Envirothon+Wildlife+Page

Alec- Freshwater Fishes DEC Data Sheets

quiet, slow moving streams and rivers, but they are also present in many cool Adirondack lakes. Adults are almost always medium-sized, averaging eight to 14 inches in length. Catfish have broad, flat heads, eight whiskers (called barbels), no scales, and strong, serrated spines at the front of three of their fins.
 * Catfish:** tolerate muddy, low water situations, low oxygen levels, poor water quality. Live in ponds, lakes, or
 * Species:**
 * Brown Bullhead** - most common catfish in New York State and is found in nearly all waters and all areas of the State. medium sized fish - averaging about eight to 14 inches in length. It has the typical catfish appearance of a broad, flat head and dark barbels around the face. The brown bullhead is generally dark brown above and yellow to white on its belly, but as is the case with most fishes, its color may vary with its surroundings. Brown bullheads are probably the most adaptable member of the catfish family and live in a wide variety of habitats. Spawn in may/june when water reaches 70 degrees F.
 * Yellow Bullhead** - much less common than the brown bullhead. It can be found in the extreme western tributaries of Lake Erie, the Genesee River system, bays and tributaries along Lake Ontario, in Oneida Lake, the Mohawk and Mid-Hudson River system, lower Hudson river tributaries, and the St. Lawrence River. white chin barbels. somewhat smaller (eight to 12 inches) and huskier body than a brown bullhead and its tail is rounded rather than square. prefer the waters of ponds, streams, and small brooks, with some vegetation and clear water. They spawn slightly earlier than other bullheads - usually in late May or June. Nests are often built under a stream bank or near the protection of large stones or stumps.
 * Black Bullhead** - Averaging eight to ten inches long, the black bullhead is the smallest of New York State's bullheads. can withstand extremely high water temperatures and silty conditions. uncommon in the State. black bullheads closely resemble brown bullheads. black bullheads usually lack the color mottling found on the sides of brown bullheads. preferring the silty water areas of ponds, sluggish creeks and rivers. It spawns near aquatic vegetation in the spring and early summer.
 * Channel Catfish** - largest of New York State's catfish. reach trophy size of 20-plus pounds. found in a number of the State's larger waters, including Lake Erie, Niagara River, Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River, Finger Lakes, Canal system, Oneida Lake, and Lake Champlain. They can be distinguished from other members of the catfish family by their large size and deeply forked tail. Young and most adult channel catfish have many small black spots along their sides, but these often disappear on the larger, older fish. prefer the clearer waters of large lakes and streams. channel catfish make a tunnel for a nest and reproduction.
 * White Catfish** - only in lower Hudson area. larger than bullhead, smaller than channel catfish. tail is forked like the channel cat's. It can be found in may areas of brackish water on the Hudson River.

Herring are anadromous, meaning they spend the bulk of their lives in the ocean and only return to freshwater to reproduce. Herring are silvery iridescent in color with hints of pearly white, blue and purple, green, and yellow. They have large black spots on their sides which contrast with the silver. Herring are built for speed, slender and slick. Sharp scales located along the edge of the belly give them their nickname "sawbellies." While species of herring are difficult to tell apart, look close for the details: a difference in body size, shape of the jaw, and size of the eye. Herring are plantivorous, feeding on the zooplankton (tiny animals) floating in the water. species: -American Shad -Ocean-run Alewife -Blueback Herring -Hickory Shad
 * Herring:**

Yellow Perch- prefer shallow, weedy protected sections of rivers, lakes, and ponds. 6-12 inches in size. Spawn in April and May. Walleye- Often are over 20 inches in size. Found in every major watershed in NY except Long Island. Have large canine like teeth. prefer deeper water. Sauger- Prefer deeper waters. Occasionally reach 18 inches in lenght. Also have large canine like teeth. Darter Fish- Rainbow, Johny, Spotted, Greenside, Variagate, Eastern Sand, Iowa, Channel Darter, and Log Perch. Small, less than 5 inches long. Unique "darting" behavior under water, giving them the name, darter fish. Eat Aquatic insects and crustaceans.
 * Perch:**

MARLI: Mammal Skulls · Identified by: o Skull size: length, width, height o Position, placement & number of teeth

Artificial Nesting Structures for Wildlife · Humans have removed many of the natural places where birds usually nest i.e. dead and hollow trees, wooden fence posts · Many animals are willing to use man made structures for living and shelter including: house wrens, purple martins, bluebirds, screech-owls, wood ducks, gray, fox, and flying squirrels, even raccoons · Artificial structures are best in areas which lack natural nesting places and will attract certain animals · Houses should be located away from human disturbance and near natural habitat but not too close to other nesting boxes · Houses should be painted natural colors Mammals also are willing to live in artificial nesting structures

