Nature Walks

Upcoming Nature Walk: Sunday, August 10 at 9:30 AM at Lenoir Preserve, 19 Dudley St, Yonkers

Meet at the Lenoir Nature Center (below). Led by our Conservation chair, Debbi Dolan. We’ll check out the birds and plants of midsummer. Let Debbi know if you are coming and if you need binoculars.

general information

The walks are mostly on level paved pathways, except for the Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden. A slightly inclined stairway leads to the garden, and the paths within are covered with wood chips. If you’re pressed for time, or have difficulty with uneven paths, you can leave the walk before we enter the Copper Beech Trail which leads through a wooded area, on a dirt path, with some rocks and roots to watch out for, and small inclines and descents.

The walks are one and a half hours long and cover about a mile. Binoculars needed for optimum experience; loaners are available if you let Debbi know beforehand. Parking available; port-a-potties by Nature Center.

DEbbi’s Report on the July 13 Nature walk

Although there was quite a lot of cloud cover, we were treated to the sights and sounds of 22 bird species. The highlight was the Indigo Bunting that we heard over and over and caught glimpses of. The Butterfly Garden looked glorious with trumpet flowers, St John’s wort shrub, oak leaf hydrangea, coral bell honeysuckle, liatris, mountain mint, echinacea, salvia, and bergamot all abloom. A pair of catbirds were bathing and goldfinches alit on a shrub. Monarch butterflies found the milkweed and Cabbage whites fluttered about. Both the Carolina and House Wrens were calling, Chipping and Tree Sparrows, Northern Flicker and Red-bellied Woodpecker. A White tail skimmer dragonfly was on insect patrol below and Chimney Swifts high above. Hopefully the bat boxes are inhabited and the bats can dispatch some spotted lantern flies that are morphing into adulthood.

Hope to see you on another nature walk at beautiful Lenoir Preserve. —Debbi Dolan