It is that time of year when families are heading out to buy a Christmas tree.  Many begin to ask themselves, which is better, a real tree or an artificial tree.  When asking yourself this question, you need to define better.  Better for whom, you the consumer or the environment?  As you think [...]]]>

             It is that time of year when families are heading out to buy a Christmas tree.  Many begin to ask themselves, which is better, a real tree or an artificial tree.  When asking yourself this question, you need to define better.  Better for whom, you the consumer or the environment?  As you think about your choices this year take a look at this list of pros and cons for each type of tree.

Benefits of an Artificial Tree

♦     You do not have to go out a buy a new tree each year.  Just head up to the attic or down to the basement.

♦     Many artificial trees come pre-lit.  This saves the hassle of having to put on and take off lights each year.  In addition, if they are LED, you are saving on electricity as well.

♦     No mess on the floor when it comes to pine needles.

Drawbacks of an Artificial Tree

♦    More expensive at the start.  A decent tree can cost almost $400 and you would need to keep it for at least 10 years to equal the price of getting $40 real tree.

♦     Must be used at lest 20 years to be more eco-friendly than a real tree because of greenhouse gas emissions & human health impact.

♦     Made of non-biodegradable materials and PVC plastic.  You can reduce the impact of these materials by donating your used tree to a charity that serves needy families in your community.

♦     The manufacturing process generates known carcinogens such as dioxin, ethylene dichloride, and vinyl chloride.  They are generated during manufacturing; pollute neighborhoods surrounding the factory and harm workers within the factory.  85% of artificial trees sold in theUSare made inChinawhere there are fewer safety regulations that protect workers and the environment.

Benefits of a Real Tree

♦     Help support the planting of approximately 350,000 acres of trees each year

♦     Entertainment & Enjoyment – For most families getting the family Christmas tree and a yearly tradition where families enjoy time outside, hiking around looking for the perfect tree

♦     They are a renewable resource and sequester carbon from the environment.

♦     Carbon emissions associated with real trees are 1/3 of those created by the purchase of an artificial tree over a 6-yr span

♦     Protects farmland that might otherwise be developed

♦     Can buy with roots still intact from a local grower.  This is the most eco-friendly because it can be planted outside after Christmas.  Warning:  This tree can only be inside for 1 week before it wakes up from its dormancy and will not survive the winter outside.

♦     Fresh pine scent

Drawback of a Real Tree

♦     Repeated cost of $20-$50 or more depending on type and size of tree

♦     Must buy lights to decorate and untangle those lights every year.

♦     Can end up in a landfill if not disposed of properly.  Many towns and cities now collect for mulch.  You can also add to your yard for a bird habitat or a pond for a fish habitat.

♦     Repeated applications of pesticides throughout their years of growth.

♦     Excessive driving to find the tree can add immensely to carbon emissions.

♦     You are picking up pine needles until July!

♦     You have to constantly be moving presents to water the tree.

I have always enjoyed watching birds.  They would fascinate me as a young child.  I would spend time watching them eat from our feeder outside of our kitchen window.  One of my fondest memories of my grandfather is when he “taught” me how to feed the chickadees from my hand.  It was an amazing [...]]]>

I have always enjoyed watching birds.  They would fascinate me as a young child.  I would spend time watching them eat from our feeder outside of our kitchen window.  One of my fondest memories of my grandfather is when he “taught” me how to feed the chickadees from my hand.  It was an amazing experience for me as a young girl.

Do you have a memorable experience with birds?  Did you happen to get a picture of it?  The Cornel Lab of Ornithology is looking for some unique pictures of birds.

