All posts by Reinstein Woods

Sustainability Challenge Day 3

Rev up (or down) your engine for Day 3!

Welcome to Climate Week; well, Climate Week NYC anyway. While the UN postponed what would normally be a world-wide week of climate events due to the pandemic, climate change effects (including in New York State) aren’t taking a year off. And neither are you!

When you took the ecological footprint quiz, you may have discovered that transportation is the biggest part of your personal carbon emissions. It’s also the biggest source of NYS greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for more than electricity generation, waste, refrigerants, and agriculture combined.

Go Car Free For Climate!

Today, make a pledge not to drive your car at least one day between 9/21 and 9/27 as part of the Car Free for Climate event. Social media junkies can take a selfie and post it to social media using #NYSCarFree to let everyone know about your experience.

Big Step: Change WHAT You Drive

Like most people in WNY, you probably need a car at least some of the time. In a perfect world we’d all toss our cars and rely on bikes, public transport, ride-sharing or services like ZipCar. If you can do that, please do! If you can’t, ask yourself: Am I driving the most efficient vehicle I possibly can?
Challenge yourself to buy or lease an electric vehicle or a hybrid plug-in vehicle. New York State rebates and federal tax credits make purchasing affordable. And whether purchased new or used, an electric vehicle will cost a lot less to operate, while performing as well or even better than a gas-powered vehicle. Sounds too good to be true? You can compare the savings yourself.

Already Doing This? Take a Small Step: Change HOW You Drive

So you’re already driving a plug-in hybrid, and thanks to COVID you rarely go anywhere. What then? Even electric car drivers can take steps to operate a vehicle in the most efficient manner possible. And that will save you money! Pledge to make at least 3 changes to your driving and maintenance habits. You can track your fuel economy to chart your savings!
While you’re at it, you can advocate for transportation policies that move us away from fossil fuels… but we’ll explore that more later in the 20-Day Challenge.

A Look Ahead:

Tomorrow we’ll raise our voices… but don’t worry, we aren’t mad at you.

 

Sustainability Challenge Day 2:

Our House is on Fire…

OK, I’m plagiarizing maybe the most well-known climate activist of all time, but the title fits today’s topic.
During COVID, I’ve found that a walk through Reinstein Woods brings my blood pressure down, especially after watching stories of the record-breaking wildfires raging across western states. While fire is a natural part of some ecosystems, climate change is causing fires to be hotter and more destructive around the world. Last winter we heard about wildfires in Australia, and Brazil has its own human-set fire problem.
Forests have a role to play in mitigating climate change, as do other open spaces. Many of these important habitats still exist thanks to people who care about them. Think of the tropical forests where summer visitors to Reinstein Woods like the wood thrush (pictured) and hummingbirds find a winter home; a lot of those forests would not exist without the work of international conservation organizations. Without people who care, our forests are “toast”!

Explore:

As part of the 20-2020 Festival, Reinstein Woods is sponsoring the 20-Day Get Oudoors Challenge to highlight some of the outdoor gems, including several forests, in Western New York. You can explore these properties, and support the organizations that care for them, including Friends of Reinstein Woods.
Big Step: Join, donate, volunteer and spread the word
Ok, we know that’s four steps, but all four are part of one big effort to protect the lands that give us oxygen and clean water. (Plus people like to have options to choose from…)
Find a group that stewards parks and preserves in New York, or a land trust that protects land in both public and private ownership. Join or donate to their cause. If you can, pledge to volunteer your time and talents at least once this fall. Then tell someone what you did and why. Maybe they’ll be inspired to flame into action!

Already Doing This?

As someone who self-selected for this challenge, you may already give to a variety of organizations. If you do, kudos! Challenge yourself to give more – more of your time, more of your money, more of your voice. As you move through the next 18 days and take money-saving actions, make plans to put your savings toward conservation causes.

Small Step:

To protect forests, you can also follow the frog…but we’ll explain that on Day 7.
“All forests in the world need to be given the same name, so that people can understand that there is only one forest in the world and that every burning forest is his own forest, no matter where in the world!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

A Look Ahead:

