The Outside Page

Ideas for Exploring Outdoors

You can help the animals and plants that are our state symbols by conserving them and protecting their habitat. Here are three ideas to get you started!

1. Build a bluebird nest box. Buy a kit to make a nest box for bluebirds, or make your own by following instructions from the New York State Bluebird Society. Visit the Blue Bird Society to get your own nest box plans.

2. Plant a sugar maple tree. You can buy seedling trees from a nursery, such as DEC's Saratoga Tree Nursery. Visit the tree nursery website to learn more.

3. Look for ladybugs. Researchers at Cornell University are studying ladybug biodiversity (the many different kinds there are), including the nine-spotted. You can help by photographing ladybugs and sending the photos to Cornell. Visit The Lost Ladybug to learn more, and to link with some other ladybug websites and games

State Symbol Scramble

Unscramble with letters below to spell the names of New York's natural history state symbols.

rugsa pleam
peerdurity
yba capslol
pinspang lutter
tagren
nien topsted baldyrid tebele
korob rottu
reseant lubbride
sore
dipprest sabs
ravbee