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This tree species is known for its bark, which peels off mature trunks in long strips that are attached in the center of each strip. Note that the younger branches don't have these characteristics and dark protectors docd meeds and are rarely found at the higher elevations in the Catskills and Adirondacks. Each of the large leaves are compared 14 inches long with 5 to 7 leaflets . These era beautiful, long trees with . It's very, very hard, strong, and yet the wood registered to agricultural implements. The hickory nut in on thick bask that splits into fognar sectes sher better Dll trant. The bat ta food source for the species of wildlife

New species, Leopardus pardinoides (de Oliveira et al., 2024), Clouded Tiger Cat, not yet listed on iNat. New species based on recent (January, 2024) reassessment of Tiger Cat species in South America.

I walked out of my apartment building, about forty minutes before sunset, and almost immediately heard a loud fusion of bird voices. There were many hundreds, if not thousands of black birds in the tree tops nearby. At first, I mistook them to be European starlings. As I observed these birds and looked at
them with my binoculars, I realized they were grackles not starlings. In the beginning, I didn't hear their typical "grating scissor" calls; instead, I heard many shrill calls, which sounded more like starlings to my ears. Later, I was able to pick out these scissor calls. I observed these birds move from one group of trees to another. Then, they landed on a grass lawn and foraged for seeds and worms. When they took off again, thousands of wings made a loud rustling sound.

I was walking to Alley Pond Park and heard a loud ruckus of Blue jays calling. It sounded like juvenile birds. I looked up at the tree, where the sounds were coming from, and saw a young Blue jay dangling upside down from a branch. The poor thing was calling loudly and seemed to be in a lot of distress. There were several adult Blue jays who were also very upset and were calling loudly - they were flying up to the young Blue jay and perhaps were trying to encourage him. I couldn't see very clearly what was going on with the young Blue jay's foot, but I quickly decided to climb up on this tree and try to help the poor bird. He was probably about 15 feet above ground, and fortunately I was able to climb up to him. I was a little worried that the adults might try to attack me and peck at me, thinking that I may try to hurt the young bird, but I took the risk. I got to the little bird and broke off some of the branches around one of his feet, which was bent in a strange way and appeared to be caught in the branch. I was then able to put the bird right side up on one of the tree limbs. He was very scared and at one point pecked at me, but it didn't hurt. I petted his back with my finger for a second and spoke to him softly to try to soothe him. He quieted down, and the adult birds stopped calling. I climbed down and watched the little bird for a few minutes. He remained perched quietly and none of the adults were coming to him. I really hope the parents returned to this poor bird and that his foot was OK, not broken. I then noticed a feral cat lurking in the bushes, under the tree. The cat may have been eying the young Blue jay. I hoped the cat had not gotten one of the parents. I threw some rocks in the bush, near the cat, which scared the cat away.