History, Natural History & the Arts
Harbor, grey, and harp seals are commonly seen on many of New York’s saltwater beaches and estuaries at this time of year, and it is normal to see seals in large groups or alone on the beach.
Seal pups are also commonly seen alone on beaches when their mothers temporarily leave to hunt, or once they are fully weaned and foraging for the first time on their own. [Read more…] about Saltwater Wildlife: Harbor, Grey, and Harp Seals
Spring is an ideal time to observe bird migrations. New York is conveniently located along the Atlantic Flyway, one of the main migration routes. This provides a great opportunity to observe birds flying to their summer breeding grounds.
Here’s a few resources to get you started: [Read more…] about Quarantine Pastimes: Tracking Spring Bird Migrations
In recognition of the 50th Earth Day on April 22nd, 2020, the New York State Archives is showcasing records that document the climate, pollution control and abatement, water supply management, and forest preservation and management in New York State. [Read more…] about NYS Archives Celebrating 50th Earth Day
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, creators of the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace, have shared a number of educational activities that teach responsible outdoor recreation to kids. [Read more…] about #RecreateLocal: Leave No Trace Lessons for Kids
Hunger as Focus
Wads of newspapers
New York Times
Glens Falls Post-Star
Albany Times-Union
With flames to pulp
kindling ignored news
Favors votes to get
dinner on the table
In the northern forest, a big gray cat crouches silently in a dense thicket of fir along a snowshoe hare run. Its pointed ears, topped with long tufts of black hair, twitch as it listens intently. The cat’s face is framed by a fur ruff and its yellow-green eyes are alert for movement. Suddenly, the lynx pounces, killing its prey with one quick bite to the neck. As it pads away with the hare, the lynx’s broad furry paws act like snowshoes, supporting it in the deep snow. Its short tail is tipped with black. [Read more…] about Missing Lynx Return to New England
This week on The Historians Podcast, a special edition with Marietta Carr, librarian at Schenectady County Historical Society, discussing how to keep track of the local history of COVID-19.
Also, author Nina Sankovitch talks about releasing her new history book American Rebels: How the Hancock, Adams, and Quincy Families Fanned the Flames of Revolution in the middle of the pandemic. [Read more…] about Chronicling the History of COVID-19 (Podcast)
The Researching New York 2020 Conference, the only general statewide history conference, has announced a call for papers. The conference is planned for November 19-21, 2020, at the University at Albany. [Read more…] about Researching New York Conference Call for Papers
The tracks seen in these photos were part of the original North Creek branch railroad that through the streets of Saratoga Springs. Originally, the line to North Creek (the Adirondack Branch) came off the Delaware & Hudson Railroad’s main line in the freight yard just south of the main Saratoga depot, and ran right down the middle of some streets. Started in 1864 and completed to North Creek in 1871, the street tracks were removed when the entire line was rerouted outside downtown Saratoga Springs. [Read more…] about When Trains Ran Through Saratoga’s Streets
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced hunters in New York killed an estimated 224,190 deer during the 2019-20 hunting seasons. [Read more…] about 2019-20 Deer Hunting Statistics Released