Saturday, December 29, 2012

Dress warm and join us for these outdoor adventures!

JBNHS in January....

SATURDAY, 1/5, 8:00 AM WALLKILL VALLEY RAPTORS
Christine Guarino (chrissy.guarino@gmail.com )

SATURDAY, 1/12, ALL DAY ANNUAL WINTER BIRDCOUNT AT EBNP Steve Chorvas (schorvas@verizon.net or 246-5900)
 
SUNDAY, 1/13, 1:30 PM ANIMAL TRACKING ADVENTURE
Greg Perantoni ( greg.perantoni@yahoo.com )

SATURDAY, 1/19, ALL DAY NYSOA WINTER WATERFOWL COUNT
Steve Chorvas (schorvas@verizon.net )

SATURDAY, 1/26, 3:30 PM OWL PROWL AT GALEVILLE
Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com or 339-1277)

Friday, November 30, 2012

A Holiday Walk, 2 Christmas Bird Counts & More!


Come take a Holiday Walk in High Falls with JBNHS!  Sunday, December 9th, 8 a.m. to noon.

And not one - but TWO Christmas bird counts!!  Participate in the longest running citizen science effort in the world:   Saturday, December 15th  and/or Wednesday, December 26th


For details on these events/trips, and more listings, please visit the "December 2012 Field Trip" page on the right

Friday, November 9, 2012

A Saw-Whet Eve....

JBNHS members (and friends of members) visited Mohonk last Friday and Saturday nights to observe Dr. Glen Proudfoot band Northern Saw-whet owls.   The hand belongs to our very own JBNHS secretary, Christine Guarino, who has been assisting Dr. Proudfoot.

Don't forget about this weekend's birding adventure:  SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 9:00 AM – NOON ASHOKAN RESERVOIR WATERFOWL
Join Glen Van Gorden (lucaspets@hotmail.com or 331-2469) to look for eagles, loons, grebes, and waterfowl. Meet at the parking area in the aeration basin on the south side of the reservoir. Take Rte. 28 west from Kingston, turn left onto Reservoir Rd. at Winchell’s Corner. Cross the reservoir, turn left, and go down the hill. At the first intersection, bear right on Rte. 28A, and soon turn right into parking area.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

November Field Trips Posted (see list on right...)

Plus:   THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 7:00 PM—GENERAL MEETING. Meet upstairs at the New Paltz Village Hall, Plattekill Avenue, New Paltz. The Village Hall is located in the same building as the New Paltz Fire Station, near the SUNY campus. Park and enter on the east side of the building. Noted author Susan Fox Rogers and wildlife photographer Peter Schoenberger will present a program about their June trip to Alaska.


And a gentle reminder: The field trips of JBNHS are oriented to nature study. They are free and open to the public. Children are very welcome on field trips, but pets are not. Although there is a brief courtesy waiting period for latecomers, the meeting times are important: please arrive in time to sign up with the leader.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Another Change for Oct. 20th

This weekend's sparrow walk originally scheduled to visit Southlands Farm in Rhinebeck has changed (again).  All participants attending should still meet at Kingston's Park and Ride at 7:30 a.m. to carpool to private property in Marbletown that Peter has gained permission to bird.  Our destination is a special place, rich in sparrow habitat and it is a privilege to have access there.   Please contact trip leader Peter Schoenberger (914 466-2707 pds@netstep.net ) with any questions regarding this outing.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Change of place for Oct. 20th event


PLEASE SEE POST ABOVE - NEW SPOT FOR THIS EVENT, SAME TIME!  


 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 8:00 AM – NOON —  SOUTHLANDS HORSE FARM   NOTE THE CHANGE IN LOCATION FOR THIS OUTING...WE ARE NOW GOING TO GREIG FARM IN RED HOOK INSTEAD...PLEASE CONTACT PETER FOR DETAILS
 Great sparrow habitat and much more!   Maybe even another Nelson's Sparrow!  This vast horse farm in Dutchess County has miles of trails that are waiting to be birded. Meet Peter Schoenberger (pds@netstep.net  or 914 466-2707) at Kingston’s Park and Ride at 7:30 a.m or at Southlands at 8:00 a.m.  Southlands Horse Farm is located on the west side of Route 9, south of the Village of Rhinebeck.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

October Events!

(Please do check out our October Field Trips by clicking the link in the Nav bar on the right of this page...)


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 AND SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7, 11 A.M. TO 3 P.M. —TOURS AT WOODCHUCK LODGE, ROXBURY Free guided tours of Woodchuck Lodge, the summer home from 1910 to 1920 of naturalist John Burroughs (1837-1921). Picnickers welcome at Burroughs Memorial Field a short walk up the road where you can sit on Burroughs Boyhood Rock and enjoy the serenity of his gravesite. Rt. 30 north of Roxbury, turn right on Hardscrabble Rd. then Memorial Drive.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, NOON TO 4PM — OPEN HOUSE AT SLABSIDES At the woodland cabin of naturalist/author John Burroughs. The program will feature a speaker followed by guided nature walks on trails. The Pond House will be open around 2 P.M. with photos to view and light refreshments. Rain or shine. Directions: Take Rt. 9W to West Park, turn west between the Global Palate Restaurant and the Post Office onto Floyd Ackert Road, cross railroad tracks, go up hill to Burroughs Drive on left. Park and walk up 1/3 mile to Slabsides, a 20 minute walk. (limited parking at entrance for about 20 cars). Bring lunch, bug repellent, folding chairs if desired.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Great fall weekend to get outside!!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 9:00 AM - NOON — ESOPUS BEND NATURE PRESERVE MUSHROOM WALK
Autumn can be a very productive time of year for mushrooms, and the moist woodlands of Esopus Bend Nature Preserve often host more than 100 species of Mycelium.  The Esopus Creek Conservancy and John Burroughs Natural History Society are co-sponsoring a guided mushroom walk at Esopus Bend Nature Preserve in Saugerties on Saturday, September 15, 2012.  We will explore the woodlands of the preserve in search of ground and wood-dwelling mycelia.  Meet 9:00 AM in the Saugerties Village Beach parking lot on Rte. 9W, just north of the Esopus Creek bridge, at the foot of Partition Street in the Village of Saugerties.  Bring field guides and cameras if you have them.  Be prepared for potentially wet/muddy trails, cool weather conditions, and light to moderate rain.  Heavy rain cancels the walk.  Children are welcome and encouraged, but please do not bring pets.  Contact the field trip leader, Henry Halama (henryhalama@verizon.net) for additional information or directions.  This joint ECC/JBNHS Environmental Education walk is free and open to the public.  Pre-registration is not required, but recommended in the event of unforeseen changes or cancellation.  For additional information about upcoming ECC Nature Walks and Paddles, please visit www.esopuscreekconservancy.org.                                       

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM — BASHAKILL FALL MIGRANTS
Meet trip leader Tom Crepet (255-0324) at the “birders parking lot” on the east side of the Haven Rd. causeway.  To reach the parking lot a Bashakill WMA, head south on Rte, 209, through Wurtsboro, continuing on Rte, 209 2miles south of Rte. 17, turn left on Haven Rd. drive across the causeway and turn left onto the first dirt road.  A good variety of neotropical migrants can be found on this easy walk.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

TAKE ACTION NOW!

WE HOPE THAT THE COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE EXTENDED SO THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO SEND LETTERS.
MANY INDIVIDUALS HAVE COMMENTED ON MIDHUDSONBIRDS ON THE ISSUES AND DETAILS.  MANY JBNHS MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY SENT LETTERS--HOORAY TO THEM.  THE WATERMAN BIRD CLUB IS ALSO ACTIVELY SOLICITING ITS MEMBERS TO SEND THEIR COMMENTS TO THE DEC.   THE AGENCY TO ADDRESS NOW IS:
 
NYSDEC Region 3 Headquarters
Attn:  Joseph R Murray
21 South Putt Corners Rd
New Paltz, NY 12561
(845)256-3054
r3dep@gw.dec.state.ny.us
LETTERS TO THE EDITORS OF LOCAL NEWSPAPERS MIGHT ALSO BE HELPFUL--INCLUDING THE DAILY RECORD WHICH IS MORE COMMONLY READ IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTY.

MANY THANKS TO JOHN THOMPSON FOR THE RESEARCH AND WRITING OF THE LETTER WHICH WAS SENT FROM JBNHS.

Joseph R Murray
NYSDEC Region 3 Headquarters
21 South Putt Corners Rd
New Paltz, NY 12561
 
Re:  Application ID:  3-5152-00233/00002
Town of Shawangunk, Galeville Park, 123 Long Ln, Shawangunk, NY 12589
Permit(s) Applied for:  Article 11 Endangered/Threatened Species (Incidental Take)


Dear Mr. Murray, 

     The John Burroughs Natural History Society (JBNHS) is opposed to the Town of Shawangunk’s application for an endangered and threatened species incidental take permit.  Since 1950, members of the JBNHS have joined together to observe and describe the wildlife and ecology of Ulster County.  Throughout our history, the Society has been documenting phenological events and ecological changes in the county, from the Catskills to the Hudson River. Through the seasons and through the years, our goal has been to inspire young and old to observe and appreciate nature.  For twenty-five years our organization has led field trips to the area now known as the Shawangunks Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge (SGNWR)  and we are greatly concerned about the application submitted by the Town of Shawangunk to develop Galeville Park. The effects of that development would be very detrimental to migratory birds that require extensive grassland habitat.

     In addition to JBNHS, over sixteen New York State birding organizations list SGNWR as a destination for their field trips or on their websites as a place to bird.  Many out of state birding groups and their members travel to SGNWR and Galeville Park to observe birds throughout the year. Galeville Park as it currently exists provides a popular access for winter observations of Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers.  Putting the bird populations at risk at the National Wildlife Refuge could decrease visitation of birdwatchers to the town.  Birdwatching is the fastest growing outdoor recreation nationwide.  The 3.8 million birders in New York State generate $1.6 billion in ecotourism revenue every year. 

     We encourage the Town of Shawangunk and surrounding communities to work with birding groups to find better ways to capitalize on the potential revenue stream that such visitors offer.  Also, since so many people use SGNWR and Galeville Park for wildlife observation and since development of the park will have such extensive consequences on this national resource, we request that the comment period be extended. 

     Grasslands birds need large contiguous areas for habitat.   The great loss of large contiguous hayfields and pasture during the Twentieth Century has led to declines in diversity of grassland birds.  There are very few large areas (400+ acres) of maintained fields in the northeast.  Fortunately, the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge has identified grasslands species as a priority for management.  However, incompatible land use adjacent to the refuge can have negative impacts on refuge goals.  It is important that areas adjacent to the Shawangunks Grasslands be managed to support Endangered and Threatened Species habitat year-round.  .

      The plan to develop Galeville Park by the Town of Shawangunk will remove 10 acres of important grassland habitat, compromising the value of the remaining contiguous grasslands for breeding birds and over-wintering species such as Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers.  Also, as described in the application, converting the woodland west of the parking area will not benefit grassland birds, but would create a negative “edge effect” to the grassland, thus increasing predation, removing a noise buffer, and eliminating perching and nesting habitat.  In winter, the eastern red cedars in that woodland area are used by short-eared owls for roosting.  During spring and summer, the narrow hedgerow created by the plan could provide a travel corridor for predators and allow them to move hundreds of feet into fields to predate birds’ nests and thus create a population sink for nesting species.

     Many grassland birds are area sensitive, meaning that they need large areas of unfragmented fields to survive.  A study of Grasshopper Sparrows, Bobolinks and Upland Sandpipers in wet meadows in the Midwest found that grasslands biodiversity was maximized when habitats were greater than 120 acres and edge was minimized.  Constructing four athletic fields in the southern open field not only removes important habitat, but introduces more edge into the present Shawangunk Grasslands habitat. Field edges bring higher predation and parasitism rates on nests and some grassland birds avoid nesting near edges.  The creation of 31 acres of off-site grassland area, across Long Lane, has less value than the habitat being taken away because it is not contiguous to the wildlife refuge and does not meet the habitat requirements of area sensitive species already thriving in the area south of Long Lane.

    
     With 206 proposed parking areas and five proposed large athletic fields, there will be an increase of human disturbance on National Wildlife Refuge property.  An increase in visitation will likely lead to a need for garbage collection on site.  Garbage receptacles attract generalist bird predators such as raccoons, opossums, and skunks.  Removing the woodland west of the parking area will remove a noise buffer and decrease the screening from the road edge, exposing more of the Refuge fields to traffic motion and noise from the road. Human disturbance such as noise and movement can disrupt bird singing behavior and lead to a decrease in the number of nesting territories.    

      For these many reasons, the members of the John Burroughs Natural History Society ask you to reject the permit listed above for the Town of Shawangunk.  And we also ask you to extend the comment period about such development on what is one of the most  important natural areas in Ulster County.                             
                            Sincerely,
                            Lin Fagan, President
                            John Burroughs Natural History Society
                            September 4, 2012

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

September Field Trips

We've uploaded our September Field Trips (see the nav bar on the right).

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Friday, August 10, 2012

What's Happening This Weekend....

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 1:30 PM — ANIMAL TRACKING
The Esopus Creek Conservancy and John Burroughs Natural History Society are co-sponsoring a late summer Animal Tracking adventure at Esopus Bend Nature Preserve on Sunday, August 19, 2012, guided by Greg Perantoni, a tracker with 18 years experience.  Participants will learn how to identify animal tracks and to observe clues to what the animal may have been doing at the time the tracks were made. Meet 1:30 PM at the Shady Lane entrance to the preserve.  There is limited parking at the preserve entrance.  For those who wish to car pool to the entrance, parking is available at the Saugerties Plaza on Rte. 9W just south of the Village of Saugerties.  Contact the field trip leader, Greg Perantoni (greg.perantoni@yahoo.com) for additional information and/or directions.  This joint ECC/JBNHS Environmental Education walk is free and open to the public.  Pre-registration is not required, but recommended in the event of unforeseen changes or cancellation.  For additional information about upcoming ECC Nature Walks and Paddles, please visit www.esopuscreekconservancy.org.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Calling all gardeners...


JBNHS is volunteering another work day on Lower Broadway in Kingston, Sunday, August 26th at 8 a.m.  This will be our third garden clean-up session.  Please bring any weeding tools and gloves, and if you are susceptible to poison ivy, wear proper clothes (there have been patches found).  Mark Dedea will provide the paper bags...

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

FIRST JBNHS SUNSET CRUISE!!

JBNHS Members:  You get first dibs!  That's a great reason to become a member.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH 6:00-8:00PM.
TICKETS ARE $35 PER PERSON AND INCLUDE THE COST OF THE RIDE AND FOOD FROM SHIP TO SHORE.  THERE IS A FULL CASH BAR AVAILABLE ONBOARD.  WE CAN ACCOMMODATE 65 FOR THIS CRUISE SO SEND IN YOUR CHECKS TO RESERVE A SPOT (OR TWO).  PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO "JBNHS" BUT PLEASE MAIL THEM TO ME  MARK DEDEA 82 FIRST AVENUE KINGSTON NEW YORK 12401    

VISIT WWW.JBNHS.ORG FOR DETAILS ON MEMBERSHIP

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Robert Graves Elementary School BioBlast

Volunteers from JBNHS and Scenic Hudson ran a BioBlast on Saturday, April 28th, at the Robert Graves Elementary School in Port Ewen.  Forty-four students, plus their families attended--which was a considerable crowd for an 8 a.m., chilly start time.  But participants were most enthusiastic and numerous requests have been made for a repeat....

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

JBNHS volunteers clean up!

JBNHS clean-up on Lower Broadway this past Sunday, May 7th.

Saturday, April 21, 2012