From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Sep 9 10:53:09 2009 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 10:53:09 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] September 9 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <4AA78915.D567.00BD.0@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery September 9, 2009 Moose Family Fun Upcoming DEC Events Hudson Valley - Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center and Tivoli Bays Visitors Center Capital Region - Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center Adirondacks - Adirondack Park Agency Visitors Interpretive Centers at Newcomb and Paul Smiths 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) Moose While moose aren't common in New York, there are several hundred moose who call New York home, and the number continues to grow. They prefer mixed conifer and hardwood forests, brush, beaver flows and wetland areas, and live mostly in the northeastern part of the state. Members of the deer family, moose are one of the largest land mammals in North America, weighing as much as 1,400 pounds and averaging 6 feet tall. The male's antlers can weigh in at 25-30 pounds and measure 4 to 5 feet across. Moose have a large body with a hump on their shoulder and large horse-like heads with a flap of skin that hangs beneath the chin. The front legs of moose are longer, enabling them to jump over fallen trees and other debris on the forest floor. Moose can't see very well, but their extraordinary senses of smell and hearing warn them of potential danger. They can run through the forest quietly at speeds up to 35 mph and can swim for many miles. They like to eat leaves, twigs, buds and aquatic vegetation-up to 40-60 pounds a day! DEC's website has more information about moose (pdf - 228Kb). 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 Marsh Watch Freshwater marshes and woody swamps?one of the moose's favorite locations?are also important to other wildlife because they provide water, dense cover and sources of food. While you would be pretty lucky to spot a moose, you won't be disappointed at the other wildlife that you can see there. Along with an adult, visit a marshy area or swamp and find a place near the water's edge where you can sit comfortably. You probably scared everything away if you weren't quiet when you entered, so sit still and quietly for about 15 minutes. As the animals get used to your presence and become active again, observe them silently while you take notes on how many different kinds of birds, animals and insects you see. Shhh? Moose have a keen sense of hearing and know what other animals are around them long before anything gets close. In contrast, our lives are so full of noise that we don't need to listen closely because noise surrounds us all the time-the television, radio, computer games. Try the following game to test your "silence skills." The best time for this game is in the early morning or in the early evening. Go for a walk in the woods or a nearby park with a few friends and family members. Ask each person to find a special spot and sit quietly. Try a few different challenges: who can count ten natural sounds first? Who can stay quiet for the longest time? Can anyone identify any bird calls? Can anyone hear insects or animals? Try this game in a variety of different habitats like a garden or by a stream to see?or listen?to how the noises change. Read Conservationist for Kids (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/40248.html) for more information and activities! Back to top Upcoming DEC Events Hudson Valley Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html) Nature Discovery After-School Programs 4:00 to 5:00 PM, each Thursday from September 3 through November 19 Attention kids of all ages! Bring a parent or other adult and discover the outdoors at Stony Kill together. Saturday Morning Guided Walks 10:00 AM each Saturday during September Join a Stony Kill naturalist as we take an easy, leisurely stroll along the Woodland Trail. Open Barn 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM each Saturday during September and October Come meet the livestock?cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens and turkeys?up close. Hudson River Ramble Freedom Trail Adventure Saturday, September 12 at 2:00 PM This 2.5 mile walk is on Stony Kills's most remote trail, and it follows a route blazed by the Underground Railroad in the 19th century. Hudson River Ramble Bull Hill Saturday, September 19 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Join us for this strenuous 4.5 mile loop hike, with a vertical rise of 1,400 feet to the summit of Bull Hill. Call 845-831-8780 to register. Bring lunch and at least one quart of water per person. 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) Scent of a Woodland Saturday, September 12 at 10:00 AM As the Half Moon traveled upriver on September 4, 1609, Robert Juet wrote a journal entry describing the sweet smells of the Hudson Valley woodlands. Join us for a walk as we try to sniff out what he was describing. Monarchs Saturday, September 12 at 2:00 PM In one of nature's extraordinary migrations, each fall monarch butterflies flit their way from Canada and the northern U.S. to a small forest in Mexico. Join us as we monitor the milkweed for monarch larvae and scan the skies for adults already in flight. Beginning Birding Saturday, September 19 at 10:00 AM A bird guide and a pair of binoculars are all you need to begin this popular hobby. Learn about these basic tools and get some helpful tips for identifying birds. Invasive Species Saturday, September 19 at 2:00 PM New York State is host to many animals and plants that