Eco-Ar Awareness is a necessity, photography captures the grace and beauty of where you. As an Eco-Art Photographer I appreciate and value the updates provided by many DEC programmes from clean up to his celebration of the Bald Eagles return in abundance to NYS. Search and fine on the internet the news letters from your state and participate in Environmental sustainability. Jamie Forbes, Publisher fineartmagazinebog.blogspot, & sunstormfineartmagazine.com.
Wildlife, Fish, and Marine Life Newsletter
In this issue:
- A Bird with a Story to Tell
- I Love My Park Day 2026
- Illuminating the Path to a Cleaner Future
- Planning for New York's Next Ocean Action Plan!
A Bird with a Story to Tell
There’s something extra special about spotting a bald eagle—but catching a glimpse of one with a leg band? That’s next level.
Those small bands tell a big story, helping researchers track movement, lifespan, and the incredible comeback story of these birds right here in New York. It’s a quiet reminder that every eagle we see is part of something bigger—decades of conservation, resilience, and wild beauty.
Keep your eyes sharp…you never know what details you might catch!
Details about this bald eagle:
- Male
- Banded on 5/27/2003 (making him around 23 years old)
- Banded in Dutchess County, spotted in Westchester County
What to do if you see a banded eagle:
Not all eagle sightings need to be reported, but certain observations are helpful to us in managing and protecting eagles. Contact DEC's Bureau of Wildlife by email or at 518-402-8883 if you see:
- Adult eagles between April 15 and June 15 (this could lead to the discovery of new nesting pairs).
- Four or more eagles in one location, especially after 3 pm (this could reveal a significant winter roost site).
- Eagles with colored wing tags or leg bands.
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Photo of bald eagle with leg bands by Steve Sachs.
I Love My Park Day 2026
Join us for the 15th annual I Love My Park Day event on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Parks & Trails New York, in partnership with DEC and State Parks, hosts I Love My Park Day on the first Saturday in May, attracting thousands of volunteers from across the state to participate in stewardship events on New York public lands. Join us for New York’s largest single-day volunteer event and help us prepare for spring by cleaning up campgrounds, parks, and beaches; planting native trees and pollinator gardens; restoring trail and wildlife habitat; removing invasive species; and working on various other site improvement projects. Check out our Flickr account for photos from I Love My Park Day 2025!
Participants are encouraged to Love Our New York Lands all year by practicing the 7 Principles of Leave No TraceTM and by recreating safely and sustainably.
I Love My Park Day 2026 volunteer registration is now open! Find an event near you at Parks & Trails New York and register today!
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Volunteers from I Love My Park Day 2025.
Illuminating the Path to a Cleaner Future
The trees have leaves, the grass is green, and birds can be heard all around. Spring is finally in full swing. While winter can be a quieter season, New York State is seeing the return of its migratory bird species.
As the weather starts to warm, birds begin to migrate back to New York. However, migration is not an easy task, as birds face numerous challenges, including predation, climate change, and other obstacles. One such obstacle is light pollution, which is the excess of artificial nighttime lighting outdoors. The most noticeable effect of this is the reduced contrast in the night sky, making stars at night more difficult to see. Light pollution can be devastating for migrating birds. Excess lighting can disorient and attract birds from over three miles away. Birds then circle the lit area, wasting the energy needed to safely migrate and increasing their risk of collisions with buildings.
To help protect migrating birds from the effects of light pollution, state agencies are joining the Lights Out initiative. This initiative directs state-owned and -managed buildings to turn off non-essential outdoor lighting from 11:00 pm to dawn during the spring and fall migration windows. State agencies are also encouraged to draw blinds and turn off non-essential indoor lighting as well.
Not only does the Lights Out initiative benefit birds, but it also helps protect the air. Energy use is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) in New York. Turning off non-essential outdoor and indoor lighting can make a big difference in lowering statewide GHG levels. New Yorkers are encouraged to join the effort by turning off their non-essential outdoor lighting this spring to protect migrating birds and the environment.
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Photo of American Goldfinch by Mary Ellen Staten.
Planning for New York's Next Ocean Action Plan!
New York’s ocean and estuarine ecosystems are dynamic and interconnected but also face a range of systemic environmental and developmental pressures. The New York State Ocean Action Plan is a 10-year plan, spanning from 2017–2027, developed with extensive input from a variety of ocean user and interest groups so that the state’s management decisions for offshore habitats are informed by the best available science. As we approach the conclusion of the first planning cycle, it is essential to assess progress to date and begin identifying future actions and priorities to inform the next 10-year planning horizon.
DEC and Department of State are hosting a side meeting at the 2026 State of the Science on Offshore Energy, Wildlife, and Fisheries on June 8 at Stony Brook University to gather public input on this important planning effort. This session will explore the effect of changing energy policies, emerging fields including deep sea mining and carbon capture, as well as how to best leverage regional data and monitoring efforts. Participants in this side meeting will be part of an informative and engaging session to chart a path forward that upholds shared priorities of ensuring ecological health, promoting sustainable growth, increasing resilience, and empowering public stewardship of our shared ocean and coastal resources. This meeting is open to the public and for anyone who is interested in providing feedback on New York's next Ocean Action Plan. You do not have to be registered for the conference to attend.
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