Scenic Hudson schedules four lectures
Scenic Hudson has announced a series of lectures to be held in February and March at its River Center at 8 Long Dock Road in Beacon. Each starts at 6 p.m.
On Thursday, Feb. 4, Tom Lake will discuss the lives and legends of Hudson River fish. Within the watershed, 224 species have been documented, and 171 are considered “native.” Are these numbers significant — and what does native mean? Lake is a naturalist with the Hudson River Estuary Program of the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
On Thursday, Feb. 11, Laura Heady will talk about Hudson Valley wetlands, from its floodplain forests and vernal pools to emergent marshes and fens. They provide habitat for plants and animals, including many rare species, and furnish clean water, flood control and outdoor enjoyment. Heady is the Estuary Program’s conservation and land use coordinator.
On Thursday, March 3, Tim Stanley will discuss native pollinators, or what he calls “the unstung heroes.” Most of the food we eat is the result of the endless labor of pollinators. Bees are designed for pollination, yet most go unnoticed and their work unheralded. Stanley, the founder of Native Beeology, will talk about ways to create habitat diversity within backyards and gardens.
Finally, on Thursday, March 10, Chris Bowser will talk about tracking the great migration of American eels (Anguilla rostrata), which are born in the Atlantic Ocean and swim into North American streams as tiny, almost see-through “glass eels.” The species is in decline over much of its range, and studies of its migration are considered crucial for survival. Bowser, who is a science education specialist with the Estuary Program, will describe when, where and how you can help catch and document these fascinating fish, providing biologists with vital information.
For more information, call Scenic Hudson at 845-473-4440, ext. 273, or email [email protected].
