WINTER TRACKING SERIES
Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, Rensselaer Land Trust, Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center are teaming up to offer this year's winter tracking series.
Join local trackers Patricia Liddle, Dan Yacobellis, and Josh Wood for a series of three workshops to learn animal tracks or to enhance your skills. All are welcome to attend one or more workshops; each workshop will add a new layer to the tracking experience.
Pre-registration is required. See workshop listings below for registration details. Dress appropriately for the cold, keeping in mind there will be periods of inactivity while looking at a track. Depending on snow and ice conditions, proper footwear and snowshoes or microspikes may be needed. Bring extra layers for warmth, hot drinks, and hand and feet warmers. Contact the workshop leader with questions.
WINTER TRACKING WITH PATRICIA LIDDLE
Albert Family Community Forest
Saturday, January 30, 9am- 1pm
Leader: Patricia Liddle, plcanaan@fairpoint.net
Co-Leader: Fred DeMay
We will explore Albert Family Community Forest for animal tracks and sign that reveal the stories happening all around us. We will not be sticking to a foot trail, but going where the wildlife leads us.
Since we may be gathering closely to examine tracks, all participants must wear a mask covering nose and mouth during this workshop. Social distancing will also be practiced when possible, and group size will be limited to 10 people, including leaders.
$20 suggested donation per person.
Sorry, this event is full - registration is closed.
Patricia Liddle is a student and lover of nature from when she was a child on her hands and knees in a pond looking for tadpoles to recently following fisher tracks on Harvey Mountain. She has studied tracking with Sue Morse, George Leoniak, Josh Woods, and, of course, the animals.
WINTER TRACKING WITH DAN YACOBELLIS
Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center
Sunday, February 28, 9am - 3:30pm
Workshop Leader: Dan Yacobellis, miye_yelo@yahoo.com
Follow the tracks and trails of our furry and feathered forest inhabitants with Dan Yacobellis at the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center. Learn how to identify the tracks of animals and interpret the story of what they were doing when they left those tracks. The day will be broken into two sessions.
9:00am - 12:00pm: We'll start at the center and not wander too far afield circling back to the Center by 12pm.
12:15pm - 3:30pm: Ready to stretch your legs? We'll head out to some of the other more distant corners of the park to follow a fisher or witness the frolic of otters. Maybe just get lost on a red fox trail!
Fee: $20 per person. Limited to 10 people. Pre-registration required. Register early as space is very limited. Masks required.
Register by emailing dykenpond@gmail.com or at www.dykenpond.org.
Tracking involves a lot of stillness while discussing the tracks and can be a bit boring for young children. They are welcome, but just be prepared to have their interest stray away from the tracks.
TRACKING WILDLIFE WITH JOSH WOOD
Kinderhook Creek Preserve
Saturday, March 6
10am - 1pm
Workshop Leader: Josh Wood, josh@flyingdeernaturecenter.org
We will focus on learning key characteristics in track identification, and begin to unravel various track patterns and how they correspond to the way the animal was moving, providing us with insight into its behavior and a window into its life. We will also look at other types of animal sign, gaining an increased awareness of the wildlife that surrounds us.
Josh Wood is the Program Director of Flying Deer Nature Center in East Chatham. He’s an avid tracker, naturalist and wilderness skills mentor. He leads a monthly tracking club in the East Chatham area.
Dress appropriately for the cold with extra layers that can be taken off or added as needed, keeping in mind there will be periods of inactivity while looking at a track. Depending on snow/ice conditions, snowshoes or microspikes may be needed. Bring water/hot drinks, snacks, and hand/feet warmers.
Due to current public health mandates, registration is limited to 9 people. Masks are required. Do not attend if you are not feeling well.
Program fee is $20, and registration in advance is required.
Register Here or call 518-659-5263.