Visitor Use Education Efforts Increasing in the Preserve — Several new educational tools are being used to increase protection of the Preserve’s natural features while allowing for appropriate recreational and educational use of the Preserve. About one dozen Preserve Naturalists are out on the trails, a new mountain bike education patrol is being created, new brighter trailmarkers are on most of the trails and additional signage relating to appropriate and responsible trail use has been installed. The Commission has recently released the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Guide and Trail Map. For a copy, look at any of the nine trailheads or call the Commission’s office at 785-1800 X100.

Tick Management in the Preserve–TICKED OFF, INC. of New Hampshire is donating 30 tick removal tools which can be used by Preserve visitors, staff, naturalists, volunteers and school groups, who, it is believed, will greatly benefit from this simple device.

Karner Blue Butterfly Habitat Continues to Grow — Stewardship Director Joel Hecht and Stewardship Assistant Brent Kinal, in cooperation with Commission members and partners, worked to restore an additional 1.5 acres to Karner blue butterfly habitat this fall. Four acres were planted last spring. Non-native plants were removed and the sites were tilled in preparation for replanting with native Pine Bush species, including native grasses, wild blue lupine and other nectar species. The two restoration sites are located along New Karner Road and along a power line right-of-way near the Crossgates Mall. The sites will be monitored next year to determine the success of these restoration efforts.

Glacial Lake Albany Native Plant Project Receives Federal Funding — The Eastern New York Chapter of The Nature Conservancy has been awarded $25,000 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to continue the Glacial Lake Albany Native Plant Restoration Project. The project will benefit Karner blue butterfly recovery efforts throughout the recovery area from Albany to Queensbury. The project is an outgrowth of the successful Native Plant Restoration Project initiated in 1996. A portion of the funds awarded are specifically for continuing the successful Karner Blue butterfly habitat restoration efforts in the Pine Bush Preserve.

Landscaping with Native Plants with Sandra Walck of Walck Garden Design: Tuesday, March 12, 7:00-8:30 PM, College of St. Rose Science Center Room 260; call 785-1800 to register.

Printed in the February/March 2002 Newsletter