Close Encounters of the Bird Kind  New contest spotlights bird interactions  American Goldfinches go beak-to-beak. Photo by Cheryl Sotelo. Ithaca, NY—The Celebrate Urban Birds project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is launching a contest to capture memorable encounters with birds. The goal is to show some of the ways birds interact with each other, with humans, or with other creatures. Entries can be in the form of a story, a photo, artwork, video, poetry, sculpture or any other creative art. Participants just need to show birds interacting in fun, interesting, or captivating ways. “For example, you might see a House Sparrow trying to grab a sandwich at the park,” says project leader Karen Purcell. “Maybe a crow is teasing your dog or hummingbirds are dueling over who gets dibs on the nectar feeder. That’s the sort of close encounter we’d like to see.” Prizes include binoculars, bird feeders, sound CDs, books, and much more. The first 50 entrants receive a copy of the Cornell Lab’s “Doves and Pigeons” poster by Julie Zickefoose. Selected entries will also be featured in the 2012 Celebrate Urban Birds calendar.    This Mountain Chickadee enjoys some seed atop its human perch. Photo by Destiny Mink. How to enter: 1. Email entries to urbanbirds@cornell.edu. If you submit a video, post it on YouTube and send the link. 2. Write “CloseEncounter_yourfirstname yourlastname_yourstate” in the subject line. 3. Include both your mailing address and the location where you saw the bird(s) in your email. 4. Explain why you submitted your entry and what it shows.  5. One entry per person, please. 6. Read the terms of agreement.                        Deadline for entries is November 15, 2011 Visit the Celebrate Urban Birds website for more information. # Project Contact: Karen Purcell, Project Leader, (607) 254-2455, urbanbirds@cornell.edu Media Contact: Pat Leonard, (607) 254-2137, pel27@cornell.edu

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a membership institution dedicated to interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Visit the Cornell Lab’s website at http://www.birds.cornell.edu.

Do you enjoy taking photographs?

Do you have some great shots ofPfeifferNatureCenter(orNew York’s forests) that you want to share? 

Photography is one of our country’s most popular pastimes.  This is your chance to share your photographs ofPfeifferNatureCenterandNew York’s forests.

In honor of International Year of Forests, The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division [...]]]>

Do you enjoy taking photographs?

Do you have some great shots ofPfeifferNatureCenter(orNew York’s forests) that you want to share? 

Photography is one of our country’s most popular pastimes.  This is your chance to share your photographs ofPfeifferNatureCenterandNew York’s forests.

In honor of International Year of Forests, The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Lands and Forests is holding the Celebrating New York’s Forests Photo Contest.  This contest is an effort to increase awareness of and appreciation for all types of forests, urban and rural, large and small, public and privately owned, across the state.

They are looking for the best photos in the following categories:

1. Nature (wildlife, plants, or natural landscapes, etc. with a forest-related theme)
2. Enjoying the forest (hunting, fishing, trails, camping, hiking, etc.)
3. Trees where we live (parks, streets, yards, etc.)
4. Forestproducts (maple syrup, lumber, baseball bats, furniture, etc.)
5. State-owned forests (StateForests, Forest Preserve lands, forested Wildlife Management Areas, Campgrounds)

Is there a better place to take pictures for those first two categories thanPfeifferNatureCenter?

So sort through shots you already have, and take a hike on our hills to shoot some great fall scenes.

All submissions must be received by close of business on November 1, 2011.  For more information about the contest and the official rules, please see http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/75396.html. 

Do not forget to let us know if you win!

As the seasons change from summer toward autumn the weather provides a great opportunity to explore the trails since there is less heat, humidity and fewer bugs. Looking to take a trek? Here are five tips to get you started:

1. Find a trail. Pfeiffer Nature Center (and Western New York ) is filled [...]]]>

As the seasons change from summer toward autumn the weather provides a great opportunity to explore the trails since there is less heat, humidity and fewer bugs. Looking to take a trek? Here are five tips to get you started:

1. Find a trail. Pfeiffer Nature Center (and Western New York ) is filled with hiking trails of all kinds from easy walks in the woods to challenging terrain and hills. Whether novice or an experienced hiker, finding a trail to suit your pace and physical level is important. Things to consider when choosing a trail include distance, elevation and terrain. Is the trail rocky or a well-worn dirt path? Is it flat or will you have to climb hills or scramble up rocks?

