Without really knowing what sort of residual weather Hurricane Sandy may blow into the Adirondack Park, Assistant Program Manager Kaley Donavon at the Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) in Newcomb is confident that the weekend plans at the AIC will go uninterrupted.

Donavon says, “ We have 3.6 miles of trails with some sort of water feature for people to enjoy, at the Adirondack Interpretive Center. Trails lead to Rich Pond, cross Little Sucker Brook and continue to Belden Pond. This weekend we are also hosting a 2-mile hike around Arbutus Lake in the Huntington Wildlife Forest.”

According to Donavon, Arbutus Lake is private and encourages people to register for the unique opportunity to take the guided 2-mile hike around the lake. The flat trail will be lead by Charlotte Demers, wildlife biologist at the Adirondack Ecological Center. Demers will lead the group through softwood and mixed wood forest with the possibility of seeing Red and White-winged Crossbills along the trail. Additional Audubon Bird Walks are lead the first weekend of every month.

Registrants can call 518-582-2000 for more information. Participants will meet at the AIC before the 9 a.m. start and will be transported to Arbutus Lake.  This Northern New York Audubon Bird Walk is scheduled to take place rain or shine.

If the weather looks a bit precarious Donovan suggests the scheduled Table Top Pack Basket Workshop. From 9 am – 4 pm, Shea Farrell Carr of Adirondack Basket Case will hold a one-day, pack basket workshop. There is a $60 fee per student but at the end of the day each participant will leave with a handmade 10” tall pack basket, perfect for a holiday gift or centerpiece.

“If the weather does take a turn,” says Donavon, “we have our bird feeder program. People can sit inside and watch birds feed from our six bird feeders provided by the Northern New York Audubon Society. There is even a microphone set up on the deck so people can hear the chatter from inside.”

Photo: White-winged Crossbill.