Boulder With A Story To Tell Apr 9, 2013 - by Steve Biasetti, Director of Environmental Education
The boulder sat there — at the southwest corner of Nichols Road and Stony Brook University’s south entrance — when my family moved to Suffolk County in February 1968. As big as a pickup truck, maybe more massive, it most likely was the first large boulder on Long Island that caught my youthful attention. In… Read more >
Baffled by a Squirrel Apr 3, 2013 - by Anita Wright, Assistant Director of Environmental Education
When eastern gray squirrel trumped the homemade baffle on our bird feeder, I found myself torn between feeling triumphant for the squirrel and feeling personally defeated. All winter, the squirrels have been feasting on an easy meal of black sunflower seeds from the feeder in our yard. The whole family enjoys watching their antics, and… Read more >
Dear Spring, it’s me Missy Mar 22, 2013 - by Missy Weiss, Environmental Educator
Dear Spring, it’s me Missy, The calendar says that you are here, but it’s hard to believe when snowflakes are falling from the sky. This was my first Winter back on Long island in five years and it’s been quite brutal. Like a small child waiting for Christmas, I too have been anxiously awaiting your… Read more >
Chickadees: Personable Little Balls of Feathers Feb 25, 2013 - by Steve Biasetti, Director of Environmental Education
Black-Capped Chickadees weigh about four-tenths of one ounce, the heft of just four U.S. pennies. Yet these little feather balls pack a whole lot of activity, personality, brazen curiosity and toughness into their tiny frames. They are sociable and hardy members of the family of songbirds known as Parids (Chickadees & Titmice). Birds in the… Read more >
Strange But True: Dancing Aphids and Honeydew Feasts Feb 6, 2013 - by Anita Wright, Assistant Director of Environmental Education
Just when I thought things couldn’t get any weirder (or more fascinating) in the natural world, enter Grylloprociphilus imbricator, a.k.a., the beech blight aphid, sometimes called the beech woolly aphid and even the boogie-woogie aphid. Then there’s the fungus, Scorias spongiosa, (common name, sooty mold) which feeds on the excrement (referred to as “honeydew”, no… Read more >
If You Can’t Beat It, Eat It- Cooking with Invasive Plants Jan 23, 2013 - by Missy Weiss, Environmental Educator
Japanese knotweed, autumn olive, Asian bittersweet, Japanese honeysuckle, garlic mustard, mile-a-minute vine- these are just a few of the invasive plant species that can be found growing along roadsides, forests, and in our backyards. The National Invasive Species Council defines invasive species as plants, animals, or pathogens that are non-native and cause harm. In many… Read more >
Reading Impressions in the Sand Jan 7, 2013 - by Steve Biasetti, Director of Environmental Education
In the popular television show, “N.C.I.S.”, Abby applies her intellect and experience to read clues and solve mysteries from her high-tech laboratory. On eastern Long Island, Callie Velmachos applies her intellect and experience to read clues and solve mysteries from faint impressions in the sand. I had the great pleasure of joining Callie this past… Read more >
A Butterfly in December Dec 17, 2012 - by Anita Wright, Assistant Director of Environmental Education
During the first week of December, Group for the East End Educators waited for busses filled with students to arrive for a forest field lesson in Northwest Woods of East Hampton. Air temperature neared 60 degrees, and wearing just sweatshirts, we all commented on what a warm, beautiful, sunny day it was. Then suddenly, Steve… Read more >
Now That’s a Big Bug Dec 7, 2012 - by Missy Weiss, Environmental Educator
While walking up to my front door one chilly November evening, the last thing I expected to see creeping along the steps was a 2-inch, black beetle with a huge tear-dropped shaped abdomen! Generally, I am not the type of person to shy away from picking up and examining an interesting insect, but this one… Read more >
“Greening” the Baby Nov 21, 2012 - by Jennifer Skilbred, Environmental Advocate
Being a new mom, I currently believe everything about babies is wonderful (especially everything about my little man!). However, there are a few things that even I can admit are not that great. One of these is the impact babies can have on the environment. In light of this, I’ve been doing some research on… Read more >
