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October 1, 2015Pine Bush Discovery Center October & November Program Schedule
First Friday Walk and Talk
Friday October 2, 2015, 12:00pm- 1:00pm
Take a break from your day and join us for a 1.2 mile hike at Kings Road Barrens. We will meet at the Kings Road trailhead (#9). Adults only.
Location: Kings Road Barrens trailhead (#9)
Fee: Free! Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Brilliant and Bristly Buckmoths
Saturday October 3, 2015, 11:00am- 12:30pm
Join us for a 0.9 mile walk to discover the amazing world of buckmoths. The inland barrens buckmoth is a large beautiful moth with bold black and white wings that flies for only a brief window of time in the early fall. A species of special concern in New York State, the buckmoth is uniquely dependent on the scrub oak that thrives in this sandy fire-dependent ecosystem. Ages 6+.
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family. Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Prickly Porcupines
Sunday October 4, 2015, 1:00pm- 2:30pm
Porcupines, also known as quill pigs are the only mammal in North America with quills and they live here in the Pine Bush. Join us for a talk and a walk to learn more about these interesting and elusive animals. We will walk approximately one mile. Ages 6+.
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family. Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Neighborhood Walk: Blueberry Hill West (Trailhead #5)
Saturday October 10, 2015, 2:00pm- 3:30pm
Join us for a neighborhood walk in the Blueberry Hill West region of the Preserve located adjacent to the Dunes neighborhood. We will hike 1.37 miles over rolling topography stopping along the way to explore the diversity of species that live in this region of the Preserve. We will meet at the Blueberry Hill West trailhead (#5). Ages 8+. Free!
Location: We will meet at the Blueberry Hill West trailhead (#5).
Fee: Free! Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Smokey Bear Day
Monday October 12, 2015, 10:00am- 2:00pm
Drop in and meet Smokey Bear and friends at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center! Learn from Smokey how the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission uses prescribed fire to keep this habitat healthy. There will be prescribed fire equipment on hand for visitors to see and try out, a relay race for kids and Smokey goody bags for visitors to take home. All ages. Free!
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: Free! Visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar” for details.
Science Lecture Series: Birding while sound asleep – using audio recording to follow bird migration
Thursday October 15, 2015, 7:00pm- 8:00pm
Many birds migrate at night and call as they fly. Beginning in 2014 the Albany Pine Bush Preserve joined two other sites in Albany County in a study of bird migration by acoustic monitoring. Local birder and naturebits.org founder David Martin has been recording the birds’ calls to follow fall migration for over six years. Join us this evening for a presentation of how acoustic monitoring works, what the data has taught us so far and learn how the Pine Bush stacks up next to some of his other sites. Ages 15+. Free!
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: Free! Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Fall Foliage Hike
Saturday October 17, 2015, 11:00am- 12:30pm
Changing foliage is all around. Come and join us for a 2.6 mile hike while we take in the beautiful scenery of this rare ecosystem. Ages 8+.
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family. Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Oh Deer!
Saturday October 24, 2015, 1:00pm- 2:30pm
Would you like to learn more about white tail deer in the Albany Pine Bush? Come and join us for an afternoon program on the largest mammal in the Pine Bush. We will start inside with a short introduction to deer anatomy and behavior and then continue outside for a 0.9 mile hike looking for signs of deer in their habitat. Ages 6+.
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family. Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Discover the Pine Bush
Sunday October 25, 2015, 1:00pm- 2:00pm
An extraordinary journey into the Albany Pine Bush, the best remaining example in the world of an inland pine barrens. Our experts will guide you along this 0.9 mile hike over rolling sand dunes where you will discover Pine Bush natural history, seasonal surprises and transformations. All ages.
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Sensory Night Hike
Thursday October 29, 2015, 6:30pm- 8:00pm
It’s that time of year when we associate with dark and spooky things. On this multi-sensory tour of the Pine Bush after sun-down, we will explore nocturnal adaptations through hands on activities. Participants will walk away with a new found appreciation for the nocturnal world. We will hike 0.9 miles. Ages 6+.
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family. Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Spectacular Spiders
Saturday October 31, 2015, 11:00am- 12:30pm
Spiders are feared by many but are actually an important part of our ecosystem. Are you already a fan? Or just a little bit afraid? Come learn more about these crawling creatures in the Pine Bush and join us for a 0.9 mile walk and discussion as we explore what makes spiders special. All ages.
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Pine Bush Perspectives Photo Exhibit Opening
Sunday November 1, 2015, 1:00pm- 4:00pm
Each visitor views the Albany Pine Bush Preserve from a unique vantage point worthy of celebrating and sharing. Join us on November 1st from 1-4pm for the unveiling of this year’s juried photo exhibit, celebrating the uniqueness and diversity of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Juror selected awards will be presented and light snacks will be provided. All ages. Free!
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: Free! Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Owl Prowl and Hors’ d’oeuvres
Tuesday November 3, 2015, 5:00pm- 7:00pm
Love is in the air! No, it’s not Valentine’s Day yet. The breeding season for barred owls, great-horned owls and screech owls, residents of the Albany Pine Bush, is approaching. As the breeding season begins you are likely to hear the calls of male owls as they defend their territory. Come join us for this 1.4 mile night hike and learn about the habits of these nocturnal birds and listen for their calls. Meet us at the Discovery Center and enjoy some snacks while we give an indoor presentation. We will then caravan over to the Blueberry Hill West trailhead for our hike. Participants are responsible for providing their own transportation. Adults only.
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family. Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Project FeederWatch Information Session
Wednesday November 4, 2015, 7:00pm- 8:00pm
Project FeederWatch, a continent-wide citizen science effort run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to quantify birds, has been collecting data since the mid-1970s. The data collected have given us invaluable information about how bird populations move and change over time. We would like to encourage our Pine Bush neighbors to join this initiative in reporting birds you see at your feeders. Join us this evening for an information session on how to get involved! This is an indoor program and will not involve a hike. Please note that this information session is free but there is a fee if you decide to participate in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Project FeederWatch program. All ages. Free!
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: Free! Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
First Friday Walk and Talk
Friday November 6, 2015, 12:00pm- 1:00pm
Take a break from your day and join us for a one hour hike along the trails of the Madison Avenue Pinelands. We will meet at the Madison Avenue Pinelands trailhead (#7). Adults only. Free!
Location: Madison Avenue Pinelands trailhead (#7)
Fee: Free! Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Meet the Oaks
Saturday November 7, 2015, 1:00pm- 2:30pm
Oaks are one of the most common types of woody plants in the Albany Pine Bush. Join us as we explore the varieties of oak that grow in this inland pine barrens and investigate their differences and similarities. Ages 15+.
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family. Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Science Lecture Series: Peat Mosses in the Pine Bush
Thursday November 12, 2015, 7:00pm- 8:00pm
Although the dunes of the Albany Pine Bush seem to get all the attention, the wetlands located between them are just as intriguing. These wetlands support a unique ecosystem that is further shaped by the flora and fauna within them. Peat mosses, plants in the genus Sphagnum, are common in these wetlands and influence patterns of water, carbon and nutrient flow. Join us this evening for a close-up introduction to the unique structural features of peat mosses of the Pine Bush followed by a lecture on the biology and ecology of these remarkable plants by Dr. Steven Rice, Professor of Biology at Union College. Ages 15+. Free!
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: Free! Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Animal Armor
Sunday November 15, 2015, 1:00pm- 2:30pm
How do you protect yourself in the event of danger? Many animals of the Pine Bush have very unique ways of protecting themselves from predators. Join us for a brief indoor presentation and craft followed by a short hike to look for evidence these animals may leave behind. We plan to walk approximately one-half mile. Families with children 10 and under.
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Wild and Wiley Turkeys
Saturday November 21, 2015, 1:00pm- 2:30pm
Sunday November 22, 2015, 1:00pm- 2:30pm
It’s that time of year when our thoughts turn to turkeys! Come discover the life of wild turkeys in the Pine Bush and learn about turkey sounds, flight, habitat and the bird that almost became our national symbol. We will start indoors for a brief introduction then continue outside with a 0.9 mile hike over rolling terrain to search for signs of turkey in their habitat. At the end of the program, each participant will have the chance to make a turkey call craft. All ages.
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Waddle Walk
Saturday November 28, 2015, 11:00am- 12:30pm
Looking for a way to work off those yummy holiday treats? Our “waddle walk” is a fun way to get outside for some fresh air and vigorous exercise. We will hike 2.6 miles over rolling terrain through the Karner Barrens East region of the Albany Pine Bush, taking breaks along the way for rest and water (if needed). If there is snow, we will snowshoe 0.9 miles! Snowshoes will be provided to program participants. Ages 8+.
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family. Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
Discover the Pine Bush
Sunday November 29, 2015, 1:00pm- 2:00pm
An extraordinary journey into the Albany Pine Bush, the best remaining example in the world of an inland pine barrens. Our experts will guide you through this 0.9 mile hike over rolling sand dunes where you will discover Pine Bush natural history, seasonal surprises and transformations. All ages.
Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE PINE BUSH:
The 3,200 – acre Albany Pine Bush Preserve (APBP), located in New York’s Capital District, protects one of the best remaining inland pitch pine – scrub oak barrens in the world. This extraordinary fire-dependent habitat provides homes for many plants and animals and contains 55 New York State-designated wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need, including the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly. The Preserve is a National Natural Landmark, a New York State Unique Area, Bird Conservation Area and a National Audubon Society Important Bird Area. Characterized by rolling sand dunes and miles of trails, the Preserve offers visitors many recreational opportunities including hiking, bird watching, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking, hunting, fishing and canoeing. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission is a public-private partnership created by the NYS Legislature in 1988 to protect and manage the APBP and provide the public with educational and recreational opportunities.
As the gateway to the Pine Bush, the Discovery Center is a state-of-the-art “green” certified interpretive center where visitors come to understand why the Pine Bush is rare and special. A visit to this unique destination is an exciting exploration where learning comes naturally through interactive exhibits, an outdoor Discovery Trail, and numerous programs on the ecology, natural history, cultural history and management of the Pine Bush. Admission to the Discovery Center is free (there is a small fee for programs). The Center is open daily weekdays 9am-4pm, weekends and most holidays 10am-4pm. For more information, visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org or call 518-456-0655.
