Snowy Scene
With the first official day of winter only about 10 days away, the landscape in Western New York is certainly looking the part thanks to all the recent snow we have received (and are still getting!) from a big Nor’easter that has moved its way up the coast. I took a walk this morning on some of our trails here at RTPI and captured one of my favorite scenes: eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis) dripping with snow. While I was photographing the trees, the winds picked up causing the snow to come swirling down from the branches and needles, making the trail look a bit like a snow-globe....
Read MoreNo Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Here
This past week RTPI staff, JCC faculty and a number of JCC students conducted surveys in two locations looking specifically for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid or HWA. We are happy to report negative findings for both our survey locations in near Randolph, NY and Warren, PA. In both locations we surveyed, the Hemlocks appeared healthy and free of pests or disease. Our survey efforts are contributing to a large project being led by the US Forest Service and the Nature Conservancy, who have prioritized survey locations within the High Allegheny Plateau ecoregion. Surveys are to be conducted 1-2 times...
Read MoreCollege Lodge survey
Here’s RTPI Conservation Technician Elyse Henshaw checking for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid on an Eastern Hemlock tree (Tsuga canadensis) yesterday at the College Lodge. Our staff is currently conducting a year-long plant and wildlife assessment of the approximately 200-acre property owned and operated by the Faculty Student Association of SUNY Fredonia. Working with SUNY staff and experienced local naturalists RTPI staff is surveying all forms of life in order to create a conservation and management plan recommending best practices for the site. In July 2014 there will be a BioBlitz of the...
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