Climate Change Impacts Happening on Long Island
Once upon a time, many of us dismissed the idea of human-caused climate change as a miniscule issue, or some denied it altogether. We’d often hear phrases from our political leaders like “We should be focused on magnificently clean and healthy air and not distracted by the expensive hoax that is global warming!” (Donald J. Trump, 2013) or “In case we have forgotten, because we keep hearing that 2014 has been the warmest year on record…do you know what this is? It’s a snowball just from outside here. So it’s very, very cold out.” (James Inhofe, 2015). However, our global climate crisis cannot get ignored any longer. For years, we’ve seen the terrible results of global climate change in areas of intense weather like the tropics or the arctic, but now we can see evidence of climate change right here on Long Island. As Long Islanders, we can expect to face several environmental problems as we continue to pump greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. Gone are the days where we can say “let the future generation deal with it.” Long Island is in trouble and the evidence stacks up.
Long Island Sea Level Rise
Global sea level rises as hot temperatures melt land glaciers into our waterways. Surrounded by water, Long Island especially faces intense concerns for sea level rise. In fact, information gathered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shows a global average of an 8 inch sea level rise since 1880. In New York specifically, the sea level increase nearly doubles the global average, with a 13 inch sea level rise. The NOAA projects an average 4 foot rise in sea level by the year 2100. With screenshots from their interactive sea level rise map, we can see the Long Island areas at high risk for floods highlighted in turquoise.
Long Island Sea Level Today
4 ft Sea Level Rise on Long Island
Intense Hurricane Seasons
You may wonder what the global climate has to do with hurricane intensity, but they actually work hand-in-hand. When global atmospheric temperature rises, oceanic temperatures also rise. A hurricane forms when a weather disturbance, such as a thunderstorm, comes in contact with water of at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmer the water, the higher the intensity of the storm. Long Island witnessed the brutal Hurricane Sandy in 2012 that obliterated much of our coastline, flooded residents out of their homes, and left many without power. Hurricanes are just beginning, but with constant record-breaking temperatures, the east coast should stay prepared for more disasters like Superstorm Sandy.
Hurricane Sandy Floods
Hurricane Sandy Aftermath
Water Quality Impacts
Climate change is also exacerbating our local water quality impairments. While nitrogen pollution is the cause of the harmful algae blooms that plague Long Island’s waters all Summer long, warming water temperatures across Long Island causes these blooms to last longer and become more intense. In addition, warming temperatures across Long Island are causing local fisheries to retreat and/or collapse.
Rust Tide- Harmful Algae Bloom
If this evidence doesn’t scare you enough to advocate for climate action, then perhaps the consistent wildfires, droughts, and northern thawing permafrost do. Climate change is no longer an issue up for debate. It is real, and we’re seeing the results right here on Long Island. We need climate action now.
Climate petitions you can sign now: The Nature Conservancy, Green Peace, and Natural Resource Defense Council.
By Miranda Gonzales, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
Sources:
https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/hurricanes.html
Backyard Birding for Beginners
One of my favorite ways to spend a morning is to wake up, pour myself a cup of coffee and sit out on the patio to watch the morning traffic of birds that use my feeders. I have never been a bird expert, but I’ve certainly learned a lot through this backyard bird watching exercise. I can now identify the sounds and sights of many of these fleeting and hungry visitors. In this blog, I will be sharing some tips on how you too can set-up your yard to attract birds and how to begin your own bird watching hobby.
Is your space bird-friendly?
Before setting up bird feeders, you’ll want to consider whether or not your yard is bird-friendly. Ideally, your yard should be chemical-free, meaning that you do not use any pesticides. Birds are highly susceptible to harm caused by pesticides. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that an estimated 67 million birds die from pesticide poisoning each year and more than 600 million are exposed.
In addition, you’ll want to keep track of stray cats in the area. If your cat goes outdoors or there are a lot of strays in the area, then setting up bird feeders may not be the most responsible thing to do. Predation by domestic cats is one of the leading causes of death to wild birds. In the United States alone, outdoor cats kill approximately 2.4 billion birds every year.