2. Wear the right clothes. Once you pick your trail, check the weather forecast and pick your clothes. You don’t need lots of hiking gear to walk in the woods or try out the sport. “People don’t need to buy expensive hiking boots and poles to start with,” Peluso said. “A good, comfortable pair of sneakers can start you out.” Whether you’re wearing sturdy sneakers or hiking boots the key is to have comfortable shoes which will give you protection on the trails. Even well-worn and groomed paths give your feet a pounding. “The quickest way to ruin a hike is to have sore feet,” Sander said. He also brings along an inexpensive rain poncho available at discount stores if there is any chance of rain in the forecast. “It can be quite pleasant to hike in a light rain,” Sander said. “But it’s no fun when you’re soaking wet.”

3. Bring water and food. Regardless of how long you think you will be in the woods, bring along plenty of water and some snacks. Erring on the side of too much water is better than being without. Dried fruit and nuts make good trail snacks.

4. Expand the adventure. Find a hiking partner who know about trees or wildflowers or geology and learn while you’re on the trail. Sander recommends bringing a simple camera on the hike and a journal. Take photos of interesting trees, flowers, rock formations or water ways. In the journal, add notes to remember specifics about the photo including location, time of day and what interested you about the scene.  (Join a local hiking club such as Olean Area Hiking Group)

5. Making it a family day. While it can be a different type of challenge, families with young children can enjoy a day in the woods. The key is to plan ahead and be thoughtful in thinking about what the kids are really capable of. “One of the most important things, and it can be difficult to realize, is to try and get a handle on your own abilities and your children’s abilities because you don’t want to bite off more than you can chew the first time and end up with miserable kids,” said Rob Laing, who has been hiking for 25 years. “I was never into forced marches. I wanted my kids to get involved in the outdoors and have fun. We started with shorter hikes and gradually as they got older we added more climbing.”

Article was adapted from By Amy Moritz, Buffalo News

Have you been on a nice long walk in the woods lately?  I have.  Yesterday I spent the morning walking the trails at our Lillibridge Property.  My original intent to hiking the trails was to look for mushrooms for our Mushroom Walk & ID on Saturday, August 20, 2011.  As I wandered Griffin Way, [...]]]>

Have you been on a nice long walk in the woods lately?  I have.  Yesterday I spent the morning walking the trails at our Lillibridge Property.  My original intent to hiking the trails was to look for mushrooms for our Mushroom Walk & ID on Saturday, August 20, 2011.  As I wandered Griffin Way, Sally’s Alley, and part of the Loop, I discovered small mushrooms along the trail.  I hope that they will be bigger by Saturday.  However, while I was walking I saw (and heard) more than just mushrooms.  I enjoy walking by myself because I can experience much more of nature than I would with a group.  Mainly because it is a lot quieter.  On this morning’s walk, I heard two turkeys talking back and forth.  The forest was filled with their conversation and not mine.  I was also fortunate to stumble upon a fawn eating on the Pinkster trail.  We both noticed each other at the same time and froze.  The fawn watched me for about 10 seconds before walking about 10 feet farther down the trail.  After awhile the fawn walked into the woods.  As I approached the spot where it entered into the woods, I heard it snort and take off running.  I would have loved to get a picture but I had to settle for a nice picture of the pavilion and the valley.  What really sparked my interest was that the fawn still had spots even though it was getting close to full-grown adult size.  I have seen many young deer still with spots and I do not remember seeing so many this late in the summer.  After some research online, I learned that most do not lose their spots until they start to grow in their winter coat, at which time they lose their spots and reddish brown color.  The coat starts to turn to a gray color for the winter.

That day on which thousands of people across the nation pitch tents and roll out sleeping bags is almost here—National Wildlife [...]]]>

Great American Backyard Campout: Seven Things to Do After Dark

from Wildlife Promise

5/18/2011 // Roger DiSilvestro Campers enjoy an oasis of light on a dark night in this photo by Derek Gulden

That day on which thousands of people across the nation pitch tents and roll out sleeping bags is almost here—National Wildlife Federation’s Great American Backyard Campout,  slated this year for June 25.

