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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · 4d

Due to Sept. low rainfall (just 1.4" — less than half of normal!), New York is under a temporary burn ban until October 15th. 🔥 Dry conditions & gusty winds mean fires spread quickly. Help us protect the forest by conserving water 💧 & complying with the ban! #BlackRockForest #Conservation #BurnBan

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · 5d

Thanks to everyone who joined our Friends of the Forest Hike last Sat! 💚 We loved connecting & sharing latest science updates. We discussed the spread of beech leaf disease, the science of changing leaf colors, and even got to see (and pet!) local bees. #BlackRockForest #FriendsOfTheForest

Matthew Donahue, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Ph.D. Student at the University of Connecticut

Hanna Makowski, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Black Rock Forest

Isabel Ashton, Executive Director, Black Rock Forest

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · 18d

It was great to be at #OBFS2025, connecting with colleagues and collaborators from field stations around the world at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. We're proud to represent the education and research work happening at Black Rock Forest! #science #conference #rmbl #fieldstation #obfs

Hearing Parker McMullen Bushman share how to reshape environmental fields to be more inclusive, accessible, and equitable.

Brainstorming funding solutions for field stations in billy barr community center

Field-Based STEM Education: Engaging Youth Through Hands-On Science at RMBL

Hearing from Dr. Ian Breckheimer, a landscape ecologist and Research Scientist at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, on the field station science tour.

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · 26d

New paper from @hannamakowski.bsky.social ! They studied tiny hairs on the American Bellflower and found that longer hairs promote self-fertilization, while faster hair retraction helps attract #pollinators to ensure outcrossing. bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Microscopic view of tiny hairs inside the American Bellflower

Campanula americana, the American bellflower, or tall bellflower, is a bellflower native to eastern North America.

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · 27d

Our 6th Annual Friends of the Forest Hike on Saturday, September 27th! This exclusive event for FOF to learn about wild bees, tree phenology, and forest restoration from scientists.

Space is limited! Register individually: www.blackrockforest.org/events #Research #Conservation #Science

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Aug 29

We’re so thrilled to share this beautiful day with 28 educators on our 2025 Educator Open House. We talked updates, heard from veteran teachers on their many stories of the benefits of outdoor learning, and experienced the benefits of nature firsthand on our guided exploration of the Forest.

Hearing from Dr. Terryanne @ barnardcollege

BRF staff Dr. Jessica Schnell leading teachers through the hemlock grove of Upper Reservoir

BRF staff Aaron Culotta educating teachers on watershed ecology

Almost complete group photo of hiking teachers at Upper Reservoir

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Aug 27

🍕🔥✨ Wood-fired pizza, a bonfire, and live music… all in the heart of Black Rock Forest.
Join us Saturday, Sept 20 for Into the Woods! 🌲🌌
Get your tickets now → app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/...

Roasting s’mores over the campfire by the Stone House

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Aug 22

The native pollinator garden is in full swing! 🌻 We're seeing everything from 🐝 bees to butterflies on our latest blooms, including New England aster and Common boneset. There's still time to catch the Cardinal flower, Great blue lobelia, and more! #BlackRockForest #PollinatorGarden #NativeFlowers

White cabbage moth (Pieris rapae) on the thin-leaf sunflower (Helianthus decapetalus)

Great spangled fritillary (Argynnis cybele) on Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

A sweat bee on New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

Full garden colors! (Front to back: cardinal flower, great blue lobelia, New England aster, thinleaf sunflower, hoary mountainmint, common boneset, wild bergamot)

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Aug 18

We’re hiring -- please share!
Join us this winter as a #wildlife #ecology technician. 6 months at $18/hr with subsidized housing available. Maintain a #cameratrap array, #bobcat and #fisher live trapping transects, and #telemetry. More: blackrockforest.org/work_with_us

Sedated bobcat (Lynx rufus) with GPS tracking collar

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Aug 15

✨ An Enchanting Evening in the Forest ✨ Join us for a special dinner under the stars! 🍂 Enjoy wood-fired pizza, a bonfire, live music on Sat, Sept 20. Space is limited -- reserve by Sept 13! www.blackrockforest.org/event/into-t... #BlackRockForest #FallFoliage #HudsonValley

Into the Woods: Dinner Under The Stars at Black Rock Forest - Black Rock Forest

Join us for a magical evening in the heart of the Forest on Saturday September 20, 2025! Guests will enjoy views of Arthur’s Pond from the grounds of the Stone […]

www.blackrockforest.org

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Aug 8

Join archaeologist Dana Linck & BRF historian John Brady on August 22, 9-11:30 AM, for a hands-on archaeology volunteer event! ⛏️ Help us uncover local history by digging & cataloging artifacts. Learn more & register: www.blackrockforest.org/event/archae... #Archaeology #Volunteer

Archaeology Volunteer Event - Black Rock Forest

Volunteer with Archaeologist Dana Linck and BRF Forest Historian John Brady at the “Bearmore Site” named after the family thought to have lived there. Volunteers will continue digging test pits, […]

www.blackrockforest.org

Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Aug 6

Free Guided Hike for Newburgh residents! 🌳 Explore our Forest with expert staff on Wed, Aug 13. Learn about plants, animals, & more!

