Recently at Constitution Marsh

EagleFest and more

2012-02-08T07:34:00.000-08:00

Along with John Stowell and Susan Butterfass of NY State Parks, Constitution Marsh pulled out the spotting scopes to identify Bald Eagles at the 2012 EagleFest! Dozens of people arrived throughout the day and even though it was warm and the ice was absent, spectators were able to spot several Bald Eagles that were perched nearby.

Keeping with the theme and season, Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary will be hosting a free Eagle hike on March 3rd and 4th. The sessions start at 10:00am with an introduction to Eagles and a Q&A. Then put on your hiking boots and gloves and we will walk the trails. Bring water, warm clothes and your own binoculars, if you have them. Space is limited. Reservations required. Please call 845-265-2601 x15

Sunny End

2011-09-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

The crisp air brings Autumn to us, almost overnight, bringing with it an explosion of colors and a wide variety of migratory birds passing over. The Marsh plays host to different Flyway migration paths; pretty soon it will be filled with Waterfowl stopping by for a break.

Can't beat watching the sunset from the boardwalk, a calm washes over you and nothing matters anymore. It's just you and nature out there. Stop down and experience it yourself.

Hurricane Irene

2011-09-01T13:16:00.000-07:00

The wettest August on record left the ground filled capcity with water. The soaked soil couldn't hold anymore and trees that were not used to having their feet so wet collasped under the stress. And then came Hurricane Irene bringing days of rain and nasty winds. Small streams turned into raging rivers, carrying down everything in its path.

The Marsh survived relatively fine compared to the small towns in the Catskills and upper New York areas. The water levels rose to the second level of the canoe rack, about half way up on the white sign. You can see the canoe launch dock completely under water and about a 3 foot pile of silt that was dropped off by the rushing water.

The small brook of Indian, was a raging river (pictured below). The dynamic of the brook changed when logs from all over were pushed down. It looks like a giant beaver came through and built a lodge in it. The rushing water took out a lot of small plants and left behind a lot of sand and silt too.

The boardwalk was completely under water and possibly the cat-tails were covered too. Amazing to think about that it could hold that much water. The Hudson River ran red for days afterwards. Do to the tributaries from the Mohawk and Adirondacks. Much of the soil up there is clay and when washed down made the Hudson run red.

Although rain keeps falling, the tides have return to an almost normal state. Overall Hurricane Irene left a mark on the Earth.

The Hidden Gem of the Hudson

2011-08-25T09:11:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful evening it turned out to be for a canoe trip. The Bedford Audubon came down for a trip through the marsh. The colors were even more vibrant than usual and the sky a great shade of blue to compliment it all.

The trip went great, everyone had a good time and we got to explore much of the marsh. Our fearless leader Eric, talked ever so gracefully about the marsh and the natural beauties located within.

On our way back to the mouth of Indian Brook we stopped in the cove to watch hundreds of Chimney Swifts flying overhead. Set against the setting sun, the scene was calming. Each individual lost in there own thoughts and taking in the beauty of the Hudson River. It is not often that we get to stop and relish in nature, needing no words to explain the sights in front. Paddling back was hard, I think we all could of stayed out in the canoes for hours, but alas all good things must come to an end. Until next time.

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz

2011-08-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Bees are at work! Making sure that they get enough pollen from all the beautiful flowers here at the marsh.

These compass flowers bloomed a couple of weeks ago and the bees just can't get enough. If you take a closer look at the bee's back leg you can see that his pollen basket is nearly full. Sometimes I watch the bees and they are just completely covered in pollen, legs, wings and face!

A hint of pink in the vast sea of green

2011-08-15T06:46:00.000-07:00

An aspect of the marsh that is extremely striking is the splash of pink that can seen along the boardwalk, canoeing around and along the mouth of Indian Brook. In a sea of green cat-tails and arrow arum, this wonderful flower pops up to add a touch of color among the monotony of green. Swamp Rose Mallow blooms around late July and into August. An emerging flower is picture above, ready to bloom any day now and the bees and insects will be quite happy, as it will be another place for them to fest.

Additional Public Canoe Trip Dates!

2011-08-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

Constitution Marsh Audubon Center & Sanctuary hosts several guided public canoe trips throughout the Summer. Due to popular demand, we are pleased to announce several additional public canoe trip dates that will be held throughout the beginning of the Fall season. A perfect time to witness the spectacular autumn foliage and breathe in the fresh Fall air on the Marsh!
To learn more, please visit our Calendar link on the home page.

A View from Below

2011-07-11T15:40:00.000-07:00

While hiking Breakneck Mountain, stopped to take a photograph of a mushroom, you can see the detail on it and the way the sun shines through the gills.

Setting Sun on the Fourth

2011-07-04T15:06:00.000-07:00

Eagerly awaiting fireworks from West Point, the sun cast this beautiful colorful image of the Marsh. The Marsh Wrens and Barn Swallows joined us for this magnificent event.

A breathtaking picture followed by multiple firework displays along the Hudson. Nothing like ending the Fourth of July with a bang.

Service Project controlling the invasive Phragmities!

2011-06-30T18:13:00.000-07:00

Each Summer the invasive species are more readily seen and it is our job to try and control them, so that the native species can thrive.

Luckily we had a lot of extra hands this season to help with the hard, dirty work. This year we took on a new kind of intern, who is working with the Student Conservation Association (thesca.org) and Americorp and is here at the Marsh helping us with all aspects of work including Environmental Education, Bird banding, censusing and the dirty work phrag control.

We had the pleasure

of hosting an Americorp Service Project; about 25 members came down from all over the Hudson Valley to helped us crush the Phragmities, an invasive species competing with the Cat-tails in the marsh and

threatening the Marsh Wren's habitat.

We crushed the phrag using boards that we had found floating in the river. The next day covered it with a black geothermal plastic in which the sun will heat it up and kill it. This process of solarization will take about 2 years or more to be fully effective and it will allow native plants such as Cat-tails and Arrow Arum to regrow in these areas.

Along with the invasive control out in the marsh, we also had a land crew working on our trails. The team was able to re-chip our whole trail, making it easier to walk on. Also there is a beautiful stone wall that runs along our property, that they we able to trim back the encroaching nature and

re-open sight of the wall.

The work that Americorp did was absolutely amazing and very helpful. Their impact will be felt for years to come. It was 3 days of intense hard work but this gang was able to do it. Please stop by and check out our newly done trails and ask us about the Phrag control.

"To build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of our environment and communities by engaging young people in hand-on service to the land"

The SCA Pledge

Songbird Banding Research

2011-06-23T15:12:00.000-07:00

Songbird banding is a great day at work, while you have the opportunity to see the sunrise and set all in one day, you are also able to see Amazing birds up close.

This female Pileated Woodpecker was not the happiest bird to be caught, although she did allow us to measure her wing span, age and place a band on her leg; in hopes that we will understand where birds migrate to.

Exciting Sighting!

2011-06-12T15:26:00.000-07:00

An immature Red-tailed Hawk found a perch in a Hack berry tree right outside of the Nature Center.

He sure did not mind the Robins that were dive bombing him because of their near-by nest. We observed this majestic creature and tried not to disturb him.

It is amazing to be able to enjoy nature while at your work. Remember to observe wildlife and nature, pictures will allow you to take it home but leave things as you see them.

Eastern Blacknose Dace

2011-05-08T17:55:00.000-07:00

Blacknose dace are common stream minnows found throughout the state of New York. Males develop bright nuptial colors at this time of year, as they spawn in gravelly riffles.

2011-01-29T06:13:00.000-08:00

Amazing snows

2011-01-18T06:09:00.000-08:00

So far, it's been a winter full of snow, ice and cold, clear air.. as it should be.

The road down to the snowbound marsh.

The waterfront at nearby Beacon, New York.

The frozen Hudson at sunset, and Schunnemunk Mountain.

Night Heron

2010-11-24T06:29:00.000-08:00

A black-crowned night heron lounged on the boardwalk Monday afternoon. After observing him and admiring his remarkable orange eyes, we quietly backtracked rather than frighten him off his chosen day-roost location.

Days 325 and 326 of 2010

2010-11-24T06:04:00.000-08:00

We hosted a wedding on Saturday afternoon. The couple visits the marsh often and thought it would provide a perfect natural setting for the ceremony. It did.

And on Sunday, a full moon graced the sky and pulled on the river's water into an exceptional high tide.

Early Winter

2010-11-13T14:25:00.000-08:00

White-winged Crossbill

Pine Siskin

An early show of winter at the bird feeders this week, when both pine siskins and white-winged crossbills filled up on sunflower seeds. A fox sparrow fed below them on the ground, scraping up fallen seeds with his feet.

Early Mornings

2010-08-24T19:06:00.000-07:00

Another 3:00 am wake-up call for our songbird monitoring studies. This morning we were joined by a writer and photographer from philipstown dot info, an online source of news for our local community.

http://www.philipstown.info/ptwp/?p=2984

Tree Swallow

Yellow Warbler

Louisiana Waterthrush

TogetherGreen

2010-08-01T14:11:00.000-07:00

Marcia Foster and Jaynelle Baird from the Brooklyn Academy of Sciences and the Environment lived at the marsh for 2 weeks this Summer and were introduced to all aspects of our conservation work.

A rainy and exciting day...

2010-08-01T13:46:00.000-07:00

20 leading Chinese environmental lawyers, judges and journalists visited the marsh, accompanied by staff from NRDC's Beijing office, on July 23rd. Through translators, we introduced them to the Hudson Valley's biodiversity.

ADK Birdathon 2010

2010-05-25T11:53:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, Rich and Charley participated in the annual Adirondack Birdathon for Audubon New York. We spent a couple of days traveling around upstate New York and spying 130 species of bird for the fundraiser, including the rare Spruce Grouse! The photo above shows our happy crew just minutes after locating one in a bog managed by the Nature Conservancy.

A male Spruce Grouse! Wonderful Photograph by Spallin J.

Spring is in the air...

2010-05-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

..and so are our migrant birds, sweet new smells and all kinds of plans for the summer. We have been busy down here at the marsh with on and off-site education programs, but are also focusing our attention on some other exciting happenings.

As many birds are making their way back north, we have been keeping our eyes out for these rare visitors as they stop-over in our marsh and backyard. We have also been participating in several Audubon Birdathons, which are fundraising events that allow donors to pledge by-the-bird for teams to go out and find all sorts of common and rare birds around New York. These unique opportunities allow us to go off-site and see birds in a variety of habitats, such as Jamaica Bay on Long Island, that we would otherwise miss during this time of the year. For a list of birds that are common at the marsh this time of year, please visit PHAS's Spring Birds of Constution Marsh, and check for the birdathon results from this past weekend!

In addition the spring activities and animals that keep us focused on the "here and now" aspect of our work in nature, we are also taking time this month to reflect on our past. This weekend, Constitution Marsh Audubon Center & Sanctuary will be celebrating it's 40th year as a wildlife sanctuary and honoring those people and organizations that were instrumental in seeing that this important natural resource be permanently managed for the conservation of wildlife. Without the foresight of those individuals, and indeed all those who have supported our vision througout the last four decades, these 300 acres of vital habitat could have been lost; affecting the numerous plants and animals that depend upon this area for their survival. In order to thank our founding supporters and celebrate this momentous occasion the friends and staff of Constitution Marsh will be gathering this Sunday, May 16th at Fair Oaks Farm in Cold Spring, NY. For more information about this event, and to read an in-depth account of the formation of Constitution Marsh, read this wonderful article on LoHud.com.

Spring Blooms

2010-04-06T08:56:00.001-07:00

Warm, sunny days and lots of rain are bringing out new residents here at the Marsh... Check out a few of our favorites!

Coltsfoot {Tussilago farfara}

Trout Lily {Erythronium americanum}

Dutchman's Breeches {Dicentra cucullaria}

Bloodroot {Sanguinaria canadensis}

The Eels Are Coming.....

2010-04-06T08:09:00.000-07:00

We are preparing once again to participate in a wonderful NYSDEC program, coordinated by Chris Bowser, to study American Eels in the tributaries of the Hudson River. These amazing animals migrate long distances, and according to Bowser, "may reveal information about the health of aquatic life and waterways, which could be affected by pollution, habitat loss, overfishing and climate change." In order to study these critters, we have set up a fyke net in Indian Brook and are inviting friends, students and neighbors to help us monitor their population by helping to check the net and take down data about the specimens we collect. Read more about this research in this article on LoHud.com

To learn more about this citizen science project, or volunteer to collect data, contact Charley at Constitution Marsh.

Bridge Building

2010-04-06T07:09:00.000-07:00

We spent a nice Thursday this March rebuilding a walking bridge over a small brook on the Marsh property. The previous bridge collapsed just before winter, and so Rich Merritt (Albany friend and ADK bridge-builder extraordinaire) came to our rescue. With the help of friends and volunteers, we moved large logs and created handrails for these bridges along the trail.

For the Birds!

2010-03-22T14:02:00.001-07:00

With this season of For The Birds! coming to a close, I wanted to reflect on a wonderful bird walk that Rich and I led with the kids back in December. It was a cold day for them to all be outside (and some of them definitely let us know!), but we bundled up and saw several red-tailed hawks, house sparrows, turkey vultures, groups of starlings, and of course a canada goose!

For The Birds! is a wildly successful education program that started in NYC. Their program in the city has grown quite a bit, and we enjoy facilitating our own program up the hudson in Beacon, NY.

Winter in the Sanctuary

2010-03-22T13:52:00.000-07:00

As the seasons change, the scenery of the Hudson Highlands transforms before our eyes here on the river. The lush hillsides have desaturated and we are left with a wonderfully stark crest of hills above the Hudson. Below, Max sits in the snow to watch the sunset after a day of taking in sights of the marsh in mid-winter.

CMACS Gets a New Roof November 2009

2010-03-22T13:41:00.000-07:00

With the help of town Supervisor Richard Shea and his crew from Shea Construction, CMACS was able to get a brand new metal roof, helping us stay as ecologically sensitive and dry as possible!

2010-03-22T13:15:00.000-07:00

3/16/2010
Constitution Marsh, Garrison NY

Among all the signs of spring here at the Marsh--droves of red wing blackbirds and song sparrows returning, our fondness to leave doors flung wide open--today we saw perhaps the most definite signal of a new season: a Compton Tortoiseshell fluttering about in our front yard. These notoriously early fliers let us know that spring is fully on its way with their bright colors waving about the un-resurrected garden.

Catching up to begin a new season

2010-03-22T12:44:00.000-07:00

Click on the images below to reflect on a beautiful fall at the Marsh