History, Natural History & the Arts
The Doc Kudish Natural Forest at Paul Smith’s College will be formally inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network on Saturday, October 23rd.
Joan Maloof, founder and Executive Director of the Old-Growth Forest Network, will present a plaque to Dr. Michael Kudish, to celebrate the dedication of this protected forest. [Read more…] about Paul Smith’s To Designate ‘Doc Kudish Natural Forest’ Saturday
Exposure to light typically gets most of the blame for fading photographs. However, air pollution can sometimes be an even bigger cause.
The inks, pigments, and metals used in photography can chemically react with air pollutants and degrade images, even in the absence of sunlight. This is not a big problem in modern cases since the process is slow and the original digital photograph can just be reprinted. However, it’s not that simple when it comes to historic photographs with only one original copy. Protection from air pollution is something that needs to be considered to preserve them. [Read more…] about Ozone & Historic Photograph Preservation
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is holding a virtual public information session on the Habitat Management Plan (HMP) for Perch River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) located in the towns of Brownville, Orleans, and Pamelia, in Jefferson County, on Thursday, October 21st from 6 to 8 pm. [Read more…] about Perch River WMA Habitat Management Plan Meeting Oct 21st
Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive pest from Asia that feeds on a variety of plants including grapes, hops, and maple trees. It poses a severe threat to New York’s forests and agriculture.
SLF has been found in several locations in New York State, but has not yet spread into much of the state. One potential pathway for the spread of SLF is its preferred host plant, tree-of-heaven, which is already found in many locations across NY. [Read more…] about Help Track Spotted Lanternfly: Claim a Grid Square to Survey
Fall’s cooling temperatures signal many changes. Among the least visible, but most incredible, is the migration of the American eel.
Somewhere right now, at the bottom of a lake, pond, or river, an American eel is preparing to leave the home she has known for 3, 13, or maybe even 30 years. Her yellowish skin has turned to silver, her eyes and nostrils expanded to take in more sights and smells, her body become strong with muscle and fat. She is ready to go. [Read more…] about American Eel Migration
When world leaders convene in Scotland for critical climate change negotiations later this month, The Wild Center’s Youth Climate Program will be there.
The Tupper Lake, NY organization is sending a nine-person delegation to Glasgow for COP26, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties. The Wild Center’s delegates will have a front-row seat as representatives from 197 countries seek solutions to mitigate ongoing effects of climate change. [Read more…] about Wild Center Sending Delegation to U.N. Climate Talks
Birdability is a nonprofit group that advocates and promotes a welcoming, safe, and inclusive atmosphere in the birding community for people of all abilities. Their vision is “birding truly is for everybody and every body, regardless of disability or other health concerns.” [Read more…] about Birders Accessibility Resources for Birdability Week
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents in the Adirondacks. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured or distressed people.
What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers. [Read more…] about Adirondack, Catskills Rescues Keep Rangers Busy
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the launch of the NYS Birding Trail to highlight world-class birding opportunities across the state. Birding or birdwatching is one of the fastest-growing recreation and tourism activities and requires little to no experience or equipment to get started. [Read more…] about NYS Birding Trail Takes Flight In NYC
One morning in early autumn, I was running errands in downtown Keene, New Hampshire, when I was stopped in my tracks by a flash of yellow. Crouching down, I found a gorgeous, palm-sized bird, olive above, with a belly as gold as sunshine. It was a species I’d never seen before, and it was lying dead on the ground beneath a store window.
After consulting several field guides and two friends who know the intricacies of warbler identification far better than I ever will, I deduced that it was a mourning warbler – a secretive songbird of boreal and high-elevation forest clearings, with a migration route that tracks to Central and South America. Imagine flying all that way – a wonder of beauty and color – only to be felled by a run-in with a pane of glass. [Read more…] about The Perils of Bird Migration