Spring is Turtle Time
IMPROVING HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE By Jen Adams, Director of Land Stewardship Turtles You Might See in Our Area Dutchess County is home to a variety of turtle species, ranging from common to rare. Among the most frequently spotted are the painted turtle, snapping turtle, box turtle, and sometimes the invasive red-eared slider. Our turtle species... Read More
Environmental Professionals Month features!
This April, we have celebrated our Environmental Professionals with new videos of Winnakee staff out in the field doing incredible work for our region’s future. With a deeper understanding of how and why Winnakee Land Trust’s environmental professionals achieve transformative conservation outcomes, will you consider a gift today to support their work? 1st Feature: I... Read More
International Day of the Forest 2025 newsletter
This International Day of the Forest, Winnakee is highlighting the importance of young forests. Learn about why they are disappearing, why we need them and what Winnakee is doing about it!
Highlighting the importance of young forests
This International Day of the Forest, Winnakee is highlighting the importance of young forests. Many animals need young forest and shrubland for foraging and breeding, including rare and imperiled animals like the New England cottontail and golden-winged warbler, as well as more abundant wildlife. Forests today also face unprecedented challenges that hinder their natural regeneration. Winnakee recognizes... Read More
Disappearing Young Forests of New York – And Why We Need Them
By Bob Davis, Chief Executive Officer If you take a walk through most of New York’s forests today, you’ll notice something missing—young, regenerating woodlands. We have old trees, mature forests, and even open fields, but young forests—those dense thickets of saplings and shrubs—are becoming increasingly rare. So, why is this happening? New York’s forests are... Read More
THE CANOPY – Winnakee News, Winter 2025
In this issue: View FULL EDITION Winnakee Protects 206 New Acres of Important Wildlife Habitat The Understory Blog: Winter in the Woods: Seeing the Forest for the Trees Upcoming Events
Winter in the Woods: Seeing the Forest for the Trees
By Bob Davis, Chief Executive Officer Winter can be a rewarding time to enhance your naturalist’s skills in the woods. Things slow down, but while trees are in dormancy, so much about their contributions to the forest can be revealed. Winter is a wonderful time to observe the evolution of our forests, the challenges they... Read More
Winnakee Protects 140 New Acres of Vulnerable Wildlife Habitat
We were interested in donating the land to Winnakee because we knew of their impressive work to increase biodiversity in wetlands and grasslands by protecting and creating habitat for native wildlife on their other properties.” —Jeffrey Scales, donating landowner Winnakee Land Trust wrapped up the end of 2024 with the exciting acquisition of 140 acres... Read More
Birds & Habitat: Forest Management Plans That Help Birds Thrive
Coming soon! Email uri@winnakee.org to be notified about this webinar What does it take to make a forest thrive for birds? Join two leading voices in forest conservation to explore how sustainable forest management can create quality habitat for bird species facing population declines. Audubon NY’s Forest Program Manager Suzanne Treyger opens with a practical... Read More
Make a year-end gift!
We’re Doing This Together! As the year comes to a close, we’re stepping back and reflecting on the truly amazing things that we—Winnakee and YOU—have done in 2024. Earlier this year, we built a new bridge at Vlei Marsh. Your donation of time and money made this possible and now visitors have easier access to... Read More









