LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 5 Fall is a busy time in the Adirondacks. However you choose to enjoy the foliage, make sure you have a back-up plan. Trail- heads and boat launches may fill up early. Follow @NYSDEC Alerts for parking updates and be prepared to move on to an alternate location. While you're on the trails or water, keep in mind that New York's public lands are for ever yone to enjoy. Treat fellow visitors – and local wildlife – with respect. Take out your trash, stick to designated trails, and do your best to Leave No TraceTM. Learn more on DEC's Love Our NY Lands webpage. With Birds Nothing puts the grand views of Adirondack peaks and waters into perspective quite like our feathered friends. As the leaves and weather change in tandem, migrator y waterfowl head south, making their way down an Adirondack flightpath. Warblers, sapsuckers, and gulls stand out in contrast to the warm bright col- ors of the foliage. The wide variety of habitats, land- scapes, and backdrops makes the region a stunning des- tination for birders. Birding is an excellent way to appreciate the flora and fauna of the Adirondacks. Much like hiking, it's import- ant to be prepared with extra layers, weather protec- tion, water, and nutrition. Many popular birding desti- nations, however, are more quickly and easily accessed. This makes birding a great source of active leisure this fall. And the bright leaves offer sights even when the birds aren't chirping. By Boat Fall foliage is always photogenic, but one of its best angles is from the water. Float out into the center of the action by paddling on one of the countless rivers, ponds, or lakes in the region. The Adirondacks are a paddler's dream, and with so much fresh water to enjoy, it's impossible to run out of unique spots to view the season's colors. Help keep Adirondack water ways fresh and unique by preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species. Clean, drain, and dr y your canoe, kay- ak, SUP, and any other water equipment – including fishing gear – before launching to avoid unintentionally transporting aquatic invasive species between water ways. Do your part by: Cleaning your vessel of any visible mud, plants, fish, or animals Draining all water-holding compartments, storage compartments, and the body of your boat Dr ying your boat, paddles, and other equipment before setting off on a new waterbody

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