Next Meeting and 2011 Creek Week

ulsterenvironment — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:50:09 +0000

THE NEXT EMC MEETING WILL BE at 6:30PM ON February 29, 2012.

Location is the Howard St John Conference Room (Clinton Hall) at SUNY Ulster.

REGIONAL EVENTS OF INTEREST

February 9 – 8-9:30AM – Hudson River Watershed Alliance (HRWA) Mid-Hudson Watershed Breakfast Omelet Series:

Topic – Shore Zone Management along the Hudson River. Featured Speaker: Dave Strayer, Freshwater Ecologist, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. Shore zones are among the most ecologically valuable parts of the planet but have been heavily damaged by human activities. The Sustainable Shorelines Project includes a diverse team of professionals who have been working to assess alternatives for shoreline management along the Hudson and encourage the adoption of ecologically enhanced shoreline management practices. Dave Strayer will provide a brief description of the shore zone and its characteristics, the condition of the Hudson’s shores, and current activities and products of the Sustainable Shorelines Project. RSVP to Russell Urban-Mead, rum@chazencompanies.com $4 minimum food/beverage purchase. Location: Plaza Diner (Stop & Shop Plaza), New Paltz. WINTER BAD WEATHER POLICY: HRWA breakfasts are cancelled only if the New Paltz Central School District has either a delay or snow cancellation. Please listen to the radio, call the school district or visit its website to learn of delays or cancellations. You are also always welcome to call Russell Urban-Mead at 914 456-1095 (cell).

February 16 – How’s the Water? A Presentation and Call for Volunteers – 7-9PM

Join representatives from Riverkeeper’s Patrol Boat Program for a presentation about water quality in the Hudson River and its tributaries, including the Rondout Creek. Riverkeeper will also recruit volunteers to expand its water-quality testing program above the Eddyville Dam into the non-tidal portions of the Rondout Creek and Wallkill River.

For six years, Riverkeeper’s Patrol Boat and its scientific partners have been testing the water for sewage contamination and reporting the findings to the public. Riverkeeper will present data from its Water Quality Testing Program, and discuss opportunities to improve public notification of sewage discharges and to continue making the Hudson safer for swimming, fishing and boating.

Questions and discussion will follow the presentation. Location: Town of Esopus Library, 128 Canal St Port Ewen, N.Y. 12401. For more information about the event, or volunteering, please contact Dan Shapley, Riverkeeper Membership & Events Manager, at dshapley@riverkeeper.org or 914-478-4501 x226.

February 17 – 20 – Great Backyard Bird Count

Bird watchers coast to coast are invited to take part in the annual Great Backyard Bird Count. Participants in the free event will join tens of thousands of volunteers counting birds in their own backyards, local parks or wildlife refuges.

Each checklist submitted by these “citizen scientists” helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn more about how the birds are doing—and how to protect them. “Taking part in the Great Backyard Bird Count is a great way to get outside with family and friends, have fun, and help birds—all at the same time,” said Audubon Education Vice President, Judy Braus. “Even if you can only identify a few species you can provide important information that enables scientists to learn more about how the environment is changing and how that affects our conservation priorities.”

Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from novice bird watchers to experts. Participants count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org.

“The GBBC is a perfect first step towards the sort of intensive monitoring needed to discover how birds are responding to environmental change,” said Janis Dickinson, the director of Citizen Science at the Cornell Lab. “Winter is such a vulnerable period for birds, so winter bird distributions are likely to be very sensitive to change. There is only one way—citizen science—to gather data on private lands where people live and GBBC has been doing this across the continent for many years. GBBC has enormous potential both as an early warning system and in capturing and engaging people in more intensive sampling of birds across the landscape.”

On the www.birdcount.org website, participants can explore real-time maps and charts that show what others are reporting during the count. The site has tips to help identify birds and special materials for educators. Participants may also enter the GBBC photo contest by uploading images taken during the count. Many images will be featured in the GBBC website’s photo gallery. All participants are entered in a drawing for prizes that include bird feeders, binoculars, books, CDs, and many other great birding products.

For more information about the GBBC, visit the website at www.birdcount.org. Or contact the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at (800) 843-2473 or (outside the U.S., call (607) 254-2473) or gbbc@cornell.edu, or Audubon at citizenscience@audubon.org or 202-861-2242 ext 3050.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is made possible, in part, by generous support from Wild Birds Unlimited.

March 3 – 9AM – 2:30PM – 2012 Hudson River Fish Summit

Location: Wallace Center (FDR library) in Hyde Park. This program “Bringing People Together to Celebrate Fishing on the Hudson” includes: a history of Hudson fishing with naturalist Tom Lake, the past, present and future of the Hudson with Fran Dunwell, an update on the dredging project, Hudson habitat restoration, and breakouts on fish advisory outreach or Hudson fishing tips and regulations. The program is free, and breakfast and lunch will be provided. All are invited: anglers and their families, conservation advocates, environmental and science educators, Hudson boaters, recreation and tourism staff, youth groups, faith organizations, community groups, social service providers, and anyone interested in the Hudson River and its future. For more information call 845-677-8223 ext 150. Attached is the announcement with a link for online registration or register online at www.hrfishsummit.eventbrite.com

Thursday, March 19 – ‘GIVE A HOOT’ OWL HIKE – 7-8:30PM

Shaupeneak Ridge, Esopus. While sitting around a warm fire, enjoy an introduction to owls and learn how to mimic their distinct calls. Then hike in the moonlight along the shore of beautiful Louisa Pond in search of these majestic birds. Contact Anthony Coneski, 845 473 4440 Ext. 273, www.scenichudson.org

Ulster County Environment

Next Meeting and 2011 Creek Week

THE NEXT EMC MEETING WILL BE at 6:30PM ON February 29, 2012.

Location is the Howard St John Conference Room (Clinton Hall) at SUNY Ulster.

REGIONAL EVENTS OF INTEREST

Ulster County REConnect -

CHECK OUT THIS NEW, INTERACTIVE, ONLINE OUTDOOR RECREATION MAPPING WEBSITE for Ulster County! www.UlsterCountyAlive.com/REConnect