From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Oct 6 08:53:02 2010 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (DEC Outdoor Discovery Bi-weekly Newsletter) Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2010 08:53:02 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] October 6 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <4CAC38EE.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery October 6, 2010 Autumn Changes Family Fun Upcoming DEC Events Long Island Hudson Valley - Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center Capital Region - Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and Albany Pine Bush Discovery 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) Autumn Changes Autumn brings with it many changes?days get shorter, the weather turns colder, and nature begins to prepare for winter. Some of the changes are obvious, like the leaves turning from green to red, gold, orange or brown. But what other changes are happening during the months before the first snowfall? Trees Trees must have protection against the freezing temperatures of winter. Stems, twigs and buds are equipped to endure the snow, ice and wind. Leaves would freeze in winter, so plants must either protect them or dispose of them. Most evergreens protect their foliage with a heavy wax coating. Most deciduous trees have thin leaves that freeze easily. Those trees begin to drop their leaves every autumn. To learn more about why leaves change color, read the "Fall Foliage" issue (http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/46826.html) of Outdoor Discovery. Insects As leaves fall to the ground each autumn, they collect into carpets called "leaf litter." The area is damp and protected from ice and snow. Many insects, including slugs, snails, millipedes and spiders, spend winter under leaf litter. Birds Birds rely on berries, nuts and seeds that ripen in the fall. In turn, some trees rely on birds to disperse the seeds and nuts they produce, encouraging the growth of new trees in the spring. If you look at bare trees, you may be able to see where birds built their nests. Mammals While some mammals hibernate, many change their behavior to "stick it out" during the long winter. Many grow thicker coats of fur for added insulation. The white-tailed deer grows hollow hair in winter that retains heat. The snowshoe hare grows a white coat to blend into the snow and protect it from predators as it hunts for scarce food. Most mammals eat more in autumn to put on fat to survive the months when there is less food or no food at all. Squirrels store or "cache" acorns and maple seeds to eat during winter. White-tailed deer modify their diet, relying more on stems and trees than grasses and crops. Some animals like mice den together for shared warmth. Outdoor Discovery covered other ways that animals deal with our cold winters in the "Winter Survival" issue (http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/49728.html). 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! Subscribe to Conservationist magazine (http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/65514.html)?New York's award-winning publication with astonishingly beautiful photography and captivating articles. Learn the best places to view wildlife at DEC's Watchable Wildlife (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/55423.html) pages. Back to top Family Fun Little by Little, Bit by Bit The changes that happen each autumn don't take place overnight. They occur little by little every day. Pick a habitat (your backyard, a park, the woods), and take field notes for one week during the fall. Get a notebook, and record the following: ?Date and Time ?Habitat location ?Conditions: season, temperature, wind ?Physical Environment: soil type, rocks, vegetation ?Organisms: plants and animals present Now spend some time looking around at the habitat, and record any daily changes and activities. Are squirrels scurrying around looking for nuts? Are birds more active? Are there animals that you don't usually see around? Are there animals missing from their usual location? Look at two of the same species of tree, and record when each changes color and their leaves begin to fall. Leaf Litter Life doesn't change much for insects living under leaf litter. Find a pile of leaf litter under a big shrub or tree. Carefully move aside the surface layer of leaves. The next layer is made up of crumpled leaves, and the under layer has remains of leaves that look like dirt. Use a magnifying glass to examine each layer. Beetles may be eating dead leaves in the upper layer, while centipedes eat the crumpled leaves of the middle layer. Earthworms eat the soil and decay in the bottom layer. Record your observations in a notebook. Read Conservationist for Kids (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/40248.html) for more information and activities! Back to top Upcoming DEC Events Long Island Fall Family Fishing Festival and Children's Festival at Hempstead Lake State Park (tentative) Saturday, October 16 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Cost: $5 for participants 12 years and older, plus $6 parking fee. For more information, visit the I FishNY website (http://www.ifishnewyork.org). Hudson Valley Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html) Saturday Morning Guided Nature Walks Saturdays, October 9 and 16 at 10:00 AM Family Program: Open Barn Saturdays, October 9 and 16 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Nature