Tomorrow we explore what propels you to where you need to go…

Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds in Your Backyard

Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds beautiful colors and specialized adaptations make it a true gem. They are a very small bird, weighing less than a nickel! They have long wings and a long, thin, pointed beak. Females have a mostly white underside and are green on top. While the males have a bright red throat, and green crown with black mask. Its red throat may appear black if the lighting isn’t just right.
These hummingbirds are common in old fields, forest edges, and backyards. They are the only hummingbird in the Eastern United States. They spend the winter in Southern Florida or Central America and usually arrive back to Western New York in early to mid-May.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds are primarily nectar feeders, but they also eat a variety of small insects and spiders. They will even pluck insects from spider webs or sapsucker’s sap wells. Their long thin beak allows them to sip nectar that many insects are unable to. These hummingbirds prefer red and orange tubular flowers, but will also occasionally visit purple flowers. Bee balm and cardinal flower are some of their favorites, but they also enjoy nectar from trumpet creeper, jewelweed and columbine.
If you would like to feed hummingbirds at home, you can make your own sugar water mixture. You can add one-quarter cup of sugar per cup of water and heat it in a pot until it dissolves. Make sure your solution cools before adding it to your feeder. Nectar feeders should be cleaned and filled regularly, especially when temperatures are high (its recommended 2-3 times per week). Water moats hung above the feeder keep the ants away. Make sure you only fill the ant guard with water as birds will also drink out of it.
Ruby-throated hummingbird wings are a blur because they beat their wings more than 50 times per second. They flap their wings in a figure 8 motion which makes them very efficient and maneuverable fliers that are able to hover. They have very tiny legs to make them more aerodynamic, but they sacrifice their ability to walk as a result.
Females will build a nest usually positioned right on top of a slender, downward-sloping branch. The nest is composed of thistle down, plant fibers and spider silk. The outer surfaces of this two-inch nest are camouflaged with lichen. Spider silk makes the nest flexible and allows it to stretch as the young grow.

 

Virtual Volunteer Appreciation Picnic

We appreciate all of the hard work our Volunteers have done over the years and continue to do at Reinstein Woods. We would normally have our Volunteer Appreciation Picnic at this time of the summer. We are going virtual this year. Please enjoy the Virtual Volunteer Appreciation Picnic video below created by Ginger. Volunteers are welcome to make a dish to enjoy while watching the video.

Watch House Wrens Build Their Nest

House wrens have short wings, a curved beak, and a long tail that is often raised. They also have faint barring on their wings. They have a constant bubbling call, 9 to 11 times per minute during the breeding season. This bird prefers open forests and forest edges, and is also common in backyards. House wrens are cavity nesters, nesting in old woodpecker holes or bird houses. Males build several nests to entice a mate. In Western New York they begin building their nests in the middle of May and lay eggs in early June. Their nest is a built-up pile of sticks with a cup lined with feathers, grasses, and spider egg sacks. Their eggs are just over a half inch long and are usually pinkish white with reddish brown blotches. The female will incubate the eggs for 12-15 days. Both parents feed the nestlings. Baby house wrens aren’t picky eaters. Their parents bring them spiders, harvestmen, caterpillars, centipedes, moths, worms, potato bugs, crane flies, and more. Not only do they feed the huge appetites of these young birds, but they also remove their waste. The baby house wrens are very vocal once the parent enters the cavity with food. Fledglings will leave the nest between 12-18 days after hatching. House wrens are noisy little birds with a huge appetite for insects. A birdhouse and brush pile are all you need to attract this cavity nester.

Reinstein Woods Receives Watershed STEM Grant

Program Will Benefit Maryvale, Buffalo After-School Programs

 Friends of ReinsStudents looking at test beaker with watertein Woods has received a $57,325 grant to support a new “Watershed STEM in the Schoolyard” program, one of 29 Watershed STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Education Partnership Grants awarded across the country. The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) awarded the grant in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Department of Education.

Starting in Fall 2020, Reinstein Woods will engage students and educators at 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC)at Maryvale Intermediate School and Buffalo Public Schools 45 and 93. These learning centers provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The centers help students meet state and local standards in core academic subjects while providing enrichment activities that complement their regular academic programs.

In the “Watershed STEM in the Schoolyard” program, students in grades 4-5 will collect weather and water quality data, explore STEM careers, and complete stewardship projects in their local watershed. The program is designed to develop students’ environmental literacy and leadership skills as they improve their communities.

Additionally, in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Reinstein Woods will train staff at each site to conduct water-related activities appropriate for an after-school setting. The program will be tailored to meet evolving partner and community needs at each site.

“Water flows through our communities often unnoticed, and yet that water is vital to all living things,” said Meaghan Boice-Green, DEC Education Center Director at Reinstein Woods. “We are excited that this partnership will connect area educators and students to their local water resources in a fun and engaging way.”

Friends of Reinstein Woods President Terrence Boyle said, “All students should take part in Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences at some point in their childhood. These experiences go beyond normal classroom learning to empower students to take meaningful action to protect water quality. Above all, it will encourage them to pursue STEM careers.”

Diantha Watts, Executive Director of Buffalo State’s Educational Pipelines Initiative Office said, “We are thrilled to have our students at International School #45 engaged in science programming that will stress literacy and math skills while encouraging parent involvement. Moreover, the professional development training will help our instructors make better use of our outdoor spaces for learning and fun.”

Kim Luce, Vice President of School-based Services at Best Self Behavioral Health echoes that excitement, adding “Southside Elementary is located adjacent to the Buffalo River. This program will provide place-based STEM learning that complements our programming and is relevant to our students.”

