Commonwealth Conversations: The Great Outdoors

Grackles, grackles and more grackles

Marion Larson

Outreach Coordinator, MassWildlife

View Marion's Bio

 

Recently, I witnessed an amazing spectacle of bird movement and sound that could have been filmed by National Geographic! While driving by a cornfield, I saw a huge flock of birds flying across the skyline and landing in the cornfield by the road. This was no ordinary flock of a few dozen birds, this was literally thousands and thousands of grackles streaming across the sky and landing in the fields.

Grackles are black birds about the size of a robin, but with a longer tail, and often are confused with starlings, cowbirds or red-winged blackbirds. The birds were flying in to feed among the cut cornstalks and calling to one another in a constant mid-level range hum of clicks and croaks. This was not a deafening sensation, but very noticeable. Birds streamed in from the north in a wide band as far as the eye could see and the stream didn’t stop for at least four to five minutes.

Usually starlings and other kinds of blackbirds are found in these flocks, but I’ll confess I was so amazed by the sheer number of birds that I didn’t look to see if these birds were part of the gathering. (It wasn’t until I downloaded my camera images that I saw some identifiable red-winged blackbirds and cowbirds in the mix, but the vast majority of birds were grackles.) I did spot an additional flock of Canada geese in the field—but only because two snow geese (large white birds against the earthy colored field) were feeding with them!

I worked my camera “trigger” finger to capture images that gave some sense of the flock’s size and scope, but it seemed a futile exercise. Fortunately, as I waited, watched and listened, a large segment of birds rose into the air from the ground and the quantities of birds darkened the view finder—it was those shots that best illustrated this incredible scene. Have you seen some amazing flocks of birds? Tell us about them!

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has an excellent website “All About Birds”. I found this link to images, text and the calls of Grackles as well as some of the other closely related black birds.

Outdoor Events Update

Rachel Offerdahl

Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

View Rachel's Bio

Public ice rinks open this weekend. On Sunday, join a Turkey Trot Dance Class at Borderland State Park in Easton or take a guided winter walk in Moore State Park in Paxton.

Check out more Massachusetts Outdoor Events.

Tree stand safety

Marion Larson

Outreach Coordinator, MassWildlife

View Marion's Bio

During October and November, Bay State archers hunting deer are perched in treestands, waiting for a deer to walk by within range. During the shotgun and black powder deer season in December, some deer hunters will also be found waiting patiently for their quarry in a treestand. Wildlife photographers also take to the trees in hopes of capturing images of elusive wildlife.

This photo was taken during a training workshop I attended for volunteer hunter education instructors. We were learning the safest way to set up different treestands and how to emphasize these safe practices in the courses we teach during the year.

Using a tree stand while photographing/watching wildlife or hunting game is a safe, recreational activity. By using common sense, treestand use by outdoor users will stay that way.

Anyone using a treestand needs to be mindful that falls from treestands can result in serious injuries and sometimes even death. Treestand safety has evolved over the years as new research and statistics become available. According the MassWildlife Hunter Education Program, treestands and placement methods that were once considered to be 'safe' equipment and practices 10 years ago are simply not considered 'safe' today.

Follow the safety tips below from the Hunter Education Program and the Treestand Manufacturers Association (TMA) to avoid becoming an accident statistic!

• ALWAYS wear a Full Body Harness/Fall Arrest System (FAS) meeting TMA Standards even during ascent and descent. Single strap belts and chest harnesses should NOT be used.
• ALWAYS read and follow the manufacturer's warnings and instructions before using the treestand each season. Practice with the treestand at ground level prior to using at elevated positions. Never exceed the weight limit specified by the manufacturer.
• ALWAYS inspect the treestand and the Fall Arrest System for signs of wear or damage before each use.
• ALWAYS practice in your Full Body Harness in the presence of a responsible adult, learning what it feels like to hang suspended in it at ground level.
• ALWAYS attach your Full Body Harness in the manner and method described by the manufacturer.
• ALWAYS hunt with a plan and if possible a buddy. Let others know your exact hunting or photography location, when you plan to return and who is with you.
• ALWAYS carry emergency signal devices such as a cell phone, walkie-talkie, whistle, and flashlight on your person at all times and within reach even if you are suspended in your FAS.
• ALWAYS select the proper tree for use with your treestand. Select a live straight tree that fits within the size limits recommended for your treestand. Use three people to set-up any ladder-type treestand.
• ALWAYS use a haul line to pull up your equipment, bow or unloaded firearm to your treestand once you have reached your desired hunting height.
• ALWAYS know your physical limitations. If you start thinking about how high you are, don't go any higher.
• NEVER use homemade or permanently elevated stands or make modifications to a purchased treestand.
• NEVER hurry!! While climbing with a treestand, make slow, even movements of no more than ten to twelve inches at a time.

Details on the tree stand safety tips.

Take an online Treestand Safety Course! A 15-minute interactive, narrated treestand safety course to learn about the latest Treestand Manufacturers Association's safety standards and guidelines.

