From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed May 7 14:20:54 2008 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 14:20:54 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] May 7 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <20080507T142054Z_D56700090000@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery May 7, 2008 New York's Official Flora Family Fun New York City Hudson Valley - Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center Capital Region - Five Rivers Environmental Education Center Central New York - Rogers Environmental Education Center Western New York - Reinstein Environmental Education Center New York's Official Flora Sugar Maple Sugar maple, the official tree of New York State, is a deciduous tree that is immensely important, not only for its quality sap, but also for the role it plays in the ecology of many North American forests. It is easily recognized in the fall, when its green foliage changes to flaming yellow, red and orange. Many kinds of animals feast on the tree during all stages of its life. Chipmunks and squirrels eat the seeds on the ground, and deer are fond of maple seedlings and saplings. Insects eat the leaves, as well as the dead wood. Woodpeckers eat the insects, making large holes in the trunks that owls, chickadees, squirrels, porcupines and raccoons use as shelter. Birds and squirrels build nests among the branches, while many larger animals rest underneath. The Wild Rose With its bright pink flowers, the wild rose, New York's official flower, brightens the landscape in a variety of habitats from May through August. When the weather turns colder and the petals of this deciduous shrub fall to the ground, the rose hips remain, providing a favorite food for several species of birds, including ruffed grouse and ring-necked pheasant. Many small mammals eat the leaves, twigs and hips, which are rich in vitamin C. Smaller wildlife also finds protection in the dense thickets that grow freely from roots and underground stems. Back to top Family Fun Make Bark and Leaf Rubbings Find a tree with an interesting design in the bark. Tape the top and bottom of a piece of paper flat against the tree's surface. Rub the side of a peeled crayon (one with no paper) up and down on the sheet of paper until you begin to see the pattern of the bark. Now take a leaf from the tree and tape it to a flat, horizontal surface. Tape a piece of paper over it, and make a rubbing the same way you did with the bark. Write the name of the tree on the papers and keep the rubbings together in a notebook. Try this with trees with smooth bark and those with bumpy bark to show the difference. Once autumn arrives, select a colorful leaf to add to your notebook. On Their Own When seeds fall from trees, most don't begin to grow right away. Instead, the seeds stay dormant until the conditions are just right. Collect some soil from an area around a tree or shrub using a trowel or garden shovel, being careful to remove any dead leaves or twigs. In an aluminum baking pan, add a layer of soil about one inch thick. Water the soil until it is moist and cover the pan with plastic wrap to keep it warm. Place the pan in a warm, sunny place, and after about one week, check to see what has grown. The seeds of these young plants were already in the soil, deposited there by nearby trees and shrubs. Take a Deep Breath Photosynthesis is the process plants use to make their food. Plants take carbon dioxide from the air, water from the ground and sunlight to make food and release oxygen. Most of the process takes place in the leaves of the plant. Much of the air that we breathe is a by-product of this process, which is why trees and plants are such an important part of nature...and life. Try to duplicate photosynthesis with this experiment: Fill a jar with water and place a freshly picked plant leaf into the jar. Put the jar in a sunny location and after an hour, check to see if the leaf is covered with tiny bubbles of oxygen. Ta-da?photosynthesis! Check out Conservationist for Kids (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/40248.html) for more information and activities! Back to top Upcoming DEC Events New York City Governors Island Family Festival Governors Island Saturday, May 31 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM The second annual Family Festival with games, performances, exhibits and family activities. Free ferries run from the Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan and a water taxi from several points in Brooklyn. Hudson Valley Tivoli Bay Visitors Center and Norrie Point Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/33037.html) Fishin' on the River Norrie Point Environmental Center, Staatsburg Saturday, May 17 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM Seine and angle for Hudson River fish. Equipment provided. For more information, call 845-889-4745 x104, or send an email. Hosted by the Hudson River Research Reserve and I Fish NY. Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html) The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring, Tra La Saturday, May 10 at 2:00 PM Painted and red trillium, trout lily, and Solomon's seal are just a few of the delicate spring wildflowers we expect to find in bloom on this easy woodland walk. Learn how to identify wildflowers and some of their fascinating natural history and cultural lore as well. The Forest or the Trees? Saturday, May 17 at 2:00 PM Now you don't have to choose! Gain a closer acquaintance with native trees along Stony Kill's forested trails, and learn each species' ecological role and importance to humans. More events at Stony Kill Farm (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2001.html#MAY) Capital Region Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html) Birding by Ear Saturday, May 10 at 9:00 AM Come celebrate International Migratory Bird Day on a walking tour of the grounds as we engage in "sound science" at the height of the annual spring migration. Plant Posse Sunday, May 11 at 2:00 PM Bring gloves and pitch in as we uproot non-native invasive plants that threaten native ecosystems. Our quarry will be garlic mustard, a wildflower that chokes out native forest species. More events at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#MAY) Central New York Rogers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1831.html) Wildflowers at Cush Hill Saturday, May 10 at 10:00 AM Wander the forest hillside of Cush Hill admiring nature's beauties. Don't miss the short-lived display of wildflowers, from squirrel-corn to blue cohosh. Bear Creek Finger Lakes Trail Hike Saturday, May 17 from 8:30 AM to Noon Walk a beautiful section of the Finger Lakes Trail. This great system of trails runs across the state, providing short or longer hikes. Please call to register and for trip details. More events at Rogers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2006.html#MAY) Western New York Reinstein Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1837.html) Night Sounds Thursday, May 8 at 7:30 PM Listen for the creatures of the night on an evening walk in the woods. Mothers and Babies Saturday, May 10 at 10:30 AM Do snakes have maternal instincts? Which animal fathers make good mothers? Celebrate Mother's Day by learning about parent/child relations in the natural world. Who Goes There? Saturday, May 17 at 10:30 AM Learn about the animals of Reinstein Woods, detect tracks and other animal signs, and make your own animal track. Early Bird Walk Sunday, May 18 at 9:00 AM The early birder catches the early birds! Search for spring migrants in the morning. Bring binoculars if you have them. Full "Flower" Moon Walk Monday, May 19 at 8:00 PM Enjoy a walk at the time of year when flowers bloom during the day and the moon is in bloom at night. More events at Reinstein (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html#MAY) Events at other Nature Centers throughout the State Let your friends know about Outdoor Discovery - forward this e-mail! Back to top This email was sent by: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233 We respect your right to privacy - view our policy (http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/27720.html). Subscribe to Outdoor Discovery or change your subscription options (http://lists.dec.state.ny.us/mailman/listinfo/decoutdoordiscovery). Having problems viewing this newsletter? View it on the DEC website (http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/43355.html). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 13259 bytes Desc: not available URL: From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed May 21 09:15:00 2008 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 09:15:00 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] May 21 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <20080521T091500Z_D56700090000@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery May 21, 2008 Is it a Frog or a Toad or Something Else? Family Fun Upcoming DEC Events New York City Hudson Valley - Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center Capital Region - Five Rivers Environmental Education Center Central New York - Rogers Environmental Education Center Western New York - Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center Is it a Frog or a Toad or Something Else? What is the difference between a frog and a toad? Toads have thick, warty skin with a lumpy appearance. They have shorter hind legs and make short hops or walk. Toads prefer drier conditions but burrow into moist soil when the air is dry. Frogs, on the other hand, have smooth, moist skin and longer hind legs. They move about in long, high jumps and need to live near a water source. Both spend much of the year underground, emerging in the spring when the weather begins to warm. There are 14 species of frogs and toads in New York State. A few of the more common species include: Bullfrog The bullfrog can reach 6-8 inches in length and makes a loud, bull-like "rum-rum" noise. They prefer the banks, edges and shallows of warmer waters. Green Frog Found in virtually all parts of New York State, the green frog lives in ponds, marshes and lake fringes. As the name implies, the green frog is green, and averages 3-4 inches in size. Wood Frog The wood frog is found in close-canopied forests, near cold, clear pools of water, swamps and bogs. It is recognized by the dark mask around its eyes. Spring Peeper Spring evenings in much of New York State are filled with the high-pitched "peeps" of the spring peeper. Quite small, ranging from 1-1 ? inches long, spring peepers are more often heard than seen. They have smooth skin with an x-shaped mark on their back. Grey Treefrog The grey treefrog has large adhesive discs on the tips of its toes that enable it to climb high in the trees of deciduous woodlands. Contrary to the name, the grey treefrog isn't always grey, it can change from grey to green depending on its surroundings. American Toad The American toad has a spotted belly and one or two warts per spot on its back and lives in a variety of habitats, from forests to lawns. American toads average 3-4 inches long. Salamanders There are 18 species of salamanders in New York State, half of which live in lakes, ponds or streams, while the other half make their home in woodlands or vernal pools. Salamanders are amphibians with smooth, moist skin and spend most of their time near water or under a rock or log. Salamanders eat small insects, spiders, worms, slugs, fish and frog eggs and sometimes other salamanders. To protect them from their many predators, which include raccoons and foxes, many salamanders produce a toxic or distasteful secretion from their skin. Back to top Family Fun An Abode for a Toad Toads prefer moist areas with leaves or moss. Look for a spot in your yard where you might expect to find toads. Place a broken ceramic or terra cotta bowl or flower pot upside down, with one edge resting on a rock. Place moist mosses and leaves nearby. Fill a terra cotta saucer with water and place it near the pot. Check to see if a toad (or any other creature) moves in. Frogs in Trouble Frogs throughout the world are disappearing, and scientists are worried and confused about why this is happening. There are a few theories about the trouble frogs are in, and it could be directly related to the health of our planet: Loss of habitat - frogs prefer wooded areas that are disappearing as more neighborhoods and houses are built without protecting the natural habitat. Climate change, chemical pollution, thinning ozone layer and acid rain - frogs thin skin offers little protection from the sun, chemicals or pollution. The same is true for their eggs, which don't have a hard protective shell. Frogwatch is a monitoring program overseen by the National Wildlife Federation. Volunteers help scientists learn more about the decline of frog populations. By becoming a Frogwatch volunteer, you can help scientists save the frogs and toads in your neighborhood and around the country. All you have to do is find a wetland site where you think frogs live. Then visit the Frogwatch USA website and get started as a citizen scientist! Where am I? Frogs and salamanders often blend into their surroundings as a method of protection from predators. Select some colored toothpicks (blue, red, green and plain) and a hula hoop or similar barrier. In some green grass, have a friend toss several toothpicks of each color into the air, making sure they land within the circle of the hula hoop. Make sure your eyes are closed so you don't know where they land! Now, look to see which you can find. The green were probably hard to find because they blended into their surroundings. Now, move to a sandy or earthy spot. Did you find the plain toothpicks easily? Try this again among some brightly colored flowers. Make sure to pick up the toothpicks when you are done. Check out Conservationist for Kids (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/40248.html) for more information and activities! Back to top Upcoming DEC Events New York City Hudson Valley Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html) Spring Farm Trail Walk Saturday, May 24 at 2:00 PM Come for a leisurely walk around Stony Kill's farm trail, and learn about succession in old fields and the plant and animal life that inhabits them. Leaves of Grass Saturday, May 31 at 2:00 PM On Walt Whitman's birthday, come to Stony Kill and learn more about these humble yet tremendously important plants that we tread underfoot and never look at closely: the grasses. Capital Region Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html) Frogwatch Friday, May 23 at 7:00 PM We'll acquaint you with the sounds of local frogs and view some live animals and then go outdoors to listen for calls. Bring flashlights and old shoes. Squirrels Saturday, May 24 at 10:00 AM Make your own squirrel treat, listen to a squirrel story, and go for an outdoor walk to look for signs of these crazy critters. Please call to register; space is limited. Materials fee: $2 per family Bugs, Beetles and Bees Saturday, May 31 at 2:00 PM On this walk, we will look for and perhaps catch some of the insects of early spring. Bring your nets or other equipment; we have some to share. More events at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#June) Central New York Rogers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1831.html) Salamanders at Cush Hill Saturday, May 24 from 10:00 AM to Noon Explore the rocks, logs and crevices of Cush Hill while searching for salamanders. Discover the secrets of these shy creatures. Canoe/Kayak Hunts Pond Saturday, May 31 from 8:30 AM to Noon Paddle leisurely along the wild edges of Hunts Pond while observing wildlife and plants. Registration is required. There is a $5.00 non-refundable fee per paddler. Meet in Rogers Center main parking lot. More events at Rogers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2006.html#June) Western New York Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1837.html) Trail Cleanup Saturday, May 31 at 10:30 AM Join volunteers for our annual trail cleanup. Scout groups, families and others are all invited to help make our trails accessible for the summer. Bring water, sunscreen, bug spray, rakes and shovels, and wear appropriate clothing. Snacks and lunch will be provided. More events at Reinstein (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html#MAY) Events at other Nature Centers throughout the State Let your friends know about Outdoor Discovery - forward this e-mail! Back to top This email was sent by: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233 We respect your right to privacy - view our policy (http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/27720.html). Subscribe to Outdoor Discovery or change your subscription options (http://lists.dec.state.ny.us/mailman/listinfo/decoutdoordiscovery). Having problems viewing this newsletter? View it on the DEC website (http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/43355.html). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 61277 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 4939 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 4430 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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