Saturday, June 10, 2023

NYS Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame: 12 new members, 3 special award members inducted

From left: Harry and Ann Peck, Gary Lee, Laurie and Alan Rankin.

We need some rain as most of the lakes I’ve been visiting while watching Loons (as well as my pond) are at August-levels. Several of my Loon pairs are on nests already and putting up with the blackflies along with me. I’ve had my bug jacket on many times, but it changes what you see through the binoculars. When the sun shines on the mesh, you can hardly see anything. On May 21 (the day after I got back from the Crown Point Banding Station) Karen and I went to the induction of twelve new members and three special award members into the NYS Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame at Theodore’s Restaurant in Canastota.

» Continue Reading.


Thursday, June 8, 2023

Paul Smith’s College Launches 2023 Adirondack Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention Program

Paul Smith's College AWI boat stewards

The Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute officially launched its 2023 Watercraft Inspection Program on Memorial Day weekend to help prevent the spread of invasive species in Adirondack waterways. The college was recently awarded a $13.2 million contract from New York State to continue implementing the goals of the Adirondack Region Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention Program. The 5-year contract allows AWI to continue its efforts to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species in regional waterways.

» Continue Reading.


Saturday, June 3, 2023

Witnessing Big Moose Inn fire, banding hummers at Stillwater

Loon on the water

This week there were two mornings with frost here at Eight Acre Wood; both mornings the thermometer read 28 [degrees.] The second morning there was ice on the car, but not on the bird bath. I washed off as many of the blooming flowers and three apple trees in bloom as the hose would reach, which may have saved them…time will tell. My yellow lady’s slippers looked pretty sad, but perked up after the bath of water. The Phoebes are sitting on eggs under the porch and the male was having a [hard] time keeping the female fed those cold mornings. He traveled way up the driveway, foraging for flying bugs and ants. They must have made it, as they are still sitting.

» Continue Reading.


Wednesday, May 31, 2023

DEC invites all to report ADK moose sightings

Moose

If you are planning a trip to the Adirondacks, there is a chance that you could see a moose. DEC requests that any moose observations be reported through the Moose Sighting Report Form on DEC’s website. DEC uses this information to monitor the relative abundance and distribution of New York’s moose population and identify areas where additional population assessments may be warranted.

» Continue Reading.


Monday, May 29, 2023

New Yorkers encouraged to report harmful algal blooms through online notification system

A cyanobacteria bloom can be seen on the southern shore of Mirror Lake.

On May 26, the New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Health (DOH) reminded New Yorkers to learn about and be aware of harmful algal blooms, or “HABs,” as the 2023 HABs notification season starts. DEC’s New York Harmful Algal Bloom System (NYHABS) is now active and allows the public and trained citizens to send reports of HABs to DEC electronically via a simple, user- and mobile phone-friendly form.

“As summer begins, we encourage New Yorkers to be on the lookout for HABs, which can impact New York’s lakes and waterways and pose a potential public health risk,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Working closely with DOH and local partners in communities statewide, DEC continues to make significant investments to prevent excess nutrients and other contaminants from contributing to these potentially toxic blooms and is actively working to help New Yorkers understand how to identify and report HABs, as well as keep themselves, their families, and pets out of harm’s way.”

» Continue Reading.


Saturday, May 27, 2023

Final days banding birds at the Crown Point Banding Station, approx. 750 birds banded

Gordon Howard banding a bird with the watchful eyes of children

The Crown Point Banding Station closed its doors on Saturday, May 20, with a good crew taking down tents, canopies, [a] weather station, and nets in short order by 11 a.m. The rain that was predicted went around us and the strong winds also didn’t come while we were picking up. Tom Barber had the nets up (and a few birds already bagged) when I got up at 5:30 a.m. He had picked six June bugs from the nets while putting them up and I found just one in the nets I put up. As I came out of the tent he said, “The Gray Catbirds are biting this morning and that was the first bird, I picked out of the main net lane.” He said, “I got a new bird for the year, a Brown-Headed Cowbird out of the North net.”

» Continue Reading.


Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Give Turtles a Brake in recognition of World Turtle Day

Wood Turtle

In recognition of World Turtle Day® on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos reminded New Yorkers that turtles are nesting in May and June, and asked motorists to “give turtles a brake.” In New York, thousands of turtles are killed each year by unsuspecting drivers when turtles cross roads to find nesting areas.

“While a turtle’s shell provides protection from predators, it does not protect against being struck by vehicles while crossing roadways,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Vehicle strikes are a major cause of mortality among turtles and New York’s native turtles are more susceptible at this time of year as they seek sandy areas or loose soil in which to lay their eggs. Especially in these coming weeks, DEC urges drivers to be on the lookout for turtles and slow down, particularly on roads near rivers and marshy areas.”

