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) and is lavishly illustrated by Marlena Marallo. It is available for $10, plus New York State sales tax, and $3.50 for shipping. E-mail address is: Purple@mail.catskill.net

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

June, 1995
June 4, Croton Point - My wife and I hiked up the Croton Point Landfill today with friends. We exulted at what six acres of bachelor's buttons, known colloquially as cornflower, mixed with a field of daisies could do to a hilltop. The view was just spectacular. I told my friends, "All I want now is a bobolink." As we crested the hill a male bobolink soared up from the very top, flashing those glorious colors and, with the river as a backdrop, delivered that wonderful liquid song. Were they nesting up there. I sure hope so. Christopher Letts, Nancy Letts

June 10, Piermont Pier - I was out on the pier around 7 p.m. and watched an immature bald eagle land in a large black locust tree. It stayed around that locust and the pier for a couple of hours, during which time it was continually hounded by crows and mockingbirds. It finally flew away after being dive-bombed by a blue jay. Tom Perry

June 15, Garrison - While seining in the Constitution Marsh Sanctuary, we caught a 1" (26 mm TL) bluefish, a rather unusual catch. We saw many more juvenile female blue crabs than normal. We also sighted a harvester butterfly in the marsh, considered rather rare in NY State. Eric Lind

June 17, Garrison - The prickly pear cactus flowers were beginning to bloom with beautiful yellow flowers on Constitution Island. Jesse Jaycox

June 25, Piermont Pier - I sighted a common loon in the Hudson at about 10 a.m., one hour after high tide. Bob Walters

June 30, Nyack - Bob Gabrielson reported several summer flounder coming up in his crab pots. They add to the dinner menu! He had also been finding many softshell crabs (newly moulted) around the June 27 new moon.