Tossing a few crackers or scraps of bread to a passing duck may seem like a harmless pastime but feeding wildlife has a range of consequences for our feathered friends. Help us keep the wildlife that use Teatown’s waterways happy and healthy by keeping our food out of reach.
Blog
Meadow Transitions: Reimagining Teatown’s Forest Edge
At Cliffdale Farm we like to live on the edge—the forest edge. Day hikers and community members visiting Teatown’s meadows might notice some changes where the high grasses meet the tall trees.
Wildflower Woods Wetland Restoration Reveal
Teatown was proud to “reveal” and celebrate the completion of our Wildflower Woods Wetland Restoration Project on July 15, 2021. This multi-year project was the result of a successful collaboration among Teatown stewardship staff, environmental engineering and landscaping professionals, and funders, including the Land Trust Alliance and a generous anonymous donor from the larger Teatown community.
Pollinators: Small Creatures with a Big Impact
June 21-27 was National Pollinator Week. This international event celebrates and supports pollinator health and spreads the word about what we can do to protect them. Why should we take an active role in the health and well being of pollinators? Simply put, their existence is critical to the health of the Earth’s ecosystems.
Summer ‘21 Sustainable Road Trip Tips
The sun is out, pandemic restrictions are lifted, and we’re all itching for a summer adventure. Before striking out, take a moment to plan for a trip that’s as easy on your wallet as it is on the planet.
Coming Full Circle
Teatown has a funny way of luring people back. As an educational organization, we pride ourselves on inspiring children, teens, and young adults to be the environmental stewards of the future.
Bats of Westchester
Have you looked into the twilight sky and seen the quick, agile silhouettes of bats in flight? For some it can be frightening to see bats nearby, but take heart that these amazing little hunters use their keen eyesight and powerful echolocation to find prey and stay away from humans! While there are 1,400 species of bats in the world, only 9 call New York home. Do you know your bat neighbors?
The Great Hawk Rescue
Parks are a popular destination for families to gather for picnics and to enjoy the fresh air. There are also wildlife families going about their daily lives searching for food and raising their young in the same parks.
Spring Renewal
Spring is also known as baby season. Many animals have and raise their young at this time of year. Food sources are plentiful, especially plants that are at the base of the food chain. There is also considerable time for the young to grow and learn important survival skills before winter comes.
Skunk Cabbage – The True Sign of Spring
In the wetland below the cliffs, observed through the remains of the snow and ice, the burgundy-rimmed horns, scattered about, signal the change of season. The curved mottled spathe provides a hood for the rounded spadix peeping from within, which bears indistinct petal-less flowers with both stamens and pistils.
Pollution in the COVID World
Many nature centers, preserves, parks and hiking trails, welcomed record numbers of visitors with a skeleton staff. With visitor safety in mind, overcrowding, trail conditions and sanitation were all evaluated and became a priority. Teatown experienced a huge increase in out of area and first time visitors.
Hudson Valley Eagles
Looking up into a bright blue sky on a January day brings tears to my eyes; the brightness stings just as much as the cold does. I scan the sky and surrounding area with my binoculars over the confluence of the Hudson and the Croton Rivers. It is low tide, and many waterfowl are gathered in Croton Bay to rest and search for food.