came here from somewhere else. Some are invasive species and cause a lot of problems for our native residents. Learn some of the stories behind these organisms and what you can do to help. More events at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#September) Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.org/discovery_center/directions_hours_admission.htm) Mushrooms of the Pine Bush Saturday, September 19 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM Have you ever wondered what the different kinds of mushrooms are that you see growing in the Pine Bush? The Pine Bush Preserve has a beautiful diversity of fungi of various shapes, sizes and colors. Cost: $2.00/person, $5.00/family, children under 5 free. Call 518-456-0655 to register. Location: Madison Avenue, Pinelands Trailhead #7 More events at Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.intelliclients.com/events/events.cfm?da=1&mo=9&ye=2009&eventTypeID=2) Adirondacks Adirondack Park Agency Newcomb Visitors Center (http://www.adkvic.org/calendar_ncal.html) Orange Leaf Seeker Saturday, September 19 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Join us in a challenge to find the wooden leaf hidden on one of our trails. Stop in at the front desk for the natural history clue sheet, then follow the clues, find the leaf and report back to the staff. Adirondack Park Agency Paul Smiths Visitors Center (http://www.adkvic.org/calendar_pscal.html) Night Stroll Friday, September 18 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Take a woodland walk to look for the lights of glow worms. We will end the evening with a campfire. Call 518-327-3000 to register. Central New York Rogers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1831.html) Hike at Brookfield State Land Saturday, September 12 from 9:00 AM to Noon Hike a few miles of this trail and enjoy the hidden ponds and lovely woods. Monarchs Saturday, September 19 at 11:00 AM The most recognized butterfly in North America is heading to Mexico on a long migration. Learn about these amazing insects and see if we can find some that have lingered here. 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. 9th Annual Fall Festival Saturday, September 19 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 and more. No advance registration required for this event. 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 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). To unsubscribe (http://lists.dec.state.ny.us/mailman/listinfo/decoutdoordiscovery) -------------- 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: 4222 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 3779 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 12424 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 57498 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 6645 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 10212 bytes Desc: not available URL: From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Sep 23 08:59:17 2009 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:59:17 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] September 23 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <4AB9E365.D567.00BD.0@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery September 23, 2009 Beaver Family Fun Upcoming DEC Events Hudson Valley - Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center Capital Region - Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center Adirondacks - Adirondack Park Agency Visitors Interpretive Centers at Newcomb and Paul Smiths 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) Beaver The beaver, New York's official mammal, earns its reputation as an industrious and hard-working critter. The largest member of the rodent family, an adult beaver averages 3 to 3 ? feet long and weighs 30-60 pounds. The characteristic broad, flat tail of the beaver serves as a rudder when swimming, a prop when felling trees, a noisemaker to signal danger and a propeller when a little extra speed is needed in the water. Beaver have four, large, bright orange teeth that they use to gnaw at tree trunks until the trees fall. Their back feet are webbed to propel them through the water, and their thick fur helps them stay dry and warm. Beavers are most active at night, when they spend their time cutting down trees to construct a dam across an area of flowing water like a stream. They drag the wood, tree by tree, to the water and use mud and rocks to hold the wood in place. They pack more mud, leaves and debris from the bottom of the stream to hold back the water. Why all this hard work? Beavers build dams to create a pond of deep water where they can build a lodge and safely dive underwater to escape predators. In addition, the trapped water floods the woods, allowing easier access to trees which they use for food as well as construction. You can also check out DEC's website for additional photos. DEC's website has more information about beaver (pdf - 204Kb). 