Plants + Animals
Dan Smith first noticed the white spring blossoms of Dutchman’s breeches poking through the invasive shrubs that had been trimmed...
Many people find enjoyment in the outdoors through birding, which draws their eyes to the...
Sun floods through the trees in short angles as the earth peers away, towards the...
Of the 40 species of sparrows in the United States, about half of them can...
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Of the 40 species of sparrows in the United States, about half of them can be found in New York,...
As winter moves into spring, we often hear the repeated tapping of woodpeckers that echoes from distant trees. This is...
Mockingbirds are a fixture in popular American culture. They provided inspiration for the Mockingjays in The Hunger Games. Harper Lee named...
Bird lovers throughout the Hudson Valley are watching for one of our area’s most beloved seasonal residents: the ruby-throated hummingbird....
The robin is the oneThat interrupts the mornWith hurried, few, express reportsWhen March is scarcely on. —Emily Dickinson, “The Robin”...
Northern cardinals have become a familiar and welcome sight to New Yorkers, particularly here in the Hudson Valley. The iconic...
There’s something especially heartbreaking about coming across an injured bird — a creature meant to soar that is suddenly suffering,...
As the weather cools off, crows flock to Poughkeepsie by the thousands to join a communal roost, a ritual that’s...
Few things in life draw the sort of deep-sigh feeling of awe as the sight of a majestic eagle soaring...
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Near Coeymans, N.Y., there is a floodplain that flanks the Hudson and extends out to a well-kept property that a...
Conserving land — cultivating it expressly for nature — is a standard practice today. But decades ago, it was an unheard-of...
The photogenic sprawl of trees in their vibrant fall colors is arguably one of the Hudson Valley’s most defining features,...
The Hudson Valley is famous for its fall foliage, best seen across rolling hills, apple orchards, and riverside mountains. Everyone...
Among local trees that have captured the imagination, it’s hard to top the Balmville Tree. Walk, bike, or drive past...
On a fall Friday morning, a pickup truck arrived at Mawignack Preserve in Catskill with a long-anticipated cargo: 28 trees....
The annual changing-leaf display along the Hudson River always boosts flagging spirits — and who couldn’t use a little pick-me-up...
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The Hudson Valley provides the perfect habitat for a wide variety of butterflies due to its diverse landscapes, which range...
The humble honeybee may just be a human’s new best friend. With the spring season approaching, soon bringing a growth...
Since the 1940s, farmers and landscapers alike have used synthetic pesticides that are sprayed on plants and crops. But in...
Many of us dream of having a butterfly haven in our own backyard, but creating a utopia for these enchanting...
The next time you see a honeybee buzzing around a flower or a shrub or an apple tree, you can...
by Dalvin Aboagye Step outside your home on a nice night and take a look around. What do you see?...
Enjoying outdoor exercise helps boost our immune system and relieve stress, which has never been more important. But while a...
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Muskrats are found all over New York and in different types of water: ponds, lakes, marshes, streams, and brackish habitats...
A bane to gardeners, but a boon to people who love cuteness: We’re talking about bunny rabbits. New York is...
They’re right in our midst, and simultaneously appreciated (for their masked-eye, ringed-tail cuteness) and unloved (especially for their tendency to...
As human activity over the centuries has drastically altered the American landscape, the makeup of wildlife in the country has...
Despite their spooky rep, there’s much more to bats than Dracula and Halloween decorations. Around the world, bats serve as...
Frogs may be the most familiar and observable amphibians in the Hudson Valley. Unlike their secretive cousins the salamanders, frogs...
They may not look like the cuddliest creatures, but opossums are still beloved by many New Yorkers. In May, they...
Cryptic, mysterious, and too often feared, snakes are among the most misunderstood animals that share our planet. New York is...
Around late April, bog turtles began to emerge from their muddy hibernacula, or winter shelters, to greet another season in...
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When it comes to invasive species that have affected the Hudson River, water chestnuts are one of the most common....
Invasive plants wreak great havoc in the Hudson Valley, crowding out native species that birds and other animals depend on...
The next time you’re hiking in the Lower Hudson Valley, be on the lookout for two of the region’s newest...
For generations, the canopies provided by the Eastern hemlock trees have been integral to the Empire State’s forest ecosystems. Although...
The spotted lanternfly is one beautiful bug. With its wings outspread, an adult resembles an abstract painting, sporting geometric splotches...
“When I first started working here, I didn’t realize this could be such a beautiful view,” says Scenic Hudson parks...
Trees, shrubs and wildflowers contribute so much beauty to the Hudson Valley — and joy to our lives — but...
Scenic Hudson Land Stewardship Coordinator Dan Smith photographed an ice skate being “eaten” by a tree on one of our...
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The Scenic Hudson team uses cameras to help monitor our parks — but sometimes, wildlife makes a guest appearance. What...
The Scenic Hudson team uses cameras to help monitor our parks — but sometimes, wildlife makes a guest appearance. What...
The Scenic Hudson team uses cameras to help monitor our parks — but sometimes, wildlife makes a guest appearance. What...
The Scenic Hudson team uses cameras to help monitor our parks — but sometimes, wildlife makes a guest appearance. What...
The Scenic Hudson team uses cameras to help monitor our parks — but sometimes, wildlife makes a guest appearance. What...