Allegheny Land Trust

August Events: Part 2 | Savoring Summer

Savor the final days of summer by joining us for an upcoming event whether it's an indoor webinar, an outdoor education event, or an on-the-land volunteer workday! This month, you can help shape the future of Churchill Valley Greenway, cheers with a beer (or nonalcoholic beer) to help save the rest of Healcrest Green, and learn more about ALT's current efforts to save local land. Join us for these events and more!

Visit our events tab or website calendar for more info and registration.

August Events: Part 1 | Savoring Summer

Savor the final days of summer by joining us for an upcoming event whether it's an indoor webinar, an outdoor education event, or an on-the-land volunteer workday!

This month, you can take a deep dive into your invasive species knowledge, ALT's current efforts to save local land, and ways to cook a meal outdoors. Join us for these events and more!

Visit our events tab or website calendar for more info and registration.

Brainteaser Tuesday – Answer!

It is a katydid! Katydids are members of the bush cricket family, Tettigoniidae. There are about 250 species in North America and over 6,000 species worldwide. They are also referred to as long-horned grasshoppers due to their very long antennae and slender appearance; however, they are more closely related to crickets than grasshoppers.

Katydids come in a few different colors, but here you are likely to encounter species that come in a glamorous shade of green. Unlike other crickets and grasshoppers, katydids hold their wings tented above their bodies. That combined with the stunning shade of green and heavy wing venation make the katydid appear as a healthy green leaf.

The song of the common true katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia) is the most famous of all the species—a perfect mnemonic involving the onomatopoeic rendering of the name “katydid.” Other species produce different sounds that are probably not as well recognized. Katydids rub their wings together to generate sound for their calls. Special hearing organs located on their legs receive sounds—essentially, they can hear with their legs.

Pictured is a katydid (most likely in the genus Scudderia) nibbling on a mildewed flower. In general, katydids are not considered pests because they do not occur in large numbers and do not graze on the same plant for too long.

Brainteaser Tuesday!

Who is this munching on the milkweed? We would love to see your guesses in the comment section! The answer will be revealed on Wednesday.

Big thanks to our friends & partners at Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy for co-hosting an informational hike along the Rachel Carson Trail this past Sunday. Attendees learned more about our Deer Creek Conservation Project and took a hike through the land! Learn more about this effort to save local land (which includes 1 mile of the RCT!): https://alleghenylandtrust.org/deercreek/

We had a great time at our Archery themed Adult Summer Camp! Attendees joined us and our partners at Fern Hollow Nature Center to learn and practice techniques using edible and biodegradable materials!

If you missed this one, join us for the final session of our Adult Summer Camp Series: Outdoor Meals: https://alleghenylandtrust.networkforgood.com/events/68092-adult-summer-camp-outdoor-meals

Brainteaser Tuesday – Answer!

We would probably recognize this plant easily if it still had its flower. We are looking at the fruit of a favorite spring ephemeral wildflower—the trillium. Specifically, this is the white-flowered version of the red trillium (Trillium erectum), which is found in abundance at Barking Slopes Conservation Area next to the white trillium (Trillium grandiflorium). After the flowers fade away, we tend to lose track of what the plant does next. However, we have managed to capture some pretty cool fruit development through weekly visits gathering data for our phenology project! Our educator has been uploading observations of both trillium species with developing fruits to the Barking Slope’s iNaturalist project if you would like to see more: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/barking-slopes

Eventually, the capsule will split open, and seeds will fall to the ground where they will be carried off by their tiny gardeners—the ants! The ants will carry the seeds back to their underground nest, eat the fatty eliosome, and leave the seed to germinate.

Brainteaser Tuesday!

What is this? We would love to see your guesses in the comment section! The answer will be revealed on Wednesday.

July Events: Part 2 | Full-Swing Summer!

The sun is beaming down on our region, and we're ready to explore outdoors with you!

This month, you can take a deep dive into your native habitat knowledge while lending a hand on various ALT lands! We're hosting quite a few invasive species removal workdays. Join us for these events and more!

Visit our link in bio for more info on our events.

July Events: Part 1 | Full-Swing Summer!

The sun is beaming down on our region, and we're ready to explore outdoors with you!

This month, you can attend adult summer camp, camp out while volunteering on Sycamore Island, learn more about a current ALT conservation project, and more!

Visit our events tab or our website calendar for more info on our events: alleghenylandtrust.org/events

We Are Hiring!

ALT is seeking a full-time Vice President of Land Conservation to direct and execute strategies that identify, plan, and protect land to achieve our mission. This leader serves as a subject matter expert on conservation-related issues and originator of creative solutions for regional threats/opportunities around land use, conservation and greenway planning, ecosystem impact and valuation, and various methods of land protection.

As a member of the organization’s senior leadership team, the professional in this position must be capable of actively contributing to senior-level organizational planning and decision-making while working closely with landowners, government agencies, and partners to identify, secure, and protect green space in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Find more information, apply, and share: https://alleghenylandtrust.org/who-we-are/job-opportunities/

Check out all of these native species you can pick up at tomorrow's native plant sale hosted by Wild Ones Western Pennsylvania Area at the Allegheny RiverTrail Park! We'll be there too to with a list of upcoming all-ages events and to talk about land conservation's role in supporting native habitat. We hope to see you there!

LESS THAN TWO WEEKS UNTIL THE PLANT SALE!

More Info: https://westernpa.wildones.org/2024-native-plant-sale/
Updated Species List: https://westernpa.wildones.org/2024-species-list/

Brainteaser Tuesday – Answer!

This fancy fly is known as the golden-backed snipe fly (Chrysopilus thoracicus). They are well named for the golden patch of hairs on their thorax. During this time of year, you can find them flying low in open fields and forests in search of a mate. Females are larger than males, and the individual pictured is likely a male given the narrow abdomen.

While snipe flies are predatory, they are no threat or bother to people or pets. They prefer to hunt other insects.

This snipe fly was found at Audubon Greenway and many individuals were observed perching on the tall grasses. Next time you visit the greenspace, keep an eye out for these buzzy jewels!

Brainteaser Tuesday!

What is this fancy insect? We would love to see your guesses in the comment section! The answer will be revealed on Wednesday.

To celebrate and support bird biodiversity, ALT is partnering with the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology to host a 2024 PA Breeding Bird Blitz for Conservation (B4C) from June 7-17! Join us by participating in three ways:

1. Donate to our team and you'll be supporting the collective efforts of ALT, Rider Park, and the Pocono Environmental Education Center to increase bird education programs, wetland acreage, and meadow wetlands. Contribute at the link below: https://www.breedingbirdblitz.org/allegheny-land-trust-bird-brains

2. Join us outdoors! We're hosting a June 8 Breeding Bird Blitz Walk to teach how spot, identify, and log found bird species. Check our events tab/calendar for registration.

3. Log as many bird species as possible between June 7-17 to contribute to community science. Visit the Breeding Bird Blitz page linked above for details.

We hope you'll join the blitz to get outdoors, gain more bird knowledge, and contribute to close-to-home community science efforts!

June Events | Learn More, Explore, & Give Back Outdoors 🌈

Spring will turn to summer this month, and our events calendar is ready to welcome you outside!

This month, you can lend a hand on the land at our Trail Tuesdays, get in touch with your inner child by attending Adult Summer Camp, learn all about our native pollinators, and more!

Visit our events tab or our website calendar for more info on our events: alleghenylandtrust.org/events

One of the best ways to celebrate a living creature is to learn more about it. As we share a habitat with them, many of us living in Pennsylvania have seen or know someone who has seen or encountered a black bear. Many people treasure black bear sightings (from a safe distance).

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, there are roughly 18,000 black bears living in PA today. Back in the 1970s that number was around 4,000. Awareness of ecological importance, land conservation, and habitat improvement likely contributed to the rise in population numbers.

Black bears can weigh anywhere from 175-600 lbs., but some rare individuals may weigh 800-1,000+ lbs. They are omnivores, but most of a black bear’s diet consists of plant material. Around this time of year, bears will be looking for mates. Female bears that mated in the previous year will be caring for cubs. Bears typically avoid people, so be sure to give them space and respect if you happen to see them.

This resource from the PA Game Commission provides more information on living with black bears and what to do to if accidental, close encounters occur: https://www.pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/WildlifeSpecies/BlackBear/Pages/LivingwithBlackBears.aspx

Additional reading about black bears: https://www.pgc.pa.gov/Education/WildlifeNotesIndex/Pages/BlackBear.aspx

Brainteaser Tuesday - Answer!

These are flowers from a native fruit-bearing tree called a pawpaw (Asimina triloba). Each flower has six maroon petals and gives off a foul or ye**ty odor. This aroma attracts beetles and flies to spread the tree’s pollen to other pawpaw trees. Pawpaws need a pollinizer or pollen from a genetically different pawpaw tree to produce fruits and seeds.

