Don’t let the peeping call of spring peepers fool you, it isn’t spring. Signs of autumn continue to creep in. The racks on white-tailed deer bucks are getting large and they will soon be rubbing off their velvet. An 8 point buck was spotted the other day, and fawns have lost their spots. The sounds of cicadas have ceased and the katydids songs at night will begin to slow as the evenings get cooler. New England asters are flowering purple blossoms creating a vibrant display mixed in with the yellow of goldenrods. The fragrant pink water lilies that cover the Lily Pond are beginning to wither. Nodding beggarticks and smartweed are flowering around the pond edges. Common milkweed seed pods are quite large and will soon release their fluffy seeds to the wind. Ash and black walnut leaves are beginning to yellow. Painted turtles line any logs in the ponds on sunny days. On sunny afternoons you may also notice autumn meadowhawk dragonflies in tandem laying eggs on these same wet logs. Be on the lookout for wooly bear caterpillars crossing the trails on your next hike. You may also hear red squirrels chattering while they gather black walnuts.

The Old-Growth Forest Network (OGFN) added the forest at Dr. Victor Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve in the town of Cheektowaga to its network of protected forests in a ceremony September 11, 2015. Forests in the Network are permanently protected from logging and are open to the public.

“A visit to Reinstein Woods’ mature beech-maple forest introduces you to the majesty of large, old trees and the wildlife that call them home,” said Reinstein Woods Center Director Meaghan Boice-Green. “We thank the OGFN for bringing attention to the need to protect forests like Reinstein Woods for future generations.”

OGFN Executive Director Dr. Joan Maloof said, “It is our hope that those who experience the beauty and the spirit found in ancient forests will be inspired to protect them. When we protect forests we also protect biodiversity, clean water and clean air.”

Dr. Maloof presented a sign and certificate to the Center Director at a ceremony attended by Friends of Reinstein Woods officials, local partners and volunteers who help maintain the forest. The ceremony was followed by a walk on the beech tree trail to see the Champion Beech tree, the largest American beech tree in New York State.

Reinstein Woods is the 49th forest to be dedicated in the Old-Growth Forest Network, and the eighth in New York State.

Reinstein Woods was donated to DEC by the estate of Dr. Victor Reinstein in 1986. The property includes more than 70 acres of mature beech-maple forest, as well as a series of ponds, wetlands and immature forest that are home to a variety of wildlife. More than 3.5 miles of trails through the woods are open to the public year-round.

The mission of the OGFN is to connect people with nature by creating a national network of protected, mature, publicly accessible, native forests. The goal is to preserve at least one forest in every county in the United States that can sustain a forest, estimated to be 2,370 out of a total of 3,140 counties. The Network’s website provides a place for nature-lovers to seek out public forests in their area and to learn more about what they can do to protect them.

Friends of Reinstein Woods members enjoyed observing a nice assortment of moths, caddisflies, and beetles at our “Bugs by Nightlight” members program. Dr. Wayne Gall attracted insects using a mercury vapor lamp and white sheet. Check for our upcoming member programs here.

Insects of the Night

moths

moth

Virginia Ctenucha Moth

observing insects

Virginia Ctenucha Moth

moth

moth silhouette

moth

moth

moth

moth

moth

Identifying insects

Some of the members enjoyed a morning of canoeing at Beaver Meadow Audubon in Java, NY. We saw many great blue herons, green herons, dragonflies and damselflies. We also watched cedar waxwings sallying from a  perch to catch insects in flight. Check for more of our upcoming member programs here, another benefit of being a member of the Friends of Reinstein Woods.

