PLANTING SEEDS BLOG: A Hike and a Biology Lesson All in a Day

Black Creek Preserve.Robert Rodriguez, Jr.

Several months back I wrote about taking my kids on a hike. It was good fun and, at the time, I had big plans to head upstate more regularly. But then winter came and it was cold. I spent long months sitting inside, schlepping my kids to hockey practices and skiing a few days here and there. Connecting with nature? Not so much.

When March rolled around, it was time to get back outdoors. Who cared that it was still freezing? The calendar said spring, so hiking here we come!

I had never been to Scenic Hudson's Black Creek Preserve, so I printed out the ParkQuest guide on its Web site and we got in the car. As luck would have it, the day we chose to visit herring-monitor training was taking place. Maybe it doesn't take much to impress a city dweller, but I was excited. Not only was I going to get my kids outside walking in the woods, I also had happened upon an interesting biology lesson. So we trailed behind the group and dutifully peered into the water while the enthusiastic ranger explained how they need volunteers to observe this Hudson River tributary to see if, where and when spawning runs occur. He explained how the data may help biologists discover why populations of these important fish are declining.

I can't say I know much about herring. And I certainly knew nothing about the declining fish populations. According to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Web site:

Although a valuable resource, river herring stocks along the East Coast are declining. No single cause has been identified, but it is likely a combination of dams (which restrict their migrations into tributaries to spawn), invasive species such as the zebra mussel, over fishing, bycatch losses (caught in fisheries that target other species), and increases in predator populations.

My kids were interested for a bit. But it was too early to actually see any herring, so we lost their attention. They quickly found a way to entertain themselves -- by throwing pinecones off one side of the bridge and then racing to the other side to see them float downstream.

We left the group and decided to hike down to the river. It was a perfect trail for kids -- not too long, lots of varied terrain to explore. My kids enjoyed watching the ice cracking in the vernal pools. (Again, it doesn't take much to excite us. We live among concrete.) But the greatest excitement was getting to the river and skipping stones. The Hudson truly lives up to its reputation as a majestic river. There is something hypnotic and calming watching it flow along.

Now if only it could warm up a bit. I really want to get onto the river for some kayaking.

In 2006, Francesca Olivieri co-founded the company, sage baby, an online, eco-friendly baby store offering everything from organic clothes and skincare to furniture. She also writes a monthly blog for The Family Groove and contributes articles to Daily Candy Kids, YogaCity, Citiscoop and NRDC's simple steps. Francesca lives in New York City with her husband and three kids, ages eight, six and four.