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nature

1,300 Acres Protected in Taconic Mountains

December 18, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Taconic Ridge State Forest Acquisition Map1,300 acres of forest and grasslands in the Taconic Mountains in the town of Berlin, Rensselaer County, has been protected by the State of New York.

The recent acquisition will connect the Taconic Ridge and Berlin State Forests, preserve open space, and expand recreational opportunities. [Read more…] about 1,300 Acres Protected in Taconic Mountains

Filed Under: Hudson Valley - Catskills, Nature, Recreation Tagged With: Berlin NY, Berlin State Forest, DEC, Environmental Protection Fund, hiking, Little Hoosic River, nature, Rensselaer County, Taconic Crest Trail, Taconic Mountains, Taconic Ridge State Forest, Wildlife

Eastern Dwarf Mistletoe: A Hemiparasitic Hydrostatic Time Bomb

December 18, 2022 by Guest Contributor 2 Comments

eastern dwarf mistletoe courtesy USDA Have you noticed the cheery evergreen sprig with pearly berries, currently perched over the doorways of Yankee traditionalists and those desperate to be kissed?

That’s common mistletoe (Viscum album), which one botanical dispatch from the 1800s called “perhaps the most distinguished plant in the flora of England.” It’s found in broadleaf trees across Europe, and its associations with protection and fertility trace back to at least the Ancient Greeks and Celtic Druids. [Read more…] about Eastern Dwarf Mistletoe: A Hemiparasitic Hydrostatic Time Bomb

Filed Under: Nature Tagged With: Christmas, Native Plants, nature, Wildlife

Watchable Wildlife: Harbor Seals

December 10, 2022 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

harbor seal courtesy U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceNew York’s most abundant seal is the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), which can be found in the state’s marine waters from late fall to late spring. Harbor seals can range in color from brown, tan, or gray to silvery-white. [Read more…] about Watchable Wildlife: Harbor Seals

Filed Under: Nature, New York City Tagged With: Fire Island National Seashore, Great South Bay, Long Island, Long Island Sound, Montauk Point State Park, Nassau County, nature, New York City, New York Harbor, Seals, Spring, Suffolk County, Wildlife, winter

2022 Oneida Lake Open Water Creel Survey Summary

December 10, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

fishermen with walleye courtesy Tony BuffaEvery five years researchers from Cornell University conduct full open water and ice fishing season creel surveys on Oneida Lake – the largest inland lake entirely within New York’s borders and one of the top fisheries in the state.

From May-October angling boat counts and roving angler interviews were conducted to estimate total effort and catch for the 2022 open water season. [Read more…] about 2022 Oneida Lake Open Water Creel Survey Summary

Filed Under: Nature, Recreation, Western NY Tagged With: fish, Fisheries, fishing, nature, Oneida Lake, Wildlife

Feed Wild Birds Safely and Responsibly

December 9, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

evening grosbeaks by Katherine YardFor many birdwatchers in New York, November 30th is an important date: the day that backyard bird feeders can go back up. To avoid conflicts with bears, DEC highly recommends only feeding birds from November 30th to April 1st. [Read more…] about Feed Wild Birds Safely and Responsibly

Filed Under: Nature Tagged With: birding, birds, nature, Wildlife, winter

Meltdown: A History of Glacier Science

December 9, 2022 by Bob Cudmore Leave a Comment

The Historians LogoFormed over hundreds-even millions-of years ago, glaciers support a vast network of life. Yet, climate change is causing them to melt at an unprecedented rate. If we don’t change course, their disappearance will change the world as we know it.

This week on The Historians Podcast, environmental educator discusses her book Meltdown: Discover Earth’s Irreplaceable Glaciers And Learn What You Can Do To Save Them (Workman Publishing Co, 2022). [Read more…] about Meltdown: A History of Glacier Science

Filed Under: Books, History, Nature Tagged With: Climate Change, nature, Podcasts, Science, Science History

Adirondack Conservation News: 5 Things You Should Know

December 3, 2022 by Justin Levine Leave a Comment

Forever Adirondacks Campaign Director Aaron Mair in Egypt for the COP27 climate meetingAn Adirondack environmentalist leaves UN Climate talks in Egypt more determined 

The Adirondack Council’s Forever Adirondacks Campaign Director Aaron Mair was recently in Egypt for the COP27 climate meeting. Mair said it was great to hear from Indigenous communities, but also noted that this COP meeting was highly attended by non-renewable energy concerns. But Mair came back more determined to have a positive impact on the climate change front. [Read more…] about Adirondack Conservation News: 5 Things You Should Know

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Nature, Recreation Tagged With: Adirondack Council, Adirondacks, Climate Change, conservation, harmful algal bloom, nature, Wildlife, wolves

Santa’s High Reindeer & Alice in Wonderland

December 3, 2022 by Paul Hetzler 1 Comment

Amanita-muscaria-courtesy-Wikimedia-user-OnderwijsgekIf not for a fungus, Santa’s flying sleigh would be grounded. If that were the case, the only toys he could distribute would be to the elves who made them in the first place, which kind of spoils the whole surprise element.

The truth is that Mister Claus relies on Amanita muscaria, a mushroom which grows among pine and birch, to zip around the world on Christmas Eve. [Read more…] about Santa’s High Reindeer & Alice in Wonderland

Filed Under: History, Nature Tagged With: Christmas, fungi, nature, Wildlife

Coordination of Many Legged Locomotion

December 2, 2022 by Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

Adult Anadenobolus monilicornis courtesy Wikimedia user Totodu74Grinning and giggling, my one-year-old son ran across the living room, only to trip over his own feet and faceplant on the carpet. Sometimes, two legs can be too many to coordinate. How, then, do invertebrates walk with six, eight, or hundreds of legs?

In some ways, walking for insects, arachnids, and myriapods (a group that includes millipedes and centipedes) isn’t that different than it is for us. [Read more…] about Coordination of Many Legged Locomotion

Filed Under: Nature Tagged With: insects, nature, Science, Wildlife

Squirrel Talk: Gray Squirrel Communication

November 26, 2022 by Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

eastern gray squirrel courtesy Wikimedia user MarshBunnyEven if you’ve never ventured further into the forest than an urban park or a college campus, you’re probably familiar with Sciurus carolinensis, the eastern gray squirrel. While it’s easy to identify gray squirrels by sight, however, recognizing the various sounds they make is more complicated.

Their vocalizations – squeaks, moans, buzzes, barks, and clucks – can sound like noises made by cats, chickens, jays, catbirds, even ducks. [Read more…] about Squirrel Talk: Gray Squirrel Communication

Filed Under: Nature Tagged With: nature, small mammals, squirrels, trees, Wildlife

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