#RBWinterWildlifeWednesday - Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

On today’s edition of #RBWinterWildlifeWednesday, we take a look at one of the smallest migratory birds that visit R. B. Winter State Park – the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird!

Weighing in at only 2 to 6 grams and reaching 3 to 3.5 inches in length as fully grown adults, Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds are one of the smallest of the more than 150 bird species documented at the park. These tiny birds are easily recognized by their distinctive plumage: iridescent green on their back and the top of their head, and white on their undersides. Males have a brilliant iridescent red coloring on their throats, which gives the species its name.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds are a migratory species that arrive in Central Pennsylvania around the beginning of May. They can be found in open woodlands, gardens, orchards, and other areas with abundant flowering plants. At R. B. Winter State Park, they can be found throughout the forest, but the best place to look for them is at the Park Office. It is not unusual to see a dozen or more hummingbirds using their long, slender bills to sip nectar from the bee balm planted there or from the feeders that the park staff put out for them.

They stay around the area of the park through the summer until August, when they begin their journey south to Central America to spend the winter months. Many birds will fly through the southern states to Texas and then on into Mexico, while others reach Louisiana before launching themselves out over the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Flying continuously for up to 500 miles, they can reach the Yucatan Peninsula in 18 to 24 hours. Towards the end of the following winter, they begin building their energy reserves before once again returning north. A hummingbird that winters in the jungles near Merida, Mexico and returns to R. B. Winter State Park would need to fly over 1,500 miles—a journey it undertakes twice a year, every year of its life!

The next time you visit the park, be sure to stop at the office where you can sit and watch the amazing aerial acrobatics of these incredible birds.

#RBWinterWildlifeWednesday - Cedar Waxwing

In today’s edition of #RBWInterWildlifeWednesday, we take a look at one of the most visually striking birds found at R. B. Winter State Park - the Cedar Waxwing!

A year-round inhabitant of Pennsylvania, Cedar Waxwings are medium-sized songbirds comparable in size to an American Robin. Known for their silky, shiny plumage and sleek crests, they typically have a pale brown head and chest that fades into a soft gray on the wings, with a distinctive black mask outlined in white. Their name derives from the bright red, wax-like tips that form on the secondary wing feathers of some adult birds.

Cedar Waxwings can be found in a variety of habitats, ranging from open woodlands and orchards to suburban gardens and parks. They are especially attracted to areas with abundant fruit-bearing plants, particularly berries, which make up approximately 80% of their diet. Unlike many other North American birds, Cedar Waxwings can survive for months at a time on just fruits and berries. They are also known to naturally disperse the seeds of the plants they eat, as they consume the entire fruit and pass the seeds through their digestive tract, spreading the seeds across the landscape as they search for their next meal.

At R. B. Winter State Park, Cedar Waxwings that have not migrated south can be found in the winter as flocks hunt through the forest for berries and other dried fruits to eat. The best time to see them at the park is right now! During the summer months, they often supplement their diet with insects and can be found near the dam, performing dizzying aerial acrobatics as they pluck mayflies, dragonflies, stoneflies, and other insects out of midair.

The next time you’re at the park, be sure to stop by the parking area near the Raymond B. Winter memorial at the dam and watch for these sleek-looking birds!

Picture by Friends of R. B. Winter State Park Board Member Kyle Fawcett

#RBWinterWildlifeWednesday - Northern Watersnake

With summer in full swing, today's edition of #RBWinterWildlifeWednesday takes a look at one of the most common species of snakes you'll encounter at R. B. Winter State Park: the Northern Watersnake!

Northern Watersnakes are one of Pennsylvania's twenty-one native species of snakes and can be found in various habitats, including rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, and marshes. At R. B. Winter State Park, you can find them anywhere near water, whether basking in the sunlight streaming through the trees along Rapid Run or chasing tadpoles and minnows along the shore of Halfway Lake. These snakes typically have a reddish-brown to grayish-brown body with dark crossbands. Younger snakes exhibit brighter coloring, which darkens as they age, making the pattern less distinct. Juveniles are usually around seven inches long at birth and can grow to over four feet as adults!

Should you come across a Northern Watersnake while visiting the park, remember to stay calm and give the snake its space. Despite their sometimes intimidating appearance, Northern Watersnakes are non-venomous and pose no threat to people. However, they may defend themselves if they feel threatened, so you should never attempt to handle or harm a watersnake. They are much more likely to flee and, when given the opportunity, will quickly slide into the water and swim away or slip under a rock to hide. If you walk away and come back in a couple of minutes, they'll most likely have silently moved away to an area where they are less likely to be disturbed.

In the 1800s and 1900s, Northern Watersnakes were considered a "fisherman's worst enemy," and bounties were offered for killing them. Today, we recognize that Northern Watersnakes play an essential role in maintaining the ecological balance of the natural ecosystem. For instance, they often prey upon diseased or dying fish or amphibians, limiting the spread of pathogens, especially in areas where fish or frogs may be overpopulated.

The next time you're visiting the park, watch for these fascinating creatures and the other wildlife that can be found at R. B. Winter State Park!

Picture by Friends of R. B. Winter State Park Board Member Kyle Fawcett