Camping, even for just a night in a backyard, is a way to put children in touch with nature. A study in the 1990s found that people who grew up to be conservationists almost invariably had someone in their lives who introduced them to nature as a child.

Former president Jimmy Carter put it more eloquently:  “It is good to realize that if love and peace can prevail on earth, and if we can teach our children to honor nature’s gifts, the joys and beauties of the outdoors will be here forever.” Introducing a child to the outdoors can create a commitment to nature that lasts a lifetime.

Some of you participating in this camping event may wonder what to do after nightfall. Here are seven activities that may keep you and the kids amused:

1. Build a Fire:  But of course! If you are in an area that allows you to build a fire, do so. Let the kids help, collecting kindling and other wood, and show them how it is done, starting with the flaming of small twigs and fluff and building with larger pieces of wood. “The fire,” Henry David Thoreau once pointed out, “is the main comfort of the camp, whether in summer or winter, and is about as ample at one season as at another.  It is as well for cheerfulness as for warmth and dryness.”
2. Fish: If you are near a lake or pond, consider a little night fishing. Some fish are attracted to light. Put up a lantern near shore or hang one on your boat as you sit in one place. Kids may find a boat confining, especially at night, but for older children a night fishing trip—pulling the thrashing catch from the foam of dark waters—will be a camping memory not soon forgotten.
3. Bug Watch: You can use a light to attract insects and see what comes in. In fact, if you have a camp light, you probably will attract insects like it or not. So make a game of it. Put up a white sheet between trees and shine a light on it. Insects will land on the sheet, and you can use field guides to identify them. You can set up your sheet at different sites—on poles in an open space, between trees in a wood, near water, not near water—and see if different types of insects show up. Keep a list of species.  How do the lists differ, and if they do, why? The insects will provide astute young wildlife enthusiasts with a lesson in the importance of habitat.
4. Night Sounds: Trying sitting quietly in the dark, without fire or flashlight, and just listen. Within a few minutes your eyes will adjust to the darkness, and you surroundings will be seen in a new perspective. Listen: what sounds do you hear? Depending on where you are camping, you may hear the yapping of a coyote, or the hooting of an owl (count the hoots; they can provide a clue to what species you are hearing; check a field guide), or the scurrying of night creatures in the grass, or the prrrnnt of a nighthawk, or the chirps of frogs. Try sitting in different locales and listening. Do you hear different creatures at different sites? Or try mapping the sounds you hear, putting the place where you are sitting in the middle of a sheet of paper (X can mark the spot) and writing down the animals you hear, showing on the map where they are in relationship to you. In daylight, check out the places where sounds came from. Do they tell you anything about habitat preference?
5. Stargazing: Tradition says that ancient shepherds lay out with their flocks at night and watched the myriad glittering stars, passing the time by picking out images among the stars, like Orion the Hunter or the Big Dipper. But naming constellations doesn’t have to end with ancient shepherds, for whom the sky was a sort of celestial video game. You can pick up the tradition, inventing and naming your own constellations: is that a Toyota Prius, the Empire State Building, an X-Box, a lamp? Is that mom over there, and dad over there?  Alternatively, get a star-gazer field guide and pick out the traditional constellations.
6. Hiking in the Rain: “Rainstorms,” humorist Dave Barry wrote, “will travel thousands of miles, against prevailing winds, for the opportunity to rain on a tent.” But rain is no reason to give up on your campout. Take advantage of a drizzle—on wet nights, frogs, toads and salamanders, and maybe ever a water turtle or two, may be out and about, taking advantage of the moisture to move from place to place. Put on raingear, grab a waterproof flashlight, and see what amphibians you can find. You may see creatures you otherwise would never or rarely encounter.
7. Night Waters: If you are near a pond, take you flashlight or your headlamp and go to it. Immerse a waterproof flashlight in the pond, preferably on a rope or with some other device for easy retrieval. Some creatures will be attracted to light. See what shows up. Perhaps you can capture some with a net, jar or bucket and identify them. Also collect a water sample from dark waters. Do you find different creatures in this water sample? You may need a magnifying glass and field guide to help with identification. What do you think accounts for the differences you find?