Frogs & Toads · Eastern American Toad ð Mate in May & June; females lay strings of 6000-12000 eggs in warm shallows ð Are among the last amphibians to hibernate in autumn ð Have dry “warty” skin – glands with white sticky substance to turn away biting predators ðHind legs have small knobs for pushing away dirt to bury themselves ð Eat variety of invertebrates: ants, beetles, slugs, spiders, mites · Northern Spring Peeper ðSmall tree frog ð One of the first amphibians to emerge in the spring ð Hibernate in woodlands, live near ponds/wetlands ðHide under leaves & stems on cold nights ð Females lay 1000 eggs on twigs & leaf litter in ponds ðEat soft bodied invertebrates: small spiders, moth larvae, water midges ð Shrill “peep peep peep” call · Green Frog ð Look like small bullfrogs ð Common in lakes, ponds, streams ðBreed in June & July, males mating calls sound like loose banjo string; females lay 1500-5000 eggs ð Tadpoles don’t transform into frogs until next year ð Eat variety of small land & water creatures: beetles, bugs, spiders, ants, moth larvae, snails · Mink Frog ð Preferred habitat: quiet waters with lots of plants ðBreed in July; females lay 1000 eggs each year ðVery timid ð Eat variety of land & water creatures: ants, beetles, bugs, moth larvae, spiders, flies ð Emit mink-like smell when picked up · Pickerel Frog ð Forage in grassy places during summer ð Breed in spring; females lay 3000 eggs in loose oval mass in shallow water ð Eat insects & other invertebrates – a lot of agricultural pests ð Adults return to aquatic habitats to hibernate · Pickerel Frog ð Look different from leopard frog because they have rectangular spots in rows ð Common along streams & lake shores, or grassy areas ð Breed through May; females lay globular mass of 1000 eggs ð Hibernate under bottom debris & silt of aquatic habitat ð Eat: ants, spiders, bugs, beetles, sawfly larvae, moth larvae, other invertebrates · Wood Frog ð One of the first amphibians to emerge in spring ð Breeding over by May; females lay fist-sized jelly masses of 1000 eggs ð Live in damp deciduous or mixed forests ð Eat: variety of insects & small invertebrates: spiders, beetles, bugs, moth larvae, slugs, snails · Bull Frog ð Largest frog ð Found in quiet coves of lakes with lots of vegetation ð Last to emerge in spring ð Hibernate by September ð Huge film-like mass of as many as 20,000 eggs on waters surface ð Tadpoles take two winters to transform – hibernate in silt of lake bottom ð Eat: birds, other frogs, fish, sometimes their own tadpoles, & the usual insects ð When held by hind legs – let out startling screaming noise

Kim: []
 * Also called the brush wolf, prairie wolf, coy-dog and eastern coyote
 * Trappers and hunters find coyotes challenging
 * Coyote is an immigrant whose origin may have involved interbreeding with wolves
 * the eastern coyote exhibits different behavior, habitat use, pelt coloration, prey preferences and home range sizes from its western cousin
 * only in the past 75 to 100 years has the animal appeared to become common
 * The eastern coyote is much larger than its western counterpart. Adult males weigh 45 to 55 pounds
 * Females are smaller, 35 to 40 pounds
 * Coyotes are monogamous; they maintain pair bonds for several years
 * social unit evolves around the mated pair and its offspring
 * litters are born from mid-April to early May, and litter sizes average 5 to 7 pup
 * Coyotes use a variety of yips, barks and howls to communicate
 * Periodically assemble into larger packs
 * primarily nocturnal, but often hunt during daylight hours
 * sense of smell, hearing and alertness are especially keen
 * The coyote has adapted to a wide variety of habitats
 * Coyotes prefer heavy brushy cover, such as clear-cuts, and often live along edges between forest and agricultural areas where prey is abundant
 * scats collected in Pennsylvania indicate a wide array of food items in their diet
 * Overall, deer was the dominant food
 * Coyote populations throughout North America have continued to expand, despite man’s attempt to control them

[] · transitional areas between aquatic and upland plant and animal communities, and often have some of the qualities of both · also occur where the groundwater occurs near or at the surface, saturating the soil and the root zone · // FRESHWATER WETLANDS // are those areas of land and water that support a prevalence of characteristic wetlands plants that out-compete upland plants because of the presence of wetlands hydrology (such as prolonged flooding) or hydric (wet) soils · include marshes, swamps, bogs, and fens · Some wetlands occur where the groundwater emerges at the surface of the ground, usually on a slope · fringe wetlands occur where the edge of a body of water encounters a slope · Riparian wetlands occur in the floodplain adjacent to streams and rivers · wetlands can occur where surface water is trapped in shallow depressions by soil that will not allow the water to seep downwards called depressional or flat wetlands and are common on clay soils > · Soils are the other commonly used indicator that wetlands may be present > · Wet soils, known as "hydric" soils, develop when they are flooded or saturated for long periods of time > · peat-types of soils (sometimes called muck) develop > · When the soils dry out for part of the year, the peat material oxidizes, or breaks down, rust stains may develop along the roots of plants, or the color of the soil changes. > · hydrology, soils and vegetation can indicate whether an area is a wetland > · numerous functions, such as removing excess nutrients from the water that flows through them > · functions: flood protection and abatement, erosion and sedimentation control, water quality maintenance, recharging groundwater supplies, maintaining surface flows, fish and wildlife habitats, nutrient production and cycling, recreation, open space, educational and scientific research, biological diversity > · as of the mid-1990s, there are approximately 2.4 million acres of wetlands in New York
 * key characteristics: Water, or the wetland's hydrology, (changes throughout the year and between years)
 * Indicators of hydrology include leaves that have turned black from being in the water for a long time, or silt marks on tree trunks
 * Vegetation is a more dependable and useful indicator "hydrophytes," have adapted to survive with their roots growing in water for at least part of the growing season
 * "obligates," require water to survive or to out-compete other plants
 *  · "facultative" plants, are able to grow in either wet or dry conditions
 * The most common wetland cover-type is forested (70%), followed by shrub/scrub (16%), emergent (9%), and wetland open water (5%)

Kim 1/18/11

Raptors:
 * Hawks have sharp talons and strong hooked beaks
 * bills and feet vary in size and shape according to prey preferences
 * Eyesight is very sharp
 * hearing is acute, but smell is poor
 * hawks may soar high, sit and watch from a perch or strike their prey in midair
 * A snap from the hooked bill can crush a prey’s skull or break its back
 * The bird may eat on the ground or carry its kill to a feeding spot
 * Unlike an owl, a hawk does not swallow its food whole
 * Hours after eating, a hawk will regurgitate a pellet
 * Identifying hawks can be difficult
 * males and females of the same species are generally of similar colors, individual variation often occurs
 * Juveniles are especially hard to identify
 * Females are generally larger than their mates
 * Many hawks mate for life
 * They nest on sturdy limbs, in the crotches of trees or on rock ledges
 * A mated pair will either remodel an old nest or build a new one, occasionally starting on top of a squirrel or crow nest
 * The female does most of the incubating and is supplied with food by the male
 * Newly hatched hawks are helpless but they grow rapidly
 * After five or six weeks, flight feathers grow in
 * Hawks help control insect, rodent and small bird populations
 * Hawks are environmental indicators: if pollutants accumulate in food chains, avian predators are usually the first wild species to show ill effects
 * Heavy metals and chlorine-based pesticides such as DDT, aldrin, dieldrin and heptachlor reduced hawks numbers
 * Many hawks fly south each autumn
 * During migration, a hawk can cover several hundred miles daily, depending on weather and wind conditions
 * birds of prey were often labeled “chicken hawks”
 * Research has shown that while hawks do kill some poultry and game, in most cases they do not drastically affect poultry operations or game populations
 * hawks are protected by both federal and state laws
 * The 11 birds of prey covered in this note fall into four basic types: accipiters, buteos and harriers — often lumped together under the term “hawk” —and falcons
 * Accipiters (goshawk, sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper’s hawk) have small heads, long tails and short well-rounded wings, fly with rapid wingbeats followed by a long glide, extremely maneuverable, well-suited to thick forest areas, feed largely on other birds
 * Buteos (red-tailed, red-shouldered, broad-winged and rough-legged hawks) have stocky bodies, broad rounded wings and short fanned tails, most are brown in color, but in most cases are streaked lengthwise below, rather than barred, perch in open country or soar in wide circles when hunting; small mammals are their main prey.
 * The marsh hawk is the only harrier found in North America, long-legged, with long narrow wings and a long tail, soars much like a turkey vulture
 * Falcons (peregrine, merlin, kestrel) have large heads, broad shoulders, long pointed wings and a long tail, streamlined and built for speed, fly in a direct path with deep rapid wingbeats, do not usually soar, in hunting, the peregrine and merlin often fly above smaller birds and then dive to the attack, striking prey while in full flight
 * **Northern Goshawk** (//Accipiter gentilis//)— Length, 20- 26 inches; wingspread, 40 to 47 inches, have a prominent white line over each eye, adults are blue-gray above and white below, with light barring on the breast, immatures are brown above and creamy white below, with heavily streaked undersides, seen in greatest numbers in winter, when food scarcities force many south, swift, maneuverable and relentless, sometimes pursuing prey — birds and small mammals — through thick underbrush on foot, breed in wooded areas and prefer wild territory, nest up to 75 feet above the ground in trees, build bulky nests, a pair often uses the same nest year after year, Eggs: 3 to 4, off-white and usually unmarked, defend their nests fiercely
 * **Sharp-Shinned Hawk** (//Accipiter striatus//) — Length, 10-14 inches; wingspread, 20 to 27 inches; identification of this species is often difficult, females closely resemble Cooper’s hawks, adults are blue-gray above, with light rufous barring on the breast, immatures are brown above, heavily streaked below, short rounded wings and a long square-tipped tail, feed almost exclusively on small birds, fly and sail rapidly through the woods or hunt from a perch, favored habitat is woodland preferably coniferous and woods edges, breed throughout the eastern United States, prefer to nest in conifers, about 30 to 35feet up, usually build a new nest each year, Eggs: 4 to 5 white or bluish with brown blotches
 * **Cooper’s Hawk** (//Accipiter cooperii//) — Length, 14-20 inches; wingspread, 27 to 36 inches, adults look like large sharp-shinned hawks — blue-gray back and a rusty breast, except the Cooper’s have rounded tails and the sharpshins have square-tipped tails, named in 1828 after William Cooper, a New York naturalist, prey mainly on birds the size of robins and jays, prefer to perch and wait for prey, favored habitat is woodland, breed throughout most of the eastern United States, nest in trees 20 to 60 feet up, Eggs: 4 to 5, white, call is similar to that of the sharp-shinned
