Many songbirds are nesting earlier in spring because of warmer temperatures brought about by climate change. But the shift brings another danger that is especially deadly for nestlings: greater exposure to temperature variability in the form of cold snaps and heat waves. [Read more…] about Study: Temperature Changes Reduce Bird Nesting Success
Climate Change
Protect the Adirondacks Releases New Report On NYS “30 by 30” Law
In 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul signed the “30 by 30” law that establishes a conservation goal for New York State of protecting 30% of the State’s “lands and inland waters” by the year 2030. [Read more…] about Protect the Adirondacks Releases New Report On NYS “30 by 30” Law
20% in 2023: An Assessment of the New York State 30 by 30 Act
In 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul signed the “30 by 30” law that establishes a conservation goal for New York State of protecting 30% of the State’s “lands and inland waters” by the year 2030.
This landmark environmental protection legislation enjoyed broad bipartisan support, passing the State Senate by a vote of 58 to 3, and the State Assembly by a vote of 137 to 8. [Read more…] about 20% in 2023: An Assessment of the New York State 30 by 30 Act
Greening Your Halloween
Halloween is full of spooks and frights, and one of the most celebrated holidays in the US, but also one of the most wasteful. To keep your Halloween green by following these tips: [Read more…] about Greening Your Halloween
Inequality, Urban Heat Islands, and Crime
The consequences of climate change and environmental degradation will have inordinate effects on cities.
Urban areas are likely to see a range of social, public, and environmental impacts, including, but not limited to, human migration and displacement, cultural disruptions, and urban flooding. [Read more…] about Inequality, Urban Heat Islands, and Crime
Red Alert: Leaf Color Indicates Maple Distress
The dearth of red fall color in sugar maples, a broad regional trend first noted around 2018, is unrelated to fall weather or to the growing conditions in a given season. It’s a troubling sign that sugar maples as a species may have entered a long-term decline.
Although every fall is beautiful, some years are notably vibrant, while others – like 2023 – are more subdued. We know that weather is the main factor that determines the brilliance of the autumn leaf display. [Read more…] about Red Alert: Leaf Color Indicates Maple Distress
Hydro Power Initiative Launched in Glens Falls, NY
A new initiative is bringing Glens Falls residents and businesses the option to choose clean, locally-sourced electricity, with the City of Glens Falls as lead subscriber. The Glens Falls Community Hydro Project is a collaboration between the City of Glens Falls, Boralex, and Northern Power & Light. [Read more…] about Hydro Power Initiative Launched in Glens Falls, NY
State Agencies Declare Progress on Reducing Environmental Footprint
The GreenNY Council has released the 11th Greening New York State report (PDF), the first under Executive Order #22, “Leading by Example: Directing State Agencies to Adopt a Sustainability and Decarbonization Program,” signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in September 2022. [Read more…] about State Agencies Declare Progress on Reducing Environmental Footprint
When North Meets South: Flying Squirrel Hybrids
It’s evening, and you’re in the forest. You close your eyes and inhale the sharp, sweet, turpentine scent of pine. The air is still, yet the branches overhead seem to nod at your presence. You shine a flashlight and catch a glimpse: a fleeting, tiny ball of fur, arms and legs outstretched, tail like a rudder, gliding through the night. It lands on a tree trunk, pauses, then launches itself again. A flying squirrel, in its glory. [Read more…] about When North Meets South: Flying Squirrel Hybrids
Study: As City Heat Rises, Bird Diversity Declines
Humans aren’t the only ones leaving town when city heat becomes unbearable. A study done on 336 cities in China concludes that heat-retaining buildings and paved surfaces are directly related to a loss in bird diversity. These findings from scientists at Zhejiang University and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology are published in the journal Science of the Total Environment. [Read more…] about Study: As City Heat Rises, Bird Diversity Declines