New York Natural Heritage Program

06/09/2026

Today marks day two of New York Invasive Species Awareness Week! Check out events near you at https://nyis.info/nyisaw.

NYNHP leads invasive species mapping in New York State, managing statewide data through NY iMapInvasives, offering technical support to iMap users, providing data collection and analysis tools, and working with partners across the state to collect and use invasive species information to inform efforts to protect native biodiversity.

Learn more about our statewide invasive species mapping program at www.nyimapinvasives.org

New York Invasive Species Awareness Week is here!

Knowing where invasive species are found is one of our most powerful tools for managing impacts to biodiversity.

The New York Natural Heritage Program and the New York State DEC, along with our new software developer, Cornell Integrated Pest Management collaborate to present iMapInvasives, the state's premiere mapping system for tracking populations and management efforts in New York and beyond.

Go to www.nyimapinvasives.org to learn more about iMapInvasives, and check https://nyis.info/nyisaw for Invasive Species Awareness Week events.

05/28/2026

As waters warm up on the coasts of Long Island, boaters and fishers may notice some unfamiliar visitors to Long Island Waters. Invasive marine species, which can travel on boat hulls as fouling, are tracked in NY iMapInvasives. Check out our new brochure on how you can help reduce the spread of invaders.

https://www.nynhp.org/documents/519/marine-invasives-brochure.pdf

04/06/2026

Four of our awesome staff members had a great time tabling at the Women of Science Day at the New York State Museum on March 21st! It was a fantastic event that highlighted the contributions of female scientists to a range of scientific fields. Jenn, Julie, Colleen, and Hollie were there representing our data science, ecology, biology, and NY iMapInvasives teams!

04/02/2026

NY POOLS held their third volunteer training workshop at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve! Attendees learned about the importance of vernal pools on the landscape, how to ID the species that depend on these wetlands, and how they can participate in our vernal pool community science project.

Learn more about vernal pools, the project, and how you can get involved: https://www.nynhp.org/projects/ny-pools/

03/11/2026

Catch the latest Vox Pop episode of Birding with Julie Hart, our Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinator. Julie answers questions about everything from bird feeders, to birds preening species other than their own, to prehistoric birds eating humans! Also lots of discussion about bluebirds, pictured here sitting on a nest box.

Listen here: https://www.wamc.org/podcast/vox-pop/2026-03-10/birding-with-rich-guthrie-and-julie-hart-3-10-26

📷Photo by Lorie Shaull

03/04/2026

The annual report for the 2024-2025 'Large Whale Monitoring in the New York Bight Using Aerial Surveys' is now available!https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2026-02/nybaerial_annual24-25.pdf

Other survey reports are available on the DEC website here: https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/bight-whale-monitoring-program

📷North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis). Photo by Terra Hanks.

02/06/2026

We are hiring for the role of Invasive Species Data Assistant! This person will help manage datasets and field data collection tools for invasive species surveys and management, used by natural resource managers, scientists, and volunteers all over the state. They'll also provide tech help and training to users, and assist with communications with partners and the public, especially around iMapInvasives.

Learn more and apply: https://esf.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp;jsessionid=53FFC67E1CFF8257FFD8EB77B3B4E38F?JOBID=196766

01/21/2026

Sign ups for the vernal pool community science workshops are now open. Register here: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/11678442040

01/13/2026

Save the date to join an information session on our community science program for NY POOLS. Volunteers will be needed in 2026 and 2027 to survey select potential vernal pools in certain regions up to three times through the year to assess habitat, amphibian breeding, and other key factors.

Vernal Pool Community Science Workshops:
March 14, 2026 - Ghent, NY
March 21, 2026 - Depew, NY
April 11, 2026 - Massena, NY

Sign up to be involved and get more information here: https://signup.com/go/OXRyejc.

12/30/2025

We are hiring Avian Technicians (2) and Monarch Butterfly Technicians (4) for the 2026 field season! These positions will survey for various birds and monarchs at the Fort Drum Military Installation. The field techs will work outside in all types of weather and collect and analyze data. Free housing available upon request!

Visit our employment page for more information: https://www.nynhp.org/employment/