Songs have been written about them. Fairytale princess inevitably have them follow them wherever they go. Recognized as the symbol of hearth, home and happiness, the bluebird is one of North America’s most beloved species of birds. Sadly, this songbird has suffered a decline in population in the Adirondacks and all throughout the country for a number of years, for a variety of different reasons. The urbanization and deforestation of America has been a prime reason. Bluebirds no longer have as many options for safe nesting. Bluebirds are known as secondary cavity nesters, meaning they cannot create their own cavities…
With June here, that means that soon our local high schools here in the Adirondacks will be graduating their senior classes. Along with the excitement of getting that diploma come plenty of graduation parties to attend. If you’re planning a graduation party this summer, you might be considering making most of the food yourself – and sometimes knowing how much to prepare can be quite a task, especially when it comes to foods like salads. We’re offering this great recipe for pasta salad for a crowd that takes the guesswork out of how much pasta, dressing, and filler ingredients you…
Seaplane pilot Edgar “ET” Tello wants to bring the good old fun of days gone by back to the shores of Lake Pleasant in Speculator. Tello is co-organizing the 40th annual Speculator Seaplane Splash-In coming up the weekend of June 6-9. He said they are expecting some 10 seaplanes to fly in from as far away as Rhode Island and Kentucky – Tello himself is coming from North Carolina – to land in the water and park on the shore of Lake Pleasant. There, they will greet the public with stories of their seaplane adventures and offer peeks inside their…
Many Adirondacks hikers have experienced that moment of dread when they realize they are deep in the woods and don’t know where they are or how to get home. Sometimes, that feeling is fleeting, as the hiker quickly locates a known landmark, or finds a knowledgeable guide who leads him or her to safety. But there can be times when the escape is not quite as simple, so all hikers should have the forethought to prepare for the time when they find themselves lost in the woods. Even with modern technology as advanced as it is, you can’t always count…
If you are planning your first Adirondacks hike of the season, or maybe even your first hike ever, a little proper planning will make all the difference between a relaxed and enjoyable excursion and one that will be the stuff of horror stories told for years to come. There is a checklist of basic necessities that every hiker should go through thoroughly before heading out on the trails — a list of items that are a whole lot easier to gather before the hike than when you are on the mountain peak somewhere and suddenly remember something you neglected to…
It seems like just about everyone is suffering some major cabin fever this year, and there’s nothing like a good early springtime hike in the Adirondack Mountains to help drive those cold season blues away. When you head out this time of year you beat the heat of the summer, and there aren’t all those pesky biting bugs to contend with as you make your triumphant trek to the summit. But at the same time, the melting snow and the April showers have created a lot of mud up there in those hills — mud that can become a major…
When you think of spring, you probably think of seeing all the birds you’ve missed throughout the winter, like robins and bluebirds and of course, the littlest of all, the hummingbird. We’ve talked about ways to bring hummingbirds to your home and garden, but now we’ll talk about bringing them into your kitchen. No, not actual hummingbirds, but delightful hummingbird cake! We’re sharing a wonderful recipe for hummingbird cake from Martha Stewart, and don’t forget – all the ingredients you’ll need for the cake and frosting are readily available at Charlie Johns in Speculator. We hope you enjoy this delicious…
Hummingbirds are fleeting, but still are very enjoyable to watch as they seemingly stand in place right in mid-air. And, since hummingbirds usually arrive in the Adirondack region in mid-may, there’s no better time than the present to prepare for their arrival. If you’re interested in attracting hummingbirds to your home, here are a few things you can do to put out the welcome mat for our ruby-throated friends. Put out a hummingbird feeder: You can find hummingbird feeders at most general stores, like Charlie Johns in Speculator. They generally have a red colored reservoir which holds the hummingbird nectar,…
More and more, people are realizing the benefits of locally produced goods, and maple syrup from an Adirondack store is one of the sweetest ways to support the local economy, and maybe even enjoy some health benefits while doing so. According to a study completed by University of Rhode Island scientists, it was discovered that there are 20 compounds in maple syrup that can play a role in health, some of which were shown to fight cancer, diabetes and bacterial diseases. Additionally, from a nutritional standpoint, a quarter cup of maple syrup has more calcium than the same amount of…
During the winter, much of the wildlife in the Adirondack Mountains seems to disappear. As most everyone knows, the main reason for the disappearing act is hibernation. But which animals usually hibernate? What happens to them during this period? And when do they “wake up”? In our area, we are fortunate to have a vast array of animals living among us – from furry forest friends like squirrels and bear, to water animals like frogs and fish, to a number of different species of birds. Interestingly enough, many animals – both warm and cold-blooded – enter a period of hibernation…
