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Adirondack News and Events
Spring & Summer 2007 events
News -- WCS in the Adirondacks
Newsletters
Spring and Summer 2007 events
Summer field trips
Spend a day in the field with one of our scientists learning how our research protects Adirondack wildlife.
Lakes and Loons - Learn about Adirondack loon conservation by getting up close and personal with this intriguing species. You will spend a day on the water with one of our research scientists, learning about loons, the threats they face, and how we learn about these amazing birds. There are two opportunities to participate in this trip:
August 7, 2007 - Lake Clear area
August 17, 2007 - Old Forge area
For more information or to sign up, email us at accp@wcs.org or call 518.891-8872.
Annual Loon Census
Take part in the annual loon census on July 21. This is a fantastic opportunity to get out on a local lake and provide important information about the Adirondack loon population. Census observers sign up for an available lake and spend one hour (from 8 - 9 AM) in the field on census day (Saturday, July 21) and then provide their findings to help us better understand the loon population.
Learn more and find out how to sign up for a lake.
News -- WCS in the Adirondacks
Conservationists of the Year
July 2007 - In an award ceremony overlooking Lake Champlain on July 14, the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Adirondack Program was presented with the Conservationist of the Year award from The Adirondack Council, a prominent regional organization. The award recognized WCS’ many contributions to conservation in the Adirondacks through applied research and community engagement. WCS is the 23rd annual recipient of the award, which has been given in the past to such notable conservationists as Clarence Petty, Paul Schaefer, Governor George Pataki, and DEC Comissioner John Cahill. We are honored by this recognition.
A Fund for the Birds
July 17, 2007 – WCS, along with Audubon New York, the Adirondack Nature Conservancy, and The Adirondack Council, signed an agreement establishing a habitat protection fund for Bicknell’s Thrush wintering habitat on Haiti and the Dominican Republic. A broad coalition of partners have been working for several years to ensure that ski area development on Whiteface Mountain minimizes damage to the nesting territory of Bicknell’s Thrush; the thrush is a Species of Special Conservation Concern in New York state. However, the species also faces considerable threats on its wintering grounds in the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, where deforestation and population growth have had a significant impact on the species. The goal of the fund is to channel resources for the protection of this wintering habitat, which is critical not only for Bicknell’s Thrush, but a wide variety of other neotropical migrants as well. The fund has been established through The Adirondack Community Trust. WCS and the three other non-profit organizations who are on the steering committee for the fund are partnering with other non-profits and state agencies to protect the species across its migratory route. You can learn about WCS’ research on Whiteface Mountain or read more about Bicknell’s Thrush and the fund.
Finding Common Ground
July 18, 2007 – More than 100 local leaders, officials, and concerned citizens gathered in Long Lake to discuss the Blueprint for the Blueline on July 18. The event was put together by WCS in partnership with other members of the Common Ground Alliance, a broad-based group looking for opportunities to advance issues of common concern across the region and across traditional divides. The goal of the gathering was to give a broad audience the opportunity to enhance and strengthen the Blueprint, as well as to give elected officials and state agency representatives the chance to hear from Adirondackers directly on these issues. Following this event, the Blueprint will be refined and steps will be taken towards implementing the agenda.
WCS helps communities Step It Up!
April 14, 2007 - Communities across the Adirondacks came together as part of a nation-wide effort to bring attention to the impacts of climate change. In events at Paul Smith's College, and dispersed around the region, hundreds of people gathered to express their concerns about the issue. As part of a loose coalition of groups interested in uniting and strengthening these efforts, WCS helped coordinate Step It Up Adirondacks! As part of this effort, over a dozen towns and more than a dozen other organizations and groups have adopted a resolution expressing concern over the impacts of climate change and asking our elected leaders in Washington to demonstrate leadership in addressing this issue. See the list of communities and groups that have adopted the resolution at www.stepitupadk.org.
Energy Solutions for Adirondack Communities
January, 2007 - As part of our regular Community Exchange Day series, we held a forum in the Town of Jay on ways that municipalities and school boards can reduce their energy costs by addressing energy efficiency and incorporating green technologies. The day featured the experiences and perspectives of a number of communities, service providers, and agency representatives.
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Randy Douglas, Supervisor of the Town of Jay, discussed his experiences implementing energy-efficiency measures in town buildings as part of an effort to save on energy costs, and gave participants a first-hand look at how the town has implemented their plan.
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Kerry Stinson and other representatives of Honeywell talked about how they can support energy audits and implement efficiency measures.
Mary Ellen Keith, Supervisor of the Town of Franklin, discussed her town's effort to meet the needs of the municipality by working toward the sustainability and enhanced performance of town buildings.
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Melissa Levy of Yellowwood Associates discussed how her firm has supported Franklin's effort, and their approach to inventorying and assessing community infrastructure and identifying opportunities for Green Community Technology implementation.
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North Country Energy $mart Communities Coordinator Ann Heidenreich will offered insights about the Energy $mart Park Initiative and the programs that NYSERDA offers to help towns implement energy efficiency improvements.
Thanks to: The Town of Jay for hosting the day; Adirondack Sustainable Communities Inc. for co-sponsoring the event, and all of the participants for their contributions.
A Blueprint for the Blueline
Fall, 2006 -- In a letter to the gubenatorial and other state political candidates, WCS' Adirondack Program has joined with a coalition of broad-based organizations to present the candidates with a common ground agenda focused on improving the economic viability of Adirondack communities while protecting our natural environment. The agenda recognizes the unique concerns of the Adirondack region, and represents the mutual agenda of an alliance of non-profit organizations, municipal governments, businesses, economic development and environmental interests. WCS has played a key role in convening this assemblage of interests. The complete agenda, the Blueprint for the Blueline, is available for download as a pdf (67 kb.)
What does WCS do in the Adirondacks?
November, 2006 -- Although we know the answer to this question, we did have related questions about our work. For example, how effective are we in achieving conservation? Do communities feel that they have been helped by our efforts? To answer these and related questions, we held a series of focus groups, facilitated by Bruce Lauber of the Human Dimensions Research Unit of Cornell University. Five of these were conducted in the spring, and now we have a completed report synthesizing what the participants in these focus groups had to say. The report is available for download from our Research & Publications page.
Got Moose?
 April 2006 -- ACCP is excited to announce Wildlife Watch, a new tool that will enable the public to assist us in understanding and conserving the wildlife of the Adirondacks. By visiting the website and filling out a simple web form, anyone can easily tell us about their personal encounter with wildlife or wildlife sign. We are particularly interested in reports of our living landscape species, but we are happy to collect reports of any wildlife in the Adirondacks. "This information will help us in our conservation efforts," says Michale Glennon, WCS ecologist. "For many species, we are in need of basic information about population size and distribution before we can plan conservation actions. We are excited to enlist the eyes and ears of people across the Adirondacks in answering these key questions."
You can report a sighting by visiting the Wildlife Watch web page.
Low Density Development in the News
North Country Public Radio aired a two-part series by Brian Mann on February 15 and 16, 2006, about the ecological impacts of low-density development in the Adirondacks. Michale Glennon, ACCP ecologist, is interviewed in the two pieces. You can listen to the stories at the NCPR regional news archives.
Science on the Fly! takes off
“Science on the Fly! Loon Migration – Linking People and the Environment” is an exciting new curriculum for middle school students in and beyond the Adirondack Park. On November 2, the Adirondack Cooperative Loon Program hosted a debut event for the public to learn about the curriculum.
The curriculum is available by visiting www.scienceonthefly.org.
WCS Releases Technical Paper on Effects of Development on Wildlife
 October, 2005 -- ACCP has recently released a technical paper entitled Impacts to Wildlife From Low Density, Exurban Development: Information and Considerations for the Adirondack Park. The paper provides a summary of the ecological consequences of dispersed development, as well as addressing potential solutions and the specific context of the Adirondack Park. Go to the Research & Publications page, where you can read more about the paper and download it as a pdf.
Bronx Zoo Grizzlies Are New Samsonite Gorillas
 September, 2005 -- Bronx Zoo grizzlies Archie, Jughead, Betty and Veronica put bear-resistant food canisters to the test in an experiment designed to both inform the public about bear canisters and also demonstrate the effectiveness of these light-weight plastic containers. Although ACCP's work in the Adirondacks is obviously geared at preventing conflict between humans and grizzlies' smaller cousins black bears, the Bronx grizzlies demonstrated the canister's effectiveness, abandoning them after a futile attempt to get at their enticing contents.
NYSDEC Adopts Bear Canister Regulation for Eastern High Peaks
 August 24, 2005 -- The proposed bear canister regulation requiring the use of canisters by campers in the Eastern High Peaks between April 1 and November 30 was adopted and published in the New York State register.
Read about ACCP's BBEAR program
Read about bear canisters
Read information on DEC's website about the bear canister regulation
Ten Year Anniversary of Adirondack Blowdown
July, 2005 -- This month marks ten years since a powerful derecho swept through the western Adirondacks, transforming a broad swatch of the landscape in its path. WCS released a Working Paper on the storm: Notes on the Adirondack Blowdown of July 15th, 1995, Scientific Background, Observations, and Policy Issues, by Jerry Jenkins. The working paper is available for download from our research and publications page.
Revitalizing Community Assets: Community Exchange Day in Clifton - Fine
 June 3, 2005 -- WCS/ACCP held a Community Exchange Day in Star Lake, NY on the theme of Redeveloping Community Assets in Clifton and Fine: Industry, Businesses, and Housing. Participants discussed housing revitalization and toured the newly opened community center, the J&L brownfield site, and the Newton Falls Paper Mill. Read more about ACCP's community projects...
