Saturday, April 20, 2024, 11:00
AM
Shu Swamp Preserve (Charles T. Church Nature Preserve), Mill Neck, Nassau Co.
Trip leader: Virginia Dankel
Enjoy Shu Swamp’s natural beauty through an exploration of its spring ephemerals, a history of the property, and a reading or two. Space is limited, so register early with Bob Chapman (chappy516@aol.com) and more details about the trip and directions to the meeting place will be sent.
Joint field trip with the North Shore Land Alliance
Saturday, June 1, 2024, 10:00
AM
Muttontown Preserve North, Nassau County, NY .
Trip leader: Al Lindberg
Muttontown Preserve has a rich geological history, and its knob-and-kettle topography influences the Preserve’s varied ecological communities. At the center of the northern section, the “Seven Ponds Woods” is the last remnant of pro-glacial “Lake Muttontown” which was locked between the Harbor Hill Terminal Moraine and the retreating Harbor Hill ice sheet. Once part of the H. I. Hudson Estate, this area has been recognized as a significant wetlands since 1916. While exploring the woodlands and fields, we will view Muttontown Preserve’s persimmon Diospyros virginiana population, and look for Hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana and other botanical finds along the way.
Email or call to register. We will meet at The Bill Paterson Nature Center. Dress for the weather. Waterproof footwear may be useful. Hand lens, camera and binoculars are recommended. Bring a drink and snack or sandwich if desired. (Email: ajlindberg@optonline.net cell phone: 516-317-8837
Directions:
The Bill Paterson Nature Center is located at the end of Muttontown Lane south of Northern Blvd. (Rte. 25A) in East Norwich. From the Long Island Expressway take Exit 41 North (Rte. 106) to East Norwich, make a left on Northern Blvd (25A) for one block to Muttontown Lane. Turn left (south), the road ends at the Nature Center Parking Area.
Saturday, June 15, 2024, 10:00
AM–2:00 PM
Cunningham Park, Southeast Preserve, Queens Co.
Trip leader: Zihao Wang (zihaowan@buffalo.edu; cell phone: 347-498-6050)
We will explore the southeastern section of Cunningham Park, where the forest is the most intact and contains interesting species such as Brachyelytrum erectum (long-awned wood grass), Lilium canadense (Canada lily), and Agrimonia gryposepala (tall hairy agrimony). The numerous vernal pools in the park will also be habitats for potentially interesting mosses and liverworts.
Directions:
Meeting location: Northeastern corner of the parking lot in Cunningham Park, south of the intersection between Union Turnpike and 196th Pl. (GPS Coordinates: 40.730898, -73.773091)
Transit Directions: By public transportation: from the last stop of 7 Train at Main Street, take the Jamaica-Merrick-Blvd-bound Q17 bus and get off at 188 St/Union Tpke and walk east for 10 minutes. By car: take exit 20A from Grand Central Parkway.
Joint field trip with the North Shore Land Alliance
Saturday, September 14, 2024, 10:00
AM
Oyster Pond, Montauk, Suffolk Co.
Trip leader: Vicki Bustamante
Oyster Pond is the largest and highest quality example of a coastal salt pond community in New York. Oyster Pond lies within a completely undeveloped watershed in Montauk Point State Park. Due to its proximity to the shoreline, it periodically opens to Block Island Sound by natural processes making it brackish. Oyster Pond is host to many rare and unusual plants which have adapted to survive in this habitat including Sesuvium maritimum, Chenopodium berlandieri var. macrocalycium, Eupatorium torreyanum, Eleocharis parvula, Glyceria obtusa, Polygala cruciata, Cyperus filicinus, Juncus brachycarpus, Limosella australis, Viburnum dentatum var. venosum, Ptilimnium capillaceum, and Carex mitchelliana. Sturdy walking shoes/boots are recommended, preferably waterproof, as we will be navigating through some wet areas and puddles and shoreline; please bring a hand lens, water, snack/lunch, sunscreen, and take tick precautions.
Registration: Please register online with the New York Flora Association: https://nyflora.org/events-directory/. If you have any questions about the trip before registering, please email montauk@nyflora.org.
Joint trip with the New York Flora Association
Saturday, September 28, 2024, 10:00
AM
Coastal Plain Flora at Crooked Pond, Sag Harbor, Suffolk Co.
Trip leader: Rich Ring, Chief Botanist, NYS Natural Heritage
The coastal plain ponds of Long Island are hot spots of rare plant diversity in New York. The complex of ponds at the Long Pond Greenbelt, south of Sag Harbor, has some of the best-preserved examples of this rare habitat. Depending on water levels we will look for several rare sedges at Crooked Pond and vicinity, including species of beakrush (Rhynchospora), spikerush (Eleocharis), nut sedge (Scleria), and umbrella grass (Fuirena). Rose coreopsis (Coreopsis rosea) and other flowering plants should be present as well. Please bring a hand lens, water, lunch, sunscreen, snacks, and footwear suitable for mud, and take tick precautions. We will meet at the Long Pond Greenbelt Nature Center, and walk through the woods less than 1/2 mile to the ponds.
Registration: Please register online with the New York Flora Association: https://nyflora.org/events-directory/. If you have any questions about the trip before registering, please email coastalplain@nyflora.org.
Limit: 12 participants
Joint trip with the New York Flora Association
Saturday, October 12, 2024, 11:00
AM
Big Reed, Montauk, Suffolk Co.
Trip leader: Vicki Bustamante (vickibustamante@gmail.com)
The Big Reed area is the jewel of the 1,100-acre Montauk County Park and host to many rare and unusual plants. The hike will pass through some vulnerable ecological communities including a red maple–blackgum swamp, coastal oak-hickory forest and a coastal oak-beech forest. We will overlook Big Reed pond, a pristine 57-acre coastal plain pond without a house, building or road in sight. The area was the last ancestral home of the Montaukett tribe. We will be on the lookout for interesting plants and birds along the way.
Register with Vicki Bustamante (vickibustamante@gmail.com)
and more details about the trip and directions to the meeting
place will be sent.
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