The almanac uses observations written by naturalists, river lovers of all ages, and scientists to assemble a journal of the river's unique moments.

The almanac is printed by Purple Mountain Press, Ltd., (800-325-2665). It is available for $10, plus New York State sales tax, and $3.50 for shipping. E-mail address is: Purple@mail.catskill.net

Limited copies of The Hudson River Almanac: Volume II are also available at the same price. Volumes I and III are sold out.

These excerpts are taken, with permission from the publisher, from the Hudson River Almanac, Volume IV, 1997-98. Each month, we'll be adding another excerpt from the book that corresponds to the current month.

April 1997
April 1 - Hudson Valley - The overnight hours were charged with thunder and lightning, 60 mph winds, and heavy snow. The Hudson Valley woke to a blizzard, one that would ultimately be regarded as the worst April storm in memory. Snowfall accumulation was significant but erratic throughout the valley. Tom Lake, Phyllis Lake

April 2 - Hudson Valley - In the aftermath of the blizzard, one million people were without power in the Northeast. The silver lining in that cloud? In the overnight clear sky, with no earthly lights, Hale-Bopp's tail grew four times as long and twice as wide. With no glare to wash out the night sky, the celestial cosmos over the Hudson Valley seemed like a view from the Canadian Rockies. Tom Lake

Croton Point - I drove here through roads choked with hundreds of downed trees and power lines, a result of the wicked ice and wind storm that Beat up the Hudson Valley a day ago. The point was virtually ice-free, with little damage apparent. Tree swallows put in a first appearance, four snipe were flushed from a tiny swamp behind the park office, and a dozen dunlins swept across the parking lot. Christopher Letts

April 5 - Croton Point - As I walked the southern edge of the landfill I saw a large bird standing in the sunny grass about 150' up slope from me. My first thought was that it was some sort of owl. My binoculars revealed a large gray falcon, without the sideburns of a peregrine. It glared at me. I took a step, and the bird flew in front of me and down the marsh: my first gyrfalcon. Christopher Letts

April 6 - Croton Point - The western shore from the lower parking lot to the tip of Teller's Point was one long bank of propped fishing rods and lines intersecting the water as far as the angler could cast. More than 100 people were spread along the rocky shore, mostly in family groups. No English was being spoken but many languages were represented. They were having a good time, the kids playing with the objects washed up on the beach, the older folks cooking, eating, and talking. Every group had a small fire going, most with fish grilling on top. Striped bass and white perch were being caught, but sparsely. No matter - on this balmy day smiles and good humor were everywhere. Christopher Letts

April 7 - Garrison - I spotted a common loon flying low near the south cove this afternoon. The first spring azure butterfly also showed. Eric Lind

April 10 - Croton Point - It was bright and cold, with a savage wind and a blow-out tide. I watched a wader-clad fisherman beach his boat on the south shore and cast into water he knew was too shallow to hold fish. Like the kestrels and marsh hawks hunting in the lee of the landfill, he may have been more interested in staying warm than catching dinner. Christopher Letts

April 14 - Garrison - The shadbush was in full bloom today at the Constitution Marsh Sanctuary. Eric Lind

April 20 - Croton-on-Hudson - A flotilla of more than 100 boats was spread out from Croton Point to Peekskill Bay. Everything from cartop punts to charters up to 30' were chasing the striped bass. Many more fishermen lined the riverbank, and I think they were having more fun. They all had fires to keep them warm. The shelters waters of Croton Marsh attracted perhaps 2,000 tree swallows. Christopher Letts

Sleepy Hollow - Sue Moga and a group of Scouts engaged in a beach cleanup found a "2' long sea turtle" and left it for me to collect; it was dead and going nowhere. It turned out to be considerably less than 2' long and an Asiatic softshell turtle weighing about 15 lb. Christopher Letts

April 29 - Haverstraw Bay - It was sunny and clear with a chilly north wind. As we dragged the Clearwater's otter trawl through the cold turbid water of Haverstraw Bay, we did a "fish chant" (used in an attempt to conjure up fish). As the net was pulled up we realized our dreams had come true: we had caught a 28" Atlantic sturgeon. It was the most beautiful fish I had ever seen. We held it up for a minute for the school kids to see and then put it back in the river. Allyson Bizer