Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Deposits on bottled water in NY to begin October 31st...
When I got the e-mail from Barbara Toborg, Conservation Coordinator of the Northeast Chapter of the American Littoral Society that we needed to update the website with a bottle bill update, I was elated at the news. Starting October 31st, all containers of water sold in New York under a gallon in size will have a 5-cent refundable deposit. The "Bigger Better Bottle Bill" as it was fondly referred to was a hard fought long battle that saw a stay granted in May, by U.S. District Judge Thomas Griesa to delay implementation of the new amendments until April 1, 2010 as a result of a lawsuit filed by the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), Nestle Waters North America, and other water bottlers. On August 13th, U.S. District Judge Deborah A. Batts lifted the injunction on all the provisions of the new law that were not specifically challenged in the IBWA lawsuit. This allowed the increased handling fee (from 2 cents per container to 3.5 cents) and the transfer of 80% of the unclaimed deposits to the state to go into effect immediately. On October 23rd, Judge Batts lifted the injunction on the bottled water provisions, effective 11:59 p.m. October 30th. In addition, Judge Batts permanently enjoined one provision of the new law, a New York State-specific UPC labeling requirement, based on constitutionality issues. While the expansion is set to go into effect on October 31st, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has announced a "grace period" until November 8, 2009, during which time stores can still sell water bottles that do not have the "New York 5-cents" label without being fined.
In addition to expanding the state’s 5-cent deposit on beer and soda containers to include water bottles, the new law also requires beverage companies to transfer 80% of the unclaimed deposits they collect to the state, and make other changes to improve and update the program. These changes went into effect over the summer.
Barbara Toborg, Conservation Coordinator of the Northeast Chapter of the American Littoral SocietyEnacted in 1982, the Bottle Bill is New York’s most effective recycling and litter prevention program, with an average return rate of 70%. The expansion to include water bottles brings the law more up-to-date. As a result of expanding to include bottled water, nearly 90% of New York’s beverage containers are now covered under the Bottle Bill. The program still does not cover iced teas, sports drinks, juices, sugared waters, and other non-carbonated beverages that advocates had been pushing for.
Many groups and citizens were involved in this hard fought battle and they should all be proud of themselves. I have listed some of them, but I am sure there are many more - Adirondack Council ♦ Adirondack Mountain Club ♦ American Littoral Society ♦ American Farmland Trust ♦ Citizens’ Environmental Coalition ♦ Citizens Campaign for the Environment ♦ Environmental Advocates of New York ♦ Group for the East End ♦ Land Trust Alliance ♦ League of Women Voters of New York State ♦ Natural Resources Defense Council ♦ New York Farm Bureau ♦ New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling ♦ New York Public Interest Research Group ♦ North Shore Land Alliance ♦ Parks & Trails New York ♦ Riverkeeper ♦ Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter ♦ Surfrider Foundation ♦ Wildlife Conservation Society
Source: American Littoral Society NE Chapter.
Tags:
Conservation, 
NY Bottle Bill
Friday, October 30, 2009
Fall Foliage and Raptor Migration hike at Sterling Forest NY…
On Sunday October 25th, eighteen participants assembled in front of the NYC Audubon headquarters on 71 West 23rd St and boarded a van and car for a trip to Sterling Forest. Naturalist, Don Riepe, and I were the drivers and leaders of this group and we would join naturalist John Yrizarry who was going to be our guide for a day hike of Fall Foliage and Raptor Migration at Sterling Forest. Sterling Forest, located in Tuxedo New York is one of the success stories of environmental conservation and is now a State Park comprising of over 17,953 acres of nearly pristine natural refuge amidst of one of the nation's most densely populated areas.
John Yrizarry, 82 and still going strong!
When we arrived at the Frank R. Lautenberg Sterling Forest visitor’s center, John was there to greet us in the parking lot. While, Don took the group into the center for an orientation presented by the park rangers present, John and I strategized on what to do. John indicated that there was not much action, an indication that there was not any mass overnight movement of migrants. So, we decided hiking Lake Sterling. Once the orientation was over we set off on the lake trail. John, is a well know naturalist and beloved by many for his jovial manner and vast knowledge. He was in fine form and entertained the group with anecdotes of his experience as a naturalist – the group loved it. Don did the same and took his time to discuss many of the plant species we encountered during our hike. With the sun behind us, we had good light and the foliage was beautiful to behold. The views were breathtaking and all the participants were amazed at the colors.
In addition to the gorgeous foliage we got a number of birds including views of a Pileated Woodpecker; a bird we always try for and have heard but had only had one sighting since the annual trip to Sterling Forest began. The first time bird was seen, only two of us got on the bird – John and I. We picked up the Pileated way across the lake flying left over the ridge; John jokingly averaged the distance at a good 20 miles away - it was way out and could not be seen with the naked eye. Try as we might to get the group on the bird it was rather difficult given the distance. We explained to the group that we were able to ID this bird due to the deep wing flaps and white underwing coverts. The second Pileated sighting of the day, the entire group was able to get on the bird; it flew in while we were having lunch by the lake and came in right over us. The view was spectacular and a treat for everyone - for many it was a life bird.
By then, we had hiked well over 4 miles and the group was starting to tire, so we rested a bit then headed back to the visitor’s center. We made one other stop at Eagle Lake where we picked up a few more bird species then headed back to NYC arriving around 7:00 P.M. It was a wonderful day for a hike - everyone loved the trip and looked forward to the spring trip to Sterling Forest when we will go looking for warblers and other spring beauties.Total birds seen: 36
- American Black Duck
- American Crow
- American Goldfinch
- American Robin
- Black Vulture
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Blue-headed Vireo
- Blue Jay
- Brown Creeper
- Canada Goose
- Cedar Waxwing
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Downy Woodpecker
- Eastern Phoebe
- Golden Eagle
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
- Grackle
- Hermit Thrush
- House Finch
- Mallard
- Mourning Dove
- Mute Swan
- Northern Mockingbird
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Ring-billed Gull
- Rock Pigeon
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Song Sparrow
- Titmouse
- Turkey Vulture
- White breasted Nuthatch
- White-throated Sparrow
- Winter Wren
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
Tags:
Birding, 
Sterling Forest State Park, 
Pileated Woodpecker
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
White-Throated Sparrow at the backyard feeder...
I wanted to get better White-throated Sparrow photos as the one I published in my last post was not an open shot. This weekend, I managed a few photos at the feeder. I have also thrown in a photo of a lingering Gray Catbird whose whereabouts will become even more important as we draw nearer to the yearly Christmas Bird Count. Enjoy the photos!
Tags:
Backyard Birding, 
birding
Gray Catbird
White-throated Sparrow
Friday, October 23, 2009
News from the backyard Oct 6th - Oct 22nd...
I have been asked by some of my readers about my backyard/garden posts. Well, here is one for October. This post covers some of the birds that I have seen and taken photographs of throughout the Month of October in the garden. This is usually an exciting time for me as migration has in the past brought interesting visitors to the garden. Species like, Pine Siskins, Yellow-breasted Chats, Fox Sparrows have all been seen and photographed - I even had an Eastern Meadow Lark. Keep checking back because you never know what I might find. Enjoy the photos.
Yellow-rumped Warbler.
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Juvenile White-crowned SparrowTags:
Backyard Birding, birding
White-crowned Sparrow
Song SparrowWhite-throated Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
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