Professional Workshops

November 17, 2009

Woody Plant Identification and Natural History in Winter

• Learn how to use keys to identify trees, shrubs, and woody vines in winter condition

• Acquire identification skills that are useful for, e.g., wetland boundary delineation, surveys for rare species, habitat identification, and reviews of land use proposals

• Examine the identification characters of many species in the field

• Browse a collection of books about the identification and ecology of northeastern woody plants

• Learn how herbarium specimens can be used as references for identification of new material

• Discover facts about the natural history and human use of various species

• Learn where some of the rare woody species occur, which woody plants are useful indicators of environmental conditions, and how certain invasive introduced species are troublesome in our region.

This workshop is designed for biologists, environmental professionals, horticulturists, and students who already have some field experience with woody plants and want to develop their abilities to identify woody species in winter using twigs, buds, leaf scars, pith, bark, and other winter identification characters. The workshop emphasizes hands-on observation and practice with plants in the field, specimens, hand lens, keys, and field guides.

Course instructors Erik Kiviat PhD and Gretchen Stevens have 40 and 30 years of experience, respectively, with the northeastern woody flora in winter condition.

Lunch and snacks will be provided. Tentative location: Bard College Field Station, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The course is designed for one full day on 17 November; if enough participants wish to continue for a second day (18 November) we will extend the workshop for an additional fee. Course materials (books, 10x hand lens) will be for sale at the site). We expect to use W.C. Muenscher, Keys to Woody Plants 6th edition, and G. Petrides, A Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs 2nd ed. Several binocular dissecting microscopes will be available.

Course fee $275 payable to Hudsonia Ltd by check or credit card (full fee due 10 November). If the second day is offered the additional fee will be $250. Call Linda Spiciarich 845-758-0600 or email spiciari@bard.edu to register.

Workshops we have offered recently include:

• Reptile and Amphibian Survey Methods
• Wetland Habitat Creation and Turtle Conservation Science
• Phragmites Ecology and Management
• Site Plan Design and Biodiversity Conservation

Donor Field Trips

Please check back for information on future walks we will be offering.

Past Walks:

Saturday June 13*
Jenny Lane Foot Path – Minnewaska State Park, New Paltz, NY – 10am to 2pm
The 3100 acre fire on the Shawangunk Mountains in 2008 was the largest fire the area had seen in 60 years and has provided scientists a rare opportunity to study ridge top fire ecology.  Join Hudsonia Biologist, Jamie Deppen, and Mohonk Preserve Natural Resources Specialist, John Thompson, on a walk along Jenny Lane in Minnewaska State Park Preserve to explore the burn area and examine vegetation development.  Come learn about the important role of fire in ridge top ecosystems and species adaptations to fire.  We will meet at 10:00 am at the Jenny Lane parking lot (small brown sign on north side of road, no toll booth) on Route 44/55 about 1 mile west of the main park entrance. Please keep in mind that the trail is rocky in some areas and some charred twigs will mark up clothing.  Please wear sturdy hiking boots/shoes.  Bring a hat or sun block, plenty of water and lunch if you like. The walk may last up to 4 hours depending on how participants are feeling.

Hudsonia, a tax-exempt not-for-profit corporation of the State of New York, classified 501(c)(3) by the Internal Revenue Service, relies on the generous, tax-deductible contributions from members of our community to sustain our research and education. We appreciate your support of our work.