Deer Overbrowsing
I may not be an expert on vegetation, especially ornamental, but something seems…not right…here. You have probably seen similar sights in the last couple of months now that the ice and snow have fully cleared as White-tailed Deer did a number on anything they could eat in the Northeast. Everything just above their head is bright and green, and parts below are bare and brown. Our overpopulation of deer wipes the forest floors clean to the point where they must pick at what we could call scraps like these in our neighborhoods. Some people may object to wolves in their backyards,...
Read MoreSnowmobile Cell Phone Tour Wrap Up
For any of those that enjoy the winter season, many will say this past winter was a great one. The cold temperatures and consistent snowfall made Chautauqua County a winter outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, coating the trails and ski slopes throughout much of the blustery season. Thanks to all of the wintery weather the area received, the trails throughout Chautauqua County were open for snowmobile, ski, snowshoe and foot traffic throughout much of the designated season. Furthermore, the conditions created a great opportunity for people to get out on the trails and enjoy some of the...
Read MoreTale of Two April Climates
The first half of April 2015 was a Tale of Two Climates: when compared to long-term averages, New England was cool to cold and dry, sometimes exceptionally so, while the Mid-Atlantic was warm and wet, sometimes ridiculously so. Fortunately since then it has balanced out to some degree (pun intended) and conditions have moderated in both regards. In my opinion we seem to be at a relatively average place in terms of “green out”, with buds and leaves near where they “should” be for our returning birds and emerging insects. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach...
Read MoreAmerican Oystercatchers Relaxing
American Oystercatchers have been pairing off across Connecticut, and a few sites and birds have been reported as copulating. However, like the Piping Plover, we still have no confirmed nests likely because of the continuing cold conditions at times. With the warm-up of the last few days and late April coming there will be eggs soon. Until then these birds were relaxing on the beach out of the wind and tucking in their bills for a midday nap.
Read MoreSkunk Cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus
Although snow cover has been increasingly thinning over the past few weeks, this skunk cabbage plant (Symplocarpus foetidus) wasn’t about to wait any longer for the snow to thaw completely on its own. Similar to a bird or mammal, skunk cabbage is able to thermoregulate its internal temperatures regardless of the outside temperatures. Simply put, skunk cabbage is able to keep itself warm and keep from freezing under the snow. Some studies have shown that skunk cabbage can heat itself up to nearly 70°F, even when ambient temperatures are in the single digits! Due to this ability to heat...
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