturalist and artist. And in Old Lyme, the state designated Great Island as the Roger Tory Peterson Wildlife Area.
Posted by: jberry in Untagged on
Dec 01, 2009
The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History of Jamestown, New York is pleased to announce the receipt of a $1,000 contribution made possible by the 800 birding and nature enthusiasts who took part in the Midwest Birding Symposium (MBS) from September 17-20, 2009 in Lakeside, Ohio.
Bill Thompson III, MBS Coordinator said, "The Ohio Ornithological Society, Birdwatcher's Digest, and the community of Lakeside made this donation on behalf of the 2009 Midwest Birding Symposium in recognition of the Peterson Institute's excellent work to "teach the teachers" in carrying on Roger Tory Peterson's mission for enlightening people about birds and nature."
In addition to having a great time, the symposium's attendees were also generous-helping to raise $5,000 in donations for conservation. This $5,000 was matched through a generous contribution to the MBS from the Ohio Ornithological Society's conservation fund.
The donation will be used to fund RTPI's nationwide effort to give teachers the training and resources they're looking for when it comes to teaching their students about nature and the environment
Posted by: jberry in Untagged on
Nov 19, 2009
Nancy Keeler, RTPI Director of Development and Jim Berry, President visited the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Open House on November 12 and had the pleasure of speaking about RTPI's programs with Jim Roselli of WJTN of Jamestown, New York.
Posted by: jberry in Untagged on
Nov 13, 2009
The National Outdoor Book Awards were recently announced and the new edition of Peterson's classic field guide, the Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America won the Nature Guidebook Category. The book conveniently combines his eastern and western guidebooks into one volume.
The winners of this annual award program represent some of the finest outdoor writing and artwork being published today. The awards program is sponsored by the National Outdoor Book Awards Foundation, Idaho State University and the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education.
Awards are given in ten individual categories.
Complete reviews of these and the other 2009 winners may be found at the National Outdoor Book Award Web site at: www.noba-web.org.
Here is a list of winners.
Posted by: jberry in Untagged on
Nov 06, 2009
This eight-week course will focus on the lakes of Chautauqua County with emphasis on Chautauqua Lake and will give participants an introduction to lakes and their problems, an overview of aquatic organisms and their ecological relationships, as well as a guide for living with the lakes and their watersheds. Participants can attend individual modules or attend the series. Participants who sign up for the series will receive a textbook which is included in the cost. Classes meet on Wednesdays from 6-9 p.m. beginning March 3rd and running through April 28th 2010. If you'd like to learn more about the series, join us for a free overview session on February 17th from 7-9 p.m. This series is a collaborative effort by: the Chautauqua Lake Management Commission, the Jamestown Audubon Society, JCC's Center for Continuing Education, and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. For more information or for a brochure, please contact JCC's Center for Continuing Education at: (716) 338-1005 or via e-mail: continuingeducation@mail.sunyjcc.edu.
Posted by: jberry in Untagged on
Oct 30, 2009
Pam Rasmussen
Pam gave a terrific presentation to members and friends of the Roger Tory Peterson institute on Wednesday October 28, 2009. She told the story of her 10-year project of totally revising the Birds of South Asia: Ripley Guide that became a totally new work. Pam attempted to document all the underling records that constituted earlier checklists of the region and found 88 species previously taken as fact to breed there were not valid. Factors such as misidentification, lumped or split species issues and fraud were uncovered. Pam also documented another 86 species not previously included and added 1 species thought to be extinct. Pam herself rediscoverd Athene blewitti, the Forest Owlet.
Posted by: jberry in Untagged on
Oct 14, 2009

Art Mortvedt with RTPI staffer Jane Johnson.
These photos were taken at the Chautauqua County, NY Airport the morning of October 11, 2009. Polar Pumpkin pilot Art Mortvedt presented a program, Polar Flight 90, the evening before at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute.

Cessna 185 on the Chautauqua County Airport ramp.

Art Mortvedt on his way to New York City to receive the Lowell Thomas Award from the Explorer's Club.
Posted by: jberry in Untagged on
Oct 13, 2009


This came in from a RTPI member so I thought I'd share it with you. Jim Berry

My dad had started feeding birds by hand in the 1980's and its due to his love of this bird that I decided to try it at my house. I feed my birds year round. Less in the summer. The window by my computer has a feeder I can fill just by opening the window. The birds seem to watch me and are use to seeing me sitting at the desk while they eat. The feeders were empty so I just put my hand out the window and 4 chickadees started to feed. Got my camera ready and took pictures through the window. What a great feeling to have something so small in your hand. - Barb in Jamestown, NY