 * **Red-Tailed Hawk** (//Buteo jamaicensis//)—Length, 19-25 inches; wingspread, 46 to 58 inches, upper plumage is dark brown, and the light undersides have a belly band of dark streaking, in adults the upper side of the tail is rusty red; in young, dark gray, inhabit deciduous woods, primarily soaring birds, prey on mice, birds, rabbits, red and gray squirrels, chipmunks; breed throughout the East, nest in trees 35 to 90 feet up, Eggs: usually two, white and unmarked or with brown splotches
 * **Red-Shouldered Hawk** (//Buteo lineatus//) —Length, 18-24 inches; wingspread, 33 to 50 inches, adults are colorful dark brown above with chestnut-red shoulders, rich reddish-brown and white below tail strongly barred with black and white, Many have a translucent area near the wingtips, visible when they are airborne, shy and hard to approach; they favor damp woods, river bottomlands and swamps, hunt from an exposed perch offering a wide field of view or by circling high overhead, prey on rodents, birds, frogs and snakes, nest 20 to 60 feet above the ground in trees, Eggs: 2 to 4, usually three dull white with brown
 * **Broad-Winged Hawk** (//Buteo platypterus//)—Length, 13-19 inches; wingspread, 32 to 39 inches; easily recognized by its heavily banded tail, with two dark and two light bands, upper plumage is dark gray-brown; underparts are white, heavily streaked with brown, preys on snakes, amphibians, insects and small mammals, fairly unwary and approachable, winter in South America, breed mainly in deciduous forests and construct their small nests 24 to 40 feet up in trees, Eggs: 2 to 3, dull creamy white with brown markings
 * **Rough-Legged Hawk** (//Buteo lagopus//)—Length, 19-24 inches; wingspread, 50 to 56 inches; exhibits two color phases with wide individual variation in between: Light phase: upper side light buff to white, streaked with brown; underparts white, with a brown “wrist mark” partway out the wing and a brown band across the abdomen. Dark phase: black or sooty brown, with white at the base of the underside of the tail. Feet are feathered to the toes, often hovers over fields, beating its broad wings in short rapid strokes, small sharp-taloned feet are adapted to kill rodents, often hunt at dusk, nest in the Arctic and northern Canada, dwell mainly in open country, fields and marshes
 * **Northern Harrier** (Circus cyaneus) — Length, 18-24 inches; wingspread, 40 to 54 inches; also known as marsh hawks, have a white rump patch and a ruff of feathers around the face, much like the facial disks of owls, males are pale bluish-gray above, white below; the tail, gray with dark bands, females are brown above, light brown with dark streaks below; tail is barred with black and buff, immatures resemble females, inhabit fresh- or saltwater marshes, wet meadows, bogs and flat open farmland, prey on mice, insects, small birds and rabbits, nest on or near the ground, sometimes in fields and occasionally on a branch over the water, Eggs: 4 to 6, usually five, oval, dull white to pale blue
 * **Peregrine Falcon** (Falco peregrinus) — Length, 15-20 inches; wingspread, 38 to 46 inches; also known as duck hawks, are slate blue, barred darkly above, with a black cap and “mustache” mark below the eye, young birds are browner and heavily streaked below,have long pointed wings and fly with quick rowing wingbeats, prey on ducks, pigeons, blue jays, flickers and other birds, folds its wings close to its body and dives at speeds sometimes more than 175 mph; it strikes with its large knobbed feet, usually breaking the victim’s back, when the prey falls, the falcon picks it up and carries it to a convenient perch to be eaten, was near extinction and is on the federal Endangered Species List, persistent highly toxic pesticides nearly eliminated the bird in the eastern US, recovery efforts restored the peregrine to the East in the 1980s, nest on city buildings and bridges, Eggs: 2 to 4, creamy white covered with rich brown markings
 * **Merlin** (//Falco columbarius//) — Length, 10-13½ inches; wingspread, 24 to 26 inches; look like miniature peregrines, with males blue-gray above and banded black on the tail, females and young birds are dusky brown above, white below, “pigeon hawk”, resembles a pigeon in both flight and posture, prey mainly on birds, but also take small mammals and insects, favor open woods or heavy timber in wild areas, nest about 35 to 60 feet up on ledges, in natural cavities or in old nests, Eggs: 4 to 5 whitish, almost covered by fine brown marks
 * **American Kestrel** (//Falco sparverius//) — Length, 9-12 inches; wingspread, 20 to 24 inches; also known as sparrow hawks, have rusty red head caps, backs and tails, and a black and white face pattern, males have blue-gray wings, females brown wings, flight is erratic and buoyant, and it often perches on telephone poles or hovers in one spot on rapidly beating wings, prey mainly on mice, inhabit open woods, orchards and fields, and breed throughout the eastern US, nest in tree cavities, abandoned woodpecker holes and old buildings, and at times even nest boxes, Eggs: 3 to 5, whitish, dotted with brown

