New York Master Naturalist Program

05/27/2026

Trees across the city serve more than an aesthetic purpose — they add to the health and resiliency of a neighborhood. Areas with a robust tree canopy and vegetation have shown to be slightly to significantly cooler compared to places where green space is scarce and pavement is plentiful. Trees also help to purify air and can reduce water runoff to mitigate flooding.

How the plan will be funded is unclear. The Mamdani administration has not earmarked money for its tree-expansion initiative.

05/19/2026

In darkness, a wormlike creature squirms. A tiny nematode weaves its way between grains of rock and particles of organic matter, through inverted forests of tree roots. It follows what it thinks is a pheromone trail, pausing to inspect a droplet poised on the tip of a pale, nondescript strand of fungus.

Carnivorous fungi have amassed a ghoulish bag of tricks to enrapture, entrap, and impale other creatures.

05/10/2026

The city’s housing authority houses half a million people on campuses rich in green space. Advocates see that as a big opportunity to bring birding’s benefits to more New Yorkers.

05/04/2026

Disappear into some of the Empire State's best hidden sanctuaries on the best spring hikes in New York, whether you're an experienced hiker or just out for a stroll.

Explore 5 picture-perfect nature trails in New York for a spring hike, featuring wildflowers, scenic views, and unforgettable outdoor escapes.

04/27/2026

Stanford biologist José R. Dinneny is uncovering the hidden, dynamic world of plant roots — revealing how these mysterious explorers are as vital and wondrous as the living world we see above the soil.

Stanford biologist José R. Dinneny is uncovering the hidden, dynamic world of plant roots — revealing how these mysterious explorers are as vital and wondrou...

04/22/2026

New York State is blossoming with lively activities and festivals, memorable exhibits, and natural beauty returning to its most vibrant state.

New York State is about to blossom with lively activities and festivals, memorable exhibits, and natural beauty returning to its most vibrant state. Read on for your complete New York State spring must-see list to ensure that you have a blast this season.

04/14/2026

Kina Murphy examines whether current net positive impact policies are actually working and explore how a paradigm shift requiring all businesses to show a net positive impact on biodiversity could reverse climate change trends and slow the loss of biodiversity.

It is estimated that by 2050 30% of the world biodiversity may be extinct. Sustainable development and reduced land conversion are currently promoted as the ...

04/06/2026

Join the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and acclaimed wildlife photographers Tim and Russell Laman for a special conversation exploring the birds they captured on camera during the filming of Backyard Birds Revealed, our newest five-part video series. This event celebrates that quiet wonder of winter birdwatching—the reminder that even in the coldest months, life and color thrive just beyond your doorstep.

Relive the highlights from our recent event! Join the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and acclaimed wildlife photographers Tim and Russell Laman for a special con...

03/31/2026

Otters were once found in every watershed in New York. But by the early 1900s, they had vanished from western parts of the state and metropolitan areas. Luckily, populations of river otter remained in remote and isolated areas. Nearly 100 years later these remote populations would take part in the revival of the river otter.

As night falls on American waterways the water suddenly stirs. A whiskered head emerges, followed by a sleek, brown body that slips through the current. The North American river otter is back.

03/30/2026

Spring is in the air and Master Naturalist volunteers are reporting some great sightings! What signs of spring are you seeing?

03/29/2026

If you see a bald eagle soaring above Lake George, it is safe to assume that it is descended from one of the scores released in New York State in the 1970s and 80s.

By the 1970s Bald Eagles had been all but exterminated from New York State as a consequence of pesticides, loss of habitat and hunting.