A Life in the Wild – Thomas D. Mangelsen

The Stamford Museum and Nature Center is located on Scofieldtown Road in Stamford, CT. I hadn’t visited the place in decades, but during a visit with my Connecticut cousins they mentioned that the Museum was featuring the photographs of wildlife photographer Thomas D. Mangelson. 

I confess that I was unfamiliar with his name but immediately recognized his work. Catch of the Day may be the most famous wildlife photo of all time. However all his work is extraordinary. 

Henri Bendel Estate

The original Stamford Museum was located in downtown Stamford and opened to the public on June 27, 1936. The museum grew  in size and eventually  was moved to a second location at Courtland Park in 1946. In 1955 it was moved a third time after losing six of its eight acres to the Connecticut Turnpike. Its present location is a 1920 mansion bequeathed by philanthropist Henri Willis Bendel.  The building is surrounded by a number of classical sculptures.

 

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The Owl and Otters

I don’t like to see birds in cages. We saw a Barred Owl in a cage and my cousin made the comment “I wonder if he wonders what he did to be thrown in jail”.  The exception to this would be caging birds for rehabilitation. I think it is wrong to cage an animal who had the gift of flight.

 

A pair of otters live in the Nature Area. We arrived at feeding time and got a chance to watch their antics, Sometimes I get to see otters at home in the nearby reservoir. Such playful creatures.

 

A Meteorite, Radiometer & Foucault Pendulum

A football size iron-nickel meteorite was in a display case outside the photo exhibit. Seeing it triggered memories of visiting the museum in the 1950s when it was located in Courtland Park. The memories are faint but I seem to recall seeing a Foucault Pendulum  on display in a large hall. A heavy ball suspended on wire swinging back and forth would make quite an impression on a nine or ten year old. On that visit I purchased a radiometer which I placed in a sunny window. One day I accidentally broke the vacuum stem  rendering it useless. I purchased another which has been spinning in the sun for at least 60 years.

I learned on my visit that the Museum has trails to the nearby Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens. I’m making plans to visit that in the summer months. One last look at that radiometer.