Full moon hike, beach walk among upcoming Massachusetts outdoor events

Rachel Offerdahl

Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

View Rachel's Bio

On Saturday meet at Revere Beach for a beach walk, go for a hike at the Breakheart Reservation in Saugus on Saturday or learn about dog sledding at Houghton’s Pond in Milton. There's also a full moon hike at Myles Standish State Forest in Carver on Sunday. 

Check out this month's Massachusetts Outdoor Events.

A new land conservation planning tool for protecting the great outdoors

Mary Griffin

Commissioner, Department of Fish and Game (DFG)

View Commissioner Griffin's Bio

This month, I’ve been thinking a lot about how land conservation planning is critical to the preservation of open space for wildlife and for outdoor recreation. Not only does conservation land protect wildlife habitat, but it creates pockets of outdoor recreational space along the rivers, mountains and coastline of Massachusetts for hiking, exploring, biking, bird watching, fishing, hunting, boating and more.

A couple of weeks ago, the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and The Nature Conservancy released a habitat map and statewide conservation strategy called BioMap2. The new land conservation blueprint plots the state’s most critical lands, waters and habitats, and creates a new science-based plan to conserve and build ecological resilience among plants and animal populations in the context of climate change for generations to come.

The photo above is of me and The Nature Conservancy's Massachusetts State Director Wayne Klockner.

Over the past four years under the leadership of Governor Patrick, the Commonwealth has protected nearly 75,000 acres of land - the equivalent of 54 acres per day. These accomplishments include the preservation of land with nearly 30,000 acres of prime farm and forest soils and protection of 14,000 acres in 10 areas of critical forested landscape habitats across Massachusetts. BioMap2 will help guide future state land conservation investments toward the most valuable and critical wildlife habitat.

Check out the New York Times Green Blog post about BioMap. 

Developed by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) and the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP), BioMap2 includes an interactive map that shows topography, municipal borders and critical habitat for threatened species all in one place. It’s a tool to help land trusts, state land officials and community groups guide land protection and stewardship efforts for biodiversity conservation across Massachusetts. The interactive map includes a zoom feature to allow users to view the map on a town or region level, and features designed to show or hide topographic data, open space and critical habitat.

BioMap2 includes 500 sets of data to target the habitat conservation needs of individual species, especially those that are currently rare or uncommon, as well as other noted fish and wildlife species identified in the Massachusetts Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy.

BioMap2 also outlines strategies to facilitate resistance and resilience of plant and animal populations and ecosystems subject to the effects of climate change. Recognizing that habitat transformation is particularly likely along the coast, the map identifies low-lying, intact uplands adjacent to salt marshes that would allow the migration of ecosystems up-slope in the context of rising sea level.

Find out where the 187,000 acres of Wildlife Management Areas (open space protected for biodiversity) are located across the state.

DFG and MassWildlife look forward to working with all of our conservation partners using this new mapping tool, which is designed to help protect the full breath of the Commonwealth’s natural heritage.

Learn more about BioMap2.

Buy local this winter

Anna Waclawiczek

Chief of Staff, Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR)

View Anna's Bio

Farmers’ markets aren’t just for summer anymore!

Buying local gets easier this winter with approximately two dozen markets starting up over the next few weeks. From one-day holiday festivals to weekly markets, many farmers’ markets are moving indoors, and local growers are gearing up to keep their customers supplied with local produce and other Massachusetts-produced foods until spring.

Massachusetts farmers have found many innovative ways to keep pace with the demand for local food during the colder months. Some growers are extending their seasons by producing more storage crops like carrots, beets, parsnips, and potatoes. Others are growing vegetables in greenhouses or high tunnels (the white domed greenhouses pictured above). You can also find an array of pickled foods, jams, jellies, and honey that will be sure to enhance your fresh baked farmers’ market bread.

Find a complete list of winter farmers’ markets.

Paddling the Housatonic River

Laurie Burt

Commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)

View Laurie's Bio

On Tuesday, October 19th, I joined DFG Commissioner Mary Griffin and other colleagues and friends to canoe nearly 5 miles of the Housatonic River, from Fred Garner Park to the Decker boat ramp. The purpose of the trip was to get a first-hand look at the treasure we aim to save.

I have canoed rivers and lakes since I was a child, and I had forgotten how strong the currents can be in the fall, as in the spring after heavy rains. Logs and branches and sandbars put us all on alert to navigate the channel with care – it was great fun. I was reminded how dynamic and changing a natural river is.

The wildlife, even on this chilly autumn day, was abundant. The river, river banks and flood plain of this reach of the Housatonic River are rich in rare and endangered species ranging from mussels and amphibians to dragonflies and plants. On our trip we saw kingfishers, mallards and wood ducks, a great blue heron, a killdeer probing a mudflat and numerous beaver slides coming down the banks. Hawks soared in close circles, searching for morning prey.

The Housatonic is a prize to the Commonwealth, and to New England, a resource we cherish for its recreational value, its complex ecosystem and the value it lends our environment - a place where wildlife can thrive, where plants can grow, where people can work and play. Canoeing the river brought me closer than ever to the river.

