Hi Everybody! This page is here to help all of our camp families further pursue their interest in the natural world. You will find links to interesting places to visit in the area, some of Mr. C's nature shots, field guide & children's nature book recommendations, tips for wildlife gardening on Long Island, and a questions and answer forum.
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Suggested Hiking and Nature Observation Sites
Be aware that each of these sites hosts a variety of plant and animal species, depending on the season and time of day that you visit.
•David Weld Sanctuary, St. James
•Caleb Smith State Park, Smithtown
•Morton National Wildlife Refuge, South Fork
•Robert Moses State Park
•Sweet Briar Nature Center, Smitown
•Avalon Park, Stony Brook
•Caumsett State Park, Huntington
•Quogue Wildlife Refuge, Quogue
•Mashomack Preserve, Shelter Island
•Wildwood State Park
•Hoyt Farm Preserve, Smithtown
•Three Village Garden Club, Setauket
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Field Guide and Nature Book Recommendations
Peterson Field Guide to the Eastern Birds, Rogery Tory Peterson
The Sibley Guide to Birds , David Allen Sibley
Stokes Field Guide To Birds, Donald&Lillian Stokes
Any of the Peterson Nature Field Guides(Reptiles, Amphibians, Flowers, Trees, Etc.)
A Seasonal Guide to Bird Finding on Long Island, Barton&Pelkowski
National Geographic Guide to Birdwatching Sites(Eastern U.S.), Mel White
National Audubon Society Pocket Guide To Familiar Butterflies of North America, Knopf
The Sibley Guide to Bird life & Behavior, David Allen Sibley
Birds of Central Park, Cal Vornberger
The Backyard Bird Lovers Guide to Attracting, Nesting, & Feeding, Jan Mahnken
100 Easy to Grow Native Plants for American Gardens, Johnson
Flutes Journey: The Life of a Wood Thrush, Lynne Cherry
Cactus Hotel, Guiberson
The Mountain that loved a Bird, Mclerran & Carle
Owl Moon, Yolen
The Nightingale, Andersen
The Story Of the Root-Children, Von Olfers
The Lamb and The Butterfly, Sundgaard
The Winter Wren, Cole
The Natural History Of The Oak Tree, Lewington & Streeter
Rikki, Tikki Tavi, Kipling
Harvey Hare:Postman Extroidinaire, Watts
An Extraordinary Life:The Story of a Monarch Butterfly, Pringle
Owen & Mzee, Hatkoff & Kahumbu
Two Blue Jays, Rockwell
Becoming Butterflies, Rockwell
Our Yard is Full of Birds, Rockwell
The Story of Hina, Ching
Are Trees Alive, Miller
Little Racoon's Big Question, Schlein
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Gardening for Wildlife on Long Island
The landscape around your home plays an important role in attracting local wildlife to your yard. Flowers, trees, shrubs, water, shelter, and feeding stations are all a vital part of enticing local and mirgratory birds, insects, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians to become regular visitors to your neighborhood. There are a variety of native perennial/annual flowers, plants, and trees that provide nectar, seeds, nesting materials, and shelter for birds, insects and other garden vistors. There is an endless supply of information on gardening for wildlife, below are some backyard suggestions that have attracted numerous species to my Suffolk County home over the last number of years:
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purple coneflower
butterfly milkweed
coreopsis
bee balm
spotted joe-pye weed
wild bergamot
cardinal flower(needs to be moist)
new england aster
yarrow(non-native)
liatris
iron weed
goldenrod
penstemon
scarlet betony
coral honeysuckle vine
trumpet vine
butterfly bush(non-native)
hyssop(agastache rupestris)
salvia coccinea(non-native)
salvia guaranitica(non-native)
pineapple sage(non-native)
bog sage(non-native)
switchgrass
dogwood tree
maple tree
oak tree
variety of evergreen trees & shrubs
arrowwood vibrnum
mulberry tree
water(birdbaths, fountains etc.)
bird boxes(variety of shapes, sizes, locations)
feeders(suet, sunflower seeds, thistle)
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| Purple Coneflower & Black-Eyed Susan |
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Mr. C's Gardening and Nature Shots
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Feedback & Questions
Please feel free to leave feedback for Mr. C or ask him any questions about camp using the form to the right. If you have a question about viewing wildlife on Long Island or creating your own garden for butterflies and birds, Mr. C will be happy to provide you with information.
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