» Continue Reading.


Monday, May 22, 2023

Adirondack Life & Adirondack Land Trust to present My Adirondacks kids’ photography project

Child taking a photograph in nature.

Jay, NY – Adirondack Life and Adirondack Land Trust announce My Adirondacks, a project that invites kids, ages 5 to 17, to photograph an aspect of the natural world within the Adirondack Park and share why it matters to them. Submissions can be sent to aledit@adirondacklife.com and will be accepted now through August 19, 2023.

The following information is required:

·       Name and age.

·       Where in the Adirondack Park the photo was taken.

·       Up to a few sentences about why the image matters to the person who took it.

» Continue Reading.


Saturday, May 20, 2023

Crown Point Banding Station: New birds, beautiful sunrises, and cuckoo flowers

Canada Warbler

Here I am again at the Ticonderoga Library, getting a break from the Crown Point Banding Station after catching some nice birds this morning [May 16.]  [We will be] looking out for some thunderstorms this afternoon, which should knock down some birds that have been flying right over us for a couple days. We caught some new birds (for this year) to band this morning, [including] Tree Swallow, Canada Warbler, and a Brown Thrasher just before I left (which is the bird on the cover of the bird list for the Crown Point Historic Site.)

» Continue Reading.


Sunday, May 14, 2023

Recreation Highlight: Protect the Peregrines, Rock Climbing Closures in the ADKs

Climber scales a rock

The elusive and endangered Peregrine Falcon calls the craggy cliffs and mountainsides of the Adirondacks its home. Peregrines dive at incredible speeds and can be seen sailing along the sides of high rock faces throughout the early summer. The fascinating birds are monogamous, have long lifespans, and often return to the same nests year after year with their chosen partner.

» Continue Reading.


Saturday, May 13, 2023

A Favorite Pastime: Banding birds at the Crown Point Banding Station

White blooming hepatica.

[I’m] writing this from the Ticonderoga Library…a real nice library [that is] open Tuesday through Saturday. I’m at the Crown Point Banding Station for a couple weeks trying to catch migrating birds coming from the south to their homes in the north (and some right at and around the station itself.) We’ve had lots of visitors in the four days we have been open…both people and birds. We thought we might have missed the migrants with all the warm weather we had earlier in the year, but not so.

» Continue Reading.


Sunday, May 7, 2023

Eye Candy, Cough Syrup, and Early Flowers

After many months (five-plus where I live) of winter whiteness, it’s a relief to watch the snow melt at last. We’re always grateful, even though the loss of snow cover gives way to a mostly brown world: brown grass, sand everywhere – even brown pine needles along the roads. Not to mention the leaves, trash, or dog poop that was mercifully hidden under the snow. Those few sepia-toned weeks after the white stuff disappears and before trees and grass wake up can be visually bleak.

» Continue Reading.


Saturday, May 6, 2023

ADK Spring: Wildflowers, rain showers & migrating birds

Virginia bluebells

[Locally, the weather] has been April showers that bring May flowers, and it also lessened the fire danger by keeping the leaf litter wet. The outdoor burning ban is still on until May 14. If we get some more warm days, the trees should be pushing out their leaves and flowers. Several wildflowers have popped out from the leaf cover and showed us their beauty. Yellow coltsfoot lines the roadsides in many places and the flowers face the sun as it goes from east to west. It looks like a dandelion flower, but it has little leaves on the stem of the flowers. Wild oats is a single yellow hanging bell, [and] the trout lily is out everywhere with its yellow flower and speckled green and brown leaves.

» Continue Reading.


Tuesday, May 2, 2023

If You Care, Leave It There: Respecting Wildlife Reminder

Fawn in grass.

As the weather warms up, it’s common to encounter local wildlife while walking, hiking, or biking. When you see these critters, leave them be and do your best not to disturb their natural routine.

Fawns are a great example of animals that may appear around your lawn, garden, or local trails. Newly born whitetail deer spend many of their early days hidden and protected among tall grass, leaf litter, or other natural and man-made shelters. You may find them laying in a flower bed, alongside a trail, or even curled up in an open field. Mother deer will return to their fawns regularly to nurse but may delay their next visit if they detect human activity nearby.

» Continue Reading.


Sunday, April 30, 2023

Many Garden and Ornamental Plants can be Harmful to People and Pets 

Tulips

The types of plants we choose for our flower gardens are mostly a matter of personal preference. But, as we welcome the arrival of spring flowers, and with the promise of summer still ahead, it’s important that we know which of those plants our four-legged friends can check out or play in safely. Many popular spring flowers are among the more than 700 plants that produce compounds which have been identified as being toxic to people and/or pets. The following are just three of the most common spring garden flowers that can cause harm (or worse) if eaten by a much-loved pet.  » Continue Reading.



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