Are you an avid fisher? Have you ever wanted to try fishing, but never got the chance to do so? Whatever your answer, you should think about attending one of the great fishing festivals that MassWildlife Angler Education Program is hosting around the state this weekend. Come to cast a line, learn about native Massachusetts fishes and familiarize yourself in the important areas of fishing safety, ethics, and equipment. Seasoned fishers are requested to bring their own equipment, but equipment and tackle will be provided for first timers. Events will be held on Saturday in Westborough on the shores of Sandra Pond and in Charlton at Snows Pond and on Sunday the fishing festival will take place in Brookline.
A series of Sunday afternoon Nature Walks and Stories will start this week in South Boston. Department of Conservation and Recreation rangers invite you and your family to a fun filled afternoon of crafts and story readings in Ventura Park!
I am sure that our recent spate of summer-like weather has prompted many of you to pull out your canoe or kayak and get in some early-season paddling. Early spring is usually a great time to be venturing out on the Commonwealth’s rivers and larger streams, as the higher water levels and vigorous flows enable paddling on many streams that tend to be too rocky in the summer.
If you have already been out paddling, you may have noticed an increase in the amount of downed trees and branches in and along the river, perhaps resulting from last year’s weather events like Tropical Storm Irene or the pre-Halloween snowstorm. Working your way through all the wood in the river might have made your paddle feel more like an obstacle course, as you clambered in and out of your boat to avoid numerous fallen logs and overhanging branches.
Living and dead trees, branches and logs in and along a river confer a myriad of ecological benefits, serving as perching areas for birds, cover for fish to hide from predators and prey, and basking spots for turtles, as well as non-ecological benefits such as attenuating downstream flooding. The way the river interacts with the downed wood creates undercut banks, side channels and other “nooks and crannies,” contributing to habitat complexity, a key characteristic of a healthy river ecosystem.
That being said, downed wood in rivers can be a possible safety hazard, such as when a fallen tree piles up against a bridge abutment, or lies across a fast-moving section of water where it could act as a “sweeper” or “strainer” that could flip a boat and pin it underwater. When to remove trees and when to leave them be requires performing a balancing act and to provide clarity the Division of Ecological Restoration’s (DER) Russ Cohen collaborated with Mike Gildesgame of the Appalachian Mountain Club on Trees, Paddlers and Wildlife: Safeguarding Ecological and Recreation Values on the River.
There has been a brochure, video and newly-postedPowerPoint presentation Russ delivered at the Mass. Association of Conservation Commission’s 2012 Conference, are all intended to educate paddlers and others about why trees are good for rivers and to encourage their retention except where significant safety hazards exist, and even then to look for the minimum action possible such as judicious pruning or relocation of the vegetation to abate the hazard.
Also, DER compiles an annual Rivers and Wetlands Months Calendar, listing all the public paddling trips and other river- and wetland-related activities taking place in the Commonwealth during May (Wetlands Month) and June (Rivers Month). The 2012 Calendar will cover the period from Saturday, April 28 to Wednesday, July 4. So, if you know of an event taking place during that time, please feel free to send an e-mail about it to Russ russ.cohen@state.ma.us.
On Friday, April 27, the Bushnell-Sage Library in Sheffield will host a talk on local wildlife. Learn about the wildlife in your community, from bats and bears, to fish and beaver from MassWildlife District Manager, Andrew Madden. For more information, call the library at (413) 229-7004.
Have you ever wanted to learn the basics of firearms, using a gun, or shooting a bow and arrow? On Saturday, April 28, head over to Hanson for Shooting Sports Day for Outdoors Women and Men, an event for beginners sponsored by MassWildlife and the Hanson Rod and Gun Club. Experts will help you learn the basics. Be sure to make it if you plan on applying for an F.I.D. or an L.T.C. card. Registration materials can be found here.
This is the first post in a series about the Great Marsh. Be sure to check back to learn more about how you can enjoy and protect this wonderful and critical resource on Massachusetts’ North Shore!
Within the network of marsh, estuaries, mud flats and tidal rivers that make up the Great Marsh, the endangered least tern feels safe enough to make its nest along the shore. The least tern is just one of 350 bird species that uses some part of the Great Marsh’s diverse habitats for either breeding or migration purposes. The Great Marsh is the largest salt marsh in New England covering over 20,000 acres and extending from Gloucester to Salisbury. The area is bursting with diverse flora and fauna and for this reason it's recognized as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). In addition to birds, you may also see deer, coyotes, muskrats, beavers, raccoons, snapping turtles, toads and seals. ACEC designations, administered by the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs' Department of Conservation and Recreation, are given to natural places for the uniqueness and significance of their natural and cultural resources. More proof of the wonders of the Great Marsh lie in that the area is designated an Important Bird Area and is home to the federal Parker River Wildlife Refuge, Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Sanctuary and many other areas protected by local land trusts and non-profits.
If all this talk has caught your eye and you’re ready to get out and experience the Great Marsh, there are numerous public beaches and parks you can visit. Two of my favorites are DCR's Sandy Point State Reservation on the Southern tip of Plum Island and Salisbury Beach State Reservation. If you are looking for other sites to explore within the Great Marsh, click here for all the best walking trails, paddling launch sites, and beaches.
Make your way to the Hopkinton State Park on April 19, for the Hopkinton Reservoir Family Fishing Festival, sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Recreation! Cast a line, and learn about fish in our local waters, as well as water safety and ethics plus fishing equipment. Some fishing equipment and bait will be provided, but bring your equipment along if you have it. Email Jim Lagacy, MassWildlife aquatic resource education coordinator, at jim.lagacy@state.ma.us for more information.
Kids will love the interactive outdoor nature walks being offered throughout the state on April 18. Explore the trails of the Upton State Forest on the “Scents of Place” hike with DCR Search and Rescue K9 Emmit Francis and his handler, ranger Jennifer Stowe. Call (978) 369-7834 ext. 3 for more information.
Enjoy some springtime stories in the Wompatuck State Park in Hingham! Storyteller Andrea Lovett will present engaging stories and activities for children of all ages. Call (508) 866-2580 ext. 164 for more information.
On April 22, the Springfield Science Museum will host an Earth Day festival from 11am to 4pm. The MassWildlife Angler Education program will run the Kids Casting Program at this event. Other festivities will include a performance by the Boys of the Landfill bluegrass band, a live animal demonstration, and a papermaking activity, plus other displays.
Get outdoors or learn something new about your environment this weekend! This upcoming weekend is full of educational and hands-on outdoor events for residents and visitors of the Commonwealth. On Saturday, April 14, the next in the series of Growing Up WILD workshops will be held in Newton. This week’s workshop focuses on the role early childcare providers have in fostering a child’s sense of wonder about nature and the environment. The first of a two part seminar on Turkey hunting will also be held on Saturday. This seminar will take place in Shirley and is designed to support beginning female hunters – no previous experience required!
On Sunday, April 15, the Wildlife Walk Series will continue in Alewife, where expert naturalist David Brown will guide you through the Alewife Wildlife Reservation. This is a chance to see songbirds and other wildlife right here in Massachusetts! Dighton Rock State Park will also offer a hike that kids will love- it’s a hide and seek adventure to search for animals and their tracks.
The fishing season opens this week at the Wachusett, Sudbury and Quabbin Reservoirs. More information and fishing guides can be found here for the Wachusett and Sudbury Reservoirs and here for the Quabbin Reservoir.
Be sure to check out the Great Outdoors interactive Google calendar for a full calendar of Massachusetts outdoor events.
A growing number of communities across the Commonwealth are “a-cluck” with backyard chickens, as home hobbyists try their hand at raising small flocks of poultry. There are more than 100 recognized breeds from which to choose and six well-cared-for birds will usually lay four to five eggs per day – perfect for a hearty egg frittata or deviled eggs!
For those less ambitiously inclined to raise chickens for egg production, there are nearly two dozen egg farms in Massachusetts where the public can go to purchase fresh, local eggs along with other available farm products. One such egg farm is Chip-in Farm located in Bedford, Massachusetts. Besides eggs, Chip-in also has a farm stand, a general store and a petting zoo! To find other egg farms go to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ (DAR) Mass Grown and Fresher page.
Speaking of wholesome locally produced food, Mass in Motion recently teamed up with DAR to produce a fun monthly newsletter featuring easy-to-make healthy recipes for families. Called ChopChop, the magazine features yummy recipes that use locally grown Massachusetts produce and products.
And what’s up for April’s ChopChop newsletter? The fantabulous high-in-protein egg of course! Click here to find fun facts and a great recipe for Baked Broccoli Frittata.
And for those looking for the Easter egg kind of fun, Bemis Farms Nursery is hosting its 12th Annual Easter Egg hunt on Saturday, April 7, 2012.
