Westmoreland Sanctuary's Nature Notes

Species Profile: Blue Jay

2012-01-16T12:37:00.000-05:00

Blue Jays are a common, and commonly recognized, bird species throughout the eastern US. They are an inhabitant of deciduous and mixed deciduous/coniferous forests throughout most of NY.

Their moderate size, bright blue coloration, and loud voices make them hard to miss along woodland trails or at a backyard bird feeder. And though they're typically deemed a bully by many backyard birding enthusiasts, there's so much more to know, and admire, about the Blue Jay.

Interesting facts about the Blue Jay:

Like their cousins, the crows, Blue Jays are exceptionally intelligent and have strong family bonds.
Blue Jays are renowned for their ability to imitate the sounds of hawks, especially Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks.
Their loud "jay!, jay!, jay!" calls are familiar to many people and are also recognized by other species of wildlife, earning Blue Jays the nickname "Alarm of the forest".
The Blue Jay's coloration is not from pigmentation in its feathers. The blue coloration is refracted sunlight cast back to our eyes as a blue color.
Blue Jays are partial migrants. The Blue Jays you see in your yard in winter are likely to be winter visitors from somewhere further north - "your" Blue Jays have mostly likely migrated south and will eventually return as Spring approaches. Individual Blue Jays have been known to migrate in some years but not in others. Large groups of migrating Blue Jays are a common sight around the Great Lakes and near the Atlantic coast in Fall and Spring.

Attracting Blue Jays:
Bird feeders are a good start. From Fall through early Spring, Blue Jays are attracted to feeding stations offering black oil sunflower and peanuts (their favorite). Commercial and homemade suet blends are also a preferred food choice for Blue Jays during especially cold days.

Breeding and nesting Blue Jays will use a variety of tree species to construct a stick nest high in the crotch of a tree. Availability of a variety of insects, fruit, seeds, and nuts would likely increase the chances of Blue Jays nesting in your backyard.

Record and report your Blue Jay sightings during the upcoming Great Backyard Bird Count. And submit your bird sightings from anywhere, anytime at eBird.org

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist
Westmoreland Sanctuary

Sources:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue_Jay/lifehistory/ac
Birds of Ohio Field Guide by Stan Tekiela

2011 Greenwich-Stamford Christmas Bird Count

2011-12-10T12:14:00.001-05:00

Westmoreland Sanctuary staff will be participating in the Greenwich-Stamford CBC again this year on Dec 18th. This year the count in Greenwich turns 100, and we're excited to be a part of this milestone. While the Greenwich CBC has evolved over the years since its inception in 1911, the importance of the count and the dedication of the many volunteers who participate has not changed. In fact, as one of the oldest citizen science projects in the world, the Christmas Bird Count becomes more critical for bird research and conservation efforts each year.

In a few short words, here's how the organizers at Audubon Greenwich summarize how the count works:

"The count happens in two ways. Many sign up for all or part of the day with a ‘count team’ in the field. Others, who live within Audubon Greenwich’s 15-mile wide count circle, can volunteer to count in their backyards and send the results on a CBC Reporting Form to the local Count Captain, Brian O’Toole. The data then gets compiled and sent to bird researchers and scientists worldwide. So start a new family tradition that will make a real difference."

Greenwich-Stamford Christmas Bird Count circle

If you're wondering where the count circle is located, here's a general map of the area. If you'd like to participate from home, but you're not sure if your home falls within the confines of the count circle, contact Audubon Greenwich at 203-869-5272. Of course, you don't have to live within the count circle to participate out in the field, so use the same number listed above to sign up for one of the many count parties that will be canvasing the area for birds.

We're looking forward to a great day out in the field on Sunday, Dec 18. Steve and I always have a great time, and we're looking forward to having Arthur Green join our count party again this year. We'll post a list of our sightings here when we're finished for the day. Hope you'll join us too! Here's a look at our results from the 2010 CBC.

Good Birding,
Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Save Your County Parks!

2011-11-17T14:15:00.001-05:00

The follow message was provided in an email from Michael Gambino, Curator/Director of Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, Rye, NY in regards to Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino's proposed budget cuts to the Westchester County Parks. Please take a moment to read Michael's message regarding the future of Westchester County's park system.

Dear friend,

I'm still in a bit of shock since yesterday when I learned that county executive Rob Astorino and the parks commissioner have targeted the entire Westchester County Conservation division for termination as of December 31. I am still trying to grasp the reality of this, but we do not have much time in which to mobilize people to demand that this plan be changed to keep the parks intact and the naturalists employed. Surely, there are other places to get that money instead of destroying all the work done by dedicated curatorial staff since the parks system was created in 1925. It can be done! The Trailside Nature Museum at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, just to give perspective, was built during the Great Depression!

The County Board of legislators will vote on the proposed budget and a final answer/vote is due by 12/27 (it may happen sooner). Please make some noise and pressure the legislators to demand that the nature centers and staff be put back into the budget.

What I am asking you to do, on behalf of the curators/naturalists and the tens of thousands of residents who visit these nature centers each year, is to send a notice to local environmental organizations and other interested parties to inform them, and ask them to write letters and e-mails and make phone calls to "keep the nature centers open and staffed".

Here are the implications for the future:
1. Parks that will be affected (that I know of): Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, Marshlands Conservancy, Ward Pound Ridge Reservation (only the Trailside Nature Museum operations), Lenoir Preserve, Cranberry Lake Preserve, and possibly other county facilities. (Astorino stated that 6 nature centers would be closed).

2. All Westchester County operated nature centers will be shut down, and in some cases the parks themselves may be closed and gated.

3. There will be no rehiring in the foreseeable future for these parks. (Imagine a year or more without your park as beautiful as you know it today).

The implications and potential reality for these parks and facilities is that without staff on site to maintain the nature centers and the acreage of the parks, decades of progress has the potential to deteriorate in short order.

For example:
• when storms blow down trees, they will remain and accumulate there blocking trails and creating hazards

• buildings will be permitted to grow moldy and rodent infested, and subject to vandalism and property destruction.

• No trash will be cleaned from the trails or shorelines.

• dog owners who are non-compliant wit lease laws and sanctuary restrictions will let their dogs run wild potentially harming and stressing the wildlife.

• some cyclists/mountain bikers will take to the protected trails degrading and eroding them in short order

• no one will be available to take care of injured wildlife that happens at some point each year.

• Invasive plants will thrive unchecked, setting back decades of labor in opening and creating habitat diversity.

• Trails will be overgrown, as will all the open fields currently mowed to create habitat diversity.

• parks will potentially become less safe to visit since there will be no curator presence to act as guardians

• and more. . .

Additionally, there will be NO educational programs offered of any kind for the public or for the school children at these parks. There will be NO interpretive experts (curators/naturalists) at the parks to assist the public in learning more about nature, the environment and conservation issues. NO summer ecology programs will take place. NO special guest presenters at the nature centers.

Local tax dollars have paid for parks and for the staff to provide meaningful, family-oriented nature-based activities. Now these benefits are going to be cut out completely, but residents will still be paying those taxes. The curators and naturalists are dedicated civil servants who give their blood, sweat, and tears to provide wholesome, stress-reducing, educational experiences to anyone who visits one of these parks.

Please SIGN and send a copy of the attached letter to the legislators listed below (cut and paste text at very bottom of this message).

CONTACTS:
Westchester County Board of Legislators 800 Michaelian Office Building
148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor
White Plains, New York 10601
Main Tel: (914)995-2800 ; Fax: (914)995-3884

*Click on a name below to send an email.

Name	District
John G. Testa	1
Peter Harckham (Majority Leader)	2
John Nonna	3
Michael B. Kaplowitz	4
Martin Rogowsky	6
William J. Ryan	5
Judith A. Myers (Majority Whip)	7
Alfreda A. Williams	8
William Burton	9
Sheila Marcotte	10
James Maisano (Minority Leader)	11
MaryJane Shimsky	12
Lyndon Williams (Vice Chair)	13
Bernice Spreckman	14
Gordon A. Burrows (Minority Whip)	15
Kenneth W. Jenkins (Board Chair)	16
José I. Alvarado	17

Here is the budget proposal you can read for yourself:
http://www3.westchestergov.com/news/3102-astorino-proposes-2012-budget-with-zero-increase-in-county-tax-levy

THANK YOU!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear County Legislator (insert your legislator's name),

I was deeply disturbed to hear that the budget cuts proposed by County Executive Rob Astorino include shutting down all the county operated nature centers and laying off the staff of curators and naturalists that work there. I am writing to inform you that I am opposed to such cuts, and respectfully and emphatically urge you to vote against including these cuts in the 2012 budget for Westchester County.

In a time when our government prides itself on how "green" it can be, it is inconceivable that our County Executive would even consider terminating the entire Conservation Division of the County Parks Department! Local tax dollars have paid for parks and for the staff to provide meaningful, nature-based activities for families, school groups, scouting troops, veterans outings, religious retreats, and other community organizations. With the growth of our urban areas, the parks remain the only sanctuaries where our community members can experience nature. These services are MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER for Westchester County residents to have access to in these depressed economic times. Now these benefits are slated to be cut out completely, and residents will still be paying the same taxes. The curators and naturalists who staff these nature centers in their respective parks are dedicated civil servants who give their blood, sweat, and tears to provide wholesome, stress-reducing, educational experiences to anyone who visits these parks. Nature-based education and experiential interaction with our natural world is a fundamental necessity for health and well-being for each person.

Our curators and naturalists do even more than provide public programming. They also serve a very important function in protecting the endangered species of our parks, as well as managing visitors so that their activities do not have a negative impact on the wildlife or habitats (e.g., keeping dogs away from animals, preventing treasure hunters from taking plants or rocks, reducing erosion from damaging activities, keeping fishermen away from protected waterways, protecting nesting birds, pollution control). They also maintain a safe system of trails and waterfront, including repairing/maintaining boardwalks, mowing/pruning paths/trails, removing hazards from storm damage, organizing community beach clean-ups and trail wood-chipping, and restoring areas damaged from over-use by people. One overlooked but vital function is the gathering and maintaining a scientific database of field observations. These scientific endeavors include: monitoring biodiversity by cataloging all the species of flora and fauna within our parks (which are important markers of the status of our park ecosystems), tracking the population growth or decline of endangered plant and animal species (another marker of successful conservation in action), water testing (a critical indicator of the health of our wetlands), and a variety of other field measurements. Our curators have initiated (including receiving grant funding!) or assisted in many scientific projects, including: the effects of filters in reducing contaminants from parking lot drains that are channelled into our parks' water systems, removing invasive plants and creating a protected native re-forestation area and a wildflower meadow studying the degree of overpopulation of invasive animals species (e.g., Asian green crab) or native species (e.g., deer), and many more activities too numerous to list.

We need our curators and naturalists, and we need our Nature Centers to remain open! I urge you to fight to keep the nature centers open and staffed.

Thank you,

(Sign your name)

EAB and ALB info session

2011-11-11T12:08:00.001-05:00

Since this past summer's discovery of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) at the West Point campus in Orange County, NY, our staff has been corresponding with Michael Singho, a Horticultural Inspector with the NYS Dept of Agriculture and Markets. If you've been in the museum over the past few months, you've probably noticed the big posters about Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) as well as information packets about EAB. These educational brochures were provided by Mr. Singho as a cooperative effort to get the word out about the invasion and destructive potential of these two exotic insect species.

Mr Singho will be presenting a special lecture open to the public at the Greenburgh Public Library on Dec 8th at 10am. Here is the text of Mr. Singho's email to Westmoreland:

I am writing to inform you that I will be giving an Asian Longhorned Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer update at the Greenburgh Public Library (300 Tarrytown Road, Elmsford NY 10523) on Thursday December 8 th , 2011 at 10:00am.

The session will last approximately 2 hours, and include a question and answer portion.

In addition to my presentation, Rick Harper of Cornell Cooperative Extension will be in attendance to answer pesticide and preventative treatment questions.

As many of you know Emerald Ash Borer has been found in Orange County. Although it is unknown which direction the beetle will migrate in next, its arrival in Westchester County is inevitable. When it does arrive, there will be some drastic changes to wood handling practices as the quarantine law is imposed.

Although I encourage everyone to attend, those who work in Orange County (or north) will find this session of particular interest.

Please contact Anne Jaffe-Holmes of the Greenburgh Nature Center to pre-register at 914-813-1251.

The Westmoreland staff would like to encourage all who are available to attend to do so. The control and mitigation of this problem will require the diligent eyes and participation of all NY citizens. Please help us in the fight to protect our forests and community trees from these destructive pests.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Leave Leaves Alone

2011-10-26T19:19:00.000-04:00

The following message was contained in an email from the Town of Bedford:

Fellow Residents,

Autumn is here, and with it the annual ritual of fall leaf clean-up is under way. I want to urge a practice that can help us control costs, keep your property healthier, and protect the environment.

We have come to consider leaves something to be disposed of – instead of viewing them as the valuable resource they are. We spend time blowing or raking them into piles on the street, into bags stacked curb-side, left for town pickup. When the Town collects, hauls, and disposes leaves, it costs taxpayers more than $30,000 a year! But what we’ve done is interrupt nature’s own processes, remove the nutrients in the leaves, instead of returning them to nourish the soil and the grass or plants that grow on your property.

The best thing you can do with your leaves is leave them on your property.

You can:

 • Shred them with a lawn mower using a mulcher mower and simply leave them in place on your lawn. (A regular homeowner mower works well too if you remove the collection bag and close the flap.) Mower deck attachments for commercial landscapers are available and mulch leaves very effectively.

• Compost them in a pile or container; with or without shredding, but shredding is reduced more quickly to compost.

• Shred them and use them as mulch on your borders and flowerbeds.

• If you border a wooded area or park, rake the leaves into the woods. (When you rake into the woods, spread them out so they look natural, are no greater than a foot in depth, and doesn’t create an unsafe condition for those who may walk there.)

You can do this yourself if you take care of your own property. If you use a contractor, you can ask them to use these procedures this fall. If they aren’t sure what to do, you can urge them to attend training being offered in Dobbs Ferry Village Hall,October 27th @ 7pm or at Eastchester Town Hall November 3rd @ 7:45pm.

The benefits are clear. You’ll reduce your need for commercial fertilizers, and may never buy mulch again. You’ll save effort: most homeowners (and landscapers) find that mulching leaves in place actually is easier than raking or blowing them to the curb. It helps keep your property healthy: leaf mulch recycles nutrients into your soil and helps retain moisture, reducing the need for watering in dry spells. The less picked up, the less the Town needs to spend on disposal. It reduces noise pollution by not requiring as much blowing around of leaves. Finally, transporting and disposing leaves wastes energy and contributes to pollution.

For more information about mulching-in-place and composting of leaves, go to either of two sites put up by local villages:http://www.leaveleavesalone.org

Once you start doing this, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is and how silly the old ways seemed.

Thank you, Lee Roberts

Please leave your leaves alone this fall!  It's best for you, your lawn, and the environment!

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Adventures in the Outdoors synopsis

2011-09-26T10:27:00.002-04:00

Here's a quick video from the Bedford-Katonah Patch about Adventures in the Outdoors Weekend 2011:

Check out our website for more information about the remainder of this fall's weekend programming. We hope to see you at the sanctuary!

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Adventures in the Outdoors Update

2011-09-23T13:16:00.000-04:00

ADVENTURES IN THE OUTDOORS WEEKEND

September 24-25, 2011

EVENT UPDATE:
Because of weather-related issues, we have amended the events schedule to move as much of Saturday's events and activities inside the Nature Museum. Please see below for specific program updates related to Saturday's schedule. All activities for Sunday are currently scheduled as planned until further notice. Please check back Saturday afternoon/evening to view any changes made to Sunday's schedule.

Because of the expected deluge and associated flood potential, the tractor rides have been canceled for Saturday. We will make a determination of the trail condition and post an update about the possibility for tractor rides on Sunday once the rain stops.

There is NO admission/entrance fee for this event! Only workshops/programs require registration. Other activies such as the community expo, crafts, tractor rides, food concessions, etc are open to everyone - no registration required!

Scroll down for event details!

Schedule of Events

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24:
CANCELED: BIRD BANDING DEMONSTRATION
Saturday, 9am-10:30am
Observe wild song birds being captured, banded and released by Sanctuary staff during this unique program. Bird banding is a continent-wide science project managed by the US Geological Survey that uses data collected from individual birds to further bird science and conservation. All ages welcome.
Presented by Westmoreland Sanctuary

CANCELED: HAWK MIGRATION AND HAWKWATCHING
Saturday, 11am-12:30pm
Learn about and witness the extraordinary natural phenomenon that is hawk migration. Each fall as many as 16 species of raptors pass through the skies overhead on their journey south. Bring binoculars. All ages welcome.
Presented by Westmoreland Sanctuary and The Bedford Audubon Society

KID'S HIKE Still on, weather permitting
Saturday, 11am-12pm
Join this guided hike geared for kids. We’ll explore the forest ecosystem and search for signs of animal life and other signs of the season. All ages welcome.
Presented by Westmoreland Sanctuary

SPECIAL PRESENTATION BY THE NATURE OF THINGS Indoor program, Registration still available!
Saturday, 1pm-2:30pm
Live Animal presentation by The Nature of Things (visit their website). All ages welcome.
The Nature of Things is an environmental outreach program that presents quality live animal presentations to schools and centers throughout the greater Metropolitan areas in New York and Connecticut. The Nature of Things presents hands-on, age-appropriate science education that utilizes their extensive live animal collection.

BIRD FEEDER WORKSHOP Indoor program, Registration still available!
Saturday, 3pm-4:30pm
Learn the basics of bird feeding. From choosing the correct seed to baffling squirrels, we’ll help you get started. Participants will also make a wooden bird feeder to take home. Suitable for ages 7 to adult. Max of 20 participants.
Presented by Westmoreland Sanctuary

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25:
OUTDOOR COOKING BRUNCH Registration still available, Check back for possible cancellation due to weather.
Sunday, 10am-12pm
Learn to cook a variety of foods over an open fire. We will prepare (and eat!) a variety of foods like hot dogs, “snake” bread, pineapple-upside-down cake, and egg-on-a-rock. All ages welcome. Max of 10 participants.
Presented by Westmoreland Sanctuary

SPECIAL PRESENTATION BY DJ HAVERKAMP OF BEDFORD BEE BEEKEEPING SERVICE Indoor program, Registration still available!
Sunday, 12pm-1pm
Honeybees and Other Beneficial Pollinators by DJ Haverkamp from Bedford Bee Beekeeping Service. All ages welcome.
Bedford Bee Beekeeping Service (visit their website) began as a response to a honeybee die-off called colony collapse disorder in 2007. D.J. has been involved with beekeeping for the past 15 years and has fond memories of his families 'bee' tree from his youth. He is a member of the Backyard Beekeepers Association, the Eastern Apicultural Society and is currently working to earn his Master Beekeeper certification from the Dyce Laboratory for Honeybee Studies at Cornell University.

MAP & COMPASS SCAVENGER HUNT Registration almost full! 3 spaces available! Check back for possible cancellation due to weather
Sunday, 2pm-3:30pm
Use a map and compass to travel through a special compass course in search of hidden treasure. Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for a fair bit of walking through the nature preserve. Suitable for ages 6 to adult. Max of 8 families/groups.
Presented by Westmoreland Sanctuary

MEET THE ANIMALS Indoor program, Registration still available!
Sunday, 3:30pm-4:30pm
Experience close encounters with Westmoreland’s resident critters. Learn about them and their wild cousins residing on the sanctuary during this hands-on program. All ages welcome.
Presented by Westmoreland Sanctuary

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDE...
Green Community Expo - All weekend Now Indoors!
Find information about other great community organizations and resources!
Tractor Wagon Rides - Sunday, 1-3pm
Take a trail ride with your friends or family in a tractor-pulled wagon!
Fishing Casting Clinic - Canceled
Face Painting - Saturday and Sunday, 11am-3pm Now Indoors!
Crafts - Saturday and Sunday, 11am-3pm Now Indoors!
Food Concessions - Saturday and Sunday, 11am-3pm Now Indoors!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Registration Information - Walk-in Registration Welcome!

MEMBERS (Individuals/Families that have joined/renewed since April 2010)

Workshops/programs are Free of Charge for pre-registering members. Pre-registration ends 9/22
Walk-in fees apply to members on the day of the event (cash or check). Ages 4yrs and under are Free.
Discounted fees for tractor wagon rides for all members.
Download and return the registration form today to reserve your place in our workshops. Walk-in registration cannot be guaranteed!

NON-MEMBERS

Workshops/lectures begin at $5 per person for pre-registration. Ages 4yrs and under are Free. All program/workshop fees are noted on the registration form. Pre-registration ends 9/22
Discounts available for family registration.
Discounts apply for registration for multiple workshops/programs.
Become a Westmoreland Sanctuary member today and recieve all the member discounts for this event when you register!
Download and return the registration form today to reserve your place in our workshops. Walk-in registration cannot be guaranteed!
Payment of workshop fees may be submitted upon arrival (cash or check) on the day of the event.

REGISTRATION QUESTIONS/ASSISTANCE: Please call 914-666-8448 or email westsanc@optonline.net

Trail Safety after Irene

2011-09-03T14:00:00.000-04:00

ATTENTION!

For Your Safety:

Trails Close at 5pm!

The storm onAugust 28^th created a number of difficulttrail conditions including, but not limited to, heavy debris, erosion, limbs, and fallen trees across the entiretyof the trail system. Before accessingthe trail system, all visitors areadvised to use a trail map (available in the kiosk and nature museum) andmust always be aware of the locations oftrail markers to avoid losing your way.

Watch yourstep! Fallen debris, loose rocks, washouts,mud, standing water may make portions of the trail difficult to walk. Bediligent and exercise caution while walking the trails.

Cell phoneservice has been very weak or non-existent since the storm. Do notrely on receiving cell phone service while out on the property. Take a map and be aware of your location atall times to avoid losing your way! Should you have any doubts about your ability to navigate the trailsystem, please turn around and go back the way you came.

Because ofthe extraordinary amount of rainfall during the month of August, the mosquito activity is HIGH. Please consider wearing insect repellent toavoid mosquitoes, especially in areas with standing water.

Do not cut any live vegetation that may beencroaching on the trails. A numberof smaller understory trees and shrubs may have been forced into the trailduring the storm. The Sanctuary staffwill carefully trim or prop up branches of these valuable plants to avoiddestroying them.

Visitors may remove deadfall sticks,branches from the trail as they see fit. Please report large trailobstructions to the Sanctuary staff so they can be removed as soon aspossible. If you don’t report it, we may not know about it! We don’t walk the trails nearly as often asour visitors. Leave a note in the kiosk,call, or send us an email.

Thankyou for your cooperation. We hope to open the trails to their normal hoursof dawn to dusk in the near future.

Sincerely,
The Staff of Westmoreland Sanctuary

Rabies - Explanation and Information

2011-08-03T22:18:00.005-04:00

Rabies. Its a word that nearly everyone recognizes. Adults and children alike are generally aware that rabies is a bad thing. Unfortunately, not nearly as many people understand what rabies is, what animals are at risk, and how to prevent themselves from being exposed to it.

This summer has seen a great deal of rabies incidents in the local news. As of June 30, 2011, Westchester County, NY had a total of 22 confirmed rabies cases out of 225 animals tested. The total number of confirmed rabies cases for New York state from Jan 1-Jun 30, 2011 was 143 out of 2,336 animals tested. For current NYS rabies data, visit the Wadsworth Center, NYS Dept of Health's laboratory. You can also access a wealth of information including annual summary reports, the history of rabies in NY, and microscopic images of the rabies virus.

If you don't have time to check out all the above resources, please take a look at this simple explanation of rabies. The following information is from a New York State Department of Health publication, "Rabies". A PDF version of this information can be viewed from the NYS Dept of Health website.

What is rabies?
Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Infected mammals can transmit rabies virus to humans and other mammals. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. Fortunately, only a few human cases are reported each year in the United States.

What animals can get rabies?
Rabies is most often seen among wild animals such as raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes, but any mammal can be infected with rabies. Pets and livestock can get rabies if they are not vaccinated to protect them against infection. Among domestic animals, cats are most frequently diagnosed with rabies in New York State.

Some animals almost never get rabies. These include rabbits and small rodents such as squirrels, chipmunks, rats, mice, guinea pigs, gerbils and hamsters. It is possible for these animals to get rabies, but only in rare circumstances, such as if they are attacked but not killed by a rabid animal.

Reptiles (such as lizards and snakes), amphibians (like frogs), birds, fish and insects do not get or carry rabies.

What are the signs of rabies in animals?
The first sign of rabies is usually a change in an animal's behavior. It may become unusually aggressive or tame. The animal may lose its fear of people and natural enemies. A wild animal may appear affectionate and friendly. It may become excited or irritable and attack anything in its path. Staggering, convulsions, choking, frothing at the mouth and paralysis are sometimes seen. Many animals will make very unusual sounds. Infected animals usually die within one week after showing signs of rabies.

How do people become exposed to rabies?
People usually get exposed to the rabies virus when an infected animal bites them. Exposure may also occur if saliva from a rabid animal enters an open cut or mucous membrane (eyes, nose or mouth).

What should I do if I am exposed to rabies?
Wash all wounds thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.

Report all animal bites to your county health department, even if they seem minor. The phone number for your county health department can be found in the government listing of your telephone directory or the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) website at: http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/zoonoses/rabies/contact.htm.

Try to keep track of the animal that exposed you and report this information to your county health department so the animal can be captured safely, if possible. In the case of a bat, you may be able to safely capture it yourself and take it to your county health department where it will be transferred to the state for rabies testing. To learn how to capture a bat safely, view a short video (1 minute 22 seconds) at www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/zoonoses/rabies/ .

Healthy dogs, cats, ferrets and livestock that have bitten or otherwise caused a potential human exposure to rabies will be confined under the direction of the county health department and observed for ten days following the exposure. If the animal remains healthy during this period, the animal did not transmit rabies at the time of the bite.

Other types of animals that cause a potential human exposure must be tested for rabies under the direction of the county health department. If an animal cannot be observed or tested for rabies, treatment may be necessary for the people exposed. Your county health department will assist you and your physician to determine whether treatment is necessary.

What is the treatment for people exposed to rabies?
Treatment after rabies exposure consists of a dose of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) administered as soon as possible after exposure, plus 4 doses of rabies vaccine given over two weeks. If there is a wound, the full dose of HRIG should go into the wound, if possible. The first vaccine dose is given at the same time, with the remaining injections given on days 3, 7 and 14 following the initial injection. People who have weakened immune systems may require a fifth dose of vaccine, as determined by their doctor.

A person who has already been vaccinated for rabies and is exposed to rabies must receive two booster vaccine doses three days apart immediately after exposure. They do not need an injection of HRIG.

What happens if a rabies exposure goes untreated?
Exposure to a rabid animal does not always result in rabies. If treatment is initiated promptly following a rabies exposure, rabies can be prevented. If a rabies exposure is not treated and a person develops clinical signs of rabies, the disease almost always results in death.

How do I protect my pets from rabies?
The best way to keep pets safe from rabies is to vaccinate them and keep their shots up-to-date. If your pet has been injured by a rabid animal, contact your veterinarian to get medical care. Even though your pet has been vaccinated, a booster dose of rabies vaccine may be needed within five days of the incident. Contact your county health department to determine what additional follow-up may be needed.

What can people do to protect themselves against rabies?
Don't feed, touch or adopt wild animals, stray dogs or cats.

Be sure your pet dogs, cats and ferrets as well as horses and valuable livestock animals are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations. Vaccination protects pets if they are exposed to rabid animals. Pets too young to be vaccinated should be kept indoors and allowed outside only under direct observation.

Keep family pets indoors at night. Don't leave them outside unattended or let them roam free.

Don't attract wild animals to your home or yard. Keep your property free of stored bird seed or other foods that may attract wild animals. Feed pets indoors. Tightly cap or put away garbage cans. Board up any openings to your attic, basement, porch or garage. Cap your chimney with screens.

If nuisance wild animals are living in parts of your home, consult with a nuisance wildlife control expert about having them removed. You can find wildlife control experts, who work on a fee-for-service basis, in your telephone directory under pest control.

Teach children not to touch any animal they do not know and to tell an adult immediately if they are bitten by any animal.

If a wild animal is on your property, let it wander away. Bring children and pets indoors and alert neighbors who are outside. You may contact a nuisance wildlife control expert who will remove the animal for a fee.

Report all animal bites or contact with wild animals to your county health department. If possible, do not let any animal escape that has possibly exposed someone to rabies.

And finally, if you have any questions or concerns about rabies or a possible rabies exposure, please contact your county health agency for assistance. In NY, county contact phone numbers can be found on the NYS Dept of Health webpage.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Camera trapping

2011-07-25T22:28:00.001-04:00

Since earlier this spring, we have been utilizing a set of motion-sensing cameras commonly referred to as "game cameras". The cameras are a very useful tool to capture images of wildlife that are typically difficult to observe for any number of reasons. By placing a camera in a location that wildlife are likely to frequent, we've been able to capture hundreds of images of a variety of animals at all hours of the day. The use of these cameras around the Sanctuary has been an enlightening and exciting project.

Deer posing nicely for the camera

Wild Turkey captured moving into frame

Raccoon sniffing around a well-used scent post

During the month of April, the cameras were deployed in four separate areas of the property to capture photos of the Sanctuary's deer population. From March 31 to May 13, we captured nearly 500 photos of various wildlife species, though the vast majority of the images contained deer. This collection of photos will be used to give us an idea of the relative abundance of deer on the property, and a means of evaluating the success (or failure) of our deer management efforts. We also have photographic evidence of other interesting creatures like coyote, fox, and bobcat.

Coyote

I'm still in the process of carefully documenting each of the approximately 500 images from the deer survey. While recording the contents of each image into a database file, I've come to realize that each photo must be examined very carefully. Sometimes a photo that looks "blank" actually has one or more animals hidden in plain sight. Here's a good example (click photos for larger images):

So how many deer do you see in the photo? Look closely! The answer is posted below.

And what about this photo? Do you recognize the animal in the lower center of the frame? Scroll down to see the answer revealed.

And here's one more. This was a really difficult one for me to figure out, so don't be ashamed if you can't locate the animal in this photo. It's left of center. What is it? The answer is revealed below.

We're currently using the cameras in hopes of capturing more photos of the bobcats and coyotes that live on or move through the Sanctuary. In September we'll re-deploy the cameras for a late summer survey of the deer population. We'll share more photos as they become available.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Photo answers (click photo for a larger image):

4 Deer in this photo! Did you see them all?

Grey Squirrel

Pileated Woodpecker. If you got it right, you deserve a pat on the back!

Westchester County Bobcat Update

2011-06-25T17:30:00.001-04:00

In February 2010, we posted a blog about Bobcats in Westchester, as well as an article in our membership newsletter, in an attempt to gather additional bobcat sightings from area residents. At that time, we had a total of 13 reported sightings between October 2005 and February 2010, the last of which was accompanied by some photographs from a homeowner in Armonk, NY.

Since that time, we have gathered an additional 26 reported sightings to bring our current total to 39 reported sightings since October 2005. The embedded map below shows all the places where a bobcat was observed and reported to us. The colors represent the year in which the sighting took place. Click on the pinpoints for additional information about each sighting.

View Westchester County Bobcat Sightings in a larger map

There are some interesting clusters of sightings that are beginning to develop in a few locations on the map. Obviously, the largest concentration of sightings comes from the Bedford/North Castle area where we are located. This is likely due to the fact that a number of people in our "neighborhood" are aware that we are interested in sightings and are more likely to report them. But there are other small clusters near Yorktown Heights, North Salem, and Lewisboro. Something that I find particularly interesting are the sightings in the southern portion of the county, including Greenburgh, Tarrytown, Valhalla, and the most recent report in Rye Brook.

So what does this information tell us? Well, I don't know just yet. There are a couple things that we've learned already: (1) Bobcats may not be as rare as we originally thought in Westchester, (2) Sightings are not limited to the northern (more rural) portion of Westchester, and (3) There are more new questions than there are new answers about how this animal lives in our area.

A lot more reported sightings (and photos and physical evidence) are needed to lead us toward some solid conclusions about where Westchester's bobcats prefer to live, what they prefer to eat, what size of a home range do they occupy, and approximately how many of them live around here. That's a lot of questions to answer about an animal that's difficult to observe and Westchester County is quite a large place.

For now, we're focusing further effort on learning how frequently bobcats utilize the habitat present at the southern end of the sanctuary. In April, while running a set of motion-activated cameras (i.e. game cameras) to study our deer population, we captured three photos of a bobcat on the same camera on the same day.

This is series of photos was more than a pleasant surprise. We had hoped for maybe one photo during the month the cameras were in use, but three photos in one day was great! And the third photo above caught the bobcat urinating (scent-marking) on the stone wall. Look closely (click on the photos to enlarge) and you'll notice the middle photo shows the end of the stone wall is dry, and the last photo shows it with a noticeable wet spot. And look who showed up later that day and took notice of the bobcat's calling card.

So the cameras are back out in the forest for the next couple of weeks, and we are hoping to capture some additional photos to gain an understanding of how frequently we can capture a bobcat on camera. This may shed some light on how often our preserve is being utilized by these interesting critters. If we have any additional photos after retrieving the cameras, we'll post everything right here.

In the mean time, if you observe a bobcat in the Westchester area, please report your sightings (with pictures/descriptions) via email to westsanc@optonline.net or call our office at (914)666-8448.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Earth Day Every Day

2011-05-31T13:22:00.002-04:00

Palm Warbler

Earth Day was just a few weeks ago, and Westmoreland staff were requested to conduct quite a few programs with the Earth Day theme. Most of these programs revolved around recycling or endangered species. Let’s face it, while all of us are required to recycle these days, how many of us actually recycle everything we can? With the new additions to what is recyclable in New York going into effect on June 1^st, recycling is easier than ever. It is one of the most important things we can do and one that is easy for kids to do, too.

When it comes to endangered species however we don’t really have a high profile one in our immediate area. Students hear all about elephants, whales and rhinos, but know little about the plight of New York's Bog Turtles, Piping Plovers and the Karner Blue Butterfly. All endangered species in New York are federally protected, but most don’t have the “wow” factor needed for the majority of people to turn them into poster animals for the cause. A sad fact, but a fact nonetheless.

So, I started to think about what I can do different this year to really make a positive impact. All the dazzling migratory birds stopping at Westmoreland also made me think of where a lot of them were coming from. The Yucatan Peninsula and other Central American spots where I don’t think they are required to recycle! The easiest way to help these birds and other non-migratory birds is to buy shade grown coffee.

Intern Candace Nicoletti about to release a Blue-winged Warbler

Coffee is actually a shade growing plant. For farmers, the problem with shade grown coffee plants is that is grows slower and therefore does not turn as quick a profit. Coffee plants grown in the sun grow faster and yield a quicker profit, but it has some serious drawbacks. It depletes the soil of nutrients very quickly and requires major pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. The worst problem with sun grown coffee is you have to cut down the forest habitat. A forest habitat that, once gone, is almost impossible to regain. The result is there are 94-97% fewer birds in sun grown plantations! Oh, did I forget to mention that sun grown coffee doesn’t taste as good as shade grown?

Nashville Warbler

Shade grown coffee does cost more than sun grown, but of course that is because it takes longer to grow. In the long run, shade grown is cheaper because you don’t have to cut down more forest and spend more on pesticides and herbicides. As usual, the problem comes down to quick profit vs. long term sustainable profit.

So to celebrate Earth Day every day, and invest in the survival of these really spectacular birds breeding and passing through Westmoreland, I am going to have another cup of shade grown coffee. Who knew saving the earth could taste so good?

River Otter at Westmoreland's Bechtel Lake

2011-05-23T15:25:00.001-04:00

River Otter

On the morning of April 22, I was out on the trails enjoying an early morning bird walk. The cold overnight temperatures lingered well into the morning hours despite the sunshine, and, as a result, the bird activity was a little stale. After reaching the north end of Bechtel Lake, the bird activity was still non-existent, but there was soon to be a surprise.

While standing near the beginning of the Wood Thrush trail, the sound of rustling leaves caught my attention. Expecting to see a squirrel, or possibly a chipmunk, emerging from the tangle of fallen timber, I hesitated to grab my binoculars. Out from under the fallen tree emerged an otter!

The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a small-medium sized mammal belonging to the weasel family. Similar in shape and proportion to the domesticated ferret, the otter is adept at moving across land and through water, though its short, slick fur, long, rudder-like tail, and webbed feet make it a more effective and efficient hunter in the water.

The otter I observed spent some time exploring the rock walls, the holes and cavities around the base of a few trees, and the shallow water along the shoreline before making a foray into the cool water of Bechtel Lake. After losing sight of the otter for a few minutes, it was spotted again at the opposite end of the lake near the dam. From the elevated vantage point of the Easy Loop trail, the otter was observed diving and surfacing like a snorkeling diver trying to get a better look at a reef.

Eventually, the otter made a mad dash toward the shore and ejected a large sunfish from its mouth. Quickly securing the sunfish with its front feet, the otter proceeded to consume its freshly caught breakfast. Starting at the tail, the otter used its well defined canine teeth and molars to chew through the fish’s scales, flesh, and bones. Within 6 minutes, the entire catch was chewed and swallowed with nothing more than a few scales left behind. Almost immediately after the final gulp, the otter returned to the water and quickly vanished. See the series of photos below.

Though long suspected to reside on the sanctuary property, it has been quite a while since the last time the staff or a visitor made a substantiated report or documented evidence of an otter at the sanctuary. Westmoreland’s director, Steve Ricker, believes that it has been nearly 12-15 years since the last time he saw an otter at Bechtel Lake. Let’s hope it’s not that long before the next time!

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Beginning to chow down on breakfast

Getting a good grip

Chewing the tail off

Rearranging the sunny in its mouth

Using the strong molars to chew on the fish

Using the molars on the other side now

Nearly finished, but there's a bit more chewing needed to swallow the head

One final bit of chewing before the last bit goes down the hatch

Turning back into the water

Guess they don't have to wait 15 minutes after eating before returning to the water?

A final glimpse before it disappeared back into the water

Hummingbird Feeders Up!

2011-04-07T17:40:00.000-04:00

Its that time of the year again. You know, when the air smells damp and slightly sweet. The sun's rays feel that much warmer when it peeks between rain showers in early April.

If you've had time to take a look around recently, you probably noticed that things are beginning to look a lot more green. And its not just your lawn. There's green returning to the forest.

It comes in various shades. Some of it is light green, like the leaves of skunk cabbage unfurling in our area's swamps and wetlands. And some of it is dark green, like the refreshing, new carpets of moss who thrive in this cool damp climate of spring.

But another shade of green is soon to make it to our area (sometimes accompanied by a tinge of red).

Its the Ruby-throated hummingbird of course. Despite is miniature size, this bundle of energy known as a bird is making its way back to our area from its wintering grounds. Central America is where these flying jewels have spent their winter. But now that spring has arrived in the States, the hummers are headed north.

The map above is from Hummingbirds.net. The sightings are submitted to the site owner who then pinpoints the location and generates this migration map each spring. Looking closely, you'll notice that hummingbirds have been reported in various locations around (but not yet in) southern NY, which means any of us in the Hudson Valley region could be spotting our first hummingbird of the year in a matter of days.

Want to be the first person in your area to see a hummingbird this spring? Well, you'll have to get your hummingbird feeders dusted off and fill up with nectar. Flowers are in short supply at this time of year, so a full hummingbird feeder is likely to keep a hummer's company until the flowers really begin to bloom later in the spring. Hummingbirds also visit sap wells drilled into maple, birch, and tulip trees by Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. Knowing where these fresh sap wells are located in your area (should you have a sapsucker around) would be a great advantage to being the first to spot a hummingbird as well.

For a little more about our area's Ruby-throated hummingbirds, check out these past blog posts about attracting hummingbirds and a hummingbird's nest.

Happy Spring!

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Wood Frogs in action

2011-03-18T00:24:00.001-04:00

This past week's rain storms, combined with Thursday's very mild temperatures, have brought about a flurry of breeding activity from a few of our area's local amphibians. One of the first species to begin their spring ritual is the Wood frog (Rana sylvatica).

Though the sight and sound of this species is typically overlooked because of their chosen breeding locations (woodland pools), now is the best time of year to catch a glimpse of dozens of these frogs inhabiting the shallow waters of our forest's woodland pools. Soon they will be laying eggs and then retreating back into the forest for the remainder of the year.

Below is a short video I recorded on Thursday, March 17 at the woodland pool located adjacent to the Wood Thrush trail here at Westmoreland. I hope you enjoy the video, but I really hope you'll get out to see these beautiful amphibians for yourself in a woodland pool near you.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Maple taps running strong

2011-03-02T21:23:00.005-05:00

On the afternoon of March 1st, I tapped 11 sugar maple trees around our nature museum and sugar house. The weather conditions were ideal for a great first run of sap - mid 40's, sunny, and clear skies.

Here's a quick video of one of the freshly tapped trees:

This bucket was completely full of sap by 1:30pm the following afternoon. If ideal conditions persist, we'll have a wonderful harvest this year.

During the coming weeks, we'll be converting the clear, sugary sap into sweet, sticky syrup. Stop by on March 5 at 11am or March 13 at 2pm to see one of our maple sugaring demonstrations!

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Sugar Time

2011-02-22T15:57:00.001-05:00

Its that time of year again...when the temperatures begin to slowly rise, and we're teased by alternating days of clear skies and 40+ degrees (Fahrenheit) and gray skies and snow showers. Mid-February and early March are difficult times for those of us so desperately looking forward to spring.

But around here, we've got enough to keep our minds and bodies busy until spring fully breaks. Around here we call it sugaring season.

Sugaring season begins very soon. In fact this coming weekend we'll begin tapping the first set of maple trees to harvest the clear, slightly sweet sap for maple syrup production. We don't make a lot of syrup (only 4-5 gallons per year), but its certainly enough to keep us busy.

Check out this post from last February for information about the process of making maple syrup. If you're interested in a little bit of coaching, consider joining us on Feb 26 at 1pm for an introduction to maple sugaring we call "Tapping the Sugarbush". We'll also be hosting a few maple sugaring demonstrations through the first two weeks of March - check out our calendar of events on our website for dates and times.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

2010 Deer Management Summary

2011-02-15T11:13:00.002-05:00

The 2010 NY state regular deer season in Westchester County ran from Oct 16-Dec 31. During this time, Westmoreland Sanctuary’s Deer Management Program (DMP) registered 16 individual hunters to harvest deer on the public and Wildlife Management portions of the Sanctuary. In 2009, 10 hunters participated on the public portion only on a limited trial basis.

The 2010 DMP was amended using some of the recommendations in the 2009 DMP summary and insight from other deer management programs, as well as input from our volunteer hunters and visitors. As a result, the Sanctuary was organized into “Management” zones and “No Hunting” zones. Visitation was permitted at all times during the deer management season, as opposed to the 2009 season in which we closed the Sanctuary for deer management activities. This plan was well received by both our volunteer hunters and the vast majority of visitors. Other major amendments are listed further in this report.

EFFORT
Hunting took place on a total of 52 days, which is thirty more days than during the 2009 season. The hours of effort of all individual hunters totaled 1126.5 hours over the 2010 season. This is a dramatic increase over the 267.75 hours accumulated during the 2009 season. A few reasons for this year’s increase in days hunted and total hours include:

1. Early organization and preparation of the 2010 DMP in advance of the NYS deer season opening date
2. Increased hunter access to the property during all days of the week
3. Increased hunter access by other points of entry to the property
4. Ability for hunters to participate as individuals as opposed to hunting as a group – increased flexibility within each hunter’s work/family schedule

The cumulative effort of individual hunters varied across a broad scale. The average hours of effort per hunter this season was about 70.5 hours. One hunter put in a total of nearly 179 hours over the course of the season, while another only contributed 8.75 hours of effort. A total of 7 (out of 16) hunters put in more hours of effort over the course of the season than the group average. The effort of individual hunters was not analyzed for the 2009 season.

The average daily effort by each hunter was 4.75 hours per day hunted. This is a slight increase from the 2009 average of 4.09 hours per day hunted. The maximum effort given in a single day by an individual hunter was 12.5 hours, which occurred on 5 occasions. The minimum effort given in a single day was 2 hours. Daily hours of effort generally decreased as the season progressed into December.

HARVEST RESULTS
The average number of deer observed by each hunter on each visit was 2.43, with a maximum of 14 deer observed on one occasion. The total number of deer harvested for the season (Oct 16-Dec 31) was 9, comprising 7 male and 2 female. Additionally, 2 deer (both does) were injured but not recovered this season. Hunting hours logged per deer harvested equals 125 hours, which is a slight decrease from 2009’s 133.88 hours per deer harvested. Unfortunately, this means it takes approximately 26 visits from our pool of hunters to harvest one deer.

Example: If each hunter hunts for the average of 4.75 hours a day, it would take 6.5 visits by any combination of 4 hunters to harvest one deer of either sex.

While the above analysis reflects the combined effort of the hunter pool, it is not a reflection of individual hunter effort or success. The five hunters who harvested one deer each this season recorded 179, 133, 75, 66, and 45 total hours, respectively. The one hunter who harvested a total of 4 deer accumulated only 88 total hours over the course of the season. That’s an average of 21.8 hours of effort per deer or one deer harvested every 4.5 visits by this hunter (based on the average daily effort of 4.75 hours per day).

Additional wildlife observations from the 2010 DMP were documented. In addition to the usual squirrels, chipmunks, turkey and the occasional Red-tailed hawk were sightings of Bobcat, Black bear, Coyote, Red fox, and Barred owl. The fox were seen on two occasions; all others were recorded only once during the season.

Coyote

Wild Turkey

DISCUSSION
2010 marked the first full season of deer management throughout the Westmoreland Sanctuary property. Additional hunter recruitment, increased access to the Sanctuary, and earlier preparation for the deer hunting season by the Sanctuary staff (updated DMP, neighborhood letter, signage, etc) contributed greatly to the increased level of effort by the hunter volunteers as compared to the 2009 trial season.

Despite the 4 fold increase in effort and more access to the Sanctuary property, the ratio of hours per deer harvested was essentially the same. On the bright side, four times the effort still yielded four times as many deer harvested (2 deer in 2009 vs. 9 deer in 2010). Moving forward, Sanctuary staff and hunter focus should be placed on increasing deer harvest independent of hunter effort to achieve management goals of a more ecologically sustainable deer herd.

Considerations for the 2011 DMP may include:
1. Additional hunters willing to put in hours throughout the entirety of the deer management season
2. Encouraging the existing pool of hunters to visit and scout the Sanctuary during the spring and summer months prior to the deer management season
3. Instituting hunter report cards to track the efforts of individual hunters and their commitment to the management program
4. Encouraging hunters to focus on and successfully harvest does (not bucks) to more effectively manage the sanctuary's deer herd
5. Require more diligence in reporting daily observation and harvest logs

Additional considerations will be forthcoming as the staff meets periodically with the hunter volunteers in advance of drafting the 2011 DMP.

In the coming months, the sanctuary staff will be conducting surveys to more accurately determine the approximate deer density, sex ratio (male : female), and recruitment ratio (births & immigration : deaths & emmigration) on the sanctuary property through a series of camera trap surveys.

For more information about our area's deer management issues please see the following resources:
1. Westchester Citizen's Task Force on White-tailed Deer and Forest Regeneration
2. Westchester County 2009 Pilot Adaptive Deer Management Program Report
3. White-tailed Deer in Greenburgh, Westchester County, NY
4. Managing White-tailed Deer in Forest Habitat From an Ecosystem Perspective

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Hudson Valley's Wintering Bald Eagles

2011-02-09T16:38:00.001-05:00

Bald Eagle photographed at the New Croton Dam during EagleFest 2010

This winter we have received a number of phone calls in the office regarding Bald Eagles. Typically the conversation begins with the caller describing a large bird that they're certain was an eagle. Eventually they ask, "Is it possible to see eagles around here?" And often to their surprise, our answer is, "Yes!"