Lastly, you’ll want to make sure you have space to place a feeder that’s fairly distanced away from glass (like windows or sliding glass doors) to avoid collisions. Usually a distance of about 10-feet is considered safe. In addition, you can opt to install some mechanisms that will make your windows bird-safe.
Set-up Your Feeder
First, pick out a bird feeder. Keep in mind there are several different types of feeders that attract different types of birds. One of the most common types is a tube feeder. If you go with a hanging feeder, it is suggested to hang your feeder from a pole or stand in a wide open area. You’ll want to avoid hanging your feeder from a tree to prevent squirrel raids. In addition, you’ll want to place your feeder away from nearby trees, lawn furniture or anything a squirrel can use as a launch pad to your feeder. I had one pesky squirrel climb to the top of my patio umbrella and launch itself onto my bird feeder, quickly emptying all my seed to the ground. There are also squirrel-proof feeders on the market that you may want to consider.
Hanging Tube Feeder
Pick a Seed
There are many different bird seeds for sale, some that do better job at attracting birds than others. I’ve personally found that a variety mix is good to attract several types of birds – especially a mix that contains a lot of black sunflower seeds (that seems to be a fan favorite). Usually, the label on the feed bag will explain what type of birds you can expect from the seed mix.
You can also choose to put out a suet feeder. Suet is a brick of hard fat with seeds embedded into the fat. It’s best to put suet out during the months when temperatures are cooler because suet can turn rancid in hot weather.
Suet Feeder
In the Summer, you can also attempt to attract hummingbirds to your yard by putting out a hummingbird feeder with some homemade sugar water. It’s best to avoid the pre-made hummingbird water you can find in stores, because they usually contain red dyes that can be harmful to the birds. It’s easy to make your own sugar water – just dissolve 1 part sugar with four parts water and pour it into your feeder.
Other Ways to Attract Birds
If you’re still not seeing birds after putting out feeders, you might want to try some other ways to attract birds. You might consider installing a bird bath or bird fountain, planting brightly-colored native flowers or installing a bird house for shelter.
When to Feed Birds
While you can feed the birds all year round, it is most helpful to feed birds during times when food sources are low, like the Winter. However, as a word of caution, if you decide to feed the birds during the Winter, it’s important to keep up with it and continue all Winter long. Many birds have a fixed territory and will become dependent on your food source. While your feeder isn’t the only source of food for overwintering or migratory birds, it may become essential to them if there is snow and ice on the ground.
Tips for Watching & Identifying Birds
The best time to watch for birds is the early morning and late afternoon. Most backyard birds sleep at night and are ravenous in the morning. My bird feeders are like Grand Central Station in the mornings. Usually birds are least active mid-day. You’ll want to keep quiet and sit about 10 feet away while watching the birds and keep your dog inside.
It’s ok if you can’t identify the feathered friend at your feeder at first. Learning the new species as you go is one of the best parts of your journey into backyard bird watching. You may recognize some common species like Blue Jays or Downy Woodpeckers, but might be surprised when an unrecognizable bird lands on your feeder. While there are plenty of bird identification books, websites and apps out there, my favorite bird identification tool is the Cornell Lab Merlin App. After entering your zip code, the app will ask you a series of questions to help you identify the bird species that you encountered. It even has sound ID! The app will also track your identifications for you and as an added bonus, you’ll also be contributing to a larger citizen science project of tracking bird populations in your area.
Cornell Lab Merlin Bird ID App
Here are some of the species I’ve been lucky to spot in the past year:
- American Robins
- Baltimore Orioles
- Black-capped Chickadees
- Blue Jays
- Carolina Wrens
- Downy Woodpeckers
- House Sparrows
- House Wrens
- Gray Catbirds
- Mourning Doves
- Northern Cardinals
- Northern Flicker
- Northern Mockingbirds
- Tufted Titmouse
- Red-bellied Woodpeckers
- Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
- Song Sparrows
- White-breasted Nuthatches
I hope this blog helps you discover the fun and tranquility of bird watching in your own backyard! Happy Birding!
