Wildlife, Fish & Marine Life Newsletter

Fall for Nest Boxes

Birdhouses are a simple addition to your yard that can provide nesting places for many kinds of birds and weeks of wildlife-watching opportunities. Cavity-nesters, like tree swallows, house wrens, blackcapped chickadees, Eastern bluebirds, wood ducks, and American kestrels, all use nest boxes. The type of birds you might attract depends on the size of the box and the nearby habitat; some birds prefer open fields while others prefer forests or wetlands.

If you already have a box or two, fall is a good time for maintenance. The nesting season has ended, so check your boxes to make sure they are clean and in good repair for next year. If you’re thinking about building and installing a new box, now is actually the perfect time to get started. A box put up in the fall or winter will be ready to go as soon as nesting season begins in the spring. Visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch for expert nest box tips.

Photo of tree swallow by Katherine Yard.

Veterans Day is a Free Fishing Day

Friday, November 11th marks the sixth and final Free Fishing Day of the year. Selected to coincide with Veterans Day, it’s a nice way to pay tribute to America’s veterans. Through their service and sacrifice, we continue to have the opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy our state’s great fisheries.

So, honor that special veteran in your life and head to your favorite local fishing hole to cast a line on Friday.

Not sure where to go? Visit our Places to Fish webpages or download the HuntFishNY app and tap on the new “Tackle Box” feature to plan your fishing trip.

During designated Free Fishing Days anglers do not need a fishing license to fish New York’s fresh waters. All other fishing regulations are in effect.

Join New York's Striped Bass Cooperative Angler Program

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) are New York's official saltwater fish and are highly sought-after by recreational anglers in New York's marine waters and the Hudson River. DEC is seeking participants to join the Striped Bass Cooperative Angler (SBCA) Program to help biologists understand and maintain a healthy striped bass population. Anglers help provide data on fish caught and can submit scale samples that are used for aging their catch. Learn more from our new Striped Bass Cooperative Angler Program StoryMap.

Circle hooks are required when fishing for striped bass with bait. Check DEC's Best Practices for Saltwater Fishing for more information on responsible fishing and safe fish handling tips.

Before fishing, visit the Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations webpage for the most up-to-date limits. In New York's Marine and Coastal District, or when fishing for "migratory fish of the sea," including striped bass, be sure to enroll in the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry.