Visitors Participate in Citizen Science during Winter Fest at Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve on Feb. 6

checking for wood ducks at DKNP 2015 — Atop the ladder, Chris Bell checks for signs of wood ducks in a nesting box at the Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve on Feb. 6, 2016, with help from Mike Manning, Pam Marshall, and Frank Berlin (l. to r. on ground). Photo credit: Jim Bell.

Frank Berlin, long-time member of the Town of Clifton Park Open Space, Trails & Riverfront Committee, led the 2016 Winter Fest hike at the Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve on Feb. 6. About 12 participants walked the snow-less, forested natural area, stopping along the way to check for signs of wood ducks and turkeys, to learn about the streams and wetlands, and to measure the age of large trees.

Clifton Park Winter Fest, which includes outdoors and indoors activities held throughout the community, is a public event presented every February by the Town of Clifton Park. For more information, or to volunteer to lead any outdoors activity for next year’s Winter Fest, please contact the Town’s Parks, Recreation & Community Affairs Department at (518) 371-6667.

Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve is about 240 acres of a rugged, natural area, with natural surface trails. The main trailhead entrance is located about mid-way along Pierce Road.