Rare or noteworthy wildlife spotted in New York State Parks
Fall fungi comes in a wide range of appearances, often in striking shapes and colors. Due to the moist air of autumn in New York State, our parks and trails abound with opportunities to see them in all their uniqueness. Many of them have fantastically creepy names or appearances, just in time for the spookiest time of year.
Read on to meet some eerie and funky fall fungi to search for on your fall hikes and walks!
Continue reading Fall Fungi, Frightening or Fantastic?If you have ever been out enjoying New York’s great outdoors, chances are you have encountered wildlife. From chipmunks in the picnic grounds to bald eagles flying overhead, New York’s state park system provides over 350,000 acres of habitat that is home to hundreds of species of wildlife. These animals are important natural components of New York’s ecosystems.
If you are out hiking, biking, paddling, camping, hunting, or any other outdoor activity, there are some steps you can take to keep both you and wildlife safe.
Read on to learn more about a few specific animals and how you can stay safe if you encounter them.
Continue reading What To Do During Wildlife EncountersIs there a greater source of inspiration than nature? The natural world has inspired great works of art in every genre and style from cave paintings to classical sculpture, lyric poetry to hit movies, orchestral works to electronic soundscapes. Landscape architecture takes this process one step further, in which nature becomes the art. A landscape architect studies for years to learn the art, science and craft of working with plants and trees to make an artistic statement that complements both the natural surroundings and the architecture and meets the needs of their client.
New York State Parks and Historic Sites preserves many remarkable landscapes. As National Garden Week draws to a close, discover iconic landscapes at our historic sites and the fascinating stories behind them.
Continue reading Landscape Architecture In Full FlowerEach year, New York State Parks’ New York City region collaborates with partners BlackAFinSTEM, NYC Audubon, Latino Outdoors, Feminist Bird Club, and Outdoor Afro to convene Black Birders Week events. Together, these local organizations have created a network of support for historically marginalized people in communities that call this diverse and populated metropolis home, and our state parks are proud to serve as venues for some of the week’s activities.
Black Birders Week is just one example of how an injustice can inspire a community of people to come together to advocate and inspire change. On May 25, 2020, Christian Cooper – a Black man – was birding in Central Park when he encountered a white woman with her dog in the Ramble and politely asked her to put her dog on a leash so as not to disturb nesting birds. In response, the woman called 911 and asserted that a Black man was threatening her and her dog.
The video of this encounter went viral, making national news and demonstrating the challenges Black people face when engaging in outdoor activities. The incident, and others like it, led to the creation of Black Birders Week, now in its fourth year. The week itself aims to celebrate and uplift budding Black birders, expert Black birders, and all birders in between.
Join us in celebrating Black Birders Week with a full slate of events at three New York City parks named after historic Black and Afro-Caribbean leaders: Marsha P. Johnson State Park, Shirley Chisholm State Park and Roberto Clemente State Park.
Continue reading Black Birders Fly in New York CityWith the weather warming up, people are itching to get out and enjoy all that New York’s state parks have to offer. Unfortunately, there’s another thing that might get them itching – the bite of a tick!
According to the Centers for Disease Control, as many as 476,000 people in the U.S. contract Lyme disease, one of several tick-borne diseases found in the Empire State, every year. Considering there are countless cases that go unreported, it’s important to be aware of ticks and how to avoid them as we go out and enjoy nature. Here’s some information about ticks, and some ways to avoid being bitten.
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