New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has encouraged New Yorkers to take part in the State’s annual survey of wild turkeys, a valuable tool that helps DEC determine the productivity of turkey populations statewide. [Read more…] about With Turkeys In Decline, DEC Seeks Citizen Help
Wildlife
Birding Spotlight: Bicknell’s Thrush
On the cold, coniferous mountaintops of the Catskills and Adirondacks lives a native bird that is a High Priority Species of Greatest Conservation Need: the Bicknell’s Thrush.
Nesting in the low branches of stunted conifers, Bicknell’s Thrush exclusively relies on high altitude spruce-fir forests in the northeast to nest and raise chicks. Bicknell’s Thrush is considered one of the most at-risk songbirds in eastern North America and highly vulnerable to habitat loss. [Read more…] about Birding Spotlight: Bicknell’s Thrush
The Northern White Cedar
Some things are so familiar, so common, that they are often overlooked. Such is the case with northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis).
Also known as eastern white cedar, this tree grows throughout the Northeast, but only in certain places, in part because it has evolved many ways to live and grow that other trees have not. [Read more…] about The Northern White Cedar
Proposed Hudson Canyon Sanctuary Comments Sought
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking public comment on potentially designating a new national marine sanctuary in Hudson Canyon off the coast of New York and New Jersey.
A sanctuary designation would help conserve the area’s rich marine wildlife and habitats, promote sustainable economic activities, and create new opportunities for scientific research, ocean education, and recreation. [Read more…] about Proposed Hudson Canyon Sanctuary Comments Sought
Check Your Pool Filter for Asian Longhorned Beetle
Invasive Asian longhorned beetle is active from now through Labor Day. DEC is asking pool owners to check filters for the insect regularly and submit a report if any are found. [Read more…] about Check Your Pool Filter for Asian Longhorned Beetle
Rattlesnake Makes Surprise Visit to Delaware County Living Room
According to a press release issued by DEC, on July 6th at approximately 3 am, NYS Environmental Conservation Officer Osborne responded to a complaint of a rattlesnake in a residence in the town of Hancock, Delaware County, NY. [Read more…] about Rattlesnake Makes Surprise Visit to Delaware County Living Room
Scenic Vista Protected in Adirondack Town of Keene
A family and the Adirondack Land Trust have conserved 107 acres and a third of a mile of shoreline on the East Branch of the Ausable River upstream of the Keene town beach. [Read more…] about Scenic Vista Protected in Adirondack Town of Keene
Beyond Books: Libraries Lend Binoculars to Give New Birders a Start
Starting this summer, the Keene Valley Public Library and Saranac Lake Free Library, both located in the Adirondacks, are loaning backpacks stocked with binoculars and field guides to give people an opportunity to try out birding.
The backpacks are part of the Adirondack Land Trust’s “Adirondack Birding for All” program, which is working with the libraries to increase awareness and appreciation of Adirondack birds and their habitats. [Read more…] about Beyond Books: Libraries Lend Binoculars to Give New Birders a Start
Phantom Midges: Common But Seldom Seen Planktonic Insect Larvae
Phantom midges are among the most common, but least seen, planktonic insect larvae in lakes and ponds. These members of the genus Chaoborus earn the “phantom” moniker from both their unique appearance and their unusual behaviors. [Read more…] about Phantom Midges: Common But Seldom Seen Planktonic Insect Larvae
Restoring American Shad in the Susquehanna River
Native and colonial Americans fished for shad for sustenance, often smoking the flesh and consuming the roe as a delicacy.
American shad continued to be an important recreational and commercial fishery throughout the 20th Century. However, the shad stock has since dramatically declined due to shoreline development, pollution and over fishing, and as a result all recreational and commercial fisheries for American shad were closed in 2010.
As part of an effort to restore American shad (Alosa sapidissima) in New York, DEC Fisheries staff, in collaboration with the PA Fish and Boat Commission, recently stocked 322,000 American shad fry (young fish) into the Susquehanna River in Endicott, Broome County, NY.
[Read more…] about Restoring American Shad in the Susquehanna River