This photo is a close up picture which shows signs of an animal. The photo which I uploaded was taken in the woodlands of the Stone Valley Trail in Colton, New York. Stone Valley trail is an Adirondack trail which is full of a variety of different species of animals and tree which looks over a beautiful lake. The picture I took shows evidence of a Woodpecker on this specific tree. The evidence is shown from the large holes made in the wood of the tree. What made this picture so interesting to me is that these species truly do make their homes here.

Category: Movement,
Habitat Description: Raquette River,
Natural History Info: The Raquette river is the third largest river found entirely in New York state; it is 146 miles long. It originates from Raquette Lake in the Adirondacks and flows into the Saint Lawrence River in Akwesane, a Mohawk territory in Quebec. It was historically part of the “Highway of the Adirondacks” which consists of over 100 miles of connected waterways throughout the Adirondacks.
I chose this images because the camera got a great shot of the water droplets flying into the air.

Category: Animal Sign,
Habitat Description: Mixed hardwood and softwood forest,

Category: Plant,
Habitat Description: Red pine, softwood forest,
Natural History Info: Red pine is a coniferous tree, classified within the northern pine species. They grow tall and straight and their bark is grey-brown near the base of the tree and thin, flakey, and bright-orange near the top. It has long waxy needles found in fascicles of two. Red pine is a food source for several animals, including deer, snowshoe hares, squirrels, chipmunks, mice and crossbills.

Category: Close up,
Habitat Description: Pine Forest,
Natural History Info: Because pine trees grow in a diverse range of habitats and typically endure harsh weather conditions, their needles have adapted to survive in a variety of unpredictable conditions. Pine trees typically drop their needles every two to three years. The needles are waxy, which have a number of benefits, that including protection from UV-B Rays, air pollution, and to minimize water loss.

Category: Close up,
Habitat Description: Moss and lichen growing on a log,
Natural History Info: Lichen is able to survive in extreme conditions, from artic tundra to the desert and high alpine zones. It grows on almost any surface, however it doesn’t have roots. Lichen is a fungus that relies on its symbiotic relationship with algae or cyanobacteria to photosynthesize and supply the fungus with sugars for growth and survival.

Category: Landscape,

Habitat Description: Fir and spruce forest near the banks of the Raquette River,

Natural History Info: Spruce is a genus of coniferous tree that can be found in northern temperate and sub-artic climates. On average they grow to be 60-100 feet tall depending on its location and species. Spruce trees unlike firs have sharp ridged needles that are attached individually to the branch.

I like this photo because of how the snowy spruce trees frame the river.

Category: Landscape,
Habitat Description: River bank and low lying area around the Raquette River,
Natural History info: The bed of a river is where water flow is normally confined, while the banks of the river are where water flows when there is a high water volume, usually in spring. The soil near rivers is typically wet, shallow and rocky. It is common to find balsam firs, red spruce, some white pine, paper birch in these areas. Typically there is not much ground vegetation, with the exception of shade tolerant shrubs, moss, and mats of spruce and fir needles.

The season is off to a late start, but with blue skies and temps in the mid 30s, the sap was finally flowing well at John Newman's "NewmanZone" sugarbush yesterday. Enjoyed a sunny afternoon helping him put up lines and start his first boil of the season.

A friend and I took advantage of a perfect bluebird day to get a proper winter hike in before the spring thaw. We took the new, longer but less steep trail on the climb, then bombed down the old trail in the fluffy snow on the descent. Views were spectacular- we could see Montreal, the Green Mountains, and the Adirondacks from the top.