Hello fellow nature lovers and Skaneateles Conservation Area users, this blog is for us. Hear something? Write about it. See something? Let us know. Let's share our knowledge and experiences using the properties. On the east side of town the Skaneateles Conservation Areas include the Federal Farm, the Guppy Farm,and the O'Loughlin property which have been connected by a series of trails. On the southwest side of town, the Mabel Reynolds property stands undeveloped at the present but hopefully trails will be developed in the future.

I hope that all users of this blog will help record nature sightings as the years progress which can enhance all visits to these properties.

Guppy Falls

Monday, September 24, 2012

Lovely fall walk through the woods today.  Here are the spicebushes the caterpillar in the previous post would've found tasty.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

We had a real treat today when we found this unusual looking caterpillar on the O'Loughlin trail.  At first I thought it might be a small rubber child's toy. On closer inspection, I found it was a caterpillar and  very much alive.  While graciously photogenic in the middle of the trail, we moved the caterpillar to the side so no one would inadvertently take a wrong step.

Once home I googled the caterpillar to find it is a Spicebush Swallowtail, Papillo troilus, which turns yellow before it pupates.  More information can be found at http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Papilio-troilus




Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Met a very nice woman today who has just discovered the conservation areas and is burning through the trails.  She wondered why some are marked and others aren't.  I pointed her in the right direction.

Glorious late summer day with asters and golden rod blooming.