SLINGERLANDS - There’s an update on the young bald eagle, shot earlier this month in Columbia County.

A student-run butterfly house, native plant garden, and organic community garden, Butterfly Station, is now open to the public for the 2011 season.

Located on the grounds of Farnsworth Middle School, this is the station’s 13th year of operation. Besides walking among hundreds of butterflies, visitors can also watch how butterflies are raised in the metamorphosis room, make free butterfly projects in the craft room, or visit the gift shop. Community members of all ages will also enjoy the many interactive butterfly exhibits in the museum room.

New this year, the Butterfly Station is offering two summer butterfly camp programs for elementary students.

For more information, please contact either Jennifer or Patrice at (518) 456-6010.

Butterfly Station is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., through August 12.

The Albany County 4-H office is participating in a very important project this summer with Cornell University and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and they're looking for Albany County youth and adults who are interested in science and the outdoors to participate in this great project.  

Environmental scientists have been on the lookout for the Emerald Ash Borer, a beetle recently introduced to New York State. This beetle has been responsible for the death of millions of ash trees in the Midwest. Last year, the beetle was located in Greene County. The big challenge is to determine the beetle’s presence in surrounding communities. The Cerceris Fumipennis wasp is a ground wasp that stocks their nests with this type of beetle.

During July and August, Cornell Cooperative Extension staff will be searching for these wasp colonies in Albany County. The goal for 2011 is to identify as many wasp colonies in New York State as possible.  Following the location of colonies, participants will visit the sites and utilize biosurveillance tools to determine what kind of beetles the wasps are bringing to their nests.  All information collected will contribute to valuable research data at Cornell University.