South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center (SoFo)

10/22/2021

Enchanted Walk at the Ghost Forest─ a 2.5-mile Trail Walk at Hubbard County Park: This program is for adults, teens, and children age 5 and older. (2021-10-24)

This Sunday at 10am, join us for an Enchanted Walk at the Ghost Forest─ a 2.5-mile Trail Walk at Hubbard County Park. This program is for adults, teens, and children age 5 and older.

Long Island’s habitats are unique because you can walk through several different habitats while on the same short trail. Hubbard County Park is one such place where an easy trail passes through pitch pine forested uplands, merges into salt hay meadows and finally opens into an extensive salt marsh. The park also has a ghost story to tell─of a White Cedar Forest that once grew here but now is gone except for wispy, hidden remnants.

Experience the natural richness of this preserve’s habitats and wildlife on this 2.5-mile walk with Melanie, a part of Long Island’s natural history.

Walk Leader: Melanie Meade, SOFO Education & Outreach Coordinator Long Island’s habitats are unique because you can walk through several different habitats while on the same short trail. Hubbard County Park is one such place where an easy trail passes through pitch pine forested uplands,

10/20/2021

Autumn Leaves: Rub, Draw, Paint!: This program is for children age 9 and older. (2021-10-23)

This Saturday @ 10:30am, join us for Autumn Leaves: Rub, Draw, Paint!. This program is for children age 9 and older. Have fun making leaf rubbings, which reveal the leaf’s shape, structure, and texture. Use repeated rubbings to make designs. Select leaves to trace and draw what you see inside the shape. Finally, paint one or more leaves with watercolor. Quincy will read books, demonstrate techniques and encourage you to be creative.

Instuctor: Quincy Egginton, Ed.D, Join Quincy, an artist and teacher, and learn about leaves and how you can use them in an art project. Have fun making leaf rubbings, which reveal the leaf’s shape, structure, and texture. Use repeated rubbings to make designs. Select leaves to trace and dra

10/20/2021

The two threshers tagged on the same mid-July day each returned valuable data. The shark with a CATS Cam tag, pictured taking off here, videoed behaviors for researchers to study. The other shark, tagged with a PSAT, traveled 48 miles in the following month and recorded information on her depth and water temperature throughout! #SoFoSharks

10/18/2021

sofo.org

This Wednesday, October 20 @ 6:30 pm, join us for Full Hunter’s Moon Hike with Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt: All Ages.

Native Americans named this bright moon for obvious reasons. The leaves are falling from the trees, the deer are fattened, and it’s time to begin storing up meat for the long winter ahead. Because the fields were traditionally harvested in late September or early October, hunters could easily see fox and other animals that come out to eat the fallen grains

Join us for this leisurely-paced one-hour hike in Vineyard Field, the field behind SOFO. Hikes are limited to 25 participants and masks are required. To register email: [email protected].

10/15/2021

Fall Bird Migration at Promised Land with Joe Giunta: Adults

Tomorrow at 8am! Fall Bird Migration at Promised Land with Joe Giunta: Adults.

Joe Giunta, expert birder and delightful bird-walk leader will take you on this excursion to Promised Land, the perfect location to observe our songbirds during their late fall migration. The combination of ocean beach and field edges increases your opportunity to see late-migrating warblers as they journey south. On previous walks, eight species of sparrows have been seen, as well as a Dickcissel and a Snow Bunting. This location also provides an opportunity to see gannets and ocean ducks. This program is for adults only.

[caption id=attachment_10208 align=alignleft width=300] Photo Credit: Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren[/caption] Walk Leader: Joe Giunta, birding instructor for Brooklyn Botanic Garden, trip leader for New York City Audubon and lecturer for many local chapters, and owner of Happy Warblers LLC, a bir...

10/13/2021

This four-foot dusky shark was tagged with a PSAT back in July. Alongside researchers for the day was Valerie Gaus, winner of the 2021 shark raffle Grand Prize. The animal was tagged south of Fire Island Inlet, but when a fisherman found the tag later, it was inside Great South Bay!

10/11/2021

Fall Bird Migration at Promised Land with Joe Giunta: Adults

Saturday, October 16 @ 8:00 am, adults, join us for Fall Bird Migration at Promised Land with Joe Giunta.

Joe Giunta, expert birder and delightful bird-walk leader will take you on this excursion to Promised Land, the perfect location to observe our songbirds during their late fall migration. The combination of ocean beach and field edges increases your opportunity to see late-migrating warblers as they journey south. On previous walks, eight species of sparrows have been seen, as well as a Dickcissel and a Snow Bunting. This location also provides an opportunity to see gannets and ocean ducks.

[caption id=attachment_10208 align=alignleft width=300] Photo Credit: Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren[/caption] Walk Leader: Joe Giunta, birding instructor for Brooklyn Botanic Garden, trip leader for New York City Audubon and lecturer for many local chapters, and owner of Happy Warblers LLC, a bir...

