Peregrine Watch

Seasonal change is about to occur in the next few weeks. The temperature is going to (hopefully) get warmer, plants will begin to sprout leaves and flowers, mammals will be emerging out of their burrows, and birds will be migrating back and starting to breed. Many of these phenological events that spring has to offer are scientifically studied by the Mohonk Preserve. We have our Phenology Project that observes specific plants throughout the year, we monitory lake profile health daily, we count breeding birds and vernal pool breeding, and monitor raptors during fall migration and breeding on the cliff. Most of these projects are led by me, but we rely on a handful of volunteers for each project. Today, we hosted our Peregrine Watch citizen science program where we have three eyrie (nest) locations along the Shawangunk cliffs where Peregrine Falcon pairs breed. This orientation that we had today was introducing volunteers to the project of Peregrine Breeding Observation, showing them where the eyrie locations are (the general regions), and identifying the types of breeding practices that the raptors go through during the season. We have three known locations on the Ridge where Peregrine pairs have been known to make home for their eyrie: one on the Near Trapps, one on the West Trapps (where most of our climbing happens), and one on Bonticou Crag. Volunteers are asked to come out daily or a couple times during the week and observe the peregrines. They record what they are seeing on the day of their observation, like: copulation, nesting or incubating (there is a lack of bird presence, but some solo bird flying to and from the eyrie), prey exchanges, sightings of chicks, fledging, and young in flight. Our goal is to monitor these birds closely and gather an estimate date throughout the breeding season of when these stages will usually occur. The Peregrine Falcon was pretty much brought to extinction in the Gunks due to DDT useage. They were introduced back int he 1970s and have been closely monitored. We monitor our Falcons to make sure their population is thriving and how we can manage our land and recreational protocols (cliff closures, trail closures, etc) to encourage population growth and stability. Feel free to check out more about Peregrine Watch here (along with many of our other birds programs).

Cheers to a great Peregrine Season!

TheChristyBel

Ted & Sami Viewing Peregrine Activity on the West Trapps

Viewing the West Trapps

See that White Dot - that is a Peregrine!

A Little White Dot - A Peregrine!

A Side Profile of Bonticou Crag for another Eyrie

A DSRC Tour for the SMAN Junior Rangers

So far during this new job, I have been teaching programs that have already been brainstormed and written up. Today, I was able to create a whole new program for Education that revolved around the Daniel Smiley Research Center. Since I work in two different departments, I was chosen to lead the San Miguel Academy's 8th graders in a Daniel Smiley Research Center-based program. 

If I have not already explained this, the Daniel Smiley Research Center is where the Conservation Science department is housed. The DSRC is home to our collections room where Daniel Smiley kept specimens of flora and fauna that were discovered on the ridge, even archaeological, Native American artifacts found in rock shelters on the ridge, and it houses over 120-years of weather, lake, and natural history records.

Originally, this program was planned to have a snow-shoe hike around the Mountain House property. However, we have not been getting much snow to make snow-shoeing possible. So, we had to put on the "flexi-pants" and come up with something else. I decided to do a rendition of the Murie Museum back in the Tetons.

I created a workbook/DSRC journal that focused on up to 8 activities that allowed the students to float through stations for about an hour. These activities portrayed similar activities that our staff and research associates perform at the DSRC. So, it was basically a "Day in the Life of the DSRC" tour. Below are some of the stations I created.

TheChristyBel

Station 1: Bird Identification Using Specimens, Guides, & Observation

Does this plant have alternating or opposing leaves?

Station 2: Understanding the Herbarium

Identifying Birds

Station 3: Mammal Identification Through Skull Anatomy
Station 4: Examination of Native American Artifacts (in the background)

Herbivore, Carnivore, Omnivore?

Station 5: Measuring Precipitation from the night before

Station 9: Visiting Mohonk Lake to Obtain Lake Samples

A Birdy Snow Day

Winter here has been great! Want to know why?!? I have been able to put out bird feeders and bring a little bit of nature closer to my window. The bird feeder is a great idea to help you familiarize yourself with the types of birds you have in your area. It has been really helping me get reacquainted with east coast birds. Check out what I have seen so far! Special Thanks for Mr. Marc Sweet for his photos! Bino shots are me!

TheChristyBel

Dark-Eyed Juncos

Tufted Titmouse

Female Cardinal - Part I

Female Cardinal - Part II

Red-Bellied Woodpecker - Part I

Red-Bellied Woodpecker - Part II

Oh and even though the next picture is not a bird, it's a cute little Tedders!

Cuddle Tedders Time!

Valentine's Day with Fishies

For Valentine's Day, Marc and I travelled to the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium. It was super chilly outside and we did not want to go on a hike or do something outside. So, we went to go see fishies! Look at what we did!

TheChristyBel

Petting Cownose Rays!

Posing in Head Cut Out Photos...Not to Mention We Are Polar Bears

Viewing Jellies - Lion's Mane Jellies!

Sea Dragons

Valentines & Clay

During Valentine's Day Eve, Marc and I decided to stay in and have an arts and crafts date night! We went to Poughkeepsie to Michaels and picked up some art supplies. When we got home, we popped in a movie and got a little creative. I decided to make clay terrariums and Marc decided to white water kayak with clay and watercolors.

We are such a craft couple!

Chilly Morning

Temperatures here in the Gunks are not as frigid as they are back west. I think we have only gone below 0 degrees a handfull of times, but it has been really cold here. The humidity really plays a role in how cold the east is - it's bone-chilling cold! I am not sure if I like it.

But as I look from my office window at the Daniel Smiley Research Center, the ice crystals are just so beauitful and makes me really appreciate being inside and admiring the cold and winter from a warm room.

TheChristyBel

It's a Bit Chilly Outside

Snowy Morning at the Mountain House

Photos from my morning on the lake

My Snowy Morning on the Boat Wharf

Little Pano of Mohonk Lake and the Mountain House

New Paltz Sunset

I was hanging at the SUNY New Paltz Library this evening. When I was heading back to my car to head home, I just had to stop and take a snapshot of this view I had. I'm just going to leave this here for you all to enjoy!

TheChristyBel

One of the Most Beautiful Sunsets I Have Seen in New Paltz

Gloomy in the Shawangunks

When I was living in the Tetons, the views were always remarkable and beautiful as you looked up at the mountains. Living in the Gunks is definitely different, but I always seem to find something remarkable, beautiful, and interesting. Lately, we have been experiencing a lot of rain and fog up on the ridge. Outside the Visitor Center, the fog was just hugging the Chestnut Oak Forest trees. It was really gloomy feeling, but at the same time, it was really beautiful.

It's a Little Eerie After All the Rain We Received This Morning!