Upcoming Workshop to Educate Forest Owners on Wildlife and Bird Conservation Opportunities

Contact: Jillian Liner – 607-254-2441 / jliner@audubon.org

Ithaca, NY – 4-17-2012 – An important workshop for forest landowners in the Tug Hill region will be held on Saturday, May 19th from 9:00-11:30AM at the NYSDEC Lowville office (7327 St Rt 812, Lowville, NY 13367). This workshop is similar to one held in Constableville last fall. It will provide important information for landowners on the wildlife commonly found in forests of the Tug Hill region, how to encourage wildlife to use their property, and the resources, tools and potential partners available to help families plan for the future of their woodlands.  The workshop will be followed by a woods walk in the afternoon from 1:00-3:00PM to tour properties where different kinds of forest management have resulted in different types of habitat. Interested individuals can attend one or both, but registration is required for both.  Participants attending the woods walk will meet at the NYS DEC Lowville office promptly at 1:00PM to carpool to the sites.

“The Tug hill region is one of the largest tracts of forest left in New York State and provides critical habitat for a great diversity of bird species, including Canada warbler, American Woodcock and Ruffed Grouse,” said Jillian Liner, Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon New York.  “Forest landowners in the region can play an important role in providing habitat to these species.  This workshop will give participants the skills and contacts to make a big difference for birds and other wildlife in their woodlots.”

More information is available in the attached flyer. Please help promote this event by listing it in your community calendars.  This workshop is free, but registration is required by contacting Jillian Liner at (jliner@audubon.org) or 607-254-2437.  Registration deadline is Tuesday, May 15th.

This workshop is sponsored by Audubon New York with support from Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Empire State Forest Products Assoc. SFI-SIC Committee, Cornell University Human Dimensions Research Unit, Molpus Timberland Mgmt, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Tug Hill Commission, NYS DEC, Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, Ruffed Grouse Society, and The Nature Conservancy.