After I canoed the river, I attended a listening session convened by Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles to hear ideas and concerns about addressing PCB contamination in portions of the river. This administration feels strongly about finding a solution to the PCB contamination of the Housatonic, and we are working with our partners to find the best solution we can, listening hard to those who want to rid the river of PCBs completely as well as those who call for preservation of the rich ecosystem that exists there today.

Turkey Day with right whales?

Erin Burke

Protected Species Specialist, Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF)

View Erin's Bio

It’s that time of year again, as MarineFisheries and our partners at the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies make preparations for the upcoming right whale season in Cape Cod Bay. Last year we documented 201 individual right whales! That’s around 46 percent of the known population and the highest number recorded during our 13-year study. This highlights the value our waters to these endangered whales and the critical importance of our protective measures. We can’t wait to see what 2011 brings!

Right whales typically gather in Cape Cod Bay from January through May, with peaks in March and April. Historically, however, that time window may have been wider. When the Pilgrims first arrived in Massachusetts in November 1620, they were greeted by right whales after making landfall in Provincetown. This year I’m especially curious to see if we get any “early stragglers” to the Bay because aggregations of right whales have spent much of the late summer and autumn occupying nearby Jeffreys Ledge off New Hampshire. This summer, instead of large groups of right whales lingering in their usual haunt, the Bay of Fundy, they were scattered in pockets across the Gulf of Maine. Whatever the allure of Jeffreys Ledge in recent months…it makes me wonder if we’ll see whales in Cape Cod Bay early this year.

My last post described how the exodus of whales from Cape Cod Bay in late April 2010 was quickly followed by sightings of a large feeding aggregation in Rhode Island Sound. The timing was very curious – 70 right whales disappeared from Cape Cod Bay and a few days later 100 pop up off Rhode Island. Did our whales cruise down to the Ocean State once food dwindled in the Bay? The answer turns out to be no. After examining the photo-ID and sighting history of whales in each location, we found that only 1 individual was seen during both feeding events. The other whales probably came from the Great South Channel off Chatham, or were traveling up from the Southeast US, a habitat for many right whales during the winter.

With only around 436 individuals in this population, we get to know them pretty well, and it’s interesting to see how they use different habitats and make decisions. As always, I’ll keep you posted as the 2011 right whale season progresses in Cape Cod Bay.

Avoid holiday decorating with invasive plants

Marion Larson

Outreach Coordinator, MassWildlife

View Marion's Bio

Anna Waclawiczek

Chief of Staff, Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR)

View Anna's Bio

It’s that time of year when many people are using plants to decorate their houses or businesses. Pumpkins, gourds and cornstalks are already “sprouting” on doorsteps and porches! Though these decorations are very attractive, as representatives of MassWildlife and the Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR), we highly recommend that people avoid using invasive plants such as Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) and multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) in holiday decorations. Birds eat and carry away the fruits of these plants from wreaths and garlands and the digested but still-viable seeds can sprout wherever they are deposited. Exotic, invasive plants create severe environmental damage, invading open fields, forests, wetlands, meadows, and backyards, and crowding out native plants. Bittersweet vines can even kill mature trees by strangling them. Both Oriental bittersweet and multiflora rose are extremely difficult to control; when cut, the remaining plants will re-sprout. Due to their invasiveness, both plants are on the Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List, making them illegal to import or sell in any form, as whole plants or as cuttings in decorations.

Homeowners, nursery staff, landscapers and conservationists can learn more about invasive plants from A Guide To Invasive Plants in Massachusetts. In the guide, each invasive plant description includes a photograph, the plant's regulatory status, key identification characteristics, habitats where the plant is likely to be found, type of threat the plant poses to native species and habitats, and its current distribution and place of origin. Similar plant species are also briefly described to aid in plant identification. The guide includes definitions of three categories of invasiveness, brief explanations of how invasive plants are introduced and spread, why invasives are a problem and how to learn more about controlling invasive plants. DAR regulations regarding invasive plant importation, sale and propagation are also included.

The guide is $5 a copy and may be purchased from MassWildlife by stopping in at the Westborough office during business hours or by sending a request to “Invasive Plant Guide,” MassWildlife Field HQ, NHESP, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd, Westborough, MA, 01581, and include a check payable to: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts-NHESP. Sorry, but MassWildlife doesn’t accept credit cards for purchases of publications.

For online information about invasive plants, check out the following sites.

New England Wild Flower Society invasive plants information and photo gallery.

Interactive invasive species map by the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England.

New England Wild Flower Society invasive plant information.

DAR prohibited plants list.

MassWildlife invasive species information.

Fall harvest, healthy eating

Commissioner Scott Soares

Commissioner, Department of Agriculture Resources (DAR)

View Commissioner Soares' Bio

Trying to eat healthier this holiday season? Check out some of my tips for staying healthy and eating local on the Commonwealth Conversations Public health blog where you'll find some good information about health and wellness.

My post on the Public Health blog.