The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was once threatened with extinction in the lower 48 states due to DDT poisoning. Protection provided by the Endangered Species Act and reintroduction efforts eventually resulted in the species' removal from the endangered species list. In NY, the DEC documented 173 breeding pairs of Bald Eagles across the state in 2010. 139 of these pairs successfully fledged a total of 244 young eagles. This is a result that very few could have foreseen in 1976 when the NYSDEC began its Bald Eagle Restoration Project.

Today's wintering Bald Eagle numbers in the Hudson Valley continue to climb as well. Each winter dozens of our nation's symbol spend the winter in the vicinity of the lower Hudson Valley. Monitoring of the roosting locations of these birds in Westchester County by the Bedford Audubon Society (BAS) has shown consistent increases in winter eagle numbers. During the 2009 survey period, BAS volunteers documented a peak abundance of 139 eagles within the study area. Compare that to the 2008 peak abundance of 84 eagles and that's an increase of 65%! BAS is currently conducting surveys this winter at various locations along the Hudson River and New Croton Reservoir. If you're interested in participating, you can contact Tait Johansson, BAS naturalist, at tjohansson@bedfordaudubon.org.

If you would like to view eagles at your leisure this winter, there are a couple of very good locations to do so. The Google Map below shows just a few of the best locations to view eagles in our area during the winter months. Click on the map locations for a description of the area and what/where to look. Use the Google options to get directions to these areas from your location.

View Eagle Viewing Locations in a larger map

The best time to view eagles in peak activity are morning hours (7-9am) and late afternoon hours (4-5pm), but you're likely to see eagles at these locations at any time of the day with just a very short visit. If I had to pick one location to send you to, I would go to George's Island. I've had great views of both adult and immature eagles each time I've visited this winter. There are usually a number of other bird species (various duck species, Common mergansers, Mute swans, etc) to view in that location as well.

So I hope you'll take a short trip to the Hudson River to view an eagle or two this winter. But don't wait too long! These birds will only be around in such large concentrations through the end of February. Seize the opportunity now and you'll certainly be rewarded.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

2010 Christmas Bird Count summary

2010-12-27T13:36:00.000-05:00

The 2010 edition of the Greenwich-Stamford CBC was held on December 19. Weather conditions were generally favorable for a full day of birding as well as locating bundles of birds throughout our count area (see below). Director Steve, CBC volunteer Arthur and I spent about 9-1/2 hours scouring a variety of habitats in search of as many birds as possible in an effort to census this winter's bird populations. For anyone not familiar with the CBC, there's a wealth of background information here, and info about the Greenwich-Stamford CBC here.

View Greenwich-Stamford CBC Area A (north) in a larger map

At 7am, Arthur and I began our day at the Eugene and Agnes Meyer Preserve on Sarles St. While we walked the forests and fields there, Steve was busy tallying species and individuals on the Westmoreland Sanctuary WMA. Later in the morning Arthur and I tallied a variety of birds on and around the Byram Lake reservoir, Merestead, and Baldwin Road.

Lunch time found the three of us counting birds at the Westmoreland Sanctuary feeding station in the warmth of the museum. Soon thereafter, we all spent the remainder of the afternoon counting birds at neighborhood bird feeders, small pockets of roadside habitat, and any bit of open water we could find. When all was done at 5pm, we tallied a total of 45 species.

Our species are as follows:

Ruddy Duck

Canda Goose, Wood Duck*, American Black Duck (HC), Mallard, Ring-necked Duck (HC), Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck*, Great Blue Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture (HC), Northern Harrier*, Red-tailed Hawk, Ring-billed Gull (HC), Herring Gull, Mourning Dove, Great Horned Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker (HC), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (HC), Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Jay (HC), American Crow, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse (HC), White-breasted Nuthatch (HC), Brown Creeper, Carolina Wren (HC), Winter Wren (HC), Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Field Sparrow, Fox Sparrow (HC), Song Sparrow (HC), White-throated Sparrow (HC), Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal (HC), House Finch (HC), American Goldfinch, House Sparrow

Species with an * indicate a new species for our count, HC indicates high count of individuals for our count.

While we were disappointed to have missed a few species we typically find in our count area (Wild Turkey and American Tree Sparrow) we did add 3 new species we've not tallied before. High counts were recorded for 16 species this year, an exciting feat and a good reflection of decent conditions during the count and possible indications of a great breeding season for these birds last spring.

All in all, it was a great day topped off with a delicious potluck dinner at the Greenwich Audubon Center.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Happy Holidays

2010-12-23T16:45:00.001-05:00

Catching Up

2010-11-28T11:05:00.000-05:00

Its been a long time since the last blog post. The lack of blogging has nothing to do with interest and everything to do with time. Honestly, I didn't realize that the last post was way back in late September! The time just flew by.

There's been a lot of interesting things going on around here over the past few months:

The Fall Festival was a pretty good success. Thanks to a nice day of weather, this was the first time in 3 years we were able to execute a full festival format.
Our Breakfast with the Hawks programs co-sponsored with the Bedford Audubon Society brought a lot of new people to the hawk watch this fall to witness hawk migration in person. Not only were there numerous raptors for us to feast our eyes (and binos) on, but we also shared an assortment of coffee and breakfast goodies like muffins, bagels, and donuts thanks to generous contributions from both organizations and Wild Birds Unlimited in Bedford Hills, NY. To see this season's hawkwatching results, visit the Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch site online here.
Bird banding was a rewarding endeavor this fall. Not only did we have the opportunity to share our passion for birds with a great number of people, but we were able to show how this important project works with "behind the scenes" tours. Visitors were given the unique opportunity to see the various birds up close and in a way many people never get to see a bird - in the hand. For us, bird banding is equal parts research, education, and inspiration.
A new, improved Westmoreland Sanctuary website was launched this fall as well. Many hours of color coordinating, idea organizing, format changing, and photo editing turned into the website we have today. We are still fine-tuning certain elements and adding additional features to the site, but its up and running for all the (Internet) world to see. If you haven't been there yet, check it out.

We were visited intermittently by a Black bear this fall. The big guy came and went every so often. His presence was usually noticed the day after his visits when we found our bird feeders strewn about and bluebird house posts bent all the way to the ground. Eventually we captured images of some foot prints and scat. Long story short...he was captured and carried away by the NYS DEC in late October. See a video about the captured bear at AllAboutArmonk.com.
We recently put the Cottage Garden to rest until spring. All the shrubs are firmly planted and mulched for the coming winter. A number of the perennials have been relocated to various areas of the garden in anticipation of next spring. All of this wouldn't have been possible without the tireless efforts of our garden guru Margi. We're very thankful for all her work.
And speaking of volunteer work, we now have a beautiful (and sturdy) fire box for our maple sugaring activities. Our volunteer mason, Quentin, donated many hours of his time this fall to complete this difficult project.

In the midst of all this activity, we have managed to squeeze in a few educational programs for our local school groups, Boy/Girl scout troops, and the general public. Since October 1st, we have reached over 1,950 people with our educational programs. And there's plenty more to come!

So that's all for now. I hope you feel like you've been caught up with what's been happening around here lately. We'll be blogging with you again soon.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Westchester County Coyotes

2010-09-27T08:00:00.007-04:00

The Westchester County Parks Conservation Cafe lecture series recently presented a program entitled Coyotes in Suburbia. This program and the high volume of attendees was no doubt the result of a summer punctuated with coyote-human interactions in and around the Rye, NY area.

For anyone not familiar with this summer's events, here's what happened:
June 25, 2010: A six-year old child was bit on the shoulder and back by one of two coyotes seen in her family's backyard in Rye, NY.
June 29, 2010: A three-year old child was bit on her torso by a single coyote in her backyard in Rye, NY. The incident happened only a mile from the previous one.
September 5, 2010: A teenager was lunged at but unharmed by a coyote at 6:50pm and a two-year old girl and her father were bitten by a coyote at 8pm the same evening a short distance away. Both incidents took place in Rye Brook, NY. The suspected coyote was ultimately put down and tests revealed it to be rabid.

In the wake of these events, a number of municipalities instituted trapping programs aimed at capturing and euthanizing coyotes. The trapping projects were also aimed at "hazing" the local coyote populations to make them more fearful and cautious of humans. In addition, local police were authorized to shoot coyotes whenever safely possible and local residents were given a number of guidelines and directions in regards to how to scare coyotes when an encounter occurs.

So all of this leads us to the Coyotes in Suburbia lecture held on Friday, September 24. Three individuals involved in various research projects involving Eastern Coyotes presented their research on the species' genetics, behavior, and ecology.

Dr. Roland Kays of the New York State Museum presented "New York's Coyote/Coydog/Coywolf: What is it and how did it get here?". His presentation covered the historical perspective of how the Eastern Coyote came to live throughout the Northeastern United States.

In summary, Dr. Kays revealed the historical extirpation of various predator species (wolves, mountain lions, etc) from eastern forests as colonization expanded west. In the early 1900's, land use, laws and perspectives on the value of wildlife, predators included, began to change and numerous wildlife species populations rebounded to reinhabit eastern forests. Unfortunately, many predator populations were so ravaged that there was no chance of their species making a comeback, especially wolves.

Dr. Kays explained that the gap in the food web was slowly replaced over time by the advance of two coyote populations moving east: one from Ohio and one from north of the Great Lakes. Because of the lack of fossil evidence indicating the historical presence of coyotes in the Northeastern US, it was along these two "invasion" fronts that the coyote systematically colonized New York and the remainder of New England. Dr. Kays' genetic studies also showed that Eastern Coyotes have low genetic diversity compared to Western and Ohio Coyotes. This "founder effect" is strong evidence for the "invasion" theory. The genetic mixing of Eastern and Ohio Coyote populations currently taking place in western NY/PA further supports this theory.

Dr. Kays' mitochondrial DNA studies indicate that Eastern Coyotes share a small portion of DNA similarity with Great Lakes wolf populations. The coyote-wolf hybridization likely occurred as the Great Lakes coyotes traveled east through portions of the Great Lakes wolf population. This supports the morphological studies comparing the skull sizes of Western, Ohio, and Eastern Coyotes. On average, Eastern Coyotes' skulls are longer and wider than those of the Western and Ohio populations.

After Dr. Kays' presentation, Mark Weckel of the Mianus River Gorge presented some of the research he and a high school research associate completed titled "Mapping Human-Coyote Interaction in Westchester, NY". Their project consisted of soliciting surveys to families throughout Westchester County, NY requesting information about coyote sightings on their property. Using over 1,500 returned surveys, Mr. Weckel was able to assemble a map of the county that indicated the likelihood of encountering (i.e. seeing or hearing) a coyote. Statistical analysis of the data showed that the survey data and associated map predicted the likelihood of a coyote encounter with a great deal of certainty.

Not coincidentally, the data indicated that a person's probability of an encounter increased with closer proximity to forest and grassland habitats and with increased distance from urban areas. Mr. Weckel expressed that this isn't a shocking revelation, but it also indicates how unlikely it is for individuals to encounter a coyote in an urban/suburban environment. This makes the unfortunate incidents in Rye and Rye Brook all the more extraordinary. Further study is being conducted on urban/suburban coyote populations in the greater NY city area to continue to shed light on how coyotes use these human populated areas.

Finally, Dan Bogan, a doctoral candidate at Cornell University, presented some of the research he conducted as field research leader of the New York Urban/Suburban Coyote Study. This NYSDEC-funded project was carried out in two northern Westchester and two southern Westchester municipalities.

Over the course of the project, a number of coyotes were trapped, radio-collared, and released so they could be tracked and recorded. This was done to gain insight into how coyotes were establishing and utilizing home ranges within the study area. While a number of the coyotes Mr. Bogan collared either emigrated far from the study area, died, or were "lost", the individuals that were studied extensively showed that they favored natural areas within the four municipalities and generally avoided areas considered urban/suburban.

Mr. Bogan's research into the dietary components of coyotes during the study revealed that the vast majority of urban/suburban coyotes diets included a heavy portion of white-tailed deer, rabbits, and a variety of other mammal species, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and plant matter. There was no indication of coyotes utilizing human sources of food (i.e. garbage), and only on the rare occasion did they discover feline hair, bird seed, or strange items like latex and leather. Bogan sighted the sample size as limited, but felt confident with the initial implications that coyotes are not extraordinarily habituated to humans or reliant upon human-generated sources of food.

At the end of a lively Q&A session, the morning's three presenters and DEC biologist Kevin Clarke generally came to the same conclusion: Coyotes are here, they're living in suburbia, and we will need to learn to live with them.

As the lead DEC official responding to this summer's coyote incidents in Rye and Rye Brook, Mr. Clarke vehemently expressed that county residents must be proactive about avoiding negative coyote interactions. He implored folks to eliminate/modify their behaviors and features of their landscape which are likely to increase the chance of a negative coyote interaction. Here are the NYDEC's tips on avoiding conflicts with coyotes.

And finally, I'd like to add that the coyote, and the remainder of the wildlife in our region, are a sign of our area's ecological strength. As many of us visit parks, preserves and nature sanctuaries, its important that we remember that our suburban homes and neighborhoods are extensions of these wild places. Wildlife species do not recognize park boundaries and we all inhabit the same place.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

27th Annual Fall Festival

2010-09-21T22:02:00.003-04:00

Westmoreland Sanctuary's 27th Annual Fall Festival will take place on Sunday, September 26, 2010 from 11am to 4pm.

During the day, there will be plenty of fun, family-oriented activities to enjoy. Westmoreland Sanctuary staff will present 4 educational programs for guests to enjoy at different times during the day. The program schedule is as follows:

Bird Banding

11:00am - Bird Banding Demonstration
     Show up early to view wild song birds in the hand of one of our naturalists. Each bird will be carefully banded with an aluminum bracelet containing a serial number. After data collection, each bird is released unharmed. Each bird contributes vital information used for species and habitat conservation.

12:30pm - Animal Track Casting
     Make a plaster cast of an animal track with our staff. Track casts are 3D replicas of an animal's actual footprint. Participants may take their cast home after it cures and is removed from the latex mold. Due to limited casting materials, this program is first come-first served.

2:00pm - Live Animal Show
     Interact with many of the live animals that reside in the Westmoreland Sanctuary nature museum. We have an assortment of insect, reptile, bird and mammal friends that we'll introduce to our audience. Much of the program is hands-on so that participants are given an opportunity to touch various creatures. Its fun and educational.

Milk Snake

3:30pm - Snake Search and Nature Hike Finish your festival experience by joining this hike in search of the wild serpents residing within the sanctuary. We'll visit the "snake boards" in hopes of viewing Garter, Milk, and/or Ring-necked snakes. The remainder of the walk will include a guided tour of some of the many trails and assorted habitats found within the sanctuary.

In addition to our educational programming, there will be a barnyard petting zoo and pony rides from Pied Piper Pony Rides, games, crafts, and food.

Entrance fees to the Fall Festival and Sanctuary grounds are as follows:

Face Painting

$3 for children 3-12 years old, $5 for adults (members), $6 for adults (non-members), and $3 for senior citizens.

Parking will be available on Chestnut Ridge Road. Chestnut Ridge Road will be one-way only and will only be accessible from Route 172 (South Bedford Road) at the request of the Bedford Highway Dept and Police Dept. Please follow all posted signs and Bedford Police directions in regards to parking and navigating Chestnut Ridge Road during the festival.

We hope to see you on Sunday, September 26!

Hawkwatch video

2010-08-31T22:54:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday, August 25, the Bedford Patch covered our hawkwatch program with Westmoreland's Director Steve Ricker!

Please check out the video (below) and accompanying article here:

Please join us at the next hawkwatching program scheduled for September 19 at 8am. Remember to bring your binoculars and a coffee cup!

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Pollination

2010-08-19T22:14:00.000-04:00

From full, luscious gardens to cheerful planters to agricultural fields, flowering plants are used to brighten our landscape, lighten our spirits, and provide a bounty of food. As the foundation of every food web, plant life is an essential component of many organism's diet, humans included.

Some of our most beloved fruits and vegetables and most important varieties of wildlife foods are created by flowering plants thanks to the miracle of pollination. Pollination is generally referred to as the process in which pollen is transferred in plants, enabling fertilization and reproduction[1]. This process is important in flowering plants because pollen contains the male reproductive material of the plant. Without the transfer of pollen, the vast majority of flowering plants are incapable of reproduction.

There are a few different ways in which pollen is effectively transferred between plants: with animal assistance and without animal assistance. Of all the flowering plants, only 10% of them are pollinated without animal assistance[1]. The most common method of achieving pollination within this group is with the aid of the wind, though a few plants use the assistance of water.

Wind-assisted plants tend to produce copious amounts of lightweight pollen grains from clusters of generally unattractive-looking flowers. The high volume of pollen disbursed into the air helps to ensure that the pollen grains land upon the female portion of the plant. Unfortunately for many humans, we often succumb to the symptoms of hay fever during periods of the year when wind-pollinated plants reach their reproductive peak. Spring allergy sufferers are generally agitated by tree species like conifers, oak, and birch, as well as grasses. In the fall, ragweed and other common, but inconspicuous, weed species distribute their pollen on the wind.

The bulk of flowering plants are pollinated with the assistance of animals. There are about 200,000 varieties of animal pollinators in the world[1]. Most are insects, but others include various species of birds and bats.

Animal-assisted plants generally produce heavy, sticky, protein-rich pollen grains[2]. The flowers of plants utilizing animal assistance are often shaped to accomodate easy access by the pollinator, and there is often a lure, such as scent or the presence of nectar, which helps attract the pollinator. Sometimes, the pollen alone can be the attractant for species interested in consuming the plant pollen. In any manner, the animal visits flower after flower to collect its reward while inadvertantly moving pollen from one place to another.

In late summer, there's a plethora of flowers now in full bloom in our gardens. Here's a look at who's been pollinating our flowers:

Bees and Butterflies

Wasps

Sweat Bees

Yellowjackets

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist
References:
1. http://www.bing.com/reference/semhtml/?title=Pollination&fwd=1&src=abop&q=pollination&qpvt=pollination
2. http://www.bing.com/reference/semhtml/Pollen?qpvt=pollen&q=pollen&FORM=O1FD

Emerald Ash Borer Alert!

2010-07-23T17:42:00.002-04:00

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has announced two new invasion sites of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) on private properties in Bath, NY (Steuben County) and Saugerties, NY (Ulster County). These two locations are in addition to the original detection site in the town of Randolph, NY (Cattaraugus County) found in June 2009.

Marianne Prue, Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Division of Forestry, Bugwood.org

The Steuben County location was discovered on July 12, 2010 and the Ulster County location on July 15, 2010. Both sites have been monitored consistently by NYSDEC and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), respectively, since the initial NY invasion in June 2009. The EAB is monitored by the use of nearly 7,500 EAB purple traps hoisted into ash trees in various high-risk locations. In the lastest discovery, one EAB was located in a single trap in each location.

Map showing EAB has been found in Cattaraugus, Steuben, Livingston, Monroe, Genesee, Ulster and Greene Counties.

In the NYSDEC press release, DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis is quoted:

"DEC, the landowners, and our federal, state and local partners will work closely to study the extent of EAB's presence in the newly-confirmed area and take the appropriate steps to protect the state's ash resources. We have reason to believe that the movement of EAB to these new areas was due to the movement of firewood, and as summer is now in full swing, we again remind campers throughout the state that they too can help prevent the spread of harmful invasives by not hauling firewood to campgrounds and instead buying firewood locally."

The press release goes on to say:

"Since its discovery in southeastern Michigan in 2002, the EAB is responsible for the death and decline of tens of millions of ash trees in the U.S. Today the beetle has been detected in 14 states and two neighboring Canadian provinces. The primary way this insect spreads is when firewood and wood products are moved from one place to another. Many of New York State's forests and parklands are high-risk areas due to firewood movement."

This is a very pressing matter and an issue more of the public needs to take note of, even here in southern NY. The majority of the Hudson Valley is forested, and the spread of this little insect puts many of our natural resources and wild places at risk of severe degradation. The Saugerties location is a mere 80 miles from Westmoreland's location near Mt.Kisco, NY.

To read the entire press release, for more information about the EAB invasion, and to learn how you can help in the detection and prevention of this harmful forest pest, please click on any of the above links.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Hummingbird Nest

2010-07-10T12:27:00.000-04:00

This summer there are at least 3 Ruby-throated hummingbirds (two female and one male) frequently visiting the gardens and nectar feeders around the museum and naturalist's cottage. Its always a joy to watch these tiniest of birds zipping through the air visiting flower after flower, taking sips from the nectar feeders, and chasing each other around during a territorial dispute. Despite all the collective hours spent casually observing these winged wonders, one aspect of their life has always remained a mystery to us. Where do they build their nest?

Having a keen interest in birds and unprecedented time/access to a wonderful place like Westmoreland, I've been lucky enough to observe an assortment of rarely seen wildlife and animal behavior. One of the most difficult things to do during spring/summer is to locate the secretive locations of bird's nests. I've witnessed chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and woodpeckers excavating nesting cavities in trees. I've seen plenty of birds nesting in the many nesting boxes around the sanctuary, including chickadees, House wrens, bluebirds, Tree swallows, and Wood ducks. I've even been fortunate enough to find active nests of phoebes, pewees, orioles, vireos, Blue Jays, Great-crested flycatchers, Mallards, and Yellow warblers. Unfortunately, the hummingbirds so common in the summer garden have proven far more difficult to observe at the nest...until now.

The lichen covered bump in the above photo is the nest of a Ruby-throated hummingbird. Its about 2-inches wide and about half as deep. The majority of the nest is comprised of plant down and spider's web (AllAboutBirds.org) while the exterior is decorated with patches of lichen as you can see in the photo. I have no knowledge as to what may be inside (eggs or young), but I know that it is an active nest. The female actively defends the nest when other birds get too close, which is what led me to accidentally find it.

While I was observing a small group of chickadees and titmice foraging in a nearby tree, I suddenly noticed a hummer appear from nowhere to whack a titmouse with the full force of her tiny little body. After the titmouse retreated, I observed her flying back and settling on top of the nest. Prior to the sudden attack, I (and likely the titmouse) had no idea the nest was even there. What luck!

As you can see above, the female has settled onto the nest. I'll keep visiting during the coming days/weeks to continue to observe the little bird's nesting progress. If all goes well, we'll likely see 2-3 fledgling hummers visiting the garden and nectar feeders in the weeks to come.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Cottage Garden...Progress Report

2010-07-06T11:06:00.001-04:00

A few weeks back, I wrote about the new landscape plan designed for the front of the Naturalist's Cottage. Since that time, we've made a few minor changes to the layout and narrowed down our plant selections based on color, bloom time, and growth habit. As it stands now, the landscape plan looks like this:

After a couple weeks of being on hold (due to our busy educational programming schedule), I finally started to plot out the location of the fence posts and began to dig holes. Lots of holes. 33 to be exact. And after a lot of sweat equity, the posts were in place and the "deer" fence went up.

The next step involved removing all of the existing fencing from around the various plant beds - split rail around the pond garden, picket fence in front of the cottage, and various installations of plastic fencing to fend off deer browse.

This past Thursday, Margi (our excellent landscape designer) marked the layout of the new planting beds and path as shown in the landscape plan above. The following day, I was able to rent a sod cutter in town to remove the large quantity of grass that existed within the planting beds. In just a few hours time, I was able to cut and roll all of the unwanted sod. As the photos illustrate, the new landscape is begining to take shape.

The above photos were taken from the roof of the Naturalist's Cottage on July 3. Since then, all the sod has been carted off the site and I've started to cover the bare soil with a layer of wood chips to conserve soil moisture and prepare the beds for planting.

As it stands now, we have a number of shrubs to begin planting once the weather breaks a bit. Specimens we're currently prepared to plant include 10 inkberry, 4 highbush blueberry, 3 summersweet clethra, 3 fothergilla, 1 smooth witherrod, 1 oakleaf hydrangea, and 1 blue hydrangea. For complete list of the plants we intend to use, click on the Cottage Garden Project tab above.

If you are at all interested in this project, feel free to stop by the sanctuary and see it for yourself. If you'd like to help us complete the project, contact the sanctuary office and let us know how you'd like to help. We can use some helping hands (i.e. spreading wood chips, planting, transplanting, etc), plant donations (nursery stock or your garden transplants), or a monetary donation. Donations of funds and supplies are tax deductible!

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

What's the Scariest Thing in the Forest?

2010-06-22T19:11:00.003-04:00

I commonly start a nature hike by asking the participants this question. The answers range from wolves, bears, snakes, etc. Take a look at the picture below and you will see what I consider the thing to most avoid on any walk in the woods, backyard, and schoolyard.

Well, do you see it? No, not the black and white furry thing. That is inconsequential. We will probably discuss he/she at a later date. The scary thing is the plant he is walking through. Poison Ivy!

There is a ton of confusion and falsehoods when it comes to this native plant. It has red and shiny leaves is a common misnomer. Or, "I have never gotten poison ivy, just poison oak".

Let's try to clear all this up. First, poison ivy grows east of the Rockies. Poison oak grows in the Western United States. Poison sumac is a small tree that almost always grows in swampy water, so it would be highly unusual for a person to come in contact with it. Second, poison ivy is a vine that can grow along the ground, up trees and fences, and occasionally will grow in a bush form. Third, poison ivy leaves are not usually shiny and red. This occurs when the leaves are first emerging in the spring. Very soon they become green and not shiny like most of the other plants. The plant leaves will turn a beautiful bright red in the fall just before they fall off. For most of the growing season the leaves are green with no shine.

On the right is a picture of our friend walking amongst some poison ivy and another plant that is commonly confused with poison ivy. Mnemonic rhymes are very helpful when it comes to remembering things like how to identify poison ivy. The best ones are "leaves of three, let it be", and "hairy vine, no friend of mine". The poison ivy is above Mr. Stinky's head and back. The plant in the foreground has five leaflets and is virginia creeper. It is the only harmless thing to touch in the picture!

On the left is a picture of the aerial rootlets or "hairs" that are key in identifying the plant in winter. I can't tell you how many times I have seen these hairy vines growing up the fences or trees around playgrounds and peoples homes.
What happens when someone comes in contact with poison ivy? Take a look at my arm below. I am highly allergic to the urushiol oil that is found in all parts of the plant. This case is probably from hugging my dog, who constantly runs around the edge of my yard where poison ivy can commonly be found.

There are studies that predict poison ivy is becoming increasingly prolific as a result of global warming and climate change. Its urushiol oil is becoming more potent and growth more robust.

So, lets have a final test to see if you can identify poison ivy and stay away from it. Here is a picture of Mr. Stinky amongst more poison ivy, virginia creeper, and various other green nondescripts. Can't pick it out? Well, the other most important thing to remember when hiking is to stay on the trail. Especially if you are wearing shorts!

Mr. Stinky says, Thanks for visiting the Westmoreland Sanctuary Blog! Come back soon.

Stephen Ricker-Director

Injured, Orphaned, or OK?

2010-06-21T07:59:00.006-04:00

Each spring our phone rings with a local resident wanting to know what to do with a baby bird or a lonely deer fawn found in the corner of their lawn. These phone calls are pretty common for us, but the experience for the caller is always new, and the welfare of the wildlife species they've found is usually uncertain. Without being present, it is difficult for us to assess whether the animal really needs someone's assistance, or perhaps it might be best left alone.

So what do you do if you find a young wildlife species? Its important to determine if the animal might be injured, orphaned, or OK. A fledgling bird, a young squirrel, or an "abandoned" fawn may not really need our help. They may simply be struggling to learn how to use their newly formed and awkward bodies as they explore the great big world around them. Here are a few things to consider when determining if a young animal may be injured or orphaned:

If you have to chase it, it doesn't need your help.
A fawn curled up in the lawn is not abandoned but left alone for short periods of time so the mother may forage to maintain her strength between bouts of nursing.
A young bird that is fully feathered and hopping on the ground or clambering in the bushes is likely a fledgling, not an orphan.
Many small mammals like rabbits and raccoons nurse their young for short periods of time, but then leave the nest to avoid attracting attention from predators.

Please seek help from a wildlife rehabilitator, local veterinarian, or nature center if you see the following:

An animal brought home by your pet cat or dog.
Signs of bleeding or other trauma.
Shivering.
A featherless or nearly-featherless bird on the ground.
Evidence of a dead parent nearby.

For more information about how to assess the need for help of young or injured wildlife, please visit http://www.animal-link.org/ or the NYS DEC. These informative websites have resources about how to deal with potentially injured or ophaned wildlife, what to do if help is needed, and how to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. And at all times, please consider you and your family's health and well-being before attempting to rescue injured or abandoned wildlife. Though you have good intentions, wild animals usually don't know they are being helped or rescued and may react aggressively regardless if they are healthy or truely injured/abandoned. When in doubt, please remember this saying: "If you care...leave them there."

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Attracting Hummingbirds

2010-06-17T07:45:00.004-04:00

Wish you could see a hummingbird in your yard? Check out this post from last summer, which describes a bit of the life history and food preferences of these magical little birds. A few carefully selected flowers and a hummingbird feeder will go a long way in attracting our region's Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Woodboring Beetle

2010-06-14T01:36:00.001-04:00

I found this woodboring beetle recently near the Naturalist's cottage. This creature is a Dicerca sp. beetle belonging to Family Buprestidae, which includes at least 134 species in North America according to the Kaufmann Field Guide to Insects of North America. Beetles belonging to Genus Dicerca generally breed in decaying hardwood trees according to BugGuide.net.

With all the storm-damaged trees lingering throughout the forests of our area (thanks to winter and spring storms), we're likely to encounter a number of these types of beetles this summer. If you find an insect and are unsure of its identity, snap a picture and match it with the many submitted and identified pictures at BugGuide.net. If all else fails, you can submit your photo with an ID request on the site, or send us the photo and perhaps we'll have a clue as to which variety of insect you've found. Be sure to include an object (coin, pencil eraser, etc) in the photo that lends a clue to the insect's size. The grid paper in my photo indicates increments of 1/4th of an inch. You can find our email address by clicking our website link to the right.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Native Plants, Native Animals

2010-05-27T10:01:00.001-04:00

Throughout history, mankind has dominated nature and shaped the landscape to suit its needs. Forests were cleared, wetlands were drained and grasslands were altered in order to plant crops and carve out living areas for ourselves. As technology and human ingenuity has progressed, the pace at which our natural areas are converted to suburban landscapes has greatly increased.

Islands of suitable habitat, like Westmoreland Sanctuary, have been left behind. In the past, these islands were of substantial size and capable of supporting a large array of plant and wildlife species. But now these islands are relatively miniature in size and largely incapable of sustaining stable populations of organisms for very long. So looking into the future, where are our wildlife species supposed to live?

In "Bringing Nature Home" by Douglas W. Tallamy, the answer is right in our backyard. Actually, Mr. Tallamy declares it is our backyard. In our suburban environment, the one we have altered so greatly, he believes we have the ability to reshape the landscape once again. What are now overly simplified, fragmented, and disjointed remnants of habitat could be landscapes which are livable for us and our wildlife. We only need to make the choice to include native plants which sustain the wildlife species of our area.

North America’s native fauna have become compatible with native flora thanks to a millennia of evolutionary adaptation. The presence and abundance of non-native, ornamental vegetation in our yards and natural areas is contributing to the degradation of wildlife habitat. The plant-animal interactions necessary to maintain the integrity of an ecosystem are not possible in an area dominated by non-native vegetation. According to Mr. Tallamy, this is why is we need to reanalyze how we select plants for our suburban landscapes.

In the coming months, Westmoreland Sanctuary will be offering an example of how homeowners can aesthetically design their properties and provide beneficial plants which provide critical elements of habitat so sorely needed: food, shelter, and places to raise young. Our landscape design has been developed with the generous aid of Margi Corsello. She has carefully created a plan for the front of the Naturalist’s Cottage which will be a visual upgrade to the current garden arrangement and serve as a tangible example of wildlife-friendly landscape design for area homeowners and landscapers.

While the project is still in its infancy, we would like to encourage anyone who may be interested to come by and have a look at the progress that is being made this summer and into the fall. Anyone interested in helping us complete this project are also asked to stop by and speak with the sanctuary staff. There are a number of ways to be involved. We can certainly use help with the installation of hardscaping, planting, transplanting, etc. We would also welcome the donation of native perennials, shrubs, and trees – either transplants or nursery stock – and monetary donations towards the completion of the project would also be greatly appreciated. Please call the office (914-666-8448) or send email (westsanc@optonline.net) for a complete list of plants needed to fill the landscape plan and to learn more about the project.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

In Case You Missed It

2010-05-10T07:25:00.000-04:00

Spring has been progressing quickly over the past few weeks. Every day presents a new suprise to be discovered. Hopefully you've had the opportunity to soak it all in. If not, I have a few photos that may allow you to capture the moment once again. Enjoy.

Dutchman's-breetches blooming and mixed with the foliage of Wild Leeks

Blooms of Red Trillium nodding in a gentle spring breeze

Sprigs of Soloman's Seal unfurling on the forest floor

Cheerful flowers of Spring Beauty soaking in the sunlight before the forest canopy cloaks it in shade

Christmas fern fiddleheads sprouting from the leaf litter all across the sanctuary

Mourning Cloak butterflies alighting in the spring sun after a long winter hibernation

Eastern Phoebes collecting nesting material and constructing this year's version of home in the shelter at Bechtel Lake

Palm Warblers hovering, diving, and flitting from branch to branch in search of tiny, tasty insects during their spring migration

There is still plenty of time to enjoy the spring season, but don't put it off for too long. Things change rapidly at this time of year. You don't want to miss something, do you?

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

International Migratory Bird Day

2010-05-07T07:17:00.001-04:00

International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) is celebrated in North America on the second Saturday in May. This event, beginning in the early 1990's, is aimed at celebrating and creating public awareness of the phenomenon known as bird migration.

Each spring, many of the birds that fill our forests and fields with volumes of bird song make a lengthy and dangerous journey from their wintering grounds to their breeding grounds throughout the North American continent. Each bird's journey is perilous and full of potential pitfalls, both natural and man-made. IMBD is a way of celebrating this annual rite of spring and creating awareness of the special conservation efforts needed to protect these beloved creatures.

If you are free this weekend, I encourage you to join an IMBD celebration somewhere near you. For those of us in Westchester County, NY, their will be an all day celebration being held at the Greenwich Audubon Center. Click here for all the information. For others all around the country, try the Bird Day Explorer Map to find an IMBD event near you. I'm heading to Ohio and the shores of Lake Erie to celebrate IMBD with friends at the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area and the Biggest Week in American Birding. If all else fails, just spend some time outdoors with pair of binoculars and your ears tuned to sounds of bird song.

If you need more encouragement, take a look at the following images and allow the subjects to inspire you to wander outside.

Prothonotary Warbler

Warbling Vireo

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Black-throated Green Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

American Redstart

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Ghost Turkey

2010-05-04T08:34:00.000-04:00

The ghost turkey has been present around the sanctuary for two weeks now. It was first seen on the morning of April 17. After shaking off the shock and awe, I managed to get a few pictures of this extraordinary bird before it had disappeared behind the naturalist's cottage.

A lot of emails were sent with the preceding photos attached to various persons who may be interested in seeing such an interesting bird. Despite being in the field a lot, and seeing turkeys quite often, no one on the sanctuary staff had ever seen this particular bird before. So where did it come from? How could we have missed a bright white turkey walking in the forest? Is this really a wild turkey?

Well, at first, we really weren't sure. It's size and proportions were consistent with that of a typical female wild turkey. Obviously, it's coloration is not.

It's behavior was consistent with the turkeys we often see moving around the museum and naturalist's cottage - bold enough to wander into the yard and near the buildings, but highly cautious and ready to bolt at the slightest notion of danger. How could it not be a wild turkey?

It was a week later before we saw the ghost turkey again. Amazingly, not one visitor had reported seeing the turkey during the previous week. Where did it go? How could it possibly remain out of sight?

The third time was a charm. We saw the ghost turkey for a third time on Thurs, April 29. When I say we, I mean myself and a group of 20 adults and children from Mount Kisco Elementary. The ghost turkey, initially frightened by us, eventually walked within 5 feet of our group en route to the bird feeders set up in the meadow near the museum. Not a wild turkey.

I searched the internet in hopes of finding a wild turkey with the same coloration and pattern after the intial encounter. There was no evidence of a wild turkey with the same ghostly appearance.

With a little luck, I was able to find an exact match...domestic turkey. Royal palm turkey (hen).

Photo taken from FeatherSite.com

According to FeatherSite.com, the Royal Palm turkey is "...developed along ornamental lines" and "...can be high strung but are thrifty and can fend for themselves". Their description of standard weights is very similar to what can be expected of wild turkeys.

So its not a wild turkey and we didn't overlook it for the past couple months, but where did it come from? We still don't know. If you know of anyone in the Bedford/Mount Kisco, NY area that may have poultry and may be missing a Royal Palm turkey, please let us know.

So keep your eye out for the ghost turkey. She's around, but you never know when she'll appear. And enjoy it while it lasts, because she'll seemingly vanish into thin air...like a ghost turkey.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

On Hold

2010-05-01T20:25:00.000-04:00

The blog has been on hold recently but not by choice. Did you know there are only 24 hours in a day? Well for the last few weeks it seems that 24 isn't enough.

We have been incredibly busy through the month of April and there's no slowing down in sight. Our program attendance was over 1,000 individuals during April. Many of our visitors were pre-school and elementary school kids visiting to learn about pond ecology, animals, insects, birds, and more. As usual, our afternoons have been full of Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups eager to learn new information to be used to earn new badges. And Steve has been busy visiting Bedford Village and Mount Kisco Elementary schools for afterschool enrichment.

When we've been fortunate to get a little "down time", we've attempted to finish some of our spring chores: trail maintenence, cleaning up the gardens, monitoring nesting activity in Bluebird and Wood duck houses, and readying mowers and weedeaters for lawn maintenence. A big THANK YOU is given to our two interns from Yorktown High School for helping us with the aforementioned tasks and so many of the "little things" that constantly need our attention around here.

Fortunately during our recent frenzy we have had the chance to observe some of the sights and sounds of spring. We have plenty of photos and stories to share from this past month. Hang with us, and we'll get them up here as soon as possible.

Happy May,

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

223 lbs

2010-04-19T21:40:00.000-04:00

What is 223 lbs? Here's a short list of what might amount to 223 lbs:

15 Red Foxes, or
99 Red-tailed Hawks, or
178 Gray Squirrels, or
676 Mourning Doves, or
202,359 Monarch Butterflies

All of the above species can be found at Westmoreland Sanctuary, though only one of them may be found in the quanities indicated (Gray Squirrel).

This also weighs 223 lbs:

Why all the garbage? Well, this is all the garbage we removed from the side of the road this weekend during our Chestnut Ridge Road Clean-up. The stretch of Chestnut Ridge Road adjacent to the sanctuary is approximately 0.8 miles. That's a whole lot of garbage in less than one mile of a relatively quiet road.

So what kind of garbage did we pick up? Well, in addition to the mailbox and hubcaps, there was an assortment of plastic bags, plastic and styrofoam food containers, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles, paper and styrofoam coffee cups, plastic drink lids, paper bags, cigarette butts, plastic flagging and caution tape, soggy magazines and phonebooks, leather gloves and an 8-track tape.

Obviously most of these items were accidentally, carelessly, or purposely tossed out of the window of passing cars. What is the purpose of littering? I really don't know. Litter doesn't just disappear when its tossed from a moving vehicle. Where ever it lands, it persists. And some of these items hang around for a very long time. For instance, the following items require X amount of years to decompose under ideal conditions:

Newspaper - 6 weeks
Cigarette butt - 1-50 years
Plastic bag - 10-20 years
Leather - 50 years
Foamed Plastic Cup - 50 years
Aluminum Can - 80-200 years
Plastic Beverage Bottle - 450 years
Glass Bottle - 1 million years to never

Source: http://www.ctenvironment.org/PDFs/Decomposition%20rates%20chart.pdf

This Thursday, April 22 is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. I hope everyone can find some small way to say thank you to our planet (the only one we have) by picking up litter, planting a tree, reducing household electricity or water consumption, etc. Feeling festive? Visit the Earth Day Network and find an Earth Day celebration near you.

And remember, everyone's least favorite bug is a Litter Bug.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Migration advances

2010-04-12T22:49:00.000-04:00

Last weekend I was fortunate to join an all day bird watching excursion in New Jersey with the Bedford Audubon Society. The focus of our day's adventure was a lap around the Wildlife Drive at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. This 47,000 acre refuge is protected and actively managed for migratory birds like waterfowl, wading birds, terns, plovers, and birds of prey like Osprey and Peregrine Falcon.

We were treated to incredibly beautiful weather and over fifty species of birds along the 7+ mile Wildlife Drive. A number of the ducks we observed will soon be on their way north to their breeding grounds, and a variety of birds were beginning to show up from points south. It was very interesting to see the end of one phase of migration and the beginning of another. From my particular vantage point, I was happy and excited to see signs of passerine migration as indicated by sightings of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Purple Martin.

After lunch, we began our journey back toward Westchester. Along the way we made a birding detour at Sandy Hook National Recreation Area. We observed a good variety of birds along the roadways, in the waters around the park, and from the observation platform at the very tip of the park.

From the observation platform, we had a great view of Coney Island and the Mahattan skyline. This same vantage point is where thousands of migrating birds pass overhead toward the city and points north during their spring migration. The Palm Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Towhee, and other birds we observed will likely continue their journey north from that spit of sand jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean.

Here are some photos from Sunday's birding excursion:

Brant flying at E.B. Forsythe NWR

Green-winged Teal at E.B. Forsythe NWR

Northern Shovelers at E.B. Forsythe NWR

Snowy Egret at E.B. Forsythe NWR

Little Blue Heron at E.B. Forsythe NWR

Osprey at Sandy Hook NRA

Red-tailed Hawk at Sandy Hook NRA

Killdeer at Sandy Hook NRA

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Spring Sightings - April 3rd

2010-04-03T19:14:00.000-04:00

This morning's Breakfast with the Birds Hike included a large number birds and signs of spring. Thanks to the thorough drenching from earlier in the week, the soils are sufficiently moist and beginning to warm up. Many species of trees are breaking bud, and the season's first wildflowers are on their way to blooming. Along the Easy Loop trail, the thin leaves of Spring Beauty are shooting through the leaf litter. Trout Lily and the large leaves of Skunk Cabbage can be observed along the inlet stream and banks of Bechtel Lake.

Within the confines of the lake, a pair of Canada Geese have been regularly seen in addition to fleeting glimpses of wary Wood Ducks and a Great Blue Heron during the past few days. With daytime temperatures well into the 60's and 70's, a number of Painted Turtles can be seen basking on the fallen trees along the lakeshore.

Deer, Gray Squirrels, Chipmunks, 2 Mourning Cloak and 1 Spring Azure Butterfly, and a whole host of other insects were observed during this morning's walk. As for the birds, 28 different species were observed - many in great abundance. Lingering winter migrants, early spring migrants, and a whole host of year-round residents filled out this morning's list. Below is a tally of the individual species with the number of each listed in parenthesis. FOY indicates first-of-the-year sighting on the sanctuary.

Canda Goose (4), Wild Turkey (1), Mourning Dove (4), Red-bellied Woodpecker (4), Downy Woodpecker (5), Hairy Woodpecker (1), Northern Flicker (4), Eastern Phoebe (1), Blue Jay (8), American Crow (3), Tree Swallow (5), Black-capped Chickadee (9), Tufted Titmouse (10), Red-breasted Nuthatch (1), White-breasted Nuthatch (4), Golden-crowned Kinglet (2-FOY), Eastern Bluebird (1), American Robin (16), Cedar Waxwing (1-FOY), Pine Warbler (1-FOY), Song Sparrow (3), White-throated Sparrow (55), Dark-eyed Junco (5), Northern Cardinal (4), Red-winged Blackbird (1), Brown-headed Cowbird (1-FOY), House Finch (6), American Goldfinch (8)

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Open House

2010-03-26T22:57:00.002-04:00

Bluebirds have returned! The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) is the state bird of NY and a partial migrant in this area of the state. Partial migrants only move as far as they need to in order to find food resources during the winter months. Despite many folks seeing bluebirds during the winter, it is likely that these are birds with home ranges farther to the north.

Eastern Bluebird (female)

Regardless of how far bluebirds migrate, the important thing is they are back. And they are looking for potential nesting sites in our area's fields, meadows, and backyards. Many of these grass-dominated habitats offer enough food and water resources to raise a family, but the general lack of suitable nesting locations has plagued this and other cavity-nesting birds over the last 5 decades. Bluebirds populations have been hit particularly hard by the lack of nesting locations and were in severe decline over many areas of the eastern US.

Where did their tree-cavities go? Well, cavities tend to form in dead trees or damaged/dead limbs of live trees. When these types of trees occur in our modern neighborhoods, they are promptly removed from the landscape. Often it is done with the best interest of our homes, electric lines, etc, but a valuable wildlife resource is being removed as well. Remaining locations with suitable nesting sites (either natural or man-made) are in high demand, and competition for these sites is fierce since a number of common bird species need cavities for nesting.

A common and practical solution for creating more nesting locations for bluebirds and other common cavity-nesters is to make nesting boxes, commonly referred to as bird houses. Making and erecting a nesting box is a wonderful family project at this time of year. There are many different nest box designs online for anyone who has the tools and time to make one from scratch. Another option for building your own is to purchase a kit and assemble the pieces with nails or screws (usually provided). Last but not least, there are a number of retailers (like our program sponsors at Wild Birds Unlimited) that offer assembled nesting boxes that are ready to be placed in your yard.

For anyone who already has a nesting box, now is the time to make sure it is cleaned out and empty. Most species of birds will not use a nesting box that still has an old nest in it from the previous year. Cleaning out the box ensures a higher probability that another pair of birds will use the box again this year.

Tree Swallows

Whether you have a box or plan to put up a box, be sure to clean them out and set them out in your lawns soon. Many of our local, year-round residents like Black-capped Chickadees and Tufted Titmouse are already establishing breeding territories based on suitable nesting sites. Bluebirds have returned and will be seeking nesting locations soon in addition to Tree Swallows and House Wrens later in the spring. The sooner your nesting boxes are cleaned (or erected), the more likely you are of getting a pair of birds to take up residence this spring.

For more resources about nesting boxes, please check out the following websites:
North American Bluebird Society
National Wildlife Federation
Cornell's All About Birds

If you would like a little guidance to make a nesting box for this spring, join us on March 31 at 1pm for a Bluebird House Construction program. Make your reservation by Monday, March 29 by calling the office or sending an email. You can find our contact info on our website.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Woodland Pool - early spring

2010-03-22T11:43:00.001-04:00

Our first significant rain of the spring occurred during the weekend of March 13-14. During that period of time, many Spring peepers, Wood frogs, and various species of salamanders emerged from their terrestrial hibernacula and migrated to ponds, wetlands, and woodland pools. It is in these aquatic habitats where most adult amphibians lay their eggs and their offspring begin the first half of their lives.

Here at the sanctuary, our 3-acre pond (Bechtel Lake) is a great place to hear the peeping chorus of Spring peepers. Along the north end of the pond, hidden amoung the phragmites, these thumbnail-sized tree frogs fill the air with their incredibly loud voices. Listening closely through the din, you may hear the low, stuttering croaks of male Pickerel frogs hoping to attract a female. Later this spring, toads, Green frogs, and Bullfrogs will be making their voices heard.

On top of a hill, east of Bechtel Lake, is a large woodland pool. This vernal, or temporary, pool is home to a whole host of other organisms not usually found in the other bodies of water. The temporary nature of this aquatic habitat excludes the presence of fish and creates an unusual refuge for a number of frogs, salamanders, and a whole host of invertebrates.

During the past week, we finally got a chance to hike up the hill and explore the pool for early spring residents. The photos below illustrate a few of the highlights of our evening.

A male and female Wood frog in amplexus

Wood frogs were in full breeding behavior that evening. Upon approaching the pool, we could hear the distinctive "quacking" call of the males. Most of the males were busy calling and attempting to find a female to mate with, but we did find a few pairs that had already "paired up". Basically, the male seeks out a female and latches onto her back and holds tightly to her with his muscular forelegs. He rides around on her back defending her from other competing males and stays with her until she finally lays her eggs. His job is to fertilize the eggs simultaneously as she lays them.

Two Wood frog egg masses attached to Catbriar

Spotted salamander - approx. 6" long

While searching through the pool we managed to find 4 Spotted salamanders. The two we were able to scoop up in the net were males. The two others were likely males as well. Males migrate to these woodland pools first to deposit spermatophores (sperm packets) on the bottom of the pools. The females migrate to the pools later to seek out the spermatophores and lay their large masses of eggs. There were no egg masses in the pool that evening, so its likely there were no females in the pool just yet.

Marbled salamander larva and Fingernail clam

Another species of salamander had layed its eggs last fall, and now the young larvae were already swimming about the pool. This Marbled salamander larva is quite small, but it will have a big advantage over the currently unhatched (and unlayed) Spotted salamanders living in the same pool. It will be larger and capable of eating other salamander larvae and tadpoles that will hatch in the pool. For purposes of scale, the Fingernail clam in the photo is about the size of a #2 pencil eraser.

Fairy shrimp

Fairy shrimp are one of the most incredible creatures of these woodland pools. These small invertebrates (0.5 - 1.5" long) slowly swim upside-down in woodland pools filtering and eating tiny particles from the water. They are excellent indicators of true woodland (vernal) pools because they will only be present in pools that have dried up during the previous year. Their eggs are only viable and capable of hatching after being subjected to a period of drying out. If the pool doesn't dry up during the previous year, the shrimp are not likely to be present. This indicator species is indicative of the pool's overall heath as well. Many folks miss the Fairy shrimp because they come and go rather quickly in the early spring.

Diving beetle

One final creature of interest was this diving beetle we found swimming through the pool. The water temperature was very cold, which may have contributed to the lack of insect diversity at this time of the year. Perhaps in another week we will be greeted by the usual abundance of various species of diving beetles, caddisfly larvae, backswimmers, waterboatmen, etc.

If you would like an opportunity to explore the pond and vernal pool with us this spring, please consider signing up to attend our Amphibian Night Hike during the evening of April 9th. Please visit the Westmoreland Sanctuary website for more information about the event and how to register.

Finally, if you know of a woodland pool nearby, take some time to investigate who or what may be living or breeding there at this time of year. And keep your eye out for migrating amphibians during spring rains over the next few weeks. Often times they cross roads, so be aware and try not to smoosh them if at all possible.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Citizen Science Opportunity

2010-03-16T13:00:00.003-04:00

A few weeks back (Jan 23, 2010) we presented a program on owls here at the sanctuary. At the conclusion of the program we played a recording and listened for responses from Eastern Screech Owls outside the museum. Despite no owl responses that evening, everyone in attendance got a quick tutorial of the "Who's Whoo-ing in Your Backyard?" citizen science project.

A citizen scientist is anyone who volunteers a few minutes of their time to collect valuable data for any number of wildlife science projects. Citizen scientists are becoming increasingly valuable for their ability to carryout the functions of a large-scale project that a group of researchers could never accomplish on their own.

In the "Who's Whoo-ing" project, Chris Nagy from the Mianus River Gorge is enlisting and leading any willing participants (aka citizen scientists) from Westchester (NY), Putnam (NY), and Fairfield (CT) Counties to collect data on owls in their backyard using 10-minute long "call playback surveys" of Eastern Screech Owls, Barred Owls, and Great Horned Owls.

The data will be used to find out where these owls live, if they co-occur in the same areas, and what habitats and areas they tend to live in or avoid. Everyone in urban, suburban, and rural settings is encouraged to participate as this will provide the greatest coverage and most effective data set.

For more information and how to participate in the "Who's Whoo-ing" project, please visit http://www.mianus.org/owlcall. Alternatively, you may send Chris an email at owlcall@mianus.org to sign up or request more information. The project's second annual season begins April 1, 2010. Visit the website and sign up today!

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Power is back

2010-03-15T13:28:00.000-04:00

We had another loss of electricity this past weekend. Saturated soil, additional precipitation, and heavy wind gusts are a recipe for disaster around here.

This detached power line (just south of the sanctuary entrance) lying in the middle of Chestnut Ridge Road was the source of our weekend-long blackout. Limbs weakened by the previous storm were falling in great quantity, and one of them happened to snag the powerline on its way to the ground.

In addition to tree-related damage, the torrent of water rushing around a bend in Chestnut Ridge Road contributed a partial collapse of the roadway. If you are making your way to the sanctuary at any time in the near future, be cautious of the barricade of barrels, cones, and sawhorses alerting drivers of the road hazard. This is most important for visitors accessing Chestnut Ridge Road off of NY Route 172.

We have yet to assess the trail system for damage from the latest storm, though its safe to say the trails will be very muddy for the forseeable future. On the bright side...there will soon be a flurry of amphibian activity thanks to all the precipitation. I'll document some of that activity later this month.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

March Showers

2010-03-13T09:55:00.004-05:00

March showers encourage April's flowers...and the emergence of hibernating amphibians. Last spring we documented some of the interesting amphibian life that emerges each spring here and here.

Well its that time of the year again. Actually its probably a little early, but what are we gonna do? If its raining, the amphians are likely to emerge!

The following text was forwarded to me on 3/12/2010 by Bedford Audubon Director Jim Nordgren:

For CITIZEN SCIENTISTS interested in documenting this spring's pool-breeding amphibian migrations:

Current weather forecasts for tonight and over the weekend still are indicating conditions that may be adequate for amphibian movements, although now temperatures are expected to be a little cooler. Migrations are difficult to predict, but generally, forest-dwelling amphibians begin to move from upland habitat to spring breeding pools after the ground has thawed, on the first rainy evenings when temperatures are above 40F.

Depending on where you live in the Hudson Valley, it's possible that migrations may start tonight or over the weekend. Check your local weather forecast to help plan your evening. Curiosity, a little flexibility, and some adventurous spirit are definitely necessary for those hearty volunteers who head out despite the uncertainty and unfavorable weather conditions. Thanks to all for your help!

I’d love photographs of citizen scientists out looking for pool-breeding salamanders and wood frogs during their migrations. If you take any photos this spring that I can use in presentations and other educational materials, please email them with photo credit information, date, and brief caption information.

Some answers to recent questions:

“What if there’s still snow on the ground?”

According to “Vernal Pools: Natural History and Conservation” by Elizabeth Colburn (2004), wood frogs will breed as soon as the ice in vernal pools begins to melt, usually when there is still considerable snow on the ground. Many years ago, I saw them hopping and sliding across the ice to get to an opening in a pool in the Town of Yorktown in Westchester County.
“What time should I start looking?”

Generally, pool-breeding amphibians begin moving when it’s dark, but you may not see larger numbers until later in the evening. Most observations submitted to us last year were recorded between 9pm and 12am.
“Have there been any observations of pool-breeding amphibian movement yet?”

I’ve heard no reports from the Hudson Valley, but in south-central Connecticut, wood frogs were observed in pools and vocalizing in the shallows of a beaver pond earlier this week.
Remember, more information and data forms are available at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/51925.html

Good luck and be safe! I look forward to receiving your data and hearing about your experiences in the field.
Laura

Laura T. Heady

Biodiversity Outreach Coordinator
Hudson River Estuary Program
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation / Cornell University

21 South Putt Corners Road
New Paltz, NY 12561-1620
ltheady@gw.dec.state.ny.us
845.256.3061 phone / 845.255.3649 fax

If you are definately interested in learning more about amphibian emergence in spring and their mass migration to vernal pools, ponds, and other water bodies follow this link to the NY DEC's website to learn how you can get involved. Better yet, you can attend a lecture on 3/16/2010 at Bedford Audubon's Bylane Farm at 7:00pm. Here's a little more information about that program:

Why Did the Salamander Cross the Road? With Laura Heady

Tuesday, March 16, 7:00 p.m.
BAS Headquarters, Bylane Farm, 35 Todd Road, Katonah

Have you ever witnessed large numbers of salamanders and frogs crossing the road on rainy spring nights? Ever wonder where they came from and where they’re going? Each spring, frogs and salamanders travel significant distances from their forest habitats to breed in woodland pools. Unfortunately, migration pathways often cross roads and long driveways, leading to mortality of slow-moving wildlife, even in low traffic areas.

The NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University are working together to conserve forests, woodland pools, and the wildlife that depend on these critical habitats. Join Laura Heady, Biodiversity Outreach Coordinator, for a slide presentation on woodland pool ecology and a new citizen science program, the “Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings” project. Learn how you can get involved by witnessing these incredible spring migrations, documenting “Big Night” road crossings, and helping amphibians survive their overland travel. For more information on the Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings see www.dec.ny.gov/lands/51925.html.

Woodland pools and the amphibian life they sustain are of great conservation concern in the Hudson Valley. Monitoring of these water bodies and their amazing amphibian life is a fun, educational, and critical endeavor. I hope that you may be able to join the effort this spring!

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

A little too much help

2010-03-08T18:02:00.001-05:00

As a result of the recent heavy snowfall, a number of trees and limbs have created obstructions on many of the trails all across the sanctuary. A number of these obstructions have been identified and/or cleared on the Easy Loop, Catbird, Chickadee, Lost Pond, and Wood Thrush trails. If, during your visit, you discover trees, limbs, or other obstructions across a trail, please notify the sanctuary staff via phone, email, or making a note on the Visitor Sign-in sheet in the Kiosk. Please indicate the trail and approximate location of the obstruction so that we may be able to more efficiently clear the trail. We can't walk/monitor all the trails as frequently as we'd like to check for these occurrences and often rely on our visitors to alert us of any situation that needs to be attended to.

Until we are able to clear all obstructions from the trails, please carefully make your way around fallen trees, blow downs, etc to continue down the trail. We respectfully request that all visitors refrain from clearing any obstructions using hand shears, loppers, saws, or any other tools. At no time is anyone permitted to cut or remove vegetation from the sanctuary for any reason whatsoever. The sanctuary staff reserves the right and sole discretion to determine what, if anything, needs to be cut from dead, fallen, or live timber that may be obstructing or leaning into the trail. One exception is for any individuals out on the trail that may choose to move any detached branches or limbs to the side of the trail.

This announcement is due to a recent incident in which an overzealous, though well intentioned, individual completely cut large specimens of Spicebush and Witchhazel along a portion of the trails. Both of these species are highly valuable understory trees which are becoming increasingly rare throughout the sanctuary. These and other native shrubs (Blueberry, Pinkster Azalea, Viburums, etc) growing under the canopy of the forest provide vital food resources and nesting structures for a variety of bird species which themselves are declining due to loss of understory vegetation in the forests in our area. Though the cut specimens may have been leaning into or covering a portion of the trail due to stress from the heavy snowfall, this was no reason to cut any part or the entire tree. If warranted, we will carefully prune the tree or shrub in question or potentially reroute the trail in order to create a balance between safe trail access and the wildlife habitat we are managing and protecting throughout the entire sanctuary.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Snow...Beauty and Beast

2010-03-02T21:25:00.002-05:00

We have our power and telecommunications back online after last week's snow storm. The 12 inches of wet, heavy snow took a large toll on the trees all along Chestnut Ridge Road and across many portions of the sanctuary. There will be a lot of cleaning up to do in the coming weeks as we get a chance to cut broken limbs and remove fallen trees from the lawn, parking lot, and the trails.

Despite the destruction (and back pain from all the shoveling) there was an undeniable beauty to the landscape as it was completely draped in snow. Below are some of the pictures taken Friday afternoon and Saturday morning after the snow had stopped falling. Click on the images for larger views.

A thick layer of snow coating every branch and twig

A spruce tree folded up like a closed umbrella

Home tweet home covered in snow

Snow-covered scene in front of the Naturalist's cottage

The Sugarhouse blanketed in snow

Spruce tree branches bending from the weight of the snow

A bench upholstered in a thick cushion of snow

A quiet (and powerless) museum

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

No Power

2010-02-28T13:30:00.000-05:00

The recent rain/snow/rain/sleet/snow storm during Feb 25-26 has cut power to the sanctuary. The museum is closed until further notice. On the bright side...I have tons of pictures of the damage and the beautiful snowscape I can share once the power comes back on in the museum and naturalist's cottage.

Until then, stay warm.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Bobcats in Westchester

2010-02-24T08:28:00.000-05:00

The following is an article printed in our Winter/Spring 2010 Newsletter:

Bobcat Sightings Requested
The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a small to medium sized feline native to much of the North American continent. It is currently the only confirmed resident wild feline in New York. Other felines with suspected transient or non-breeding populations in the state are cougars and Canadian lynx.

The average size of a bobcat is generally described to be twice that of a normal house cat. Average weight of individuals is 20 and 26 pounds for females and males, respectively. The fur is dense, short, and spotted, generally appearing reddish in the summer and grayish in the winter. They are usually solitary with exceptions during the breeding season and when females are rearing young.

Critical habitat features include places for refuge and protection, which may include rock ledges, rock piles, brush piles, and hollow trees and logs. Evergreen bogs, swamps, and other secluded places fulfill many of the critical habitat elements needed for survival. These habitats also provide access to prey species like mice, voles, squirrels, rabbits, birds, and deer (especially in winter) which make up a large portion of their diet in our state.

Over the last 4 years, the Westmoreland staff has been recording area bobcat sightings. Many of the recorded sightings are personal accounts described to the staff by phone, email, or in person by area residents. Additional sightings have been added to our small, but growing, database from other accounts submitted to local news sources and other conservation organizations.

The first recorded account came to us in October 2005 from a family living just south of the sanctuary. A few months later, in February 2006, Westmoreland staff members photographed and followed a clear set of bobcat tracks in the snow in the southern portion of the sanctuary around Cole Kettle. The following May, Westmoreland’s naturalist, Adam Zorn, saw a single bobcat in front of the Naturalist’s Cottage and near the graveyard by the sanctuary’s Chestnut Ridge Road entrance.

After a year of no recorded sightings in 2007, 2 more reports came to us in December 2008. A total of 7 reports were recorded in 2009, the most recent one (pictured below) from a family on Sarles St. in Armonk on December 14, 2009.

Bobcat photographed in an Armonk, NY resident's backyard in Dec 2009 (Photo credit/L.Ilany)

Click here for a map that indicates the 13 total sightings recorded since 2005.

The presence of these elusive felines is of great interest to the sanctuary staff. Please contact us regarding bobcat sightings from anywhere in northern Westchester County. We are especially interested in sightings from anyone living in the mapped area. With the wealth of open space and potential habitat in the Towns of North Castle and Bedford, we would like to fill in this map with additional sightings from area residents. Please send sightings with pictures/descriptions via email to westsanc@optonline.net or call our office at (914)666-8448.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Maple Sugaring in the News

2010-02-22T18:21:00.001-05:00

This past Sunday, February 21, we conducted a public program for folks interested in backyard maple sugaring. Maple syrup is a sweet treat for many folks all around the country, but few people realize that it's possible for anyone with a maple tree in their yard to make their own syrup.

The previous post covered the basic details of how to make maple syrup at home. For all that attended this past weekend's program, they experienced the first steps in the process first-hand. We identified, tapped, and hung collection buckets on 6 trees Saturday and 6 more trees on Sunday. Suday's event was well attended (thanks to all of you who may have been there) and was covered by two reporters. Click on here to see the article posted from the The Journal News and here to see the article from the Chappaqua-Mount Kisco Patch.

If you'd like to learn more about making maple syrup, please attend one of the programs listed in the menu section to the right.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Making Maple Syrup

2010-02-19T07:57:00.001-05:00

Materials:

- Drill (electric or hand-powered)           - Fire, stove, or other heat source
- 7/16” drill bit                                       - Large pot or kettle
- Spile w/                                               - Thermometer
- Hammer                                              - Cheesecloth or other fine filtering medium
- Bucket or collection container

Instructions:

When to Tap: Approximately the end of February, when temperatures are above freezing during the day and below freezing at night.

How to Tap: Find a suitable sugar maple tree with a diameter of at least 12 inches. Using the drill and 7/16” drill bit, make a hole approximately 3 inches deep into the tree at a slight upward angle. Be sure shavings are out of the hole before driving in the spile. Drive the spile (with a hook) gently into the hole with a few firm taps with the hammer. Be careful not to hit so hard as to deform or damage the spile. Hang the bucket or other suitable collection container from the spile’s hook to begin collecting sap.

Number of Taps and Trees: A good rule is no tree less than 12 inches in diameter and one tap for every 12 inches thereafter. For example, a 24 inch-wide tree may support two spiles, but this depends on the health and vitality of the tree. When in doubt, use only one spile per tree. In an average year, one tree may produce 10-15 gallons of sap. This will translate to about 1 quart of syrup. The amount of syrup you would like to make and the number of suitable sugar maples on your property will ultimately determine how much syrup you will actually produce.

Gathering Sap: Sap must be collected daily when it is running, and may be stored up to a week in a cool, dark container. If the sap appears cloudy in your buckets or storage vessel, it has spoiled and must be discarded.

Evaporating: It takes a lot of boiling to convert the sap into syrup. You will need a large pot or kettle to boil as much sap as possible. Add sap to the pot until all the sap in your storage vessel is gone. The bulk of the evaporating should be done outdoors or in an extremely well ventilated area since the boiling sap will release a large volume of steam. Remember: 1 gallon of syrup is produced by removing 39 gallons of water from the original volume of 40 gallons of sap!

Creating Syrup: Continue to boil the sap until it reaches a temperature of 7 degrees above the boiling point of water. In our area of NY that’s 219 degrees F. This is best done indoors on the stove so the sap/syrup can be monitored closely. The overall volume of the liquid is much less than when you started, so a heavy stockpot and a digital or candy thermometer work well for this finishing step.

Strain and Store: Maple syrup has a natural grittiness that should be filtered out. It is created by naturally occurring minerals present in the sap that solidify and fall out of the sap solution during the boiling process. Strain your syrup through several layers of cheesecloth while the syrup is still hot. Any remaining particles will settle to the bottom of your storage jars. Your syrup will store best in glass jars in the refrigerator.

For more information about making maple syrup, join an upcoming sugaring program at Westmorland Sanctuary on Feb 21, Feb 27, March 7, or March 13. Click here to get program times and details from our website.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

GBBC Wrap-up

2010-02-16T19:10:00.000-05:00

This past weekend's Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) was a fun-filled 4 day event over the President's Day weekend. The staff here at the sanctuary took time on each of the 4 days to count birds visiting our feeding station behind the museum. This is always a great time thanks to the beautiful view, the numerous birds, and the hot coffee and snacks we enjoy while counting our feathered friends.

A thank you goes out to all of those who stopped by the museum this weekend to count with us as well. We hope you enjoyed the GBBC as much as we did. For anyone who is interested, here is a summary of the 19 species observed and the highest number observed during the GBBC count period:

Wild Turkey -2

Mourning Dove -2

Pileated Woodpecker -1

Red-bellied Woodpecker -1

Hairy Woodpecker -1

Downy Woodpecker -2

Blue Jay -7

Black-capped Chickadee -3

Tufted Titmouse -7

White-breasted Nuthatch -3

Red-breasted Nuthatch -2

Carolina Wren -1

Northern Cardinal -3

Purple Finch -3

House Finch -4

American Goldfinch -4

Dark-eyed Junco -32

White-throated Sparrow -9
Song Sparrow -2

Though the GBBC is over, anyone can continue to count birds visiting their yard or birdfeeders and submit them online via Ebird. Click the Ebird logo on the menu bar down the right side of this page and submit bird sightings from anywhere at anytime.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

The Great Backyard Bird Count

2010-02-11T21:08:00.001-05:00

Join Westmoreland Sanctuary as a participant in this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count on Feb 12-15, 2010. A joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, this free event is an opportunity for families, students, and people of all ages to discover the wonders of nature in backyards, schoolyards, and local parks, and, at the same time, make an important contribution to conservation.

It's so easy to take part, just follow these easy steps:

Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count.
Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time
When you are finished, enter your results through the GBBC website.

Anyone can take part, from novice bird watchers to experts, by counting birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and reporting their sightings online at http://www.birdcount.org/. Participants can also explore what birds others are finding in their backyards—whether in their own neighborhood or thousands of miles away.

For anyone interested in participating in this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count, Westmoreland Sanctuary will be offering free programs sponsored, in part, by Wild Birds Unlimited in Bedford Hills, NY:

February 13 at 9:30am - Breakfast with the Birds
February 14 at 1:00pm - Lunch with the Birds
February 15 at 9:00am - Feeder Watching and Bird Walk

Please see our website for more details about these programs.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Spring Newsletter available soon

2010-02-03T08:00:00.003-05:00

Our latest newsletter is finished and will be available soon. Our members will be receiving their copies shortly via mail or email, and everyone else is welcome to stop in the museum and pick one up. For those who have browsed our previous publications, you'll notice the newest edition is a little different. This and future editions will include more news and information from the sanctuary staff in addition to a complete list of all our upcoming weekend programs and events.

Spring's issue (Feb-May) includes:

All of our spring programs
An expanded Director's letter
A concise summary of recent wildlife sightings
Animal Spotlight: Eastern Box Turtle
An article requesting local Bobcat sightings
Information about winter bird feeding

We are also excited to announce Wild Birds Unlimited's support of Westmoreland's bird-focused programming this spring. Owners Joe and Pat Warren are generously providing assistance with promoting our weekend programs as well as contributing donations and materials in support of our various programs like:

Breakfast with the Birds
Great Backyard Bird Count events
Bluebird House Construction
Bird Banding Demonstrations

Also, they've invited us to talk All About Bluebirds in their store on March 21 at 4pm. Click on the Wild Birds Unlimited logo down on the right side of this page to visit them online. Stop in their Bedford Hills, NY store to say hi and see all the great bird feeding products they have in stock. I know the birds at Westmoreland would recommend a cranberry seed log if they could speak English. Once again, thank you Wild Birds Unlimited.

Check the list of February programs on the right side of this page for something you may be interested in attending. Alternatively, sign up to receive program updates in your email Inbox through our YahooGroups page. We look forward to seeing you at one or more of our spring programs.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Winter Waterfowl

2010-02-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

This past weekend's extraordinarily cold weather was a little brutal for anyone spending extended periods of time outdoors. As the mercury reached 12 degrees Fahrenheit, I bundled up and headed over to the Saw Mill River Audubon's Pryun Sanctuary to catch a glimpse of the Yellow-headed Blackbird. This stray from the Midwest has taken up residence at the Pryun Sanctuary's feeding station for the last couple weeks and has caused quite a stir in the local birding community. After about 15 minutes of searching through a huge flock of Red-winged Blackbirds and Brown-headed Cowbirds, the lemon-headed bird was finally spotted. Unfortunately the bird sat well back into a tangle of bittersweet vines and gave only a distant view, but it was enough to confirm his presence and secure a new "life bird" for two other visitors watching along side me.

See that speck of yellow in the very center of the picture? That's the YHBL as I described it above. The view through my 8x power binoculars was slightly better and a lot more in focus. Total distance between bird and observer was at least 40 yards...through dense vegetion. Click here for better pictures and more information on this unique visitor to our area.

After moving on from the YHBL and running a few errands, I stopped along Rt 116 near the Purdys train station. This area of the local reservoirs is still largely unfrozen due to the moving water. An excellent collection of waterfowl was present and highly active. The following birds were observed: Canada Geese, Mute Swans, American Black Ducks, Mallards, Ring-necked Ducks, Buffleheads, Hooded Mergansers, and 1 American Coot. Below are some pictures of the birds I observed from the bridge on Rt 116.

A collection of Mute Swans, Ring-necked Ducks, and Hooded Mergansers

A Mute Swan in flight

American Coot resting in the icy water

Ring-necked Duck paddling through the water

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Photo Puzzle: Day 5

2010-01-29T08:00:00.002-05:00

Ok, here's your last chance to guess (or guess correctly) before we reveal the entire photo.

Today's image is way too easy.

Wiry, gray hair + round, pink nose + small, rounded ears + long, naked tail = ?

Of course, its a Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

This is North America's only marsupial (or pouched) mammal. They are nocturnal by habit and are omnivorous eaters. The long, hairless tail is prehensiled and capable of grasping tree branches for safety as it climbs trees. The inner most digit on each of the back feet is opposable and functions much like our thumb, which is another adaptation for climbing. To play "possum" is to pretend to be dead. This behavioral trait is employed by opossums as a means of escaping harm by potential predators or curious dogs. Opossums often fall prey to cars due to they're relatively slow, awkward running style and poor reaction to bright car headlights.

This photo is of an opossum I discovered on the front porch of the Naturalist's cottage here at the sanctuary. I'm not sure why he climbed up onto the arm of the chair and onto my butterfly net, but he seemed bashful and ashamed for doing so as I took his picture that evening. After a few minutes of portrait time, I went back inside to allow it to go on its way. I've seen an opossum, presumably the same one, on a handful of occasions around the house since the evening of our photo shoot. Hopefully this one will stay out of the road and escape the disasterous fate of the opossums and skunks that have visited me in the past.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Photo Puzzle: Day 4

2010-01-28T08:00:00.002-05:00

Next to last day of our inaugural photo puzzle. We've removed two more squares from the image today. Maybe today's reveal will confirm your suspicions about who the mystery subject might be.

Leave your answer in the Comment section below.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Photo Puzzle: Day 3

2010-01-27T08:00:00.003-05:00

It's Day 3 of the photo puzzle. Few details have been revealed thus far, but today's image might be a big clue. Look closely at the image below.

Leave your answer in the Comment section below.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Photo Puzzle: Day 2

2010-01-26T08:00:00.002-05:00

Here is a little more of our mystery subject.

Have a good guess? Leave your answer in the Comment section below.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Photo Puzzle: Day 1

2010-01-25T08:00:00.004-05:00

This is a new type of photo quiz that works kind of like a jigsaw puzzle. Every day this week I'll post the same picture with a little more of the subject revealed. If you know who or what is in the picture, leave your answer in the comments section below. On the day of the final reveal (Friday), I'll explain a little about our subject and how I got the photo.

Reveal #1:

- Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Track Quiz Answers

2010-01-21T16:38:00.002-05:00

#1. How many White-tailed Deer made these tracks?

Answer: Two deer made these parallel sets of tracks. They most likely weren't walking side-by-side, but instead one was following behind the other. They obviously were headed in the same direction, however.

#2. What semi-arboreal mammal left these tracks in the snow?

Answer: Virginia Opossum. These climbing critters have more than just a prehensiled tail to aid their climbing skills. The opposable "thumbs" on the inside of each of the back feet (circled) also help opossums grasp branches as they climb trees, vines, and shrubs while foraging for fruit and other elevated foods.

#3. Who is the late night scavenger leaving tracks in my lawn?

Answer: Raccoon. The front and back feet are different sizes with the front ones leaving the smaller tracks in the photo. Notice the long toes present on those front feet (circled). These dexterous digits are the raccoon's most prized asset and effective tool for foraging for prey along ponds, streamsides, and in your garbage cans.

#4. Who hopped through the snow?

Answer: Grey Squirrel. Each track is comprised of an impression of each of the squirrel's four feet as it hopped from point A to point B. The large impressions of each track are from the back feet; small impressions from the front feet. Follow the direction of the back feet's impressions to find out which way the squirrel was headed.

The snow is all gone for now, but you can continue to look for animal tracks in mud and soft soil until the snow returns. Enjoy our early spring-like weather break while it lasts.

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Animal Tracks...A Quiz

2010-01-15T20:50:00.003-05:00

Winter hikes and backyard explorations offer unique opportunities to discover the movements and activities of various wildlife. Like the words of a story, the tracks and traces left in winter's snow tell a tale of an animal's recent history through the very place where you stand. Learning to identify common tracks will enhance your next winter walk.

2, 4, and 5

Many animal's tracks can be identified by the number of toes present on their feet. In the southern tier of NY, we have one very common two-toed mammal, the White-tailed Deer. Their tracks (right) are easily identifiable and recognized by most everyone.

Dog and cat tracks, be they wild or domestic varieties, are characterized by 4 toes. The presence (dog) or absence (cat) of toenails registered in the track can be helpful in generally differentiating between the two groups.

Finally, a number of mammals have feet with 5 toes, and this is where identification begins to get difficult. A little knowledge of common local mammal species is always helpful when trying to determine a possible match to an unknown track. Often times the location/habitat of the tracks and where they came from/lead to are helpful clues to who may have left them behind. Also, small details to pay attention to or look for might include:

the length of the toes
the overall shape of the foot
the size of the track
drag marks from the animal's tail or belly
the pattern of the tracks indicating an animal's pattern of movement (walking vs. hopping).

The Quiz

Below are a series of photos taken in mid-December on the lawn in front of the Naturalist's Cottage. Do you know who registered each of the tracks? Click on the images for full screen views. Leave your answers in the Comments section at the bottom of the post.

#1. You should recognize the tracks in the photo below. The question is...how many of this animal made the tracks? 1 or 2?

#2. The first one may have been too easy, so try this one. Both the front foot (upper print) and back foot (lower print) are registered very close together in this photo. This semi-arboreal mammal needs that oddly shaped toe to get a grip.

#3. Five long toes are easy to recognize in this picture. Both front and back feet are pictured below. This animal is a late evening visitor under my bird feeders and compost pile. Don't think too hard about this one.

#4. A common animal, but a very tricky track for most people to recognize. We often overlook the details of animals common to our neighborhoods and parks. Do you know who hopped through the snow?

-Adam Zorn, Naturalist

Winter Bird Feeding...Making it count

2010-01-07T19:36:00.001-05:00

The feeders are up, you're keeping them full, and dozens of birds are flocking to feed in your yard. The sight of all those birds comprising various species is wonderful entertainment. Friends and family may be impressed by your living wild bird show when they come to visit. Your life list and yard list will grow by leaps and bounds and be a source of pride to share with your birdfeeding buddies. But is it enough? Is there anything you could do to make bird feeding scientifically relevant? Yes!

Make bird feeding count. Take the chance to make every chickadee, titmouse, and sparrow matter. Life lists and yard lists are of great personal benefit, but they're also of importance for conservation of species and habitat in your area. Individual observations are crucial additions to the data needed to monitor species population numbers, species distributions, and migration patterns for many of our most common bird species. Scientists, researchers, and conservationists would never have the ability to track most species without the contributions of private citizens like you and I.

So where do you share your observations? There are a number of citizen science projects available to willing participants. Some are short, seasonal projects while others are long-term, on-going projects. Some require higher levels of commitment than others. Most are free and a few charge nominal fees for participation and continued execution of the project. Here are three of my favorites:

Project FeederWatch

This is a winter-long survey of birds that visit bird feeders at backyards, nature centers, and other locations all across the continent. Every other week, participants count the birds they see at their feeders from November to early April and send their data to Project FeederWatch. The data is used by scientists to track broadscale movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance. The project is operated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada. This is my third year as a FeederWatcher, and we count for Project FeederWatch every other weekend in the museum.

Great Backyard Bird Count

From the GBBC website: "The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent and in Hawaii. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event." This year's event takes place from February 12-15, 2010. This will be my fourth year as a participant of this great event. Watch the sanctuary program calendar for programs associated with this year's Great Backyard Bird Count.

eBird

From the eBird website: "A real-time, online checklist program, eBird has revolutionized the way that the birding community reports and accesses information about birds. Launched in 2002 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, eBird provides rich data sources for basic information on bird abundance and distribution at a variety of spatial and temporal scales."

"The observations of each participant join those of others in an international network of eBird users. eBird then shares these observations with a global community of educators, land managers, ornithologists, and conservation biologists. In time these data will become the foundation for a better understanding of bird distribution across the western hemisphere and beyond."

My favorite parts of this program are its free, your lists are stored in your online account, and you can explore bird sightings for birds, locations, and geographic regions all over the continent. Sightings can be submitted anytime from anywhere you saw birds.

Click the buttons on the right side of the blog to reach any of the above project websites. For more citizen science projects, please visit these websites:

Please make it count. Every bird matters!

Happy bird feeding,

Adam Zorn, Naturalist