New York State Conservationist Magazine

The American #crow is a member of the corvid family, which also includes ravens, jays, and nutcrackers, among others. Found across North America, American crows are large, intelligent, all-black birds with a distinctive cawing sound. Other #corvids found in NYS include the Canada jay, blue jay, black-billed magpie, fish crow, and common raven. Crows are very opportunistic feeders, and will eat almost anything, including insects, earthworms, small animals, seeds, fruit, garbage, and chicks stolen from nests of other birds. This photo of "Edgar Allan Crow" as it is affectionately known, was taken by Jack Bulmer of Brunswick, where the crow is a regular visitor to their bird feeders. #WildlifeWednesday

#Fishing through the ice requires skill and knowledge, but anyone can ice fish successfully if you do your homework! Novices and experts: always remember to che...ck the ice for safety. Read up on ice fishing basics, ice safety, and where to fish, here: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7733.html Check ice for safety and take precautions: https://t.co/yqFvFGYpI0?amp=1

The Northern Catskills, viewed from Athens, Greene County. Michelle McIlroy

Did you know you can help protect NY’s forests while you hike, snowshoe, or x-country ski this winter? It’s easyall you have to do is keep an eye out for invas...ive hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA)! This forest pest kills hemlock trees in the eastern United States. HWA is tiny, so infestations are best identified by the white, woolly masses the insects create at the base of the needles on infested hemlock trees. You can report findings using the NY iMapInvasives app or by emailing photos and location info to DEC at [email protected]. Love exploring the Western ADK/St. Lawrence region? Our friends at SLELO Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management are offering prizes for those who look for HWA in that area. Learn more at https://on.ny.gov/3nMxYHd. #ForestFriday

Happy New Year from all of us at the Conservationist! Best wishes for a happy, safe, and healthy 2021. Bill Massaro in Elma, NY

Short-eared #owls are the most diurnal (active during the day) of all the northeastern owls. They are most often observed in the late afternoon and at dawn or dusk. When hunting, they dive from perches or fly low over the ground and pounce on prey from above, sometimes hovering briefly before they drop. #WildlifeWednesday Aaron Winters

David and Goliath? This great-blue #heron and #mink were recently photographed in Naples, NY by Aaron Winters. According to Aaron, the great-blue heron was busy stealing fish from muskrats when the mink wandered in. Neither was intimidated by the other, and the situation ended in a draw. #WildlifeWednesday

The American #marten (often incorrectly called the pine marten due to their close resemblance to their European relative) is a member of the mustelid family. Other members of this family found in New York include fisher, ermine, weasel, mink, and the river otter. Marten are small, slender-bodied mammals with a long bushy tail that measures about one-third of their overall length. Males range from 20-25 inches in total length, and females range from 18-22 inches. Marten are s...olitary, and avoid other marten except for during the breeding season. They spend the majority of their lives in spruce-fir coniferous forests, or mixed hardwood-coniferous forests. In New York, they are primarily found in the High Peaks region of the Central Adirondacks, and surrounding area. Marten are omnivores, preying heavily on small mammals, but will also eat birds, fish, frogs, insect, fruits, seeds, and nuts. #WildlifeWednesday Vivian Mueller on Big Slide Mountain

From December 7 until the end of the year (or while supplies last), for every $5 donation that you make to the New York State Habitat & Access Stamp Program you... will receive a collectable pin and sticker! The 2020-21 featured species is the northern leopard frog. You can purchase your Habitat & Access Stamp by phone at 1-866-933-2257 (Mon - Fri 8:30 AM 4:30 PM), or by visiting https://decals.licensing.east.kalkomey.com/, where you can make your purchase online or use our Vendor Locations feature to find a License Issuing Agent near you. All pin and sticker orders will be mailed to you. Pins make great gifts for the holidays! To ensure delivery by December 25, please order by December 15. For more information about the Habitat & Access Stamp program please visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/47452.html.

Ever wonder how our northeastern trees tolerate below-freezing temps? Trees can’t move to a cozy burrow or head south for the winter, so they have to use a few ...tricks to (usually) prevent their living cells from freezing each winter: During these cold winter months, deciduous trees (the ones with leaves) are dormant and pause their active growth and food production. All trees dehydrate their living cells so that they have less water inside them during winter. That way, the water that’s pulled out of the cells can freeze around the living cells without hurting them. When this happens, the remaining water inside the cell has a higher concentration of sugar. The sugar acts like an anti-freeze by lowering the freezing point of water inside the tree’s living cells. Trees also harden their cells to a glass-like texture that appears practically solid, making it harder for the liquid in the cells to freeze. There’s more to this story, and it’s fascinating (and still a bit of a mystery!). Learn more about what is known about tree prep for winter in this timeless piece from Northern Woodlands https://northernwoodlands.org//a/trees-survive-winter-cold : Keith Walters Photography #ForestFriday

Until further notice, the entire Fordham's Crossing Trail and the western side of the Vlomankill Trail at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center in Delmar a...re closed due to damage to the bridges and trails from the recent rainstorm. Operations staff are assessing the conditions of the trails and removing debris. They will be opened again as soon as it is safe to do so. Thank you for your cooperation. To learn more about Five Rivers: https://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html

DEC is looking for hunters and trappers to share their stories about why they hunt or trap. We’d like to hear about what motivates you to head afield during our... statewide photo and essay contest for hunters and trappers. Click the link to find out more about the contest: https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/121814.html Submissions must be received by January 31, 2021. Winners’ essays and photos will appear in the 2021-2022 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, which is read by over 500,000 people each year! Click here to enter: https://on.ny.gov/2UVLix2 DEC is deeply committed to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusiveness and encourages entries from people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, and genders. Please note: All photo submissions may be used at a future time in DEC publications, media, and outreach materials.

Celebrate nature this holiday season with Winter BINGO from The Connecticut Audubon Society and DEC. It’s a great time of year to explore your backyard, neighbo...rhood, or local nature center or preserve. If you are in the Westchester, Dutchess or Putnam regions, check out The Connecticut Audubon Society Deer Pond Farm Nature Preserve. This unique preserve spans the NY/CT border with half in Pawling, NY and half in Sherman, CT! It offers fifteen miles of trails to explore and enjoy. For those living in NY’s Capitol Region, DEC’s Five Rivers Environmental Education Center provides a variety of trails through wooded, pond, and field habitats. Thanks to Deer Pond Farm and CT Audubon volunteer Christy Meyer for the BINGO activity! #AdventureAtHome

#DidYouKnow that many species of #raptors change their eye color as they age? Some, like the bald eagle, change from brown to yellow, while others, such as the red-tailed hawk go from a pale yellowish to dark brown. The accipiters (sharp-shinned, Cooper's, and goshawk) eyes change from bright yellow to dark red as they age. #WildlifeWednesday Adult male Cooper's hawk by Jeremy Taylor

Happy Holidays from all of us at the Conservationist! Red-breasted nuthatch by Jack Bulmer

Skip the crowds this #BlackFriday! Conservationist makes a great gift for everyone on your list, and through January 4th, all subscriptions are 50% off - a steal at just $6.00! Order yours today at https://csv.pcdfusion.com/pcd/Order?iKey=7**GBF

Happy #Thanksgiving from all of us at the Conservationist! Laurie Dirkx