Crows and Ravens:
 * Crows and ravens belong to the large family Corvidae
 * **American Crow** (//Corvus brachyrhynchos//) — Crows are intelligent, wary and adapt well to human activity
 * found in all 50 states and parts of Canada and Mexico
 * American crow weighs about 20 ounces; its body length 15-18 in., wings span up to 3 feet
 * feathers are iridescent, flashing highlights of blue, green and purple
 * Albinism occurs, producing pure or partial white coloration
 * beak is fairly large, 2½ inches long and quite sturdy, but short compared to that of the closely related raven
 * Crows are found year-round
 * Crows that breed here migrate south, and are replaced by birds from the north. Northern migrants remain over winter while others fly as far south as the Gulf of Mexico
 * Flocks of crows range widely for food, up to 30 miles a day
 * Foods include grasshoppers, caterpillars, grubs, worms, most insects, grain, fruit, the eggs and young of other birds, organic garbage — just about anything that they can find or overpower
 * also feed on the carcasses of winter- and road-killed animals
 * extremely keen senses of sight and hearing
 * wary, usually post sentries while they feed
 * crows fly at 25 to 30 mph; with a strong tail wind, they can get to 60
 * Throughout most of the year, they flock in groups ranging from family units to several hundred birds
 * During winter, crows may gather by the tens of thousands in areas where food is plentiful
 * vie for mates through fighting and spectacular flight routines
 * Once paired, male and female search out a secluded woodlot to raise their brood
 * It is believed crows mate for life
 * A nest site is usually chosen away from those of other crows, 10 to 70 feet above ground, usually more than 25 feet
 * the female lays 3 to 8 eggs (usually 4 to 6) in April and May
 * Eggs are oval, bluish-green, and blotched and spotted with brown and gray
 * They leave the nest at five weeks of age
 * Often the family group sticks together until the following spring
 * Crows are both predators and prey: As predators, they rob nests of songbirds and waterfowl, killing and eating newly hatched young, or cracking eggs. As prey, young crows and unhatched crow eggs are eaten by raccoons, opossums and tree-climbing snakes. Hawks and owls kill fledgling and adult crows
 * Crows are especially vulnerable to night attacks
 * Crows are curious, fascinated by shiny objects
 * have been known to fly off with bits of glass, rings, keys, etc.
 * Crows exhibit their intelligence by imitating a large number of sounds
 * crows have been persecuted
 * crows in help control harmful insects, clean up road-kill and improperly disposed garbage
 * Some estimates put the crow population at more than three billion in North America
 * Their numbers may be affected by man-made substances such as aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor and DDT that have been introduced into the environment
 * Occasionally congregate in large roosts
 * The crow is classified by the federal government as a migratory nongame bird. It’s the only bird in this classification that may be hunted
 * they may be hunted during established seasons which may not exceed 124 days per year
 * States are prohibited from establishing seasons during the peak nesting period
 * Crows tolerate in extremely varied habitat from the semi-arid regions of the west to the big timber land of the north. They probably prefer farmland, but are also found in parks, on wooded islands, in wooded areas in the fringes of towns and, increasingly, even in large cities
 * Generally, crows are most numerous in agricultural districts
 * One habitat necessity is an adequate number of trees for cover and nesting sites
 * **Fish Crow** (//Corvus ossifragus)// —which means “bonebreaker,” never strays too far from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and tributary rivers
 * often confused with the common crow
 * the fish crow can be distinguished by its smaller size
 * feeds on fish but it also eats a variety of other foods captures fish and small crabs, sometimes steals food from the smaller gulls and terns, and scavenges for whatever it can find
 * the fish and common crows often feed together, frequently in agricultural fields
 * Nest and eggs are very similar to, though a bit smaller than, those of the common crow
 * build their nest in trees
 * **Common Raven** (//Corvus corax//) — Ravens are abundant in Canada and the Rocky Mountains
 * Favored habitat is remote, heavily forested wilderness, seacoasts and wooded islands
 * Ravens are 20-25 inches in length, with a wingspread of about 4 feet
 * plumage is entirely black, with green and purple iridescence
 * males are generally larger than females
 * often confused with its close relative, the crow, but there are major differences between the two species that are especially apparent when crows and ravens are seen together
 * Ravens are much bulkier than crows and more hawk-like in appearance and habit.
 * have a massive bill that equips them better for predation and scavenging and shaggy throat
 * In flight, ravens also have a more elongated appearance with a longer, wedge-shaped tail, proportionally longer wings, and a long head and bill
 * They can be recognized by their distinctive head profile or flight silhouette alone
 * crows are much sleeker than the more robust ravens
 * Ravens are better equipped and more likely to soar than are crows
 * engage in spectacular aerial acrobatics
 * Ravens eat rodents, insects, grain, fruit, bird eggs and refuse. They consume much carrion
 * Ravens also prey upon sick and injured animals
 * possesses sharp eyesight and hearing
 * considered among the most intelligent of all birds
 * After mating, a pair will seek out an isolated nesting spot, usually at least a mile away from any other ravens
 * Nests are built on cliffs or near the tops of large trees
 * Ravens often build a new nest on top of the previous year’s nest
 * female lays 3 to 6 (usually 4 to 5) oval eggs, which are greenish and covered with brown or olive markings
 * Young leave the nest about one month after hatching
 * Ravens are becoming more tolerant of people
 * Ravens may live as long as 35 years in the wild, but much less is normal

