July 13, 2011
- How's That for a Habitat?
- Family Fun
- Upcoming DEC Events
- Long Island
- Hudson Valley - Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center and Norrie Point Environmental Center
- Capital District - Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center
- Western New York - Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center
How's That for a Habitat
A habitat is the area in which an animal or plant lives. Within an animal's habitat are the right amounts and kinds of food, water, shelter and space. Both plants and animals need a specific home range. New York State has many habitats, such as:
-forests
-grasslands
-lakes, ponds, streams and oceans
-pine barrens
-mountain summits
-peat bogs
-sand dunes
Together, they provide habitat for a large diversity of insects, fish and wildlife. While some plants, insects, fish or animals can only live in one type of habitat, others can easily adapt and survive in a variety of environments. (For example, raccoons can be found in rural areas as well as in the hearts of our largest cities.)
It is common to think of wild areas-forest, wetland, ocean or stream-as wildlife habitat, but urban areas offer habitat too. Walk through any public park, and you'll see many kinds of wildlife: insects, birds, squirrels, rabbits and more. Some peregrine falcons and hawks have adapted to living in large cities, taking advantage of the tall buildings for nesting sites and feasting on creatures found in the urban landscape.
All habitats have a carrying capacity-a limit to the amount of animals and plants they can support. If the habitat gets too crowded, plants and animals will not be able to get enough food, water, shelter or space to survive and thrive. Each species has different and unique needs, so a single area may hold many of one species but only a few of another. Consider a pond, which has many insects, a good number of small fish but only a few big fish. Habitats can be small too, such as a vernal pool (a temporary pool of water) or hedgerow.
The carrying capacity of a habitat can change due to changing natural conditions (seasons, rainfall and temperature), natural disasters (flood, fire or wind) or human activity. The carrying capacity of a single habitat may change from season to season and from year to year.
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Subscribe to Conservationist magazine-New York's award-winning publication with astonishingly beautiful photography and captivating articles.
Learn the best places to view wildlife at DEC's Watchable Wildlife pages.
Family Fun
Give Me Some Space!
When an area is too crowded, it places stress on the animals that live there. They may have to fight for food, water or shelter, or some animals may just not like other creatures invading their space. Get together with five or more friends and family members in a small space to see what it feels like when your habitat is at capacity. Place a small blanket on the lawn and have everyone take a seat (cross-legged), making sure that they are completely on the blanket. Each person should be close enough to their neighbor so that they are touching. Have someone read a story and ask questions about the book.
-How did you feel when you were listening?
-Did you feel uncomfortable?
-Were you able to concentrate on the questions?
Have a few people leave the blanket and try listening to another story.
-Were you more comfortable and relaxed?
Just Right
Animals must find shelter that is warm or cool enough for them to survive. It may be underground, in a bush, the bark of a tree or under some rocks, depending on their needs and ability to adjust to different temperatures. Try this experiment: get four glass jars and thermometers and various insulating materials such as leaves, dirt (or potting soil if you can't get to the dirt) and dry grass or twigs.
Fill the jars with warm water. Record the temperature of the air, and put a thermometer in each jar to record the water temperature. Now pile dry leaves around one jar, twigs or grass around another and dirt or potting soil around the third. Leave one jar uninsulated. Every five minutes, record the temperature in each of the jars until all the jars drop to the same temperature as the air. Which jars had the fastest drop in temperature? Which material would you choose to make a bed or nest in if you were an animal?
Read Conservationist for Kids for more information and activities!
Upcoming DEC Events
Long Island
Lake Ronkonkoma Freshwater Clinic
Friday, July 15 from 6:00 PM to sunset
Lake Ronkonkoma County Park, Brookhaven
Geared to families. Contact I Fish NY at 631-444-0283 to register and get directions.
Hudson Valley
Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (currently closed due to fiscal constraints, but the Stony Kill Foundation is sponsoring events)
Artifacts of the Native Americans for Kids
July 20 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Youngsters entering grades 4 through 6
Old-Fashioned Family Sing-a-Long with Chris Ruhe
July 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM
Fishing Camp for Kids
July 25 to 29 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Cost: $40 for youngsters entering grades 3 through 6
Norrie Point Environmental Center
Discover Norrie: The Wonder of Wetlands
Saturday, July 23 at 10:00 AM
Capital Region
Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Watchable Wildlife: Birds of Prey
Saturday, July 16 at 10:00 AM
Binoculars and bird guides are helpful but not necessary.
Watchable Wildlife: Skunks
Saturday, July 16 at 2:00 PM
Citizen Science: Bat Count
Tuesday, July 19 at 7:30 PM
Family Fun: Catch a Fish
Saturday, July 23 at 10:00 AM
Call 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, July 20 to register or for more information.
Walk in the Woods Day
Saturday, July 23 at 2:00 PM
Call 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, July 20 to register or for more information.
Citizen Science: Firefly Watch
Tuesday, July 26 at 8:00 PM
Call 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, July 20 to register or for more information.
Event Descriptions at Five Rivers
Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center
Discovery Hike
Sunday, July 17 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Meet at Blueberry Hill East (trailhead #4).
More events at Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center
Western New York
Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center
Advance registration is required. Call 716-683-5959.
Nighttime Nature Nuts
Friday, July 15 at 8:30 PM
Stories in the Woods
Saturday, July 16 at 10:30 AM
For children ages 4 through 6
Plants of the Woods
Saturday, July 16 at 2:00 PM
Colorful Creatures
Wednesday, July 20 at 6:30 PM
Please note: This program will take place at the Julia Boyer Reinstein Library at 1030 Losson Road in Cheektowaga. For more information and to register, contact the library at 716-668-4991.
Senior Stroll
Saturday, July 23 at 9:30 AM
Mushrooms and Fungi: A Kingdom of Their Own
Saturday, July 23 at 10:00 AM
Going Batty!
Wednesday, July 27 at 8:00 PM