Spring Octet Archives - Otsego Outdoors

Brookwood Garden Spring Clean Up

Otsego2000 — Sun, 15 May 2022 17:00:00 +0000

Otsego Land Trust (OLT) is in need of volunteers to help complete the annual spring garden clean up at Brookwood Point.

Sunday, May 15 from 1pm to 4pm. Brookwood Point is located at 6000 State Highway 80, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Please join us in our spring cleaning of the gardens at Brookwood Point and getting the property ready for the busy 2022 summer season. All are invited to join in the outdoor fun of this community service event. We welcome those who can spend just a few minutes helping to those who can stay the entire duration. No gardening experience is necessary – there will be tasks for everyone to complete, from child to adult. OLT will provide tools, guidance, and refreshments. This event will be held rain or shine, so please dress appropriately for the weather.

Please RSVP to Marcie at 607-547-2366 ext. 103 or marcie@otsegolandtrust.org – we want to ensure there are enough tools and snacks for all.

Participating in this volunteer event counts as one of the 8 required activities for the Otsego Outdoors Spring Octet.

OLT’s mission is to conserve the natural heritage of woodlands, farmlands and waters that sustain rural communities, promote public health, support wildlife diversity and inspire the human spirit. For more information about Otsego Land Trust, visit OtsegoLandTrust.org or call 607-547-2236.

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Lordsland Preserve: New Trail Opening and Forest Hike

Otsego2000 — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 17:00:00 +0000

Join Otsego Land Trust and our partners from Otsego County Conservation Association and Otsego 2000 as we celebrate the re-opening of the Doc Ahlers Road trail at Lordsland Preserve.

The program will start with a short acknowledgement and special “limb” cutting to open the new trail. Thanks to funding raised from Henry Horvath’s epic Denali Mountain expedition, Otsego Outdoors has funded two new kiosks (built by SUNY Delhi Construction Technology & Management Department), a roadside sign, and new trail markers.

The guided hike will take participants on a 0.75 mile route along the newly marked trail through a diverse forest landscape. This will be a moderate level hike down a gradual slope to the wetlands and beaver ponds at the valley floor. Hikers will then ascend back up the slope through northern hardwood forest, crossing over several springs and streams.

Hikers should be prepared for uneven terrain in a few places and mud. Appropriate footwear and hiking poles are recommended. Water and snacks will be provided for participants either before or after the hike. Please be advised that there is little or no cell phone service in this area. This is a rain or shine event.

Please RSVP by emailing marcie@otsegolandtrust.org, or calling 607-547-2366 (ext. 103).

Lordsland Preserve is owned and protected by Otsego Land Trust for public enjoyment. Learn more about Lordsland Preserve and other Land Trust protected properties at otsegolandtrust.org

Attending this event counts toward one of the eight activities of the Otsego Outdoors Spring Octet.

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Evening Bird Watch and Woodcock Counting Hike

Otsego2000 — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 23:30:00 +0000

Spring weather is just around the corner, which means it time for the American Woodcock to perform its spring “sky dance”! Join Otsego Land Trust Staff and Delaware Otsego Audubon Society for an evening bird watch and Woodcock Counting Hike at Parslow Road Conservation Area. Local birders, Bob Donnelly, Charlie Scheim and Sandy Bright will lead two hikes, the first on April 6th and the second on April 20th. Both hikes will begin at 7:30 and end roughly around 9:00 pm.

American Woodcock spend most of their time hidden in fields and on the forest floor, where they probe for earthworms. But on spring nights, males perform very conspicuous displays, giving a buzzy peent call, then launching into the air. Their erratic display flight includes a distinctive, twittering flight sound and ends with a steep dive back to the ground. The wet thickets, shrubby swamps, and open fields at Parslow Road Conservation Area are ideal habitats for these interesting birds that have unfortunately seen a decline in population over the years.

The hike will begin at 7:30 pm with a walk on the trail listening and looking for the birds that inhabit this protected property. The sun is expected to set at 7:30 pm at which time the group will position itself in the best location to view and count the Woodcocks. The hike will be on the trail, but it may be wet, so please dress appropriately. A headlamp or flashlight and binoculars are recommended. To RSVP, please email Marcie at the Land Trust or call 607-547-2366 ex. 103.

Parslow Road Conservation Area is owned and protected by Otsego Land Trust for public enjoyment. Please visit otsegolandtrust.org to learn more about Parslow Road and Otsego Land Trust’s other protected properties.

Attending this event counts as one of the eight activities of the Otsego Outdoors Spring Octet.

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Evening Bird Watch and Woodcock Counting Hike

Otsego2000 — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 23:30:00 +0000

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