Blog

I've always loved hummingbirds. They are interesting creatures and have many unique qualities. Some of these qualities are physical features, others are quirky behaviors. I bet you know a few of these, but others may surprise you. Read on to find learn about the world's tiniest bird.

Invasive species are harmful to ecological, economic and human health. Invasive species are those that are not native to a particular area but are spread there through accidental or intentional means. Humans are the main contributors to this, as we regularly travel throughout different habitats, inadvertently bringing invasives along with us. Once invasives are introduced to a new environment, their populations grow quickly due to a lack of natural predators. Learn how you can identify invasive species in the Adirondacks and do your part to stop the spread.

For over 40 years, the Adirondack Council has been an effective, non-partisan advocate for the Adirondacks. In both Albany and the Adirondacks, our conservation advocacy and education is ongoing. Looking back over this past fiscal year, we’ve accomplished a lot of good for the Adirondacks. We owe thanks to our tens of thousands of advocates across the nation who support our mission and vision and count on the Council to be the watchdog for the Adirondack Park.

The New York State Legislative Session quietly came to a close June 20, with a lot of work left undone for the Adirondacks. There were some positive things in the state budget that passed near the end of March, but most of the rest of Adirondack conservation agenda was left on the table.

Adirondack Conservation News is a collection of the most current events taking place in New York’s Adirondack Park. It aims to highlight both threats and opportunities concerning the Park’s ecological integrity, wild character and community vibrancy. Here's the June edition.

With the arrival of warmer weather, we're all anxious to get outside and have some fun. But we must be on the look-out for the tiny creatures that can make us and our pets sick…ticks! Unfortunately, ticks and tick-borne illnesses are on the rise. So now more than ever, we must be vigilant to protect ourselves, our families and our furry friends from ticks and the diseases they can pass on.

With more than 5,000 miles of public highways in the Adirondack Park, even small decisions about seasonal maintenance can have a major impact on the Park’s long term health. A recent study by Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI) of 358 private wells across the Adirondack Park found that salt used to clear ice and snow from roads in the wintertime is contaminating groundwater and seeping into private wells at an alarming rate.

The Adirondack Council is pleased to welcome Revée Needham as our Colgate University Upstate Institute Summer Field School Fellow who is working in our Elizabethtown office. Enjoy the blog that Revée wrote to introduce herself.

The Adirondack Council is pleased to welcome Meg Desmond as our newest Clarence Petty Intern in our Elizabethtown office. She will be working closely with our Conservation Director Rocci Aguirre and our Conservation Fellow Jackie Bowen. Please enjoy the blog that Meg wrote to introduce herself.

This July 14, 2018, we will host our annual “Forever Wild Day” members’ meeting and awards luncheon in Old Forge, NY. We are proud to honor Dan Josephson as the Conservationist of the Year for his and his team’s work studying acid rain and Adirondack brook trout, and also recognize Gary Lee for the work he has done with common loons. Without Dan's and Gary's scientific research and fieldwork, our advocacy work would not be possible.