10/08/2021

Long Pond Greenbelt 22nd Annual Free Family Celebration—Hike—Play—Explore: Discover the Long Pond Greenbelt! All Ages (2021-10-09)

Tomorrow, Saturday, from 10-1pm, join us for Long Pond Greenbelt 22nd Annual Free Family Celebration—Hike—Play—Explore: Discover the Long Pond Greenbelt! All Ages

Enjoy guided trail walks, play games, make crafts, and participate in a wide variety of activities provided by local environmental and community organizations including: Children’s Museum of the East End (CMEE), Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt, Group for the East End, Hampton Library, Look to Save Animals, Peconic Land Trust, Quality Parks, South Fork Natural History Museum, Southampton Community Preservation Fund, Southampton Parks and Recreation, Southampton Trails Preservation Society/Horses on Trails, and The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

Cosponsored by Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt (FLPG), Peconic Land Trust, & South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) Bring the children for a morning exploration at the 21st Annual Celebration of the Long Pond Greenbelt! Enjoy guided trail walks, play games, make crafts, and particip

10/06/2021

What’s better than a thresher shark? Two thresher sharks in one day! The first shark was caught so soon after the day’s trip began that the team wasn’t ready to deploy a CATS Cam tag, and it was tagged with a PSAT. A CATS Cam made it onto the second thresher, and recorded HD video of its activity.

What’s better than a thresher shark? Two thresher sharks in one day! The first shark was caught so soon after the day’s trip began that the team wasn’t ready to deploy a CATS Cam tag, and it was tagged with a PSAT. A CATS Cam made it onto the second thresher, and recorded HD video of its activity.

10/05/2021

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - Migratory Bird Program | Conserving America's Birds

It's that time of year! The 2021-2022 Federal Duck Stamps are now available for purchase in our gift shop at SOFO. One of the easiest ways that anyone can support bird habitat conservation is by buying Federal Duck Stamps - among the most successful conservation tools ever created to protect habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Learn more at the link below.

One of the easiest ways that anyone can support bird habitat conservation is by buying Federal Duck Stamps - among the most successful conservation tools ever created to protect habitat for birds and other wildlife.

10/04/2021

Long Pond Greenbelt 22nd Annual Free Family Celebration—Hike—Play—Explore: Discover the Long Pond Greenbelt! All Ages (2021-10-09)

This Saturday from 10-1pm, join us for Long Pond Greenbelt 22nd Annual Free Family Celebration—Hike—Play—Explore: Discover the Long Pond Greenbelt! All Ages

Enjoy guided trail walks, play games, make crafts, and participate in a wide variety of activities provided by local environmental and community organizations including: Children’s Museum of the East End (CMEE), Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt, Group for the East End, Hampton Library, Look to Save Animals, Peconic Land Trust, Quality Parks, South Fork Natural History Museum, Southampton Community Preservation Fund, Southampton Parks and Recreation, Southampton Trails Preservation Society/Horses on Trails, and The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

Cosponsored by Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt (FLPG), Peconic Land Trust, & South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) Bring the children for a morning exploration at the 21st Annual Celebration of the Long Pond Greenbelt! Enjoy guided trail walks, play games, make crafts, and particip

10/02/2021

SOFO's Annual Salamander Log Rolling with Andy Sabin
October 2, 2021
Montauk, New York
Photos: Anzhelika Tolstikhina
Frank Quevedo

Blue-spotted Salamanders and Four-toed Salamanders

09/30/2021

Summer 2021’s tagging season had its first success on July 5th with a female blue shark. Blue sharks are the most common large shark found off Long Island. This six and a half foot shark swam off carrying a pop-up satellite tag!

Summer 2021’s tagging season had its first success on July 5th with a female blue shark. Blue sharks are the most common large shark found off Long Island. This six and a half foot shark swam off carrying a pop-up satellite tag!

09/28/2021

Andy Sabin’s Annual Salamander Log Rolling (2021-10-02)

Join us Saturday, October 2 @ 10am, for Andy Sabin’s Annual Salamander Log Rolling!

On this annual Montauk walk with Andy, aka “Mr. Salamander,” you’ll find two species of salamanders that live under logs in the leaf litter of the forest floor──the Blue-spotted salamander and the Four-toed salamander. As you carefully turn over logs to find these salamanders, you’ll learn how each is distinctive in its own way. This program is particularly fun for children.

Andy Sabin’s Annual Salamander Log Rolling Walk Leader: Andy Sabin, President, South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) Board of Directors On this annual Montauk walk with Andy, aka “Mr. Salamander,” you’ll find two species of salamanders that live under logs in the leaf litter of

09/28/2021

Andy Sabin’s Annual Salamander Log Rolling (2021-10-02)

Join us Saturday, October 2 @ 10am, for Andy Sabin’s Annual Salamander Log Rolling!

