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New York State Fair August 22 - Sept. 2
Come visit DEC's exhibits at the New York State Fair! At the DEC Aquarium, you'll see live-caught wild fish and gamefish raised at DEC's hatcheries, including prehistoric-looking lake sturgeon and the aptly named paddlefish. Kids love the terrarium with frogs and turtles hunting minnows.
While there, you can buy your new hunting and fishing licenses and get a great deal on a Conservationist magazine subscription. A short walk away, at the base of a full-size Adirondack fire tower, you'll find DEC's Log Cabin, where a tradition continues with the Saratoga Tree Nursery seedling giveaway. Be sure to stop by and say hi.
Great Summer Hikes
Explore summertime in New York's outdoors! The Great Summer Hikes webpage lists some favorite summer hikes of DEC staff. Selections span the state, from New York City to Allegany County, and range from short and easy to long and challenging.
Woodsmen's Field Days
Don't miss Woodsmen's Field Days in Boonville, Oneida County. This family event is an Adirondack institution that combines the traditional skills and savvy of the old-time lumberjack with the roaring charisma of monster logging equipment. The 2013 Woodsmen's Field Days will be held on August 16, 17 and 18. Don't forget the earplugs!
Read the August Conservationist for more on the Woodsmen's Field Days.
Summer Bass Fishing
 What better way to spend a beautiful summer day than pursuing one of New York State's premier gamefish, the black bass? Two species of black bass are found in New York--the largemouth and the smallmouth bass. Largemouth bass prefer shallow weedy water, while smallmouths are more often found in rivers or in deep lake water.
Oneida Lake, in central New York, has good populations of both species and is a very popular bass fishing location. Bassmaster Magazine named it one of the country's top 100 bass fisheries two years in a row. For a proven summertime bass fishing technique, try using a "wacky" rig.
Nature Photography at Braddock Bay
 Professional photographers, bird enthusiasts, and those just out for an afternoon hike will find plenty of opportunities for nature photography at Braddock Bay on Lake Ontario. The bay-marsh area has excellent waterfowl habitats. Puddle ducks--particularly mallards, blue-winged teal and wood ducks--are common nesters. During the spring and fall migrations, raptors and waterfowl, including several rare species, use this area as a stopover.
From the hawk watch platform at Braddock Bay Park, look for raptors like northern harriers and bald eagles, and the many varieties of migrating hawks. Also watch for bobolinks, meadowlarks, sedge wrens and field, song and savannah sparrows in the grasslands.
White-tailed deer browse the woods and shrubs; coyotes and red foxes stalk small mammals; raccoons search for crayfish; and muskrats dine on the roots and stems of water plants in shallow wetlands and streams.
See the October 2007 Conservationist article "Nature at Water's Edge" for information on photographing wildlife.
Watchable Wildlife: Shorebird Festival at Jamaica Bay
 Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is a birder's paradise, one of the most significant bird sanctuaries in the northeastern United States. You can explore diverse ecosystems, including salt marsh, upland fields and woods, freshwater ponds, and islands.
Over 325 bird species--more than one-third of all bird species found in North America--have been sighted at this important migratory stop along the Atlantic flyway. In August, the Annual Shorebird Festival at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is held during the peak of fall migration. This event--which is free and open to the public but requires reservations--is scheduled for August 25 from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Festival visitors will learn about shorebirds and get the opportunity to see thousands in the wild. For more information and reservations, contact the New York City Audubon Society at 718-318-9344 or by e-mail.
Hike of the Month - Minnewaska State Park Preserve
 Comprising approximately 21,000 acres of wild and scenic land on the dramatic Shawangunk Mountains, this preserve features waterfalls, "sky" lakes, hardwood forests and sheer cliffs and ledges. Hiking and other activities can be enjoyed on the preserve's 30 miles of carriageways and 25 miles of trails.
Public environmental education programs are offered year-round and often feature interpretive hikes. Topics range from wildlife tracking and wild edibles to the site's cultural history and more.
More than 200 species of migratory and nesting birds have been noted within the site's Bird Conservation Area. In addition, you may see coyotes, white-tailed deer and timber rattlesnakes. Minnewaska State Park Preserve also has one of the best examples of ridgetop dwarf pine barrens in the world. Nearly 40 of the many species of plants and animals living here are rare.
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