Nuisance and Invasive Species: · most wildlife is protected by state and federal law, and some control activities may require permits · Invasive species are non-native species that can cause harm to the environment or to human health · the rate of invasion is increasing along with the increase in international trade · A wide variety of species are problematic for many sectors of our world: our ecosystems, including both all natural systems and also managed forests; our food supply, including not only agriculture but also harvested wildlife, fish and shellfish; our built environments, including landscaping, infrastructure, industry, gardens, and pets · black bears are readily attracted to bird feeders · the problem often escalates to other food sources such as garbage cans, barbecue grills and compost piles · as bears become bolder and more acclimated to people. Such activities are not in the best interest of either the bears or the homeowners · It is highly recommended that bird feeding activities cease in March when bears emerge from their dens · Removal of the attraction is the only long term solution · Bears that become accustomed to approaching houses and people often become chronic nuisances · Do not leave garbage outside of houses or garages. (Grease, fat, bacon and other meats are extremely attractive to bears) · Do not feed family pets outside. An empty dish can attract a bear · Leave outdoor lights on, or a radio playing, all night · Do not hand-feed bears from cars at campgrounds and dump sites · Nearly extirpated in the early 1800s, beaver populations made a spectacular recovery during the 1900s · During the 1960s and 1970s, New York's wildlife biologists examined the wetland-wildlife benefits provided by beaver impoundments · Study findings led to major changes in beaver management as it was determined that the habitat and other benefits of beaver balanced many of the costs · Beaver populations were maintained at desirable levels by regulating the trapping seasons · The continuing trend toward less agriculture and general farmland abandonment has resulted in the creation of more available beaver habitat making control efforts more difficult · beavers prefer aspens and willows but will eat the leaves, twigs and bark of most species of woody plants found along the water's edge · Beavers are primarily active at night with regard to their dam building and tree cutting activity · beavers rarely travel far from water · The impoundments created by beavers provide valuable wildlife habitat for assorted furbearer and waterfowl species · no person is allowed at any time to disturb a beaver's dam, house or den without written permission from the DEC · Problem beaver situations may include: a dam threatening downstream property, upstream flooding of land, trees or crops killed or damaged by flooding, flooding of homes, flooding of highways or railroads, contamination of water supplies, impairment of drainage systems, damage to wildlife habitat or landowner distress · When removing or altering dams caution should be taken especially if the dam is adjacent to public road right-of-ways for control installation (unless suitable barriers or guard rails are installed for protection) · Individual shrubs and trees can be protected by loosely wrapping to a minimum height of 36 inches with welded wire fencing, zinc or plastic coated, or roofing felt held in place with string or wire · Deep Water Fence: D-shaped or square fences, 10' to 20' on each side, made of reinforcing steel mesh, placed above intakes to prevent floodwater debris or beavers from blocking a culvert · Water Level Control Devices (WLCD): Combination Deep Water Fence/Ribing, Clemson Pond Leveler, Pond Drain Tubes, Electric breach guard · dam removal is a very short-term solution: destroying an occupied lodge seldom causes a beaver family to leave · Waterfowl at artificial feeding sites are often found to suffer from poor nutrition · Visible symptoms of poor nutrition and advanced stages of starvation are often seen at artificial feeding sites: drooping wings or loss of ability to fly · large concentrations of waterfowl at feeding sites would facilitate the spread of disease · Feeding attracts birds in unnatural numbers, beyond natural food and water supplies, and frequently in numbers beyond what people will tolerate · Feeding alters normal migration patterns of waterfowl by shortening or even eliminating them · Artificial feeding often attracts birds to human habitats where they are more subject to accidental death · Waterfowl can rapidly become conditioned to, and dependent on, handouts · they can become more aggressive and eventually lose their wariness of humans · Excess nutrients in ponds caused by unnatural numbers of waterfowl droppings can result in water-quality problems such as summer algal blooms · The sea lamprey is one of four lamprey species found in the Lake Champlain Basin · Lamprey are eel-shaped fish with a skeleton made of cartilage · it is parasitic; it feeds on other fish, using a suction disk mouth filled with small sharp, rasping teeth and a file-like tongue used to attach to a fish, puncture its skin, and drain its body fluids · has been considered a non-native invasive species that entered Lake Champlain during the 1800s through the Hudson/Champlain Canal however recent genetic studies indicate that the sea lamprey may be native to Lake Champlain · Three other lamprey species are found in the Lake Champlain Basin: two are non-parasitic, and while the third is parasitic, it does not have a significant impact on the fish community · Whether the sea lamprey is native to Lake Champlain or not, it is having detrimental impacts on the Lake Champlain fisheries, ecosystem, and human residents · preferred hosts are salmon, lake trout and other trout species, however they also feed on other fish species, including lake whitefish, walleye, northern pike, burbot, and lake sturgeon · High wounding rates indicated that sea lamprey were having a significant impact on the lake trout and salmon populations, and were preventing the restoration of these native fish species · 40 to 60 percent mortality rate for fish attacked by sea lamprey · a study estimated that 29.4 million dollars in economic benefits to businesses and residents of the Lake Champlain Basin were lost due to the impacts of sea lamprey · Physical methods of control include the use of barriers to prevent adult sea lamprey from migrating up waterways to spawn and traps to capture adult sea lamprey before they can spawn · the most significant and effective form of control has been the treatment of tributaries and deltas with lampricides · the control program may be expanded to other streams and delta areas if significant sea lamprey populations develop in them · Invasive insects: gypsy moth, Asian Long-horned beetle, emerald ash borer, hemlock wooly adelgid, sirex woodwasp
 * Most native trees are highly susceptible to invasive insects, especially wounded or stressed trees
 * Control includes traps and pesticides


