Pine Bush
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The Pine Bush is a globally rare ecosystem, located between the cities of Albany and Schenectady in the Capital District region of New York.
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[edit] Ecology
The Pine Bush is the only sizable inland pine barrens sand dunes in the United States, and is recognized world-wide as a unique pine barrens ecosystem. It contains over 300 species of vertebrate animals, over 1,500 species of plants, and over 10,000 species of insects and other invertebrate animals. Many of them are rare and restricted to the Pine Bush habitat. Its most famous occupant, the Karner Blue butterfly, is on New York State's endangered species list and was listed on the Federal Endangered Species List in December 1992. The Pine bush also has a small coyote population. Coyotes, along with almost every other large animal that inhabits the pine bush, are a very common sight for any late night or early morning walkers.
[edit] Geography
The Pine Bush is located in the Capital District region of New York State, between Albany and Schenectady. The boundaries are Fuller Road on the east, New York State Route 5 (Central Avenue) on the north, New York State Route 146 on the west, and U.S. Route 20 (Western Avenue) on the south. The Pine Bush is located in three municipalities: Albany, Guilderland and Colonie. The Pine Bush originally encompassed 58,800 acres (238 km²). There are currently 5,800 acres (23 km²) remaining.
[edit] History
The Pine Bush has played an important historical role in the development of Albany and Schenectady and is enshrined in the literary heritage of the United States. The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is sung by the Indian brave from the Vale of Tawasentha located in the Pine Bush. George Washington wrote of the Pine Bush in his diaries while traveling in upstate New York during the Revolutionary War. In Moby Dick, Herman Melville describes the dark beauty of the Pine Bush in a long account of a stage coach ride from Albany to Schenectady. Vladimir Nabokov and other writers have written about the mystery and beauty of the Pine Bush. [1]
[edit] Additional facts about the Pine Bush
The Pine Bush is located in the geographic center of the Capital District and is subject to great development pressures. Developers are making new proposals every day to construct houses and office buildings which could destroy the Pine Bush.
Save the Pine Bush is a not-for-profit community group which was formed in 1978 to stop destruction of the Pine Bush. They have prevented or delayed the construction of many developments in the Pine Bush.
[edit] Future of the Pine Bush
The fear of encroachment on pine bush preserve has been a constant worry in recent years. Crossgates Mall, which was built on part of the pine bush preserve, has looked into expanding onto more of the preserve. The city of Albany has also talked about building a new garbage dump on the preserve, while developers have been seeking to build on the pine bush for commercial use.