Elizabeth Giangreco, Assistant Superintendent at the Maryvale School District states, “We are pleased to partner for the first time with Reinstein Woods, which is only five miles from our school. We are eager to learn more about how we can use the outdoor space in our schoolyard and help our students discover how to care for their local environment.”

The Watershed STEM Education Partnership Grants are part of eeBLUE, NAAEE’s effort to build collaborative partnerships that support the mutual STEM education goals of NOAA and the U.S. Department of Education. Funding for these grants is provided by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by NAAEE.

Dragonflies of Western NY during June

Dragonflies are an insect with two pairs of wings and three pairs of legs. Many species have large compound eyes that cover most of their head. They also have very small antenna. These insects are harmless and won’t bite or sting. At rest dragonfly wings are usually off to their sides, while damselflies, a close cousin, holds their wings over their back or abdomen. Dragonflies bodies are stout compared to slender damselflies. Some species like green darner will migrate while others spend most of the year in ponds or streams as nymphs emerging as an adult during summer. Dragonfly nymphs usually emerge from the water while it’s still dark to inflate and dry their wings. They are very vulnerable at this stage, so they come out before birds are active. Each species has unique color patterns and behaviors that help you to identify them. Many male dragonflies will patrol their section of a pond and will actively chase away intruding males. They choose a territory that is ideal egg laying habitat for their mate.  Some like areas with emergent vegetation like cattails, others like floating vegetation like water lilies and some prefer submerged vegetation. Hawking is a behavior where the dragonfly perches on a stick or branch and quickly swoops up to grasp an unsuspecting insect for lunch. They usually will return to rest on the same perch to munch on their prey. Dragonflies feed mostly on flying insects, even mosquitoes. Adult dragonflies may fall prey to larger dragonflies, fish, birds, and also frogs. June and July are the best months to enjoy Dragonflies in Western New York.

Created by Mike Adriaansen

 

Nature Sightings

Common Whitetail Dragonfly
Water Lilies
Red Admiral Butterfly
dot-tailed whiteface Dragonfly
widow skimmer Dragonfly
Monarch Butterfly Egg

As summer approaches, cottonwood seeds begin to float through the air. Flowering Dame’s rockets attract many pollinators such as hummingbird clear wing moths, red admiral and tiger swallowtail butterflies. You will also find a variety of bee visitors. Dragonflies are emerging from the ponds and will increase in numbers through July. The vibrant common whitetail cruise along the pond edges coming to rest on a stick protruding from the water. Ash trees, black locust, and wild grape vines are flowering. The “Gunk” calls of green frogs fill the air with an occasional jug o rum call of the bullfrogs.  The melodic whistle of the Baltimore oriole is a frequent sound around the trails. Look for their hanging woven nests above the trails. Great blue heron wade through the water lilies (in full bloom), stealthily spearing unsuspecting fish. Sunfish and blue gills hover over their gravel nests fanning it with their fins. Black swallowtail butterflies may be seen laying their eggs on wild carrot leaves. Keep an eye out for snapping turtles laying their eggs in early morning. They will sometimes travel a fair distance to find a suitable place to lay their eggs. With Monarch butterflies returning, look for them to be laying eggs on common milkweed plants.

 

Goats Eat Invasives

Goats recently visited Reinstein Woods to help control an invasive plant. Reinstein Intern Nick Morelli prepared this video to explain why our furry friends were needed, and chatted with the goat’s owners to learn more. Click on the picture to view Goat Video.

Goats inside a fence in the woods
Click on the Picture to View Goat Video

Nature Is For Everyone: A Statement from Reinstein Woods on Access and Inclusion

The staff at Reinstein Woods and the board of Friends of Reinstein Woods would like to reaffirm our commitment to equal outdoor and environmental education access for all. Recent events have reminded us of the importance of pursuing this ideal. We acknowledge that racism can keep people of color from exploring and learning from nature. No person should feel afraid to enjoy their neighborhood park or nature preserve.

We pledge to work to make Reinstein Woods a more welcoming place for all. Prior to the COVID pandemic, we had begun exploring ways that we could change to make our programs and facilities more welcoming. What can we do to diversify our staff and volunteer base? How can we ensure people of color play a role not just in attending our programs, but actively developing and shaping our programs? While the pandemic has provided additional challenges, the events of the last week remind us that this work is more important than ever, and we remain committed to implementing change. We are open to suggestions from our members and supporters. Change must start with us.

We encourage you to support movements such as #BlackBirdersWeek, a week-long celebration of racial diversity in birding. You can read about the beginnings of the movement here.

To understand the core of this issue, listen to the “Made for You and Me” episode of the Code Switch podcast, a 20-minute look at the lack of diversity in outdoor recreation, and people who are working to change things. Or for an interesting perspective on youth environmental education, read the article “What does outdoorsy look like?

We appreciate your support of our efforts to help all people share in nature’s harmony.