The leaves look like they belong to a tree from the tropics. They are obovate shaped with a tapered tip. When crushed they smell like green peppers or a musty to***co box—generally unpleasant. Zebra swallowtail butterflies depend on the leaves as a larval food source.

The fruits appear if successfully pollinated. They are greenish brown and roughly 2-6 inches in length. It is said that they taste like banana, pineapple, and mango custard, and wildlife quickly consume them. These fruits are edible, but it is advised to wear gloves when picking them as they may cause contact dermatitis. The seeds should be removed before consuming.

Pawpaw trees are sold in native plant nurseries and would make a nice addition to a pollinator garden to support local wildlife. If you decide to forage pawpaw fruits, make sure your identification is 100% correct, make sure to follow the property’s rules and/or ask permission, and forage responsibly (leave some to nature).

For additional reading about pawpaws, follow this link: https://naturewalk.yale.edu/trees/annonaceae/asimina-triloba/pawpaw-76

Brainteaser Tuesday!

What could this be? We would love to see your answers in the comment section! Stay tuned for the answer tomorrow.

Efforts to address climate resiliency in our communities thrive when partnerships are made and knowledge is shared. We’re excited to co-host community sustainability and environmental responsibility workshops with Allegheny County Conservation District, Tree Pittsburgh, Sustainable Pittsburgh, and Green Building Alliance thanks to support from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education Grant Program!

🌎💡 We are thrilled to announce $980,256 in Environmental Education Grants awarded to 56 impactful projects.

From enhancing water quality to building climate resilience, these initiatives will empower communities across PA. 🌟 97% of projects will serve Environmental Justice communities, fostering inclusive environmental stewardship.

Together, we're making PA a greener, more resilient place for all! ✨ Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3Va5KtJ

World Migratory Bird Day is this Saturday, May 11 - celebrate by joining ALT at the Frick Environmental Center to learn more about our feathered friends! You can explore how macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects, snails, crayfish, worm, and more) are important to birds with one of our educators as we lead Stream Study. Learn More & Join Us & Many of Our Friends: https://pittsburghparks.org/world-migratory-bird-day/

Brainteaser Tuesday – Answer!

We are looking at the shell of an Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolinia carolinia)! The beautiful yellow markings and high-domed shell make this species easy to identify; however, those yellow patterns can vary across individuals. The upper part of the shell is called the carapace, and the shell covering the turtle’s underside is called the plastron. In box turtles, the plastron is hinged so once the turtle recedes into its shell, the lower plastron can be pulled upward to close off the entrance—thus, the turtle can seal itself up like a box.

Being terrestrial, box turtles are typically found in woodland areas and fields with nearby water sources. They can travel a whopping 0.03 miles per day in search of food within their home territory. Because they have small home territories, it is important to leave them where they have been found. If relocated, they will put all their energy into finding their way back home and may not survive.

Have you encountered any turtles? We would love to see your photos in the comment section!

Brainteaser Tuesday!

Are we looking at an art project? What is this? We would love to see your guesses in the comment section! The answer will be revealed on Wednesday.

Mother's Day - May 12 - is just around the corner; give back to Mother Earth while giving love to moms everywhere! Our "Gift of Conservation" gifts the moms in your life a letter notifying them of your gift in their name, which grants them a one-year membership along with a packet of ALT conservation area greeting cards.

By giving the Gift of Conservation, you support Allegheny Land Trust's efforts in conserving more local land, maintaining and improving close-to-home green space, providing all-ages environmental education, and helping communities reach their conservation goals.

https://alleghenylandtrust.networkforgood.com/projects/176731-give-the-gift-of-conservation

NOTE: If you'd like your Gift Of Conservation to arrive in time for Mother's Day, please order by May 7. Otherwise, it may take ~two weeks from purchase for your Gift of Conservation to arrive in-home.

May Events | May You Explore Outdoors!

April showers have certainly brought May flowers, and we hope you'll join us in webinars and on the land to enjoy them while learning more about the outdoors.

This month, you can lend a hand on the land planting trees, learn more about identifying and logging bird species, living more sustainably at home, parsing through the myths and marvels of mosquitoes, learn about wild plants' edibility, and more!

Visit our events tab or our website calendar for more info on our events: alleghenylandtrust.org/events

Have a little extra fun during the City Nature Challenge (happening now) by playing nature BINGO! Can you find 5 in a row, or find everything on the card by the end of the challenge on April 29th?