The Hudson River Almanac is a weekly natural history newsletter that covers the Hudson from the High Peaks of the Adirondacks to New York Harbor. It seeks to capture the river’s spirit, magic, and science by presenting observations from many individuals who delight in the diversity of nature in the Hudson Valley.
Since 1994, observations have been compiled from the contributions of more than 2000 volunteers, ranging from elementary school students to professional biologists. In presenting these records, the Almanac provides valuable river information to the public, places contemporary observations in historical perspective, and encourages others to look more closely at the Hudson and share what they see. In addition to recording what nature is doing over the year, the entries offer a fascinating measure of human emotional responses to natural phenomena.
Over time, the Almanac may serve as a comprehensive program to document changes in the ecosystem. Often, information about obscure animals and subtle changes can come only through direct observations made in many places over long periods of time. By compiling records from volunteers who observe nature as scientists or simply for their own pleasure, the Almanac builds a data base that can be used to guide future studies of Hudson Valley ecology.
Contribute Your Observations
Share your observations with other Hudson River lovers by e-mailing them to compiler Tom Lake
May 4 to May 10, 2024
In the first week of May, it is easy to feature orioles as they add incredible color to backyards, fields, and forests. Daylight is arriving earlier each morning and being awakened by birdsong becomes one of the joys of spring.
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April 28 to May 3, 2024
After a sluggish start to spring with low water temperatures and very low salinity in the Tappan Zee, the estuary has warmed and become seasonally salty. This sems to have triggered some impressive catches by educators and biologists throughout the estuary. In the uplands, nesting bald eagles were still doing well and, in the air, spring migration of returning raptors has all but concluded.
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April 19 to April 26, 2024
A “first recorded sighting” of any wildlife is noteworthy. This week we had a rare bird “first sighting” in two counties on the same day. What follows this week is an Ode to Spring, a celebration of rebirth and remembrance.
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April 13 to April 19, 2024
The season for new life has begun. From hatchling turtles to nestling eagles, from to salamander eggs to ducklings to young-of-year fishes, life was blossoming.
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March 30 to April 12, 2024
Across our two Almanac weeks there were several highlights. However, the once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse made the greatest impression on an overwhelming number of people. It is estimated that 50 million people across North America made time on April 8, pausing their daily schedules, to view the solar eclipse.
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March 20 to March 29, 2024
The first of our native spring flowers were blooming. Despite the availability of technology to measure springtime, many of us instinctively look to the sky, the forests, and the fields for confirmation, something we have been observing in the watershed for 13,000 years.
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March 16 to March 22, 2024
This week’s Almanac took us through the Vernal Equinox, and to the beginning of Year 31 for the Hudson River Almanac. We were also treated this week to a sighting of a very rare western songbird.
After this week’s edition, there will be a one-week pause in the Hudson River Almanac. We will return with a two-week Almanac on April 12.
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March 6 to March 15, 2024
A regular entry for the Vernal Equinox (3/19) will appear in next week’s Almanac. However, the moment of the Equinox, the beginning of Year 31 for the Almanac, occurred in the present week. Recognizing this, we felt it was in the best interest of the Hudson River Almanac and our readers to include its origin story this week.
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March 1 to March 8, 2024
The bald eagle, our nation’s symbol, was removed from the Federal Endangered Species list in 2007. This followed a long period of recovery from habitat loss, the effects of DDT, and a myriad of other factors attributable to human behavior. Their recovery in the Hudson Valley in the last 25 years has been nothing short of miraculous, one of the most successful New York State wildlife recoveries ever. This week we continued to demonstrate how miraculous events can occur, when we take the time, display the empathy, and make the effort on the behalf of wildlife.
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February 23 to March 1, 2024
This was a week when the first of our amphibians risked their life and limb to get to the “other side.” This week’s full moon brought us a little more than usual, as well. And, with many bald eagle nests incubating, we begin to do the math on when hatches may occur.
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February 17 to February 23, 2024
Since the start of the new millennia, winter has been dominated by bald eagles, particularly along tidewater. Many, if not most, of the Hudson Valley bald eagle nests are presently incubating and the countdown to hatch (32-35 days) is underway. Glass eels in from the sea have had a sputtering beginning but are due to pick up as the water warms. Add in oysters and a lost croaker, and we had a good week.
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February 10 to February 16, 2024
The Hudson River has always seemed mysterious. The estuary is an overwhelmingly opaque expanse of grayness. What’s beneath, swimming unseen, is largely left to our imagination. This week two uncommon fishes were captured in sampling gear, each seemingly out-of-place. It is easy to day-dream as you look out on the water and wonder, “what else is hiding out there?” Our list of 237 documented species of fish for the Hudson River seems so transitory.
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