It's been a busy, productive, and in many ways astounding couple of weeks. I've got a stockpile of stuff to post about, but for today I'll limit myself to one "discovery" I made in the course of getting photos for a client who needed pictures of the Albany Pine Bush for a biology book. I've lived in the Albany area for almost 9 years and had yet to seek out this environmental gem. Much to my shame -- for once I dipped my hiking boot in, I fell in love very quickly and regretted the delay.
To paraphrase from a site (www.albanypinebush.org) devoted to saving what's left of the Pine Bush from destruction (inevitable? call me a cynic when it comes to humankind):
The Albany Pine Bush represents one of the best remaining examples of an inland pine barrens ecosystem in the world. This gently rolling sand plain and sandy soil is home to a unique diversity of animals and plants, including 20 rare species (the Karner blue butterfly among them) and two rare natural communities. It is also one of the most endangered ecosystems in the northeastern United States. Today less than 20% of the original Albany Pine Bush ecosystem survives. This remaining area is divided by interstate highways, shopping malls, housing developments, and industrial parks and is threatened by further habitat loss.A bunch of boring pine trees, you say? What's so special about that? Well, maybe it's made more interesting and poignant by the fact that the Pine Bush is surrounded by evidence of man's inhumanity to nature: the aforementioned buzzing highways, strip mawls, parking lots, and housing sprawl. When you see what borders it on all sides, it's incredible that this little oasis has survived at all. And the virtual emptiness (in both the moral and physical sense) of one nearby mall just adds insult to injury; clearly, it wasn't imperative that this land be developed for any urgent purpose. What a waste.
The other night on the local news, the business reporter was predicting that the arrival in our region of the semiconductor giant Sematech would double or triple the region's population. Yeah, that's just friggin' great. The place is already crowded enough -- a fact that's driven home quite painfully when you see what used to be here, before the paving equipment rolled in. Semiconductors be damned!
But for another thing, in spite of the dull roar of traffic that you can't quite escape as you hike this beautiful landscape, the very fact that it is essentially just a "bunch of boring pine trees" is what makes it amazing that the place is so beautiful. Maybe it's the contrast of the incredible spring greenery with the rich-colored soil. Maybe it's the knowledge that fluttering somewhere nearby is the famous Karner blue butterfly that makes the Pine Bush its home (though I wasn't graced with a glimpse of one on my visit). I don't know, but after only one visit I'm convinced that it is one of the precious places left to us here in this region. It will be a crime if it is winnowed down even further.
On my visit I encountered a woman walking her beautiful keeshonds (a fluffy type of spitz dog) and they were kind enough to let me take a few photos of them, one of which I leave with you here. It perfectly captures the magical quality of my visit that day. You can see more of my Pine Bush photos here.
Albany Pine Bush photo Albany Pinebush stock photos stock photography nature landscapes trees woods environmental issues climate change global warming environment destruction rare pine barrens endangered habitats people walking dogs keeshonds spitz dog urban oasis urban oases city public parks Albany NY New York State photography Darlene Bordwell Photography
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