Monthly Archives: February 2021

0

Wildlife Making Their Home in New York State

|

There are plenty of lakes in New York State along with two of the five Great Lakes – Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Due to all the choices of freshwater lakes, ponds, and reservoirs migratory birds like the state very much and enjoy taking a rest here. Fishermen can find plenty of salmon, trout, and perch in the Great Lakes as well as the brown bullhead in the small bog lakes in the Adirondacks and Chautauqua Allegheny.


Another thing that wildlife love about New York State is that there are lots of forests where they can make their homes such as the Adirondack Forest Preserve and the Catskill Forest Preserve. Here you can find deer, bears, coyotes and many more animals. Nature lovers can find lots of enjoy in this state and can watch for birds and animals that live in the wild.


The birds you can find in New York State include:

Bald Eagles making their home near water and they are amazing to see being 30 inches tall and having a wingspan of six to seven feet. A large population of bald eagles can be seen in the Hudson Valley.

Blue Herons make their home in the swamps, salt marshes, and slow moving rivers of New York State. They are blush-grey with long slender legs, a yellow bill and a long neck which is folded in a S-shape when flying.

Wild Turkeys can be found all through the state enjoying the woodlands with acorns and beech nuts as well as insects and other foods in hay fields. At night they can be found in trees.


Ospreys enjoy catching fish in the Adirondack lakes. The adults are dark brown on top and white below with a white head. They enjoy the long shores of the lakes very much and you can find they have nests that perch on trees high up and on poles. They return year after year.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

You can see the Common Loons at the Adirondack lakes during the summer. Their plumage is a clear black and white check. These birds have bright red eyes and a loud wolf-like call.

Scarlet Tanagers are easily seen with the males having bright red plumage and black wings and tails that change to yellow green in the late summers. These birds enjoy the lower lying forests in the state.

Among the mammals seen in the state are:

Beavers on the Genesee River and in the Allegheny State Park. They can be best spotted at night or at the break of day. You might hear them slapping their tails on the water. They enjoy creating dams and slides into the water.

Black bears make their home here also but they cannot always be spotted. These bears are covered in black fur and have long black muzzles. One has to take caution if hearing or spotting a black bear since they can be up to 7 feet tall standing on their hind legs.

Eastern Coyotes have been pestering farmers. They’re related to the wolf but are smaller and have blonde reddish coats. They prefer grasslands and open fields. You can possible seem them at dusk when they come out to hunt.

You can see many white-tailed deer that can be spotted in early mornings and at night. The best places to see them are when hiking in the Adirondacks, Hudson Highlands, and the Catskills. They enjoy the woodlands there.

For spotting Harbor Seals the best places are on Long Island especially at Montauk Point and Fire Island. The seals have spotted coats in colors ranging from silver grey to black or dark brown. The best times to see them are November to May as long as you keep your distance from them.

Whales can be seen in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean off of Long Island, Most of these whales are the Baleen type which are larger than toothed whales and with two blowholes, The Baleen whales seen in New York State are Minke, Finback, Sei, Humpback, Great Atlantic Right Whale, Sperm Whale and Blue Whale. The most important conservation organisation for these whales in the state is the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation (RFMRP).

Among the reptiles and amphibians you can see are:

Diamondback Terrapins and these turtles can be seen if you’re kayaking in rivers in the state. They live in brackish or briny waters, They are common around the coastal creeks of Long Island. The females go ashore to nest in the dunes. These turtles have diamond shapes on their shells and can be seen on beaches from May until July. At this time they cannot be disturbed because they will get frightened and abandon their nests with eggs.

Snapping Turtles are larger and more aggressive. You have to look out for them when swimming, They will not attack but can provide a bad surprise if they snap at you since they can grow to be 15 pounds in weight.

Eastern Red-Spotted Newts are bright orange when they are young and with age become green. They can be found around waters that are close to woodlands. They can live up to fifteen years.


Insects that can be found include:

Lovely butterflies particularly the orange and black Monarch butterflies that can be seen in open meadows. You can also see them on Fire Island off Long Island and the Albany Pine Bush Reserve. If hiking te trails at Seneca Cultural center you can see them.

A more rare butterfly is the Karner Blue Butterfly and is on the endangered species lit, These butterflies love feed in the blue lupine flower and they are protected in the Hudson Valley from the Albany PIne Bush north to the Glenn Falls area.

As much as it is wonderful to see the beautiful nature and wildlife in New York State you have to be aware of ticks that thrive in woodlands, These are the main carriers of Lyme Disease. They are very small as small as a seed would be on your skin. The females have a reddish brown body with black markings adn the males are smaller and dark brown, Always when hiking carry tweezers with you to remove the tick by the head not the body. You can check with the New York State Department of Health website.

Another thing to look out for when hiking in New York State is that nasty plant called poison ivy. It grows in the woodlands, on the side of roads, and even sand dunes, The oil of the plant known as urushiol inflames the skin and the skin becomes painfully itchy. The plant has three leaves and grows low to the ground. Always be careful and on the lookout when hiking and sitting down. More details can be found on the New York State Department of Transportation site.

Google images safe search

0

Alpacas In Connecticut

|

One of the places where you can do some bird watching in the US state of Connecticut is at Silver Sands State Park.The park offers summertime swimming in Long Island Sound and visiting a bird sanctuary on Charles Island.

On the island you can find heron and egret rookeries. Other birds seen are the snowy owl and the rough-legged hawk.

You can take wonderful nature hikes and watch wildlife at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center.

Here you’ll find mixed woods, wetlands, and meadows. In the meadow you can spot bluebirds or bullfrogs and painted turtles in the pond. There are birds such as owls and hawks.

Now I promised you alpacas and we have finally gotten to the Burgis Brook Alpacas. Here you’ll find over 50 Peruvian huacayas living on the farm in Canterbury. They have delightful names like El Futuro and Claribelle. Many can be petted. Their soft fleece turns into knitting yarn which can be purchased at The Crimp Farm Shop and food stuffs produced on-site.

Google images safe search