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2012 events

Accabonac Harbor Paddle

Wednesday May 2 10am - noon

Kick off the paddling season with a leisurely trip on the protected waters of Accabonac Harbor in Springs. We'll be looking for signs of this year's horseshoe crab egg laying, noting the number of occupied osprey nests and enjoying the harbor's diverse wildlife. Co-sponsored by the East Hampton Trails Preservation Society. Free.
Kayak rentals available. Call Mike at 631-267-5228 or e-mail mike@peconic.org to reserve a boat.

Peconic River Paddle

Saturday May 5 9 am - noon

May is a great time of year for the paddle down Long Island's longest river. Learn about Mike's river otter research as we check for signs of otters along the way. Co-sponsored by Huntington - Oyster Bay Audubon Society. Free.
Canoe and kayak rentals available. Call Mike at 631-267-5228 or e-mail mike@peconic.org for meeting location and to reserve a boat.

Search all mike's columns

Now you can search all of Mike's columns in The Southampton Press.

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River Otter news

otter

Mike's Winter 2012 Report on the Long Island River Otter Project is now available. Click here to download the pdf.

Newsday did a short interview with Mike on his River Otter study. The wire services picked it up leading to stories in the Wall Street Journal, and on CBS and NPR. The full Newsday story is here, and includes a rare otter photo and an interesting map of latrines and sightings.

Listen to Mike's Radio Broadcasts

Mike's radio broadcasts are now available online. More than two hours, 40 separate essays on everything from "Alewife" to "Woodcock."

Here's the List. Enjoy!

Pine barrens Hikes

Here's a guide to hikes in the Pine Barrens, courtesy of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society.

About Mike:

Mike Bottini is a veteran naturalist, outdoor educator, and environmental consultant. After completing graduate studies in wildlife ecology at the University of British Columbia, Mike worked for fourteen years at the Group for the South Fork, a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. He has taught field ecology, environmental science, and natural history courses at St. Lawrence University, Southampton College, and CUNY, has published three books, and is an award-winning columnist. Mike's wildlife research studies have included elk, spotted and tiger salamanders, spotted turtles, piping plovers, and river otters. He continues to introduce people to the outdoors through his field naturalist classes, nature walks, and paddling trips.
Mike also serves on the board of SPOKESPEOPLE of Eastern Long Island, a cycling advocacy organization working to create safer cycling conditions on the east end. For info, visit www.spokespeopleli.org He is also active in the Plum Island preservation project: see the links at left.

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Otter Study reports:

Mike's Winter 2012 Report on the Long Island River Otter Project is now available. Click here to download the pdf.

otter

Mike's original 2008 River Otter Study Report is also available. Click Here to download the pdf (1.5 MB).

To report an otter roadkill, please contact the NYSDEC Wildlife Office at 631-444-0310 and Mike Bottini at 631-267-5228. Include date, time, and specific location.

Please contribute to the River Otter Study by posting your sightings and comments to Mike@Peconic.org.

HOW TO REPORT OTTER SIGHTINGS
With its short legs, unusual tail, and large size (3.5 - 4 feet in length), it is difficult to confuse an otter on land with anything else. Our most common semi-aquatic mammal, the muskrat, is much smaller. But in the water, relative body size and shape can be difficult to determine. Watch carefully and note how the animal is swimming.
• Does it stop and raise its head and shoulders above the water like a periscope (otter)?
• Is there vegetation trailing from its mouth (muskrat)?
• Is it taking a direct route and staying at the surface (muskrat), or repeatedly diving (otter)?
Be sure to include the date, time, and location along with your detailed observations.

SPOTTED TURTLE RESEARCH REPORT

Mike's 2005 landmark study of spotted turtles' use of mosquito ditches helped alter marsh management practices in Suffolk County. The report is available here in pdf format.

turtle study

read about the plum island preservation project here

plum

Connect to preserveplumisland.com here

Mike's BOOKS:

The Walking Dunes:
East Hampton's Hidden Treasure

Dunes

Ruth Formanek and Mike Bottini have collaborated on an elegant, profusely illustrated, guide to "East Hampton's Hidden Treasure," the Walking Dunes. Mike takes us on a guided tour of the flora and fauna of one of Long Island's most special places.

Exploring East End Waters:
A Natural History and Paddling Guide

Waters

The most comprehensive guide to kayaking and canoeing on the East End of Long Island, Mike Bottini's long-awaited Exploring East End Waters is based on his award-winning column in The Southampton Press.

Trail Guide to the South Fork

Trails

The first comprehensive guide to trails of the South Fork. For more than ten years the Group for the South Fork has been working with the East Hampton Trails Preservation Society and the Southampton Trails Preservation Society to preserve and define the trails, ancient and new, of the South Fork of Long Island.

All Mike'S books are also available in Kindle, IBOOK, Nook, and other eBook formats.

ticks

Learn about ticks and Lyme disease
If you have any comments or updates on the trails please let Mike know: email Mike at MikeBottini dot com