Whatever you do, have fun during your Great American Backyard Campout. Thoreau again: “We need the tonic of wildness—to wade sometimes in marshes where the bittern and the meadow-hen lurk, and hear the booming of the snipe; to smell the whispering sedge where only some wilder and more solitary fowl builds her nest, and the mink crawls with its belly close to the ground.” (Oh yes, another bonus activity might be the reading of such classics of conservation as Thoreau’s Walden or Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac . . . in the tent . . . or by the fire.)

When it finally stops raining again, I am sure that these little flowers will be popping up everywhere. Why not take advantage of natures bounty and can a little sunshine! I ran across this recipe/article through one of the emails that I recieved this week. I love jam and look forward to giving this [...]]]>

When it finally stops raining again, I am sure that these little flowers will be popping up everywhere. Why not take advantage of natures bounty and can a little sunshine!
I ran across this recipe/article through one of the emails that I recieved this week. I love jam and look forward to giving this one try. Pictures to with steps available at http://www.simplycanning.com/dandelion-jelly.html
Dandelion Jelly Recipe

Dandelion jelly tastes a bit like honey. It is true. My youngest took a taste and proclaimed the “honey” good.

This was a fun project to try out. I was a little leery as to how it would taste so I only made one batch the first time. I didn’t want to use all that sugar and find we really didn’t like it.

I had no reason to fear. It is delicious. I made another 2 batches to have for Christmas gifts this year. (Uhm….. if you are a relative of mine pretend you didn’t read that.)

Be sure and pick your dandelions where you know they have not been sprayed. When we asked our neighbor farmer if we could go out in the field and pick dandelions. He said sure. Then looked at me a little funny! I gave him a little jar of dandelion jelly as a thank you.

I sent my sons and a visiting friend out picking with a gallon drink pitcher and they were back in a jiffy. I think their friend probably though I was a little kooky too! I think I’m getting a reputation!

Pick at least 10 cups of dandelion blossoms. Just blossoms no stems. (they are bitter)

Snip off base of each flower until you have just yellow petals. You need to end up with 4 cups petals.

I tried several methods of getting the petals. I finally settled on pinching the flower and using a scissors to cut off the base.

This is a little tedious… ok it is a lot tedious. But it is worth it!

Then I used my fingers to pull off any green parts that were left. It is ok if there are little bits of green.

Next pour boiling water over the petals. Let this sit until room temperature or overnight if possible. When this has brewed you will have a darkish yellow dandelion “tea”.

Now you are ready to make the dandelion jelly.
Gather your canning supplies
water bath canner
canning jars
canning lids and rings
jar lifter
canning funnel
bowls
large pot
large spoons
towels and dish cloths
scissors
Ingredients
Boiling water
4 Cups dandelion petals
4 1/2 Cups sugar
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 box powdered pectin

Fill your canner 2/3 full of water and begin heating the water as you make your jelly. This only makes 4 cups of jelly so you can use any pot that will cover whatever jars you choose to use. The pot needs to hold enough water to cover your jars by 2 inches of water and have a rack to keep the jars off the bottom.

Strain the “dandelion tea” through a coffee filter or or jelly bag to remove all petals. Add additional water if needed to measure 3 Cups liquid.

Add “tea”, lemon juice, 1 box of pectin and sugar into large saucepan. Bring to a boil and continue boiling 1-2 minutes.

Pour hot jelly into hot canning or jelly jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space. Use pints or 1/2 pints.

Process
1/2 pints or pints
process for 10 minutes if you are below 6000 ft elevation.
15 minutes if you are above 6000 ft elevation.

