Local Scenes
Kingston Greenways Association

LOCAL BLACK BEAR SIGHTINGS--KNOW THE BEAR FACTS!

Know the Bear Facts


COMING EVENTS

AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
Sunday, December 18th, 2022 7:30 AM



The Kingston segment of this year's Audubon Christmas Bird Count, sponsored by Kingston Greenways Association, begins at 7:30 AM to catch the "early birds". We will meet in the Mapleton Preserve at 145 Mapleton Road in Kingston and bird until noon, when we take a break for lunch at the Palace of Asia on Route 27 in Kingston Center. The group then continues with the count in the afternoon. You can join us for morning, afternoon, or both.

If interested, call Karen Linder (609-683-0483) for more info. We would particularly appreciate help from experienced birders, but novices are welcome. It is a great way to build your skills and get to know the Nursery Lands better. Dress warmly, and bring binoculars if you have them!




PAST EVENTS

DOUG TALLAMY ON THE NATURE OF OAKS

Wednesday, October 5, 2022 on ZOOM



Professor Tallamy's webinar is now available on youtube: Doug Tallamy on The Nature of Oaks

Did you know...
Oaks are the best soil stabilizers?
Oaks and blue jays evolved together?
Oaks make great street trees?
Oaks' excellent leaf litter protects soil communities?

Learn more about these incomparable trees and the tremendous diversity of life they support!

Doug Tallamy is the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 106 research publications and has taught insect related courses for 41 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities.

His book Bringing Nature Home was published by Timber Press in 2007, The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, was published in 2014; Nature's Best Hope, a New York Times Best Seller, was released in February 2020, and his latest book The Nature of Oaks was released by Timber press in March 2021.

In 2021 he cofounded Homegrown National Park with Michelle Alfandari. His awards include recognition from The Garden Writer’s Association, Audubon, The National Wildlife Federation, The Garden Club of America, and The American Horticultural Association.
SUNDAY EVENING WALK IN HEATHCOTE MEADOWS
Sunday, August 21, 2022



Photo by John Keisers

Light breezes and a mild temperature favored our group on this leisurely walk through Heathcote Meadows. Late summer grasses, boneset, goldenrod, milkweed, Queen Anne's lace, virginia creeper, New York ironweed, coppery curly dock, horse nettle, mountain mint, tick trefoil, rosy camphor-weed, and fleabane were plentiful, along with less welcome plants like mugwort, Chinese bush clover, and poison ivy.


Camphor-weed

Bird activity was light, but we were graced with two flyovers by a Great Blue Heron, and scattered bluebirds. All in all, a lovely walk!

EARTH DAY CLEANUPS
Saturday, April 23, 2022

Fine weather and a robust turnout on both the Franklin and South Brunswick sides of Route 27 resulted in one of the best Earth Day cleanups ever!



Above, volunteers at the morning session collected 20 bags of trash near Rockingham Historic Site and along Laurel Avenue.

Below, afternoon litter collectors found plenty to fill their bags in the Mapleton Preserve (including the new "Blue" Trail, to be officially opened on June 4th, National Trails Day), on the Rail Trail, and along Ridge Road and Division Street.

Photos by BreeAnne Lemmerling




 


CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
December 19, 2021

Led by trustee Karen Linder, seven counters helped complete the Kingston segment of the 2021 Audubon Christmas Bird Count. All told, the day was pretty quiet. Our species count of 38 was normal but our totals were a little on the low side. However, the two pileated woodpeckers and the 54 turkeys seen near Ridge Road the day before the count were definitely highlights. Robins have been very abundant in Kingston this winter, as they are still feasting on holly berries and callery pears. The official tally may be viewed here:

2021 Audubon Christmas Bird Count