From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Sep 10 11:31:09 2008 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:31:09 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] September 10 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <48C7AFFD.D567.00BD.0@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery September 10, 2008 Squirrels Family Fun Upcoming DEC Events Long Island 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 Subscribe to Outdoor Discovery or change your subscription options (http://lists.dec.state.ny.us/mailman/listinfo/decoutdoordiscovery) Squirrels The squirrel family isn't limited to the gray squirrel so common in backyards. This rodent family also includes red, flying and fox squirrels, chipmunks, woodchucks, as well as antelope squirrels, ground squirrels and prairie dogs, which are not found in New York State. With the exception of woodchucks and chipmunks, squirrels are very active year round. Squirrels are distinguished from all other rodents by their thickly furred, bushy tails. They come in a variety of colors ? gray squirrels can be black, albino, reddish-brown ? and yes ? even gray. All squirrels have chisel-like front teeth, sharp claws and strong legs. They navigate climbing trees or tunneling in the earth using clusters of sensitive whiskers on their face. While squirrels usually live three to five years, some can live eight to ten years in the wild. Squirrels are omnivores and eat a wide variety of plants including nuts, seeds, pine cones and fruits, as well as insects. They take whatever food is available, since they bury surplus food for the long winter. Once the snow flies and vegetation is gone, squirrels use their keen sense of smell to locate their cache of buried nuts and pine cones. In New York State, squirrels have a hard time finding food in the early spring, as buried nuts begin to sprout and new food sources are not yet available. During this time, squirrels rely on the buds of trees as their main diet. Send us an e-mail and tell us what you think about Outdoor Discovery. Let your friends know about Outdoor Discovery - forward this e-mail! Back to top Family Fun Buried Treasure Squirrels love to search your backyard for food for the winter, but what do they do with it once they've found it? Here's a way to find out. Take 30 nuts in the shell and bury them in a pile of leaves, small mounds of soil or underneath some trees. After one week, put on some gloves and try to find the buried nuts. Did the squirrels find your hiding place before you came back to it? Sharing a Treat Usually, wild animals don't like the same kinds of food that we eat. Squirrels, however, love nuts and corn kernels. Share a treat with our furry friends and buy some dried corn cobs from your local farm or gardening store. Hang the corn cobs from the lower branches of a tree or on a platform and sit back and watch as the squirrels perform acrobatics to get their treat. Remember that is illegal in New York State to feed deer, so if you start attracting these uninvited guests, remove the corn cobs. Take that to the Bank Late summer and early fall is a perfect time to start your own seed bank. Remove the seeds from flowers or fruits in your garden. Look around the ground for maple seeds or acorns from oak trees. Go on a search through the woods for some pine cones, pull out the scales and look for the seeds. Dry out all the seeds indoors, making sure to keep them separate from one another. Put each type of seed in a different container, such as an envelope or clear film canister. Mark each container with the name of the seed, and put them aside to plant next year. Check out Conservationist for Kids (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/40248.html) for more information and activities! Back to top Upcoming DEC Events Long Island Great South Bay Shorescape Saturday, September 20 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM Cedar Beach Marina, Babylon This event features a fishing derby for children. Participants will also learn basic fishing techniques, fish biology, marine ecology and more. Age: Children under 14. Cost: Free. For more information, please visit the I Fish NY website (www.ifishnewyork.org.) To pre-register, please call Malynda Nichol at 631-444-0283. Hudson Valley Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html) Muller Pond Walk Saturday, September 13 at 2:00 PM Join a Stony Kill naturalist for an interpretive tour of our best birding trail, meandering around a forest pond and crossing an open meadow which provides habitat for bobolinks, meadowlarks, and goldfinches. Woodland Wander Saturday, September 20 at 2:00 PM Join us for a leisurely stroll on our half-mile, wheelchair-accessible Woodland Trail, as we watch for fall migrant birds, late summer fruits and seeds, fungi and wildlife signs. All ages and abilities are welcome! More events at Stony Kill (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2001.html#september) Capital Region Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html) Vines that Twine Saturday, September 13 at 2:00 PM Vines are beautiful, and they have fruits that are great for wildlife, but they can also strangle, choke, and smother their competition. Join us for a walk to enjoy fall vines and other plants. Annual Fall Festival Saturday, September 20 from Noon to 4:00 PM Come join us for our annual Fall Festival! There will be nature-oriented explorations and hands-on activities for all ages, refreshments, exhibitors and much more. Admission and parking are free! Rain or shine. More events at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#September) Central New York Rogers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1831.html) Pharsalia - 10 Years Later Saturday, September 13 from 9:00 AM to Noon Ten years after a tornado ripped through this site in 1998, there are still signs left behind by its passing. See how the forest is healing the scar and compare it to past years. Wear sturdy pants for protection against brushy/prickly undergrowth. Meet in the main parking lot. Mushrooms with Sally Reymers Saturday, September 20 from 10:00 AM to Noon Venture among the trees in search of something that has spines, gills, tubes and teeth. No, you're not tracking a bizarre kind of animal?you're looking for fungi! Meet in the main parking lot. More events at Rogers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2006.html#September) Western New York Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1837.html) Advance registration is required. Call 716-683-5959. Full Harvest Moon Walk Tuesday, September 16 at 7:00 PM Join our evening walk and learn fun facts about this month's full moon. Bring binoculars to look at the moon at the end of the tour. 8th Annual Fall Festival Saturday, September 20 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Kick off the fall season by spending a day in the woods! Enjoy crafts for kids, live animals, guided nature walks, hands-on activities, food for sale and more. More events at Reinstein (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html#september) Events at other Nature Centers throughout the State Visit DEC's website for more information and programs Subscribe to the Conservationist magazine? New York's award-winning publication with astonishingly beautiful photography and captivating articles. 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). 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... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 6557 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 7864 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 13890 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 11713 bytes Desc: not available URL: From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Sep 24 08:43:22 2008 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:43:22 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] September 24 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <48D9FDAA.D567.00BD.0@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery September 24, 2008 Fall Foliage Family Fun Upcoming DEC Events Long Island 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 Subscribe to Outdoor Discovery or change your subscription options (http://lists.dec.state.ny.us/mailman/listinfo/decoutdoordiscovery) Fall Foliage As the days grow shorter and the nights grow cooler and longer, the green leaves of summer begin to change into an array of beautiful colors. The red, gold and orange leaves that we so enjoy in fall depend on type of tree as well as several seasonal factors that trigger the biochemical processes that cause leaves to change color: cool nights, sunlight intensity and rainfall. Food-making chlorophyll is what makes leaves look green during the spring and summer, but its properties change as autumn approaches. The yellows that were previously hidden by all that green begin to show, and the newly-formed pigments determine the colors of fall leaves. Other environmental factors affect the color intensity and the length of time that trees retain their leaves. While cool temperatures often result in brilliant color, freezing temperatures can mute color and cause trees to lose their leaves sooner than they might otherwise. Dull, overcast days will result in poor colors. Leaves that are shaded often only change to yellow as chlorophyll breaks down. Send us an e-mail and tell us what you think about Outdoor Discovery. Let your friends know about Outdoor Discovery - forward this e-mail! Back to top Family Fun Leaf Art Find some newly fallen leaves and place them on a newspaper. Here are three different ways to make leaf prints: Leaf rubbings: Place a piece of construction paper on top of the leaf and rub a crayon over it. The pattern of the leaf and its veins will show up on the paper. Use the same color crayon as the leaf and then get creative by adding other colors. Foiled leaves: Place a piece of aluminum foil on top of the leaf. Press and rub on it until the leaf print shows through. Cut out the foiled leaf print and glue it to some cardboard, so that it retains its shape. Leaf Prints: Paint one side of each of the leaves with different colored craft paint. Arrange the leaves on a piece of lightly colored construction paper, with the paint side down. Place another piece of newspaper on top and rub over the leaves with the back of a spoon or roller. Lift off the newspaper and pick up the construction paper. Impressions of the leaves create a colorful image on the construction paper. Orienteering On your hunt for beautiful fall leaves, try this orienteering game. Look around in the distance for a hiding place to put a treasure (like a bag of treats or a small trinket) and the next clue?behind a tree, under a bush or hanging from a branch. Hold a compass at chest height so that it is flat and level enough for the needle to spin freely. Once it is pointing steadily in one direction, turn the compass so that the "N" (north) lines up with the red arrow. Look to your hiding spot and look down at the compass to read the "degrees" which point to the spot. Make sure that the red arrow still points north. Walk to the first hiding spot and count your steps along the way. Write down the number of steps and the course (in degrees) on a small piece of paper that you will give to the children at the starting point. For smaller children, you can modify the game to use a cardinal direction