Nature Walks

Walks are led at the Lenoir Nature Preserve, 19 Dudley St., Yonkers. Next walk will be scheduled soon. Check back here.

We meet at the Lenoir Nature Center (below). Walks are led by our Conservation chair, Debbi Dolan. Please email Debbi if you are coming.

general information

The walks are mostly on level paved pathways. The last part of the walk goes through the Copper Beech Trail. It goes through a wooded area, on a dirt path, with some rocks and roots to watch out for, and small inclines and descents. If you are pressed for time or have trouble on uneven surfaces, you can leave the walk before we enter the trail.

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 august 10 Nature walk

The fourteen of us were delighted to have a low humidity nature walk at Lenoir on this August Sunday. The butterfly garden was in Technicolor, all abloom with Snow White hydrangea, pink liatris, red salvia, orange trumpet vine, yellow coreopsis, purple Joe-pye, and more. A baker’s dozen of bird species were heard or seen, the highlight was two sightings of the ruby throated hummingbird, feeding on both flowers and the feeders. We caught glimpses of American goldfinches who are late nesters, as the thistle they rely on for seed and nesting material are starting to mature. The black-capped chickadee was in the garden, northern cardinals, blue jays, and northern flicker. We heard the American crow cawing, the nasal tones of the white breasted nuthatch and trill of the red bellied woodpecker.

Some were curious about predators of the dreaded spotted lanternflies that were seen on plants and in flight. Internet research has reported that chickens, blue jays, gray catbirds, cardinals and chickadees have been eating them, and praying mantises, ants, wasps, and spiders, have also been known to feast on the bug. —Debbi Dolan