“Can words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring? ” – Neltje Blanchan

The best part of Springtime is the smell.

You can’t describe the smell of fresh cut grass after an April shower, the smell of newly bloomed flowers, or even the smell of the mud that forms when all [...]]]>

“Can words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring? ”
– Neltje Blanchan

The best part of Springtime is the smell.

You can’t describe the smell of fresh cut grass after an April shower, the smell of newly bloomed flowers, or even the smell of the mud that forms when all the snow melts.

The combination of smells and glorious rays of sunshine brings a sense of happiness and warmth to those who venture outside to play with their dogs or hike in the forest.

Trees and flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, the sun is shining, the air is fresh, and people are outside. What could be better?

——————————————————————–

water image courtesy of http://www.filterclean.co.uk/informationpagespringcatchment.htm

Whether in a shrub, a tree, or a nest box, bird nests are all around us. By monitoring a nearby nest you can help scientists study the biology of North America’s birds and how it might be [...]]]>

Build a Bond with Birds By Jason Martin, NestWatch  Eastern Bluebird nest. Photo by J. Brindo Whether in a shrub, a tree, or a nest box, bird nests are all around us. By monitoring a nearby nest you can help scientists study the biology of North America’s birds and how it might be changing over time. Every spring and summer, volunteers from across the country visit nests and report their findings to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch program. As a NestWatcher, you keep tabs on bird family life, following the progression from incubated eggs, to fuzzy chicks, to gawky youngsters ready to take their first fluttering flight. All the information you gather is submitted online to the NestWatch database. “NestWatch helps people of all ages and backgrounds connect with nature,” says project leader Jason Martin. “The information that our dedicated citizen scientists collect allows us to understand the impact that various threats, such as environmental change and habitat destruction, have on breeding birds. Armed with this knowledge, we can take the necessary steps to help birds survive in this changing world.” Eastern Bluebird chick hatching. Photo by Mary Thomson Instructions and all the materials you need to participate are available on the NestWatch website at www.nestwatch.org. You’ll also get directions on how to find and monitor nests without disturbing the birds.  It’s fun, it’s easy, and it’s free.  The Cornell Lab’s immensely popular NestCams are back too. Cameras broadcast live video over the web from the nests of Barn Owls, bluebirds, wrens, Wood Ducks, and many other species. Our newest camera is focused on a Great Horned Owl family in Houston, Minnesota. Check it out at www.nestcams.org. And please join us for NestWatch this season—you’ll build a bond with birds and with nature in your own backyard. _______________________________________________________________________ The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a membership institution dedicated to interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Visit the Cornell Lab’s website at http://www.birds.cornell.edu.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd, Ithaca NY 14850 Call toll-free (800) 843-BIRD (2473)

]]> http://pfeiffernaturecenter.org/nature-blog/2011/03/build-a-bond-with-birds-nest-watch/feed/ 1 http://pfeiffernaturecenter.org/nature-blog/2011/01/lillibridge-road-winter-shadows/ http://pfeiffernaturecenter.org/nature-blog/2011/01/lillibridge-road-winter-shadows/#comments Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:19:57 +0000 naturalist http://pfeiffernaturecenter.org/nature-blog/?p=1639 If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the PNC this winter, here’s your chance to see the glorious winter scenery from the comfort of your own home. Youtube.com user paperboy2222 created a short video slide show of the beautiful winter shadows and views at the Lillibridge Property when he visited on January 17, [...]]]>

If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the PNC this winter, here’s your chance to see the glorious winter scenery from the comfort of your own home. Youtube.com user paperboy2222 created a short video slide show of the beautiful winter shadows and views at the Lillibridge Property when he visited on January 17, 2011. Enjoy!

Take the opportunity to see this winter wonderland up close by taking part in our Snowshoe Blitz on Saturday, February 12 at 10 am at the Lillibridge Road Property. It’s great for beginners, intermediates and experts. All are welcome to attend!!