Discovery After-School Program Thursday, October 7 and 14 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM For school-aged children and their caregivers. Family Fun: Leaf Art Saturday, October 9 at 2:00 PM Autumn Ablaze Saturday, October 16 at 2:00 PM Event Descriptions at Stony Kill (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2001.html#October) Capital Region Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html) Girl Scout Outing: The Ways of Water Saturday, October 9 at 2:00 PM Registration is through the Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York at www.gsneny.org, or call 518-489-8110. A materials fee applies. Wild About Apples Saturday, October 16 at 10:00 Reptiles You Should Know Saturday, October 16 at 2:00 PM Event Descriptions at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#October) Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.org/discovery_center/directions_hours_admission.htm) Bats: Designed for Darkness Friday, October 8 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM Call 518-456-0655 to register. Cost: $2.00/person, $5.00/family, children under 5 free. More events at Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.intelliclients.com/events/events.cfm?da=1&mo=10&ye=2010&eventTypeID=2) Central New York Rogers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1831.html) Advance registration is required. Call 607-674-4017. Fungi, Fun-gal: Mushrooms at Adams Farm Saturday, October 9 at 10:00 AM Watchable Wildlife: Familiar Birds Saturday, October 9 at 1:30 PM Rogers on the Road: Columbus Community Celebration Saturday, October 9 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Rogers on the Road: Berry Hill Finger Lakes Trail Hike Saturday, October 16 from 9:00 AM to Noon Fall Fruits: Winter Food Saturday, October 16 at 1:30 PM Event Descriptions at Rogers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2006.html#October) Western New York Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1837.html) Advance registration is required. Call 716-683-5959. After-School Escape Thursdays,October 7 and 14 at 4:30 PM For children in grades K-5. Fall Tree ID Saturday, October 16 at 10:30 AM Event Descriptions at Reinstein (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html#October) Events at other Nature Centers throughout the State (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1826.html) Visit DEC's website for more information and programs (http://www.dec.ny.gov) 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... 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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: 12080 bytes Desc: not available URL: From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Oct 20 10:01:00 2010 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (DEC Outdoor Discovery Bi-weekly Newsletter) Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 10:01:00 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] October 20 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <4CBEBDDC.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery October 20, 2010 What is the Forest? 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 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) What is the Forest? There is more to a forest than just lots of trees. Forests are important for many reasons. They provide food and shelter for animals such as deer, rabbits and turkeys, and they help our environment by cooling the earth and absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They provide us with the oxygen we breathe, wood to heat our homes and habitat for animals that we hunt for food. Forests are a great place to watch for wildlife, enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature. Layers of the Forest Forests have different layers, each providing a different type of habitat for wildlife. Think of a tree as a hotel or apartment building: Canopy (Penthouse)?The canopy is the highest section of the forest, and leaves of the tallest trees form this "roof." Only certain trees grow to the height of the canopy. Leaves and branches shade the understory, making the forest appear dark even on a sunny day. Birds, small mammals, and insects live in the canopy. Understory (Middle Floors)?Smaller hardwood trees are located in the understory. Animals like to nest here, taking advantage of the dense plants for protection and camouflage. The understory provides shelter for many species of birds, insects and spiders and larger mammals including foxes, raccoons, deer, and bears that live on the forest floor. Shrubs 4 to 8 feet (Lower Floors)?In evergreen forests, there aren't many shrubs. However, in a deciduous forest, the shrub layer can be too thick to pass through. Many birds live in the cover of the shrub layer. Herb Layer (Shops)?Green plants with soft stems can be found in the herb layer, a source of food for many species. Forest Floor (Lobby, Street)?As leaves and other debris fall from the trees each year, they accumulate on the ground, forming the busiest layer?the forest floor. Frogs, turtles and salamanders, small mammals such as mice and rabbits, insects and ground-nesting birds such as quail can be found on the forest floor. Underground (Basement)?The underground provides shelter under the soil for many animals and insects like mice and worms. In the next issue: What We Get from the Forest? 