WCS Comments on NYSDEC Proposed Bear Canister Regulation for Eastern High Peaks
May, 2005 -- In response to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's proposed regulation requiring the use of bear canisters in the Eastern High Peaks, WCS-ACCP issued a public comment in support of the proposal. Read the comment (pdf, 109 kb)
WCS Comments on NYSDEC Draft ATV Policy
May, 2005 -- In response to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's draft policy on all-terrain vehicles, WCS-ACCP issued a public comment applauding the department for attempting to create a comprehensive policy, but citing several ways in which the draft policy falls short. Read the comment (pdf, 110 kb)
ACCP Enters Debate on Bear Canisters
January, 2005 -- Zoë Smith, ACCP Community Coordinator, is featured in this month's Adirondack Explorer. The regular column, It's Debatable, asks the question, "Should bear canisters be required in the High Peaks?" Read the piece (pdf, 165 kb)
Eye in the Sky Follows Adirondack Loons to Coast
 Using satellite transmitters, researchers from the Adirondack Cooperative Loon Program (ACLP) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have learned that common loons from the Adirondacks spend their winter months along... Read more...
Adirondack Atlas Provides New Perspective on Park
 June, 2005 -- A unique new atlas of the Adirondack Park features everything from the region's geology and wildlife to the history of human settlement and activities, showing the landscape in its full scope for the first time in such a format. Read more about the Atlas...
Working Papers Released
In 2003 and 2004, ACCP released three new WCS Working Papers: The Common Loon in the Adirondack Park: An Overview of Loon Natural History and Current Research; All-Terrain Vehicles in the Adirondacks: Issues and Options; and The Ecology of Northeast Coyotes: Current Knowledge and Priorities for Future Research. The working papers are available for download as pdfs and in hard copy.
Newsletters
Download current & past copies of the ACCP and ACLP newsletters here as .pdf documents, or contact us to receive future newsletters by mail or e-mail.
Villages and Vertebrates: An Adirondack Notebook
The newsletter of the Adirondack Communities and Conservation Program
Villages and Vertebrates Winter 2006-07 (pdf, 1.0 mb)
Cover story on climate change in the Adirondacks. Spotlight on: Changing faces within our WCS family. Other features: Energy solutions for Adirondack communities, conservation easements, protecting the Bicknells Thrush, and the Common Ground Agenda. WCS Around the World on: determining the optimal size of the Nahanni National Park in Canada.
Villages and Vertebrates Summer 2006 (pdf, 620 kb)
Cover story on new mercury caps and five years of the Adirondack Loon Program. Spotlight on: Dr. Gary Tabor, North America’s new Program Director. Other features: Wildlife Watch, summer field trips and lectures, tips for a bear-safe summer, and New York state wildlife plans. WCS Around the World on flu preparedness plans for public health and wildlife.
Villages and Vertebrates Winter 2005-2006 (pdf, 497 kb)
Cover story on low density, exurban development. Spotlight on: Recreation in Clifton-Fine. Other features: Field notes, Saranac Lake Community Exchange Day on the Arts, Science on the Fly! takes off, and putting bear canisters to the test--Bronx Zoo grizzlies weigh in. WCS Around the World on tracking the movements of great white sharks.
Villages and Vertebrates Summer 2005 (pdf, 439 kb)
Cover story on WCS' involvement in black bear issues locally and nationally. Spotlight on: Wood Turtle. Other features: Loon census, Moose sightings and survey, Clifton-Fine Community Exchange Day, Exploring the issue of low-density residential development. WCS Around the World on new species discoveries.
Villages and Vertebrates Winter 2004-2005 (pdf, 452 kb)
Cover story on WCS' research on boreal habitats and their inhabitants. Spotlight on: Scenic Byways. Other features: GIS instruction in schools, Lake George Community Exchange Day, Clifton Fine Education Day. WCS Around the World on satellite imagery and monitoring.
Villages and Vertebrates Summer 2004 (pdf, 423 kb)
Cover story on The Adirondack Atlas: A Geographic Portrait of the Adirondack Park. Spotlight on: Bicknell's Thrush. Other features: Adirondack Forest Preserve Education Program, release of WCS working paper on common loons, Tupper Lake Community Exchange Day, bear resistant food canisters. WCS Around the World on jaguar research in Bolivia.
Villages and Vertebrates Winter 2003-2004 (pdf, 547 kb)
Cover story on WCS' Adirondack Living Landscapes Program. Spotlight on: Wanakena. Other features: Black Bear Education, Awareness, and Research Project (BBEAR), Keene Community Exchange Day, release of WCS working paper on ATVs in the Adirondack Park, Adirondack Cooperative Loon Program field research. WCS Around the World on Sierra Nevada black bears living near human population centers.
The Adirondack Tremolo
The newsletter of the Adirondack Cooperative Loon Program
The Tremolo Summer 2007 (pdf, 308 kb)
The Tremolo Winter 2006 (pdf, 566 kb)
The Tremolo, Summer 2006 (pdf, 369 kb)
The Tremolo Fall/Winter 2005 (pdf,498 kb)
The Tremolo Spring/Summer 2005; Vol 4, Issue 1 (pdf, 311 kb)
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