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 Busy Builders A beaver lodge can measure 12 to 14 feet at the base, with 5 or 6 feet above the water. It is made from a pile of logs, sticks, rocks and mud. Lodges have two levels-a feeding and drying area separate from the bedding area. Finely shredded wood fibers line the bed portion of the lodge. You can make a miniature version of a beaver lodge with some twigs, mud and leaves. Get a bucket of dirt and another empty bucket. Gather some leaves, broken twigs and moss. Mix some dirt and water together in the empty bucket, adding the leaves, twigs and moss. Scoop out the mixture and build some walls. Once the walls harden, have an adult cut some pine boughs for you and lay them across the top of the walls as a ceiling. Nature's Artists It is hard to imagine all the work that a beaver goes through to build a lodge. For those of you who don't live near a wooded area or forest, try creating a twig sculpture instead. Gather some long, thin twigs (willow is perfect) or some vines. Soak them in water overnight to make them easier to bend. Find some smaller branches to use for support. Decide whether you want to make an animal sculpture, a nest or a twig ball. If you can find them, use long grasses or ivy as string to bind the twigs together to form your basic sculpture. Use the twigs or vines you gathered to weave around the base of your sculpture to give it shape. Place your sculpture in a natural area for others to discover and enjoy. Read Conservationist for Kids (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/40248.html) for more information and activities! Back to top Upcoming DEC Events Hudson Valley Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html) Nature Discovery After-School Programs 4:00 to 5:00 PM each Thursday from September 3 through November 19 Attention kids of all ages! Bring a parent or other adult, and discover the outdoors at Stony Kill together. Saturday Morning Guided Walks 10:00 AM each Saturday during September Join a Stony Kill naturalist as we take an easy, leisurely stroll along the Woodland Trail. Open Barn 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM each Saturday during September and October Come meet the livestock?cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens and turkeys?up close. Hudson River Ramble Hike - Sierra Trail Saunter Saturday, September 26 at 2:00 PM Explore this moderate 2.25-mile look hike through a hardwood forest, evergreen woods, wetlands and open meadow. Harvest Festival Saturday, October 3 from Noon to 5:00 PM Our 31st annual Harvest Festival will include an afternoon of nature activities, environmental exhibits, demonstrations, live music, food, hayrides and barn tours. 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) Annual Fall Festival Saturday, September 26 from Noon to 4:00 PM Join us for our annual Fall Festival. The afternoon includes a multitude of activities, hands-on games, and nature explorations. I Went to the Meadow Saturday, October 3 at 10:00 AM This program is limited to Daisy Girl Scouts. We will explore different habitats and create a craft that helps the environment. Register for this program through (www.gsneny.org) Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York. Fee for materials. More events at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#September) Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.org/discovery_center/directions_hours_admission.htm) Discover the Pine Bush for Families Sunday, September 27 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Come join us on a fun journey to discover the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, the best example of an inland pine barrens. Cost: $2.00/person, $5.00/family, children under 5 free. Call 518-456-0655 to register. More events at Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.intelliclients.com/events/events.cfm?da=1&mo=9&ye=2009&eventTypeID=2) Adirondacks Adirondack Park Agency Newcomb Visitors Center (http://www.adkvic.org/calendar_ncal.html) Discover Nature Field Walk for Families Saturday, September 26 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM Celebrate National Take a Child Outside Week with us. We'll be leading a walk geared toward helping families discover the joys of being outside. Call 518-582-2000 to register. Adirondack Park Agency Paul Smiths Visitors Center (http://www.adkvic.org/calendar_pscal.html) Fall Wagon Ride Saturday, October 3 from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM Paul Smiths College Draft Horse Club will offer wagon rides to view the changing leaves. Call 518-327-3000 to schedule a time. Cost: $5/adult, $2/child, $3/Adirondack Park Institute members. Central New York Rogers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1831.html) Leaf Art Saturday, September 26 at 11:00 AM Leaves are beginning to change color and drop to the ground. Learn about trees in fall and make art from fallen leaves. For children ages 4-12. Call 607-674-4017 to register. Mushroom Foray Saturday, October 3 at 10:00 AM Enjoy a fall walk in the forest and learn about fascinating fungi as we look for mushrooms at Adams Farm. Meet in the Rogers Center main parking lot to carpool. Call 607-674-4017 to register. 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. Mosquito Hawks Saturday, September 26 at 10:30 AM Explore the world of dragonflies and damselflies on this guided walk. For adults and children age 8 and older. Morning Bird Walk Sunday, September 27 at 9:00 AM Search for migrating and resident birds along the trails. Bring binoculars if you have them. For adults and children age 8 and older. Habitat Hunt Sunday, September 27 at 2:00 PM Who are the critters in our "neighborhood"? Learn about our resident wildlife?what they eat and where they live. For children under age 12. 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 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). To unsubscribe (http://lists.dec.state.ny.us/mailman/listinfo/decoutdoordiscovery) -------------- 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: 4222 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 3779 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 13473 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 8357 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 6645 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 84101 bytes Desc: not available URL: