Blog Posts

  • The Birds of Blue Star

    By Will On June 12 I visited Blue Star Farm and documented breeding evidence for the following birds: Each section of Blue Star Farm contained unique habitats that hosted a variety of farm and edge-loving species of birds. Native shrubs such as Staghorn Sumac and large legacy Sugar Maples planted long ago shared space with…

  • The Fields of Carpenter Road.

    These Hawthorne Valley Farm-managed fields are comprised of hay field, pasture and ploughed ground and are leased from three nonfarmer land owners. They are interspersed with a few hedgerows and wood patches. The parcels are located along Carpenter Road, just north of Philmont, Columbia County. The eastern property belongs to Arthur’s Point Farm, a native…

  • The Birds of Little Seed

    The diversity of habitats in such a compact area, including a stream and riparian zone, upland pasture, hedgerows, weedy field margins, and vegetated crop zones permit many species of birds to coexist with the farming practices of Little Seed. On a bright sunny morning on 17 June I was able to document breeding evidence for…

  • Harrier Fields Farm

    This a longish blog, so here are some anchors you can use to jump to a section of particular interest: Introduction (a virtual farm tour) Plants of Harrier Fields Farm (by Claudia) Insects of Harrier Fields Farm (by Conrad) Birds of Harrier Fields Farm (by Will) Introduction We made two July trips to Harrier Fields,…

  • Birds of the prairie at the Churchtown Dairy

    A recently grazed paddock at Churchtown with a ‘messy’ field edge hugging hedgerows and electric fencing By Will I live a short walk from the Churchtown Dairy and my family’s 109-year old fruit and vegetable farm is only a few miles to the south so I have come to know this area well. The old…