🚌 Pick up at Newburgh Armory: 9:00
🚌 Return: 1:30 PM

Must register via QR code! Contact Diana Bernal: 845-245-4035 or [email protected]. #Hiking #NewburghNY

Learning to use binoculars to observe birds in the Forest

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Aug 1

We're happy to share a new publication led by Lindsay McCulloch and co-authors (including former BRF staff!) in @funecology.bsky.social on the potential for canopy tree 🌳 mortality to affect soil fungal 🍄 diversity. To learn more, read here: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Loss of dominant tree‐mycorrhizal mutualism increases soil fungal diversity and alters community structure

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Jul 25

#Dragonfly mating behaviors & reproductive bio are incredibly complex & borderline weird! @cuny.edu and @amnh.org grad student Kate Montana investigates this with support from our small grants program. Her team in the @jessicalwarelab.bsky.social has documented 25+ spp of dragonflies in our Forest

AMNH crew searching for dragonflies at Jim’s Pond.

Kate Montana holding a dragonfly at Jim’s Pond.

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Jul 11

It was great to hear Dr. LaDeau speak about this project at our Newburgh Teacher Center course on July 1st!

Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies @caryinstitute.bsky.social · May 13

In partnership with Scenic Hudson, Cary's Shannon LaDeau is exploring how the expansion of urban green spaces is impacting #biodiversity and residents in the River Cities of Kingston, Newburgh, and Poughkeepsie, NY. @scenichudson.bsky.social

www.caryinstitute.org/news-insight...

Cary partners with Scenic Hudson on project exploring urban biodiversity

With more than half of all people living in cities, urban green spaces and the benefits they provide — including cooling, mitigating floods, and filtering water — are increasing in importance. Many ci...

www.caryinstitute.org

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Reposted by Black Rock Forest

Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies @caryinstitute.bsky.social · Jul 1

Thunderstorms are a major — and growing — threat to tropical trees, reports a new analysis in Ecology Letters led by Cary’s @evangora.bsky.social. Insights are critical to guiding decisions about forest restoration and conservation www.caryinstitute.org/news-insight...

Thunderstorms are a major driver of tree death in tropical forests

Trees in tropical forests are dying at an increased rate, with consequences for biodiversity, carbon storage, and the global climate. While deforestation is the primary cause of forest loss, intact fo...

www.caryinstitute.org

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Jul 11

Free for Newburgh residents! 🚌 Guided hike at Black Rock Forest on Wed, July 16. Bus from #Newburgh Armory (9 AM pick-up). Explore plants, animals, water with expert staff! Register via QR code. #NewburghNY #Hiking #BlackRockForest

Contact Diana Bernal at 845-245-4035 or dbernal@newburgharmory.org for questions

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Jul 3

Special thanks to Kayla Patel, @scenichudson.bsky.social & Dr. Shannon LaDeau, @caryinstitute.bsky.social for a presentation on the Urban Biodiversity Project!

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Jul 3

Fantastic PD with Newburgh teachers at Black Rock Forest (July 1-2)! 🌿 13 teachers learned outdoor best practices, & planned field trips. One teacher raved: "Filled with helpful information... I can't wait to take my class to the forest this year!" #OutdoorEd

Picnic Rock on the Upper Reservoir Educator Trail

Urban Biodiversity Research project – Kayla Patel, Scenic Hudson & Dr. Shannon LaDeau, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

Veronica Dunham, retired Newburgh biology teacher and BRF Board member, sharing her experiences

The "classroom" at Aleck Meadow Reservoir

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Jun 27

Many thanks to all presenters & attendees for battling the heat and making the 14th Hudson Highlands #Research Symposium a success! Topics ranged from soils to #bats, #genes to #populations, and millennia ago to future predictions. See our program report here: www.blackrockforest.org/past-researc...

Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Jun 25

City of Newburgh Recrecation is heading to the Forest this Sat, June 28! Explore plants, wildlife, & water. 🥾 Email [email protected] for details. Bring water, lunch, sturdy shoes, bug spray, sunscreen. #Newburgh #OutdoorAdventure #summerscience #outdooreducation

tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) in nest box

Eastern newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) in juvenile red eft stage

Black Rock Forest has a permit to collect and possess painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) for educational lessons; never disturb or handle wildlife in the Forest.

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Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Jun 20

Happy Summer Solstice! ☀️ Celebrate the longest day by spotting our breeding birds! @BlackRockForest is now part of the @dec.ny.gov NYS Birding Trail! Look for Indigo Bunting, Yellow Warbler, and more. 🦃 🦉 🦅 For more info, visit: dec.ny.gov/things-to-do... #Birding #SummerSolstice

Prairie Warbler. Photo by Cathy Marczyk.

Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Jun 13

We're buzzing for #PollinatorWeek! 🐝
PhD student Matthew Donahue @uconn.bsky.social was back in the Forest collecting ground-nesting #bees 🐝 as part of his Redden #Conservation Grant project. He’s studying how #urbanization impacts #bee evolution to help shape future conservation.

A male Andrena miserabilis aka smooth-faced mining bee

Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Jun 11

🌳 Cornwall 3rd graders helped us plant Tulip, Black Gum, & Sycamore trees! They learned about threats like Beech Leaf Disease. We're planting native trees thanks to Partners for Climate Action #HudsonValley & Lower Hudson PRISM grants! #TreePlanting #Conservation

Students prepare a site for a new native sapling

Black Rock Forest @blackrockforest.bsky.social · Jun 10

Great news! Our volunteers finished Swamp Trail with new turnpikes etc! Big thanks to Bob (NYNJ Trail Conference) & Troop 118 Scouts. 🛠️ Join our new Thursday Workdays (3-5 PM) for volunteering! Learn & sign up: www.blackrockforest.org/volunteer-at... #BlackRockForest #TrailWork #Volunteers

Swamp Trail turnpike completed by Bob the builder

Thursday workday volunteers in action on Sibyl’s Path