News
July 9, 2015Science Lecture Series: Bat Conservation and White-Nosed Syndrome in New York
ALBANY NY – The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission will host an evening lecture at the Discovery Center on Bat Conservation and White-Nose Syndrome in New York, presented by United States Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Biologist Robyn Niver on Thursday, July 16, 2015 at 7:00pm. This lecture is part of a monthly science lecture series presented by local scientists and the Commission’s own expert staff. Recommended for ages 15 and above, lecture series topics vary from tiger beetles, to wild turkeys, to climate research and more.
White-nose syndrome is a disease that has been plaguing many bats of the eastern United States since it was first discovered in Albany County, New York in 2007. Species like the little brown bat have experienced greater than 90% declines. Ms. Niver will detail the threat our bats face, their current status, and what people can do to help.
“The sudden and dramatic decline of eastern bat species has been alarming”, said Neil Gifford, Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission Conservation Director. He added, “While we know bats play an important role in ecosystems, we know very little about their distribution and abundance in the Preserve. With USFWS support, we are conducting surveys this summer to learn more about which bat species occur here and the impacts of Preserve management on bats.”
Science Lecture Series programs are free and open to the public. This program is recommended for ages 15+. Pre-registration is required for all programs. The Discovery Center is located at 195 New Karner Road in Albany. To sign up for any of these programs, please visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org and click on “Events Calendar” at the top of the page or call 518-456-0655.
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.
