Accomplishments
·
Solely,
after a three year effort and without financial or moral support from
other private, public or municipal groups, succeeded in saving 155-acres
from becoming a 57-home subdivision.
·
From 1996 to early
2004, painstakingly restored the seriously dilapidated “Gold Coast era”
Georgian-style mansion to its original splendor.
·
Have made
significant strides in restoring the Farm Estate Group of buildings and
restoration is ongoing.
- In 1996, created 5 miles of nature trails through
the overgrown site for guided nature walk use.
- In 1996 formed a partnership
with Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and
Audubon
Center
and commissioned them to perform a Wildlife Inventory and Management
Plan, an Avian Survey, Mammal and Vegetation Surveys, Habitat
Mapping.
- Results of their surveys
revealed that Hoffman
Center
is home to more than 149 resident and migrating birds which guided
us in our ongoing habitat management and influenced us to:
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-
Placed
Bluebird boxes on the site and successfully attracted
Bluebirds to their native habitat.
*
Place Bluebird boxes on the site
and successfully attracted Bluebirds
to their native habitat.
*
Work with
U.S.
Fish and Wildlife and Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary
have successfully attracted
migratory and grass nesting birds not
seen recently in this area.
*
Transform a 17-foot deep
sand-mined crater into a pond, now sur- rounded by wild flowers and a
favorite resting spot for our geese,
turtles, and resident great blue heron.
*
Provide a “sanctuary” for
fragile native flora thought to be lost in this area, including: Smart Weed
Dodder listed on
New York
State’s
S1
(endangered species) list, as
well as species on the NYS “watch” list – Pink Lady Slipper Orchids,
Persimmons and others.
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-
- In 2005, began twice monthly FREE Guided
Nature Tours for the public.
- From 2001 – 2005, funded
MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship), a 5-year
national migratory avian study conducted by the Theodore
Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center from eight bird banding
stations on the
Hoffman
Center
property.
- Underwrote a Plant
Survey of the site that found
Hoffman
Center
has more than 150 native plant species.
- Secured a Butterfly Study that revealed 49
species on the property to date.
- Since 2003, partnered
with the New York State Planting Fields Arboretum and the
Theodore
Roosevelt
Sanctuary & Audubon
Center
on our “Naturally Speaking” Lecture series.
- Created the new
Visitor
Center
to allow year-round educational programming and a starting point
for our nature walks.
Secured a grant to perform several nature programs for the
underserved
Advisors
Copyright ©2003-2005. Hoffman Center.
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