Archives for December 2016

Photo Credit Audubon Society

Looking for a new holiday tradition? How about the national Audubon Christmas Bird Count?

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will take place at the Montezuma Audubon Center located at 2295 State Route 89, Savannah, NY 13146 at 5:00 pm on Monday, December 19.

This is a long-standing program of the National Audubon Society, with over 100 years of citizen science involvement. It is an early-winter bird census where thousands of volunteers across the US, Canada and many countries in the Western Hemisphere go out over a 24-hour period on one calendar day to count birds. As the Christmas Bird Count enters its 117th year, birders of all experience levels are encouraged to join us to count Montezuma’s wintering birds.

This event is free and open to the public but registration is required by calling 315-365-3588. http://friendsofmontezuma.org/event/montezuma-christmas-bird-count/

The Montezuma Wetlands Complex is a globally significant Important Bird Area (IBA), contains numerous intriguing habitats: Lake, River, Deciduous Hardwoods, Open Field, Coniferous Stands, Fresh Water Marsh, and Grassland.

The compilation will take place at the Montezuma Audubon Center located at 2295 State Route 89, Savannah, NY 13146 at 5:00 pm on Monday, December 19.

There is a specific methodology to the CBC, and all participants must make arrangements to participate in advance with the circle compiler within an established circle, but anyone can participate.

Each count takes place in an established 15-mile wide diameter circle, and is organized by a count compiler. Count volunteers follow specified routes through a designated 15-mile (24-km) diameter circle, counting every bird they see or hear all day. It’s not just a species tally–all birds are counted all day, giving an indication of the total number of birds in the circle that day.

If you are a beginning birder, you will be able to join a group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher. … more 

Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District will be holding a free ‘Soil Health’ workshop on December 13, 2016 at the Cornell Cooperative Extension offices in Newark, NY.

To register for the workshop, or if you have any questions call 315-946-4136. Please RSVP by December 9th at noon. For more information, visit www.waynecountynysoilandwater.org/cover-crop/
or contact Ian Priestley, AEM Specialist at Priestleyswcd@rochester.rr.com

This workshop will provide information to farmers that will allow them to better understand how to incorporate cover crops successfully into their agricultural systems, and why cover crops can be so beneficial to soil health and natural resource conservation.

Farmers know that good soil health is increasingly important. Soil erosion and sedimentation are one of the major problems farmers face. It takes 500 years to replenish just one inch of topsoil. The use of cover crops can help farmers by reducing the loss of a precious percentage of soil each year. Besides protection from wind and water erosion, some of the other benefits of cover crops, include the fact that they can reduce the impact of insects and soil disease pressure. Cover crops may lessen the presence of weeds, and can often build soil organic matter which help reduce soil compaction. In addition to helping to conserve soil, live cover crops allow for energy for soil microbes to recycle and store nutrients and build soil carbon and organic matter, saving fertilizer costs by scavenging nutrients or adding nitrogen to the soil through fixation. Cover crops protect water quality by reducing phosphorus runoff.

Warm-up with a beverage starting at 10:30 A.M. Morning (11am-12pm) and afternoon (12:30-1:30) speakers include Joe Lawrence, Cornell University. Joe will discuss spring management of cover crops, termination as green manure vs double crop for forage, rotation and what to watch out for in summer following crops (pests, etc.). Paul Salon of the NRCS will talk about crop establishment, use of the cover crop calculator, mixes info and the timing of crops. Each segment will include a discussion and Q&A. Local farmers are encouraged to attend to share success stories on planting cover crops, how to get started using them, and the results they see on their farms.

Following the morning session there will be a free lunch of homemade chili, (Traditional/White/Bean) cornbread, chips & cookies.

To register for the workshop, or if you have any questions call 315-946-4136. Please RSVP by December 9th at noon. For more information, visit www.waynecountynysoilandwater.org/cover-crop/
or contact Ian Priestley, AEM Specialist at Priestleyswcd@rochester.rr.com

Workshop partners include NY Wayne County, Cornell Cooperative Extension, NYS DEC, Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM).

Land Owner Workshop for property owners who have Eastern hemlocks growing on their properties is scheduled for Saturday, December 3, 2016 at the Naples Village Hall, 108 South Main Street (Rte. 21), Naples from 10 am until noon.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) is an aphid-like insect native to Asia. It was first recognized in the Eastern U.S. in Virginia in 1950’s, and reached New York in the 1980

The HWA is spread by the wind, by birds, or by humans or other animals- infestations do not spread by flying HWA. HWA produce two generations a year, and all are female and reproduce asexually. The HWA is active during the winter, which allows it to avoid predators (which are generally active during the summer) and to take advantage of the hemlock’s increased energy intake during the winter.

Read more: http://www.canandaigualakeassoc.org/get-involved/events/