Nature Walk at Andrew Sabin Nature Preserve
June 22, 2023
By Kathleen Kennedy
On Friday, May 19, the Trust hosted a guided walk of the 32-acre Andrew Sabin Nature Preserve, located at Tanger Outlet Center in Riverhead. The program, one of the Trust’s “40 for 40” Connections programs in honor of the Trust’s 40th anniversary, was a partnership with the South Fork Natural History Museum (Sofo).
This preserve is situated between Tanger 2 and Tanger 3 and is a very special place that few people have the opportunity to explore because of the delicate woodland and pond ecosystem that is found within its confines. We were very pleased to have Andrew Sabin join us to share the conservation story of this place and then lead the walk through the meadow and into the oak and beech forest to the freshwater wetland at its center. Upon arrival, Sofo’s Environmental Educator and Reptile & Amphibian Specialist Jake Kuschner donned waders and used a dip net to examine the wildlife teeming underneath the pond’s surface, looking for evidence of breeding endangered tiger salamanders. The discovery of 17 tiger salamanders at the property in the mid-1990’s during an environmental impact review as part of the property’s development plan resulted in its protection and subsequent donation to the Trust by Tanger Properties Limited Partnership.
During our walk, Sofo’s Executive Director, Frank Quevedo, made note of the birdlife seen and heard. These included Common Yellowthroat Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, Great-crested Flycatcher, Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, Red-winged Blackbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Gray Catbird, Pine Warbler, and Chipping Sparrow.
Thank you to all who joined us to explore this delicate ecosystem!
Kathleen Kennedy
Senior Manager of Outreach
kkennedy@peconiclandtrust.org