instead of degrees; for example 120 steps, northwest. Make sure that you take child-size steps, so that the measurements are accurate. For the next clue, look for another hiding spot, take a compass bearing, count the steps and write it down. Leave this second clue at the first hiding spot. You can continue with as many hiding spots as you like. At the starting location, give each player a piece of paper with the first clue and a compass to help them on their way. A Tree Story We can notice the different shapes and colors of leaves, but can you match those leaves to the correct tree? Fold several sheets of colored construction paper in half like a book. Find a tree with some leaves that are within reach or have fallen to the ground. On the first inside page, hold or tape the paper to the tree?s bark and rub a crayon over it to make a pattern. Now take the leaf and either glue it to the opposite page, or make a rubbing of the leaf (see above for directions). Take a picture of your tree and glue it to the front of the book. Make sure to write the name of the tree on the cover. For each different species of tree, make a new tree story book. Check out Conservationist for Kids (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/40248.html) for more information and activities! Back to top Upcoming DEC Events Long Island Crab Fishing Clinic ? Corey Beach, Bayport Saturday, September 27 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM Come celebrate National Estuaries Day! This clinic focuses on crab fishing techniques, crab biology and stewardship. Participants must bring 1-2 uncooked package(s) of boned chicken pieces and a flashlight. Optional items include: kite string, crab net(s), crab trap(s) and a bucket. For more information, please visit the I Fish New York website. To register, please call Malynda Nichol at 631-444-0283. Children's Saltwater Clinic ? Captree State Park, Fisherman?s Walk Pier Saturday, October 4 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM Beginning anglers learn basic fishing techniques, fishing regulations, fish biology, and marine ecology. Open fishing follows. Loaner rods and free bait are available at every event! Age: Children under 14. Cost: $6 parking fee; free with Empire Passport. For more information, please visit the I Fish New York website. To register, please call Malynda Nichol at 631-444-0283. Hudson Valley Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html) Freedom Trail Hike Saturday, September 27 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM Let a naturalist be your guide to the diverse terrain covered on this two-and-a-half-mile hike including rock walls, hills, wetlands, fields and forest. We?ll look for wildlife signs; deer, woodpeckers, foxes, raccoons and opossums can all be found here. Harvest Festival Saturday, October 4 from noon to 5:00 PM Our 30th annual Harvest Festival is co-sponsored by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and Stony Kill Foundation, Inc., our citizens? support group. This year?s festival will feature nature-related and environmental exhibits, demonstrations and hands-on family activities, a hayride, open barn, and music by Beacon?s "Howland Wolves." Food and refreshments will be available for purchase. Free admission, but donations to the Stony Kill Foundation appreciated! More events at Stony Kill (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2001.html#september) Capital Region Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html) White-Tailed Deer Saturday, September 27 at 2:00 PM In celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day, join us for a field study of the natural history of deer as we search for rubs, tracks, scrapes, and other indicators of the season?s prospects. Fall Color on the Vlomankill Saturday, October 4 at 2:00 PM Come enjoy the beauty of autumn?s colors on a long forest trail that skirts a stream. More events at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#September) Central New York Rogers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1831.html) Fall Flowers at Cush Hill Saturday, September 27 at 10:00 AM Explore Cush Hill?s wide variety of autumn flowers as we walk the trails and field edges for some blooming beauties. Meet in the main parking lot. Composting Saturday, October 4 at 11:00 AM Learn the basics of composting and how you can help the environment and save money doing it. Led by guest speaker Judy Sellers, Master Gardener of Cooperative Extension. More events at Rogers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2006.html#September) Western New York Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1837.html) Advance registration is required. Call 716-683-5959. Morning Bird Walk Sunday, September 28 at 9:00 AM Search for migrating and resident birds along the trails. Bring binoculars if you have them. Fungus Among Us Saturday, October 4 at 10:30 AM Learn about nature?s recyclers in Reinstein Woods. For adults and children ages ten and older only. More events at Reinstein (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html#september) Events at other Nature Centers throughout the State Visit DEC's website for more information and programs Subscribe to the Conservationist magazine? New York's award-winning publication with astonishingly beautiful photography and captivating articles. 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). 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... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 25689 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 7779 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 10359 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 11805 bytes Desc: not available URL: