The American Woodcock is one of the first birds to return back to the Albany Pine Bush in the spring and it starts singing and displaying just as quickly. Unfortunately, this intriguing species has also been declining in number since the 1960s. For this reason, the American Woodcock is a species of interest in the preserve and one the Commission monitors with the help of citizen scientists. Join us for a training in April to learn how to help us monitor American Woodcock in the preserve.
With a 2-foot wingspan and a habit of feeding in the air near the ground, common nighthawks are easy to spot. Dozens to hundreds of the birds are seen each evening before sunset during migration as they feed over the preserve. A New York State designated Species of Greatest Conservation Need, the common nighthawk is neither common (outside of migration) nor a hawk, and is experiencing declines throughout many parts of its breeding range including New York. We invite you to join us in the Discovery Center parking lot to count common nighthawks flying over the APBP as they continue on their over 6,000-mile southward migration.
Although it once kept people up at night, now the song of the Whip-poor-will is a rare sound in the Pine Bush. A nocturnal bird that is classified in the family of Nightjars, the Eastern whip-poor-will has been in decline in New York for the past two decades. We hope to see it return as we restore its habitat but we need your help to monitor for this now-rare species. Join us for evening training session in May to learn how you can become a Citizen Scientist and help us monitor Whip-poor-wills in the preserve.
For over 15 years, citizen scientists have been reporting data on calling frogs and toads to Frog Watch, a citizen science program of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Join us for spring and summer training sessions to learn about this amazing program and how you can participate by listening to the frogs and toads calling in your own backyard.
The North American Butterfly Association has run the Butterfly Count Program in the United States, Canada, and Mexico since 1993. The data collected provide a tremendous amount of information about the geographical distribution and relative population sizes of the species counted. Comparisons of the results across years can be used to monitor changes in butterfly populations and study the effects of weather and habitat change on North American butterflies.
Regionally, human-caused climate change is altering seasonal weather patterns, especially temperature and precipitation, but little is known about specific changes in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Preserve neighbors can help us track these effects by measuring the depth of snow in their own backyard. If you live within half a mile of the preserve, join us in October to learn how to collect and submit measurements that will help us explain how the flora and fauna of the Pine Bush survive the winter.
Wild turkey populations have changed dramatically in New York, from their complete absence for almost 100 years, to historic highs in the early 2000s, to recent declines in some areas. Come learn how the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) monitors turkeys from DEC Wildlife Biologist Mike Schiavone. Schiavone will share information about on-going research projects aimed at improving our understanding of wild turkey populations, and how you can help collect turkey data for DEC’s Citizen Science project.
Gardening with native plants offers significant environmental and practical advantages over using invasive species. Native plants support local ecosystems by providing food and habitat for wildlife, while invasive plants can disrupt these ecosystems, outcompeting native species and reducing biodiversity. Furthermore, native plants generally require less maintenance, like watering and fertilization, compared to invasive or non-native plants, making them a more sustainable choice.
Consider purchasing a reusable bag to use on your trips to the grocery store. Plastic bags that are discarded just fill up landfills and can take up to 1,000 years to completely break down.
We have a nice selection of reuseable bags in the Discovery Center Gift Shop!
Giving your child a square meal to take to school with them is important, literally! Packing their lunch in a reusable lunchbox instead of a brown paper bag will save many trees each year. If you use plastic baggies to separate their snacks you can switch over to reusable plastic containers to be even more sustainable.
Start a compost heap with your family. It’s fun and easy. Just start the pile by gathering grass clippings and dry leaves from your lawn. Then you can add scraps from the kitchen that you would normally just throw away, like banana peels. In 6 – 12 months you’ll have the perfect fertilizer to either start, or add to an existing organic garden or flower bed.
Shop eco-friendly! Try to avoid buying cleaners that contain harsh chemicals that can harm the environment. When possible, look for products that are made of, or come in packaging made from recycled materials. Purchasing in an environmentally responsible manner will urge producers to offer even more products that help save resources and the environment.
Enjoy the outdoors! Spending time with nature is more resource friendly than going to the movies or mall. The exercise you’ll get from hiking a trail is an added bonus, too. Your interest in nature is what keeps places like the Albany Pine Bush open and preserved.
VISIT
Don’t be a paper pusher. Keep it digital. Avoid printing out things that can just as easily be accessed on the computer.
Dreading the drive through rush hour? Bring a co-worker with you and endure it together! Carpooling saves on gas consumption, and one less car on the road means less harmful emissions in the air.
It’s possible to be environmentally friendly and still get your jolt of caffeine in the morning. Buying coffee grown with a Fair Trade certification helps ensure that coffee farmers in developing countries are paid fairly for their work and hopefully won't have to resort to unscrupulous growing practices detrimental to the environment. You can also look into purchasing reusable coffee filters.
Don’t be afraid to be a borrower. Make use of your public library to get the books and movies you want. This will save on paper and ink use, plus save space in your home.
Learn more about our Help a Habitat programs for schools here!
iNaturalist Training with Ecologist and Entomologist Amanda Dillon. Learn how to submit observations using the iNaturalist app, and how those submissions are used by Albany Pine Bush Preserve staff. Amanda is responsible for implementing preserve research projects and manages the Science Lecture Series and Community Science programs.
Click here to watch the video.
One of the world’s most popular nature apps, iNaturalist helps you identify the plants and animals around you. Get connected with a community of over a million scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature! What’s more, by recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create research quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature. iNaturalist is a joint initiative by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society.