By: Katie Muether Brown, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
The North American Marsupial
The North American Marsupial
Virginia Opossums (Didelphis virginiana) or commonly known as opossums, regularly visit many of our backyards throughout the year. Uniquely, opossums are the only marsupial that inhabits the United States. Marsupials are a type of mammal that birth their offspring before they fully develop. The young offspring then stay in their mothers pouch until they become mature. Oftentimes people will think of a kangaroo or koala when they think of a marsupial, but opossums raise their young the same way! Unlike their Australian relatives, opossums have earned a bad rep due to their creepy outward appearance. Many people view opossums as harmful, dirty, rat-like animals, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Not only do they assist in important ecological functions, but they live an extremely clean lifestyle and can greatly benefit our yards.
Playing Possum
Physical Appearance and Reproduction
Opossums often are quickly judged for their ‘unpleasant’ appearance, some may say. While I agree when opossums play dead they tend to look creepy or even scary, but when they aimlessly hobble around, you can’t help but to adore them. Virginia Opossums typically display long thick bodies with tiny legs, red-brown body fur with white fur on their faces, and long hairless tails and ears (some tails can even appear as long as the body of the opossum!). To differentiate the male and female opossums, you’ll usually find males have longer bodies than most female opossums. During the breeding season (anywhere between January to September) a female opossum can expect to birth between 1-3 litters per year with an average of 15 offspring per litter. After only about a 13-day gestation period, the female will give birth and then keep the offspring in her pouch for approximately 50 days after birth. Since opossums have such a short lifespan of about 3 years, the new offspring will reach sexual maturity by the next breeding season.
Benefits
If you’re still not sold on appreciating our backyard visitors, perhaps learning of the great benefits they provide can change your mind. Opossums have a very adaptable diet, which makes it so easy for them to live in urban areas, to suburban areas, to the wilderness. Their diet consists of many pests we love to hate, like rats, mice, cockroaches and most importantly ticks! Like many mammals, opossums are a host for ticks. However, they are extremely efficient at removing these pests through grooming and kill over 90% of those that are on their bodies. In 2018, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 60,000 cases of tickborne illnesses in the United States alone. Especially with the large tick population on Long Island, we could use all the help we could get! Opossums almost never come down with Lyme disease (or rabies!), so they actually slow the spread of these illnesses rather than spread them. If that wasn’t enough, opossums are immune to venom in venomous snakes and can even prey on these snakes, thus protecting us from a possible snake bite incident.
Pay attention to wildlife crossing signs when driving!
Population Threats
With all the benefits brought by opossums, it’s important to do what we can to protect these animals. The overall population of opossums in North America is on the rise, but we must actively try to keep it that way. Since opossums keep our yards free of pests, we owe it to them to protect them from unnecessary dangers. Some threats to opossums include habitat fragmentation, attacks from outdoor pets, and traffic. You can help your local opossum population, by driving slower at night, breaking for wildlife crossing the road, and keeping your pets indoors at night or kept on a leash. With these efforts, we can protect our local opossum populations, and in return, opossums can continue to protect our yards!
By Miranda Gonzales, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
Sources:
opossumsocietyus.org/how-to-help/
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Didelphis_virginiana/
www.homestead.org/outdoor-lore/why-opossums-are-good-benefits-of-opossums/
Featured Photo: S.N. Johnson-Roehr, Flickr Creative Commons
Don’t Make These Common Summer Time Mistakes
Naturally, the warm weather lures us outside after being cooped up all winter. Perhaps you’ve already found yourself having some beach days or backyard gatherings. This all sounds fun until you realize you may make some harmful environmental decisions. Follow along below to learn about the actions to avoid so you can have a more eco-friendly summer!
1. Using Harmful Sunscreen
As we become more exposed to the sun during the summer, protecting our skin from sun damage becomes a bigger concern. However, many sunblock brands contain ingredients harmful to our marine ecosystems. So grab your sunblock and check the ingredients. If it contains any of the following chemicals, you may want to swap it out for a certified reef-friendly sunblock;
Oxybenzone, Benzophenone-1, Benzophenone-8, OD-PABA, 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor, 3-Benzylidene camphor, nano-Titanium dioxide, nano-Zinc oxide, Octinoxate, Octocrylene.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) states these chemicals cause coral bleaching, birth defects in sea urchins and mussels, decreased fertility in fish, and impair the growth of green algae. Look for the Reef-Friendly certification on your next bottle of sunblock to prevent damage to our marine ecosystem.
Info-graphic from SavetheReef.org
2. Blasting your AC
Walking into an air conditioned building sounds amazing after a long day in the sun, but hearing of the environmental impacts of air conditioning makes this much less desirable. According to an article posted by the Guardian, the US uses as much electricity on air conditioning alone than the UK uses as a whole, each year. The International Energy Agency (IEA) states that worldwide, air conditioners contribute 2 billion tons of CO2 into our atmosphere each year. This adds to the rising global temperatures which, ironically, will lead to even more air conditioner use. It’s important to keep these statistics in mind before running to the thermostat. Try to avoid running your air conditioners unless absolutely necessary, or attempt to use a fan first, as they require less energy. If you can’t live without air conditioning, perhaps try adjusting the temperature a few degrees higher. In the long run you’ll use less energy while still keeping your house cool.
3. Grabbing beef burgers at BBQs
Summer time barbecues are a great way to socialize, but an event like this typically leads to high meat consumption. The animal agriculture industry demands enormous amounts of water and land to operate. Also, animal agriculture makes up 18% of the total greenhouse gases released each year. So, if you plan to host or attend a barbecue this summer, consider suggesting or providing some vegetarian options. Even if switching to a complete vegetarian diet doesn’t work for you, choosing a meatless option once a week can add up to make a great difference.
4. You leave a trace
With the sunshine and beautiful weather attracting us to our beaches or parks, we must remember the importance of leaving no trace. As we’ve covered on our blog once before, the idea of ‘leave no trace’ consists of leaving the outdoors how you found it, with no litter, and causing no damage to vegetation or wildlife. Summer crowds definitely take their toll on the beaches, and trails that volunteers or park rangers work so hard to keep clean. By respecting nature, we not only show gratitude to those who maintain the land but we also give future visitors a chance to enjoy the beauty as well!
Photo from Coastal Steward 2020 Beach Cleanup
By Miranda Gonzales, The Long Island Pine Barrens Society
Sources:
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html#:~:text=When%20we%20swim%20or%20shower,Coral%3A%20Accumulates%20in%20tissues.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/29/the-air-conditioning-trap-how-cold-air-is-heating-the-world
https://www.cowspiracy.com/facts
Summer Water Woes
Ahhh, summer! Warm weather, sandals, trips to the beach, barbeques and…. harmful algae blooms? Unfortunately, Long Island summers are also heavily associated with water quality impairments. Just a few weeks out from the official start of summer, Long Island has already seen its first harmful algae bloom of the season.
The Gobler Laboratory of Stony Brook University reported on Monday (5/24/21) of a damaging mahogany tide that is spreading across much of Long Island’s South Shore. The tide was confirmed to be present at high densities across Long Island’s south shore and East End – from East Hampton to Bay Shore. The Gobler Lab called the event “unprecedented,” in that algae bloom had spread throughout open waters like the Great South Bay, Shinnecock Bay, and across the East End. Historically, mahogany tides have only occurred in isolated tributaries.
Mahogany Tide along Long Island’s South Shore – Credit: The Gobler Laboratory
Harmful algae blooms (HABs) occur when algae growth becomes out of control in the water, causing harmful effects to people, marine life, seagrasses, birds and even pets. HABs are often referred to as “tides,” and identified by their color – you may hear to these reported in the news as brown tide, red tide, rust tide, mahogany tide, etc. These blooms are caused by excess nitrogen entering our waters.
There are over 380,000 individual cesspools or septic systems in the ground on Long Island. Most people don’t think twice about where our waste goes when we flush, but that nitrogen-rich wastewater flows from our toilets into our cesspools or septic systems, and then leaches directly into our groundwater. These antiquated systems were never designed to remove nitrogen. This nitrogen then flows from our groundwater into our surface waters (bays, harbors, rivers, streams), where it fuels the overgrowth of algae. Think about it, when people fertilize their lawns or gardens, they are using fertilizer that mostly consists of nitrogen. Nitrogen helps plants grow. So, tons of nitrogen entering our water is fueling the algae to grow uncontrollably. While we’re talking about fertilizer, nitrogen from fertilizer used on farms and lawns is also making its way into our waters and making our problems worse.
Excess nitrogen in our waters is mostly from wastewater – Credit Dr. Chris Gobler
These harmful algae blooms can have devastating impacts on our environment and marine economy. They remove oxygen from the water, which can lead to large fish kills. Some HABs can produce deadly toxins that are lethal to marine life and can be a public health threat. A lot of times, the presence of these blooms will result in the closure of our beaches to swimming, fishing and shellfishing. They have destroyed our shellfishing industry, caused a loss in tourism dollars and can even decrease home values.
Dead Fish in the Peconic River in the Summer of 2015. This event occurred when a harmful algae bloom depleted the oxygen in the water, causing massive fish kills.
These blooms plague waters across Long Island all summer long. They mostly occur in the summer, because algae growth also requires strong sunlight. Due to climate change, these blooms are increasing in frequency and severity. For much of the past decade, nearly every major bay or estuary across Long Island was afflicted with a harmful algae bloom, oxygen-starved waters, or both.
Long Island Water Quality Impairments Summer 2020 (Credit: The Gober Laboratory)
The good news is there are solutions! There are new nitrogen-removing septic systems that can be installed to replace our old, polluting systems. While replacing the nearly 380,000 systems currently in the ground will be an effort that continues for years to come, we know that when we make the switch, our waters improve. Suffolk County homeowners that are looking to replace their old systems with new nitrogen-removing technology may qualify for town and county grants and low-cost loans. Please visit reclaimourwater.info for more details about qualification.
In the meantime, make sure to check out the Gobler Lab’s Facebook page before heading to the water this Summer.
By: Katie Muether Brown, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
It’s Cicada Season on the East Coast
In 2004, the largest cicada population, Brood X, emerged from the ground and filled our trees. 17 years later and they’re back! But, before running away in terror when you come face to face with one of these red-eyed creatures, remember that these insects are absolutely harmless to humans. Not only that, but cicadas have a fascinating lifecycle and they deserve admiration and appreciation.
Periodical cicadas uniquely exist in the eastern part of North America (lucky us). Currently, there are 15 different rotating cicada populations that emerge either on a 13-year or 17-year cycle. Typically, we can expect to start seeing cicadas in early May, and sometimes even as early as the end of April. This year, we will see the Brood X population emerge. This group has the highest recorded cicadas numbers out of all 15 groups. Scientists predict the east coast will witness trillions of cicadas this summer. When they last emerged, Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Ohio acted as hotspots, while New Jersey and New York had smaller recorded numbers. Most likely, we’ll witness a similar pattern this year as well.
Brood X Cicada
So, why is New York seeing a decline in our Brood X population?
Well, many factors can play into how populous Brood X will be on Long Island. In 2004, researchers already noticed a decline and came up with some explanations. First of all, Cicadas require wooded areas for mating and laying their eggs. Urban New York City and suburban Long Island don’t exactly make up the ideal environment to host millions of cicadas. Also with high bird populations means higher predation concerns. Lastly, out of fear that cicadas will damage gardens (which they won’t, unless you’re growing a new tree), people use pesticides to keep cicadas away.
Aside from their creepy appearance, you have no reason to fear cicadas this summer. Learning about these bugs will make it even easier to enjoy their presence. Cicadas spend 17 years living in the soil, and collecting nutrients from roots and tree sap. After many years, they finally emerge for only a few weeks. Once they emerge the mating process begins. That awful screeching noise, we all know, acts as a mating call. When it comes time for the females to lay their eggs, the adult cicadas will pass on, and the deposited eggs will soon hatch. Once hatched, the offspring will make their way to the soil for the next 17 years.
Signs of Cicadas Emerging
Within the next few weeks, we can expect to see and hear our new visitors. Perhaps you even recall Brood X’s last emergence in 2004. While at the time, I was young enough to only care for the sound of an ice cream truck, I still look forward to experiencing Brood X cicadas again. After learning about their great ecological impacts and gaining a new outlook on their lifecycle, listening to their screeching doesn’t seem so bad after all!
By Miranda Gonzales, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
Sources:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/brood-x-cicadas-actually-good-fear-no
Fire Keeps the “Pine” in “Pine Barrens”
The Long Island Pine Barrens is a fire-dependent ecosystem, meaning that the health of the ecosystem depends on consistent wildfire. Many of the plants and animals of the Pine Barrens have evolved unique adaptions to the historical presence of wildfire. Years ago, when Long Island was largely undeveloped, wildfires would start frequently, usually due to natural causes like lightning strikes. Large swaths of the Pine Barrens would burn often, leaving the plants and animals to adapt and consequently rely on fire.
Unique Adaptions
The dominant tree in the Pine Barrens, the Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida) has several unique adaptions to fire, including its thick armor-like bark and serotinous pine cones. This type of pine cone is covered in a thick resin that must be melted in order for the cone to open and release its seeds. The Pitch Pine’s thick bark protects the tree’s inner sensitive material from wildfire.
Serotinous pine cone on a Pitch Pine tree
Thick armor-like bark of a Pitch Pine tree
Other plants, like the Heath family of plants that are commonly found in the Pine Barrens (blueberry, huckleberry, laurel, etc.) have underground rhizomes. Rhizomes are an underground lateral stem. So the plant material above the soil may burn, but after the fire, they are able to re-sprout from their rhizomes.
One endangered animal species that calls the Pine Barrens home, the Coastal Buckmoth, has also adapted to frequent wildfire. In the hottest months of Summer, when wildfires were common, the Buckmoth larvae will crawl under the soil and remain dormant until the cooler months of Fall.
Without the presence of fire, many of the native species of the Pine Barrens fail to thrive.
The Problems with Fire Suppression
As Long Island became increasingly developed, the practice of fire suppression became heavily utilized in order to protect homes and property, curbing many of the natural wildfires that once took place. This has caused the Pine Barrens to remain largely fire-suppressed, creating an actual greater wildfire risk and compromising ecosystem health. Without fire, combustible fuel loads build up– the leaf litter, pine needles, and brush along the forest floor that builds up over time. The greater the fuel load, the larger, more dangerous and quick-spreading any potential wildfire could be. Without proper fire management, Long Island runs the risk of having another uncontrolled fire like the 1995 Sunrise Fire, which burned 3,198 acres. It’s important to actively maintain forests by reducing fuel load along the forest floor. In addition, due to fire suppression, many of the species of the Pine Barrens that rely on wildfire are failing to thrive. In some areas, Pitch Pines are being outplaced by harder woods like oaks. Fire is what keeps the “Pine” in “Pine Barrens.”
Prescribed Fire
The solution is for forest managers to apply prescribed fire or a controlled burn. The National Park Service defines this as “lighting a fire in an area after careful planning and under controlled conditions.” A prescription is described as “a set of conditions that considers the safety of the public and fire staff, weather and probability of meeting the burn objectives.”
However, not nearly enough prescribed burning has taken place in the Long Island Pine Barrens and there are several reasons why. Specific wind and humidity conditions are required to conduct a controlled burn. Since Long Island is so densely populated, experts must be sure to be able to precisely manage for smoke. Coordination must occur between the several agencies that manage the Pine Barrens and the local fire departments and all staff, volunteers and rangers must receive special wildfire firefighting training. All of this can cause burns to take years to plan.
Hope for the Future
However, Long Island might be headed on the right track. Last month, three acres of the Rocky Point Pine Barrens State Forest were burned. The three acres are part of a 27-acre site marked off by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) as a “Demonstration Forest.” The forest is designed to test the efficacy of different forest management tools, such as thinning and prescribed burns. The first three-acre block was burned on Tuesday, April 20. The April 20th burn was a joint effort between the NYSDEC and the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission. You can read all about this prescribed burn and future plans in our upcoming newsletter, “The Pine Barrens Today.” Our latest edition is expected to come out this month – Stay tuned!
By: Katie Muether Brown, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
Cover Photo: Polly Weigand
4 Native Plants to Add to Your Gardens
Tis’ the season for gardening.
The Spring season creates a perfect setting to begin planning your home landscaping. If you have a green thumb, curating a garden may be nothing new to you. But, perhaps this year, you’d like to put more meaning into this activity, rather than planting for purely aesthetic reasons. As we’ve mentioned on our blog once before, you can greatly benefit local ecosystems by putting together a garden filled with native Long Island plants! Benefits of native plants include; providing a vital source of survival for native pollinators or insects, less money spent on fertilizers as native plants typically do not require it, less damage caused by invasive plants, and most importantly it allows us to appreciate the beauty Long Island naturally provides!
Here are some Long Island Natives to consider for your native gardens:
Black-Eyed Susan
1.Black-Eyed Susan
These yellow daisy-like flowers are native to the Eastern part of North America. They bloom from June-October and grow up to 2 feet tall. With these plants you will attract butterflies, sparrows, jays and more!
Great Blue Lobelia
2. Great Blue Lobelia
This beautiful native flower will add a perfect pop of blue to your garden from July to October. The bright colors are highly attractive to pollinators like bumblebees or hummingbirds! It’s important to keep in mind that this flower requires a moist soil, so you must maintain proper watering practices.
New York Aster
3. New York Aster
Getting its name from its northeast native location, New York Asters don’t stay in bloom very long, so be sure to appreciate these flowers during their short stay between September and October. Make sure to keep these flowers in the sunlight as they typically thrive off dry soil and sun.
Virgin’s Bower
4. Virgin’s Bower
If you’re looking to add some native vines into your garden, Virgin’s Bower makes a great option. It’s important to know that these vines grow fast, but can easily be controlled by trimming. The fragrance of the flowers will attract butterflies, hummingbirds and bees! You may even see birds setting up nests within the vines.
Perhaps none of these specific native flowers stand out to you, but don’t worry! The Audubon Society put together a native species database where you can look up native species based on your zip code!
By Miranda Gonzales, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
Sources:
https://deckers-nursery.com/collections/long-island-native-plants
https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/Native_Plant_Materials/Native_Gardening/index.shtml
The Power of Forest Bathing
The benefits of spending time in nature are well-documented. In fact, we’ve covered this very topic on our blog before – check it out here. However, if you want to ramp up those benefits to your physical and mental health, you might want to try the Japanese practice of “Forest Bathing.”
What is Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing?
In 1982, the Japanese government coined the term Shinrin-yoku – Shinrin meaning forest and yoku meaning bath. Translated in English to “Forest Bathing,” it is the practice of completely immersing oneself in nature. While the practice of mindfully engaging one’s five senses and the healing powers of nature have ancient roots in Japanese culture, the formal practice of shinrin-yoku was officially developed and coined in the 1980s in response to a public health crisis. People were increasingly living in cities and urban centers, working extremely high-stress jobs, facing burnout and there was a noticeable spike in the occurrence of auto-immune disorders. In response, the Japanese government instituted a national forest bathing program and designated several forest bathing reserves. Forest bathing became an essential part of preventative healthcare and healing in Japanese medicine.
What are the benefits of forest bathing?
There has been nearly forty years of research on the benefits of forest bathing. According to this research, individuals who practiced forest bathing or forest therapy, showed a reduction in chronic widespread pain, depression, anxiety, stress and even lowered heart rates and increased oxyhemoglobin levels. A 2009 study published in the International Journal of Immunopathology, found that exposure to phytoncides, the essential oils found in wood or “aromas of the forest,” significantly increased “human nature killer cells,” a type of white blood cell that boosts immune function.
How to practice forest bathing
Many of us enter the woods with a goal in mind – to get from here to there and back, to walk a certain amount of miles or even to get some great pictures for our Instagram feed. But the practice of forest bathing is much more complex and involves using all five senses to embrace the nature around us.
Want to give it a go? Here are some tips –
- Pick a quiet spot – a popular trail might not be your best option or at least pick a time when a trail might be less congested, like in the early morning. You might even want to give your own backyard a try.
- Leave your phone and other electronic devices behind. This means that you probably shouldn’t head too far into the woods or any place you might get lost.
- Unlock all of your senses. Listen to the birds sing or the wind blow through the trees. Watch the waves crash on the beach or the way the grasses blow in a gust of wind. Pick up some sand and let it flow through your fingers or pick up a pinecone and hold it in your hands. Smell the salty air or the fresh pine needles. Take deep open mouth breaths and taste the wild air.
- As a bonus, you could also consider nature journaling – jotting down or drawing what you see, hear and feel.
Here are some parks within the Long Island Pine Barrens that might be great backdrops for your forest bathing practice:
- Ridge Conservation Area
- Prosser Pines Nature Preserve
- Calverton Ponds Preserve
- Cranberry Bog Preserve
What are you waiting for? Go enjoy Long Island’s beautiful natural landscape and unlock some great health benefits at the same time.
Sources & Additional Reading:
https://time.com/5259602/japanese-forest-bathing/
https://www.rei.com/blog/hike/theres-no-running-in-forest-bathing
https://www.ianbanyard.com/home/the-origin-of-forest-bathing-forest-therapy/
By: Katie Muether Brown, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
Earth Day 2021
This year, the Earth Day Network announced that the 2021 theme for Earth Day is “Restore Our Earth.” Unknown to many, the Earth Day Network creates a new theme every year to conform with the current environmental problems in that specific year. Some themes from past years include “Climate Action,” “New Energy for a New Era” or “Trees for Earth.” With the 2021 theme being “Restore Our Earth,” the Earth Day Network hopes to promote the importance of preserving and rehabilitating our natural world processes and support new “green” technologies. As we can see, not only with the climate emergency, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, reverting back to our careless ways cannot sustain us as a society. But if going back to our old ways is not an option, what can we expect for our future?
Earthday.org Restore Our Earth Graphic
Restore Natural Processes
Several environmental campaigns, backed by the Earth Day Network, focus on restoration efforts. For example, The Canopy Project works to reforest areas of deforestation. For every $1 donated, one tree gets planted. Over the last 20 years, the group planted millions of trees in crucial areas. The Canopy Project currently works in areas of Uganda, Mexico, and most recently, Madagascar. The Earth Day Network also runs a Food and Environment campaign. This campaign aims to inspire eco-friendly/sustainable farming practices. Researchers state that one third of earth’s soil shows degraded quality. When soil quality degrades, so does the overall crop production. This greatly impacts food security for different regions and if we don’t recognize this problem soon, more communities will face this issue. Restoring soil quality by decreasing pesticide or fertilizer use, increasing crop diversity and crop rotation, will make for an overall healthier and sustainable farming industry.
Tree planting
Emerging Green Technologies
Innovators work every day to develop new technologies to create a greener society. Some recent developments to look forward to include: Wastewater energy production, electric vehicles, or my personal favorite development, green architecture. Luckily, in the past decade, the United States’ investment in green technology has increased drastically. As long as we push for these eco-friendly investments, we can hope that our vision of a sustainable society will become reality!
Vertical Forest- Milan IT
By: Miranda Gonzales, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
Sources:
https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-network-announces-annual-theme-restore-our-earth/