 * CAT: Reptiles and Amphibians **
 * Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) **
 * ** Americas largest aquatic salamander (12-29) **
 * ** Grayish to olive and occasionally black, spots on back and upper sides **
 * ** flat head and body, short stout legs, long rudder-like tail, very small eyes **
 * ** remain active year **** round **
 * ** spend daytime in natural den, and become active after dark **
 * ** feed on crayfish, frogs, fish, invertabrates **
 * ** breeding begins in late summer **
 * ** lay around 150-400 eggs at a time **
 * ** hatchs at approx 1 inch in length **
 * ** likely that they suffer high mortality (most dying young to larger predators) **
 * ** become sexually mature at 5-7 Years of age and can live up to 30 years old **
 * ** prefer swift running, well oxygenated, and unpolluted rivers and streams. **
 * ** listed as a special concern in 1983 in NYS **
 * ** lack of history and info on this animal **
 * ** decline in pop is because of pollution and damming, also the unintentional and senseless killing by fisherman who believe them to be venemous **

Kim: Endangered Species of NY: Definitions: · Extinct- species is no longer living or existing · Extirpated- species is not extinct but mo longer occurs in a wild state or no longer exhibiting patterns of use traditional for that species · Endangered- any native species in eminent danger of extirpation or extinction · Threatened- any native species likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future · Special Concern- any native species for which a welfare concern or risk of endangerment has been documented Endangered species in New York include: shortnose sturgeon, gilt darter, Northern cricket frog, mud turtle, Atlantic Ridley Sea Turtle, Queen Snake, Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Black Turn, Short- eared Owl, Loggerhead Shrike, Indiana Bat, several species of whale and the gray wolf among others Threatened species in NY include: Lake sturgeon, Mooneye, Mud Sunfish, Blanding’s turtle, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Timber rattlesnake, Bald Eagle, Upland Sandpiper, Common Tern, and Canada Lynx Species of Special Concern include: Mountain Brook Lamprey, Ironcolor Shiner, several species of salamander, Spotted Turtle, Wood Turtle, Eastern Spiny Softshell turle, Common Loon, Osprey, Sharp-shinned hawk, Northern Goshawk, Red-shouldered hawk, Whip-poor-will, Red-headed Woodpecker, Grasshopper Sparrow, Small-footed Bat and Harbor Porpoise Riparian Habitat management for wildlife: · R iparian habitat= the land and vegetation that is situated along the bank of a stream or river · a floodplain, streamside habitat, or bottomland forest · subject to frequent seasonal flooding · Plants= deciduous trees, shrubs include elder­berry, bladdernut, common alder, buttonbush, spicebush, and dogwood, flowering plants such as scouring rush, white snakeroot, waterleaf, jewelweed, nettles, and wingstem · Riparian habitats are constantly shifting and changing in physical structure and plant composition due to the sometimes extreme forces exerted upon them by the fluctuating water levels · riparian habitats can also be identified by the mixture of live and dead vegetation · Riparian habitats usually contain a patchwork of smaller microhabitats such as buttonbush thickets, seasonal spring pools, sedge meadows, and cattail marshes · Riparian habitats provide excellent travel corridors for the dispersal of wildlife populations · Riparian lands can provide these critical connecting access links for wildlife · Riparian lands present two types of edges: the edge between the stream channel and vegetated bank and the edge formed by the merging of upland habitat · <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Riparian areas also serve as significant resting, feeding, and staging areas for waterfowl and other mi­grating birds <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Urban Landscape Management for Wildlife:
 * <span style="color: black; line-height: 10.55pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Management of riparian areas involves protection, restoration, or both
 * <span style="color: black; line-height: 10.55pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Riparian lands have been destroyed by conversion to agricultural uses, stream channel modification to improve crop­land drainage by eliminating stream meanders
 * <span style="color: black; line-height: 10.55pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">To provide quality habitat for riparian wildlife, a strip 125 feet or wider of riparian vegetation (preferably trees and shrubs) should be set aside and preserved along the water course
 * <span style="color: black; line-height: 10.55pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Protection may also require restricting livestock use of riparian land and eliminating logging operations
 * <span style="color: black; line-height: 10.55pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Some sites can be restored by simply allowing them to revert naturally
 * <span style="color: black; line-height: 10.55pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">To speed the development of riparian habitat, you can plant various bottomland bare-root seedling stock
 * <span style="color: black; line-height: 10.55pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Riparian re-vegetation plans should aim to achieve high diversity and density of woody vegetation
 * <span style="color: black; line-height: 10.55pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">It is best to use native woody plants for restoring streamside habitat
 * <span style="color: black; line-height: 10.55pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Competition from existing vegetation (espe­cially sod forming grasses) can hinder riparian reestablishment, it is recommended that you spray herbicide dur­ing the fall growing season
 * <span style="color: black; line-height: 10.55pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Try to minimize soil disturbance so as not to encourage the growth of annual weeds
 * <span style="color: black; line-height: 10.55pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Plant the trees and shrubs in the spring between March 15 and May 1
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">These methods can also be applied to expand existing riparian strips that are too narrow to furnish quality stream or streamside habitat
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Tree revetments, dor­mant willow post cuttings, and tree deflectors are required to remedy severe stream bank erosion
 * <span style="color: black; line-height: 10.55pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Artificial landscapes provide few benefits for wildlife
 * <span style="color: black; line-height: 10.55pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The area immediately surrounding a house can be easily converted to a mini-refuge for native wildlife
 * <span style="color: black; line-height: 10.55pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">A number of species have already adapted to urban settings and can be drawn to them by the proper habitat elements
 * <span style="color: black; line-height: 10.55pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The 1st step is to compile a list of species you might be able to attract
 * <span style="color: black; line-height: 10.55pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Step 2- learn the species’ life requirements
 * <span style="color: black; line-height: 10.55pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Step 3- assess the existing landscape features of the property: What habitat elements are missing? How can the area be improved?
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Step 4- sketch a map showing permanent man-made structures and existing landscape features
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Step 5- formulate a plan for placing and establishing the habitat components
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Decide the amount of time and money to be spent
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Most improvements will also increase property value
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Use the natural habitat as a model, try to reproduce the structural characteristics of natural habitat
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Providing diverse habitats will attract a diversity of wildlife
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Maximize wildlife’s use of communities by avoiding uniform plantings and by employing irregular contour planning configurations
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Develop a resource list of trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses that can be used
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Select native flora whenever possible
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Determine which structural components are needed to supplement the vegetative communities established