News & Blog

When Winter Forgets It’s Winter

As I looked out my window at the two feet of snow that vanished in a single day of January rain, it occurred to me that our winters are trying to tell us something. For generations, winter in western New York followed a dependable script. Snow arrived early and stayed. Temperatures remained cold enough to freeze lakes, slow wildlife, and send plants into dormancy. Spring waited its turn. Nature understood this rhythm, and life revolved around its reliability. Winter was not s

1 day ago3 min read

Nature-Based Solutions through Nature-Based Resolutions

You’ve heard me extol the virtues of nature-based solutions to environmental problems plenty of times. Much of our habitat restoration work and other best management practices intentionally favor natural approaches over engineered, hardscaped alternatives. And for good reason: many of the environmental challenges we are trying to fix – flooding, erosion, poor water quality – exist because the natural systems that once prevented them were removed or degraded. Riverbank restora

Jan 103 min read

Secret World Beneath The Snow

On a cold winter day, it’s easy to think of the landscape as frozen, silent, and asleep. Snow covers our fields and forests, trails crunch underfoot, and most signs of life seem to disappear. But just beneath that snowy surface exists a hidden world, and this world is very much alive. Welcome to the subnivean zone. “Subnivean” simply means beneath the snow. This narrow space forms between the ground and the snowpack when fluffy snow traps heat from the earth, creating an i

Dec 27, 20252 min read

Winter Solstice

Newgrange The winter solstice is upon us and is happening on December 21st. It’s the moment when the Earth’s tilt makes our hemispheres lean farthest away from the Sun, creating the shortest day and longest night of the entire year. In our Northern Hemisphere, this happens yearly around December 21st or 22nd, while in the Southern Hemisphere it occurs around June 20th or 21st. The solstice has been a vital day of recognition for many early societies that were dependent on agr

Dec 13, 20253 min read

A Thanksgiving Connection in Our Woods

Wild turkeys doing what they do best this season: traveling, talking, and gathering together - just like us. Thanksgiving is a day built around family, gratitude, and gathering close - and yes, often around a turkey dinner. But while we’re settling in with our relatives and favorite dishes, our local wild turkeys are out in the woods doing something remarkably similar: spending the season in tight-knit family groups, reconnecting, squabbling, calling to each other, and moving

Nov 29, 20253 min read

Celebrate National Take a Hike Day

Every November 17, outdoor enthusiasts across the country lace up their boots for National Take a Hike Day—a perfect excuse to stretch your legs, breathe fresh air, and reconnect with the landscapes that sustain us. It’s a celebration of the outdoors and a reminder of the mental and physical benefits that come from simply walking in nature. Here in Chautauqua County, few organizations embody that spirit better than the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (CWC), whose network of

Nov 15, 20253 min read

Bears & Bird Feeders: A November Reminder

Black Bear at a birdfeeder. Photo by Idaho Fish and Game. November is that time of year when bears are in full “snack panic mode.” They’re packing on last-minute calories before winter, and your bird feeder? Basically, a bear-sized granola bar hanging from a hook! If you’re in bear country, please be aware: these overstuffed creatures have an excellent sense of smell and zero sense of boundaries. Natural foods are getting scarce, so they’re wandering around on a last-minute

Nov 14, 20251 min read

The Great Autumn Seed Sprinkle

Milkweed seeds bursting from their pods. Photo by Carol Markham. Native plants don’t just grow - they belong. They feed the birds, the bees, the butterflies, and the soil itself. And right now, many of them are dropping seeds and blowing them quietly into the wind, gently preparing for next year’s bloom. Which means it’s the perfect time to be a native plant fairy duster. Break off a stem or gather seeds from your favorite natives - milkweed fluff, coneflower cones, NY I

Nov 6, 20251 min read

Restoring Balance Beneath The Surface

For centuries, aquatic plants in Chautauqua Lake have sparked debate – usually over whether to remove them or leave them alone, but rarely about planting more. Many lake users believe there are already too many plants, especially invasive ones, a perception not without reason given the challenges dense vegetation creates for recreation, navigation, and lakefront enjoyment. Battling invasive species is a continual and demanding effort, especially as new threats emerge each y

Nov 1, 20253 min read

Let's Talk About Trees

This might be a little controversial, but it’s been on my mind for a while. I was recently sitting in my backyard with my friend Mackenzie beneath the coverage of the 200+ trees that surround my home. We started talking about invasive trees, and I found myself asking her a question I’ve been wondering about for some time: What if we were to intentionally keep some non-native trees, or even some invasive ones? We all know invasive species are a problem. Invasive plants, in

Oct 18, 20253 min read