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! Subscribe to Conservationist magazine (http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/65514.html)?New York's award-winning publication with astonishingly beautiful photography and captivating articles. Learn the best places to view wildlife at DEC's Watchable Wildlife (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/55423.html) pages. Back to top Family Fun Rings of a Tree If you look at firewood logs or the stump of a tree that was recently cut down, you can learn a lot about the life of that tree. Look at the rings of the tree closely; if you can't see them clearly, lightly sand the surface. Dark-colored rings and light-colored rings alternate. The lighter rings are wider and show the tree's rapid growth in the spring. The darker, narrower rings are called summerwood and represent the tree's growth during the summer. Each set of light and dark lines counts as one ring. If there are narrow rings on one side of a tree and not the other, it means the tree was stressed on the side with the rings. It could have been shaded by another tree or the roots damaged by digging or construction. If there are narrow rings all around, the tree was stressed for several years?possibly by a drought or too many insects eating the leaves. Count the rings to see how old the tree is. Seed Collection You will need some clear plastic or glass jars for this project (spice jars work great). Collect seeds from plants around your yard. You can find them in wild fruits that are beginning to ripen. Maple tree seeds drop to the ground under the tree. Oak trees drop acorns in the fall. Pine cones can be dried indoors, after which you can pull out the scales and look for seeds. Make sure that you dry out all the seeds before storing them. If your flower gardens still have plants, collect seeds from them. Add the seeds to individual jars, and label them with the type of tree or plant and where you found them. The following year, you will have a seed collection to grow your own trees or plants. Arbor Day Poster Contest Annually, New York's 5th grade students are invited to take part in the Arbor Day Poster Contest sponsored by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Agriculture and Markets, and the State Education Department. The 2011 deadline for poster submissions is Thursday, January 13, 2011. Visit DEC's website for contest rules and information. 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) Saturday Morning Guided Nature Walks Saturdays, October 23 and 30 at 10:00 AM Family Program: Open Barn Saturdays, October 23 and 30 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Nature Discovery After-School Program Thursday, October 21 and 28 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM For school-aged children and their caregivers. Natural Dyes and Inks Saturday, October 23 at 2:00 PM Night Hike Saturday, October 30 at 5:00 PM Wear sturdy shoes and long pants, and bring a flashlight. Costumes are strongly encouraged. Event Descriptions at Stony Kill (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2001.html#October) Capital Region Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html) Girl Scout Field Day: Passport to Awareness Saturday, October 23, TBA Contact Carole Fraser at 518-402-9428 for more information and to register your troop. Halloween Open House Saturday, October 30 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM Event Descriptions at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#October) Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.org/discovery_center/directions_hours_admission.htm) Halloween Howl Prowl Friday, October 22 and Saturday October 23 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM Call 518-456-0655 to register. Cost: $2.00/person, $5.00/family, children under 5 free. More events at Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.intelliclients.com/events/events.cfm?da=1&mo=10&ye=2010&eventTypeID=2) Central New York Rogers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1831.html) Advance registration is required. Call 607-674-4017. Full Moon Walk Saturday, October 23 at 7:00 PM Please call to register and for details. Fall Finds at Cush Hill Saturday, October 23 at 1:30 PM Animals of Halloween Friday, October 29 at 6:30 PM Please call to register. Watchable Wildlife Walk Saturday, October 30 at 11:00 AM Watchable Wildlife: Uncovered! Saturday, October 30 at 1:30 PM Event Descriptions at Rogers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2006.html#October) Western New York Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1837.html) Advance registration is required. Call 716-683-5959. After-School Escape Thursdays, October 21 and 28 at 4:30 PM For children in grades K-5. Full Hunter's Moon Walk Friday, October 22 at 6:30 PM Life under Leaves Saturday, October 23 at 10:30 AM Morning Bird Walk Sunday, October 26 at 9:00 AM For adults and children age 8 and older Owl Prowl Friday, October 29 at 7:00 PM For adults and children age 8 and older Spider and Pumpkin Crafts Saturday, October 30 at 1:00 PM For children ages 6 to 10 years old. Cost: $6.00 per child; FORNP members, $4.00 per child. Event Descriptions at Reinstein (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html#October) Events at other Nature Centers throughout the State (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1826.html) Visit DEC's website for more information and programs (http://www.dec.ny.gov) 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? 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