On this annual Montauk walk with Andy, aka “Mr. Salamander,” you’ll find two species of salamanders that live under logs in the leaf litter of the forest floor──the Blue-spotted salamander and the Four-toed salamander. As you carefully turn over logs to find these salamanders, you’ll learn how each is distinctive in its own way. This program is particularly fun for children.

Andy Sabin’s Annual Salamander Log Rolling Walk Leader: Andy Sabin, President, South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) Board of Directors On this annual Montauk walk with Andy, aka “Mr. Salamander,” you’ll find two species of salamanders that live under logs in the leaf litter of

09/26/2021

SOFO's Nature & Birdwatching Cruise.
September 25, 2021
Photos: Frank Quevedo

Thank you to Captain Scott, Lucas, Margot, Chris Paparo and everyone at Stony Brook SoMAS for an amazing adventure onboard the RV/Peconic.
Highlights:
Peregrine Falcon
Northern Lined Seahorse
American Oystercatcher
Lizard Fish
Northern Puffer

See you on the next cruise scheduled for November 13th.

09/23/2021

Zoom Presentation: Cities as Shared Habitats for Birds & Humans— Imagining a Desired Future Through Art: Adults/Teens/Children 10+ (2021-09-25)

This Saturday at 7:30pm, join us for a Zoom Presentation: Cities as Shared Habitats for Birds & Humans— Imagining a Desired Future Through Art: Adults/Teens/Children 10+

In the US alone about one billion birds die each year from glass collisions. That is 32 birds every second. American bird populations across species have declined by almost 30% over the past 50 years due to human impact including glass collisions. This disturbing trajectory is echoed across many corners of the natural world.

Gal and Leslie believe that, to change course, we all need to reimagine our human habitats as ones of mutual benefit that can sustain life in a myriad of forms. They view art as a critical means for this reimagining – taking an otherwise devastating and complex topic and translating it into a hopeful yet inventive experience. They also view public engagement as a critical factor in achieving impact.

Zoom Presentation: Cities as Shared Habitats for Birds & Humans— Imagining a Desired Future Through Art: Adults/Teens/Children 10+ Program Presenters: Gal Nissim and Leslie Ruckman You will hear from Gal Nissim, an interdisciplinary artist and scientist, and Leslie Ruckman a designer an

09/22/2021

Late Summer Beetles, Bees, & Butterflies of Vineyard Field: All Ages

This Saturday at 10:30am, join us for Late Summer Beetles, Bees, & Butterflies of Vineyard Field: All Ages.

With habitats like grasses, trees, ponds, and fallen logs, Vineyard Field behind the museum is an excellent place to find a great diversity of bugs. Join paul on this exploration of the field to learn all about the insects and other arthropods you can find in it this time of year. Learn how to distinguish centipedes and millipedes, beetles and bugs, and countless other native creepy crawlies!

[caption id=attachment_9566 align=alignleft width=300] Credit: Miles Todaro[/caption] Field Walk Leader: Paul King III, SOFO Environmental Educator With habitats like grasses, trees, ponds, and fallen logs, Vineyard Field behind the museum is an excellent place to find a great diversity of bugs. Joi...

09/22/2021

How do we know where sharks go?

SOFO Sharks mostly uses three different tag types for tracking: NOAA Cooperative Shark Tagging Program tags, pop-up satellite tags (PSATs), and CATS Cam tags.

Whenever a shark with an NOAA tag is recaptured and reported, we can learn about how far it traveled. A PSAT records information about water temperature near the shark and its depth over time. The CATS Cam tag tracks changes in a shark’s speed and vertical positioning in the water. It will also detect feeding activity, and best of all, it has an HD camera to give researchers a view into the shark’s world.

How do we know where sharks go?

SOFO Sharks mostly uses three different tag types for tracking: NOAA Cooperative Shark Tagging Program tags, pop-up satellite tags (PSATs), and CATS Cam tags.

Whenever a shark with an NOAA tag is recaptured and reported, we can learn about how far it traveled. A PSAT records information about water temperature near the shark and its depth over time. The CATS Cam tag tracks changes in a shark’s speed and vertical positioning in the water. It will also detect feeding activity, and best of all, it has an HD camera to give researchers a view into the shark’s world.

09/21/2021

SOFO’s Young Environmentalists Society (YES!) for ages 10 - 16 (2021-09-25)

This Saturday at 10am, SOFO’s Young Environmentalists Society (YES!) for ages 10 – 16!

The mission of SOFO’s new Young Environmentalists Society, known as YES!, for ages 10 to 16, is to engage young minds in developing a fuller awareness and understanding of the current state of our environment. The group works together and, through experience-based learning, place-based learning, critical thinking processes, and local activism, develops strategies for individuals and the community that are designed to shape how we live on this planet now and in the future.

SOFO’s Young Environmentalist Society (YES!): Ages 10-16 Club Leader: Mare Dianora, an educator and the mother of two young sons, is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice involves building community and exploring connections to home and place. The mission of SOFO’s new Young Envir