Take Adventures Everyday

09/10/2026

We've got The Boathouse at Chenango Valley State Park open all weekend, with kayaks, mountain bikes, and stand up paddleboards. We do take walk ups, or you can make reservations online. www.takeadventureseveryday.com/cvsp
We've also got our river trips to Farm by Beer Tree Brew available all weekend. You can see the time slots available here: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/takeadventureseveryday/?from-ssl=yes&g4=no&cp=no&csp=no&language=en-us&full-items=yes

09/10/2026

Happy Wing Wednesday! Today, we are celebrating the Eastern Wood-Pewee, an olive-brown flycatcher. This bird gets its name from their unmistakable “pee-a-weeee!” call. Identifying this bird amongst other flycatchers can be challenging, but pewees are grayer overall and have longer wings. The easiest way to identify this bird is by listening for their distinctive sound. You can find them in wooded areas likely perching on a dead branch waiting to fly out and sn**ch up insects midair.

Here are a few fascinating facts about the Eastern Wood-Pewee:

Their lichen-covered nests are so inconspicuous that they are often mistaken for knots on branches.

Males sing constantly throughout the day during breeding season to attract females. They are also known to alter their songs to compete with rival males.

High populations of white-tailed deer are bad for pewees because they damage the middle forest canopy by eating up vegetation.

Have you seen an Eastern Wood-Pewee in your area? Share your observations in the comments!

09/09/2026

Happy Tuesday in the Trees! Today, we are celebrating the Eastern Hemlock. You can identify this tree by its broadly pyramidal, pendulous branches and fine, dark-green needles on widely spaced branches, resembling a large Christmas tree. This tree also has abundant brown cones that hang from branches like small ornaments. Unfortunately, this tree is currently under attack by the hemlock wooly adelgid, a tiny, invasive insect from Asia. They feed on the sap of hemlock and spruce trees. Heavy, untreated infestations can kill a mature hemlock in 4-10 years. This problem can be treated and managed through either chemical or biological controls. Chemical control includes insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils that can be applied to the soil or injected into the trunk. Biologically, a natural predator could be introduced. Learn about how you can report an infested hemlock tree at https://blogs.cornell.edu/nyshemlockinitiative/report-hwa-finding/.

Here are a few fascinating facts about the Eastern Hemlock:

Hemlocks are exceptionally slow-growing and can live for more than 800 years. The oldest recorded tree is 988 years old.

They can survive in deep shade with sunlight as low as 5%. A 50 year old tree could be no taller than a human.

The tree got its name from early settlers because its scent resembled European poison hemlock, which is an unrelated herbaceous plant.

Have you spotted an Eastern Hemlock in your area? Leave your observations in the comments.

09/04/2026

Don't let the last weekend of the summer get by without having an adventure. We've got The Boathouse at Chenango Valley State Park open all weekend, with kayaks, mountain bikes, and stand up paddleboards. We do take walk ups, or you can make reservations online. www.takeadventureseveryday.com/cvsp
We've also got our river trips to Farm by Beer Tree Brew available all weekend. You can see the time slots available here: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/takeadventureseveryday/?from-ssl=yes&g4=no&cp=no&csp=no&language=en-us&full-items=yes

09/02/2026

Happy Wing Wednesday! Today, we are celebrating the Barn Swallow, the most widespread species of swallow in the world, living on every continent in the world besides Antarctica. You can recognize this bird by their steel-blue back, rusty-red throat, and long, deeply forked tail. They are a natural form of pest control, consuming up to 850 bugs per day. Barn swallows often fly low, just a few inches above the ground or water. They build their nests almost exclusively on human-made structures, such as barns. To attract one to your yard, place ground-up oyster shells or eggshells on an open platform feeder. If you have a suitable outbuilding, leave a door or window open for nesting.

Here are a few fascinating facts about the Barn Swallow:

They often get help raising their young from others. They are referred to as “helpers of the nest,” and are often older siblings or sometimes unrelated juveniles. Additionally, they often use the same nest year after year to save energy.

An unmated male Barn Swallow may kill the offspring of a nesting pair in order to separate the pair, giving him an opportunity to mate with the female.

According to legend, the Barn Swallow obtained their forked tail by stealing fire from the gods to bring to people. An angry deity was angry and threw a burning piece of wood, scorching the middle of the tail.

Have you seen a Barn Swallow in your area? Share your observations in the comments!

09/01/2026

Happy Tuesday in the Trees! Today, we are celebrating the lush Linden tree. It can be easily identified by its heart-shaped leaves, symbolizing love, friendship, and fidelity. This quickly growing tree is known for providing a canopy of shade, fragrant flowers, and support for pollinators. With light and easy to work with lumber, it is coveted by craftspeople and commonly used to make furniture, cabinets, and toys. The flowers are not only beautiful, but they are also used in medicine. They’re known for their calming antispasmodic, anti-rheumatic, and diuretic properties. They can be used in teas, gargles, compresses, lotions, and inhalations.

Here are a few fascinating facts about the linden tree:

They are prized as being the ultimate bee tree. The flowers attract so many pollinators, you can hear a loud humming resonating from the tree from several feet away. A prized and fragrant honey is produced from the sweet nectar.

Historically, they were a commonly planted tree in village squares providing a dense shade for community meetings, wedding vows, and court trials.

Tender and young spring leaves are edible and have a mild flavor that best suits a salad or wrap.

Have you spotted a Linden tree in your area? Leave your observations in the comments!

08/28/2026

Since it's been so popular, and so much fun, we're adding one more BTKC on Tuesday. The sun is setting earlier and earlier, so this one will be a one hour trip from State Park back to Beer Tree.

Another week for Beer Tree Kayak Crew was just added. Join us on Tuesday, September 1st for another trip with Take Adventures Everyday.
You'll meet at Farm at 4:45pm and get shuttled to State Park, then you'll kayak back to Farm. It will be a nice hour long kayak trip.

Reserve your spot: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/takeadventureseveryday/items/742065/availability/2114357417/book/?full-items=yes

08/27/2026

Happy Wing Wednesday! Today, we are celebrating the Cedar Waxwing. You can identify this bird by their silky brown plumage, black facial mask, bright yellow tail tip, and unique waxy droplets on their wing feathers. They survive primarily on berries and small fruits, and can live on fruit alone for several months. They are highly nomadic and social. They travel in large flocks even during mating season. You can find cedar waxwings in orchards and subrurban trees across southern Canada and northern United States. They migrate to the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America depending on where fruit is available.

Here are a few fascinating facts about cedar waxwings:

They occasionally eat overripe berries that have fermented in the sun. The natural alcohol can intoxicate the birds, making them disoriented or clumsy.

Their bright yellow tail tips can sometimes turn orange. This happens when young birds eat the berries of non-native honeysuckle plants while their tail feathers are growing.

Flocks of cedar waxwings are famously courteous. If a tight space or twig holds a line of berries, birds have been observed passing individual berries down the line from bill to bill so every bird gets a turn to eat.

Have you seen a cedar waxwing in your area? Leave your observations in the comments!