| The Trust’s 2025 Connections programs kicked off on March 1 with a guided bird walk at our Granttham Reeve Preserve. Located off Sound Avenue in Riverhead, this beautiful 20.4-acre preserve features our first walking trail in the town of Riverhead. There you can explore nature along the woodland edge and enjoy expansive views of farmland and beautiful meadows.The trail follows a very old mound hedgerow that was created when tracks of farmlands were delineated by these lines. Some of the large old trees here appear to have been “lopped” and bent over when they were younger, creating a distinctive look that we still see today. Most of the hedgerow trees are maples and cherry. Two unique trees found on the hedgerow are several old hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) trees and a very old and very uncommon, sweet pignut (Carya ovalis) hickory tree. Hackberries are uncommon, not rare, and the pignut is a distinct species called sweet pignut. Normal pignut is very common.
The walk, led by master birder MaryLaura Lamont, was in partnership with Hallock State Park Preserve where MaryLaura is a naturalist. With MaryLaura’s help, attendees spotted a wide variety of birds including an uncommon black vulture, merlin, raven, Canada goose, red-tailed hawk, a rare red-shouldered hawk migrating on a thermal, northern harrier, Carolina wren, song sparrow, field sparrow, tufted titmouse, turkey vulture, cardinal, red-winged blackbird, mockingbird, and most exciting of all, a bald eagle!
These incredibly majestic birds are one of the largest birds of prey to be found on Long Island and are making a comeback after being extirpated as a nester from Long Island by the late 1930s. This adult bald eagle was just over the treetops and circling for us, before it headed off eastward.
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Join us for more outdoor adventures! Check our online calendar or sign up to receive our printed Connections flyer and reserve your spot today.
For more information, contact Kathy Kennedy, Senior Manager of Outreach, at KKennedy@PeconicLandTrust.org.
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| Peconic Land Trust | 631.283.3195 | Info@PeconicLandTrust.org
Peconic Land Trust conserves Long Island’s working farms, natural lands, and heritage for our communities now and in the future. To learn more, visit us online at www.PeconicLandTrust.org.
The Peconic Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The majority of our support comes from our donors! We do not receive the 2% real estate transfer tax. Click here to learn more.
Financial Disclosure Statement: A copy of the last financial report filed with the New York State Attorney General may be obtained in writing to: New York State Attorney General’s Charities Bureau, Attn: FOIL Officer, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005 or Peconic Land Trust. |
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