canoeing at Beaver Meadow

frosted whiteface dragonfly

canoeing at Beaver Meadow

Flowering goldenrods tell us that summer is nearing an end. They will provide a pollen source for bees into autumn. Black cherry fruits and wild grapes are very ripe. These will be gathered by an array of birds, raccoons and other mammals. A close inspection of milkweed leaves may reveal a milkweed tussock caterpillar, swamp milkweed leaf beetle or dogbane leaf beetle. Monarch caterpillars are getting large feeding off milkweed as well. Monarch caterpillars will soon form a chrysalis and upon emergence they will make the long migration south. Ladybird beetles are beginning to appear and feed on aphids which may be found on common milkweed plants. Virginia creeper and some red maples are already beginning to show a slight reddish hue in their leaves. Chicken mushrooms are growing from logs after some of our recent rains. Don’t be surprised if a meadowhawk dragonfly lands on you while you walk the trails. Don’t worry, dragonflies won’t bite or sting, they are just looking for a sunny perch. Black walnuts are becoming very large. Watch for red and gray squirrels collecting and storing these nuts for winter.

Thanks to a grant from the New York Power Authority, Friends of Reinstein Woods will be beginning a two-year effort to control common reed in some portions of Reinstein Woods. Common reed, also known by its Latin name Phragmites australis, is an aggressive species that is impacting cattail marshes in the southern half of Reinstein Woods.

A certified pesticide applicator will cut stems and directly apply chemicals to the plants in early fall, when the plants are moving sugars down into their roots. The treatment will be followed by mowing a few weeks later. Most of the work will happen in the sanctuary in the southern half of the preserve, away from the public trails. The treatment will be repeated next year, in the hopes that only spot treatments will be needed after that.

You may notice that common reed is common in other parts of Reinstein Woods as well. If the project is successful in protecting our cattail marshes, similar methods may be used to combat common reed in other parts of the preserve.

We’re all familiar with kids not wanting to eat their vegetables, but how many kids have no idea where vegetables even come from? Thanks to a new partnership, kids at the Gloria J. Parks (GJP) Community Center in Buffalo will not only know, but they’ll be growing their own vegetables! DEC’s Ginger Wszalek worked with Friends of Reinstein Woods and the community center to partner with Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo. Grassroots Gardens is providing funds for rooftop gardens at the community center.

During the school year, DEC ran an After School Conservation Club for kids participating in GJP’s after-school program. To build on the nature programming they received, Wszalek, along with volunteer Pat Taeger, helped the second graders plant vegetables, herbs, fruit and flowers in containers while the rooftop was being renovated. They taught the students “companion planting” techniques to help each plant grow stronger and tastier. Summer session attendees also enjoyed gardening, worm composting and garden art programs. Along the way, the children learned the life cycles of the plants and participated in basic garden maintenance.

The children especially enjoyed making recycled plant markers from blind shades to identify the plants in the pots. As of mid-August, the children had been able to to taste edible flowers and experience the joy of eating fresh blueberries and kale. Soon they will be enjoying cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, spinach, celery, strawberries and fresh-cut herbs. The center also provides cooking classes to the children, and they are eager to use the vegetables and herbs in their dishes.

Additional garden beds and vertical garden beds will be built on the rooftop soon for next year.

I’m trying to write this article as my wife and I volunteer at the Erie County Fair for Reinstein Woods. I’m not getting a lot done because so many people stop by our display and inquire about the “Woods.” I think most of the interest involves the ornate display created by Reinstein Woods Educator Ginger Wszalek which includes spinning CD “tops,” a water bottle recycle bin and the flowering water hoses.  There was a lot of interest shown by many of the fair goers.

My main purpose for this article is to ask for your help. A recent “MY View” article in the Buffalo News caused me to think about inviting Friends members to contribute a column to this newsletter. It could serve as a way to solicit thoughts and ideas from those who are members and want to be more engaged. Nature-related themes would be the main focus of the column. We will title the column “Tree Talk,” and if successful have an article appear in each edition of this newsletter. If many articles are submitted we could establish a screaming, I mean a screening, group to review. If you are interested in contributing, or have comments please let us know by emailing president@reinsteinwoods.org or by calling the office at 683 5959.

Thanks for your interest; we look forward to seeing you and your family this fall!!!!

– Michael Gettings, President