Birding

06/10/2013

Weekly Outdoor Events: The Earth and Beyond - June 10-16

When was the last time you took time to stop and smell the roses? This week, reopen your eyes to the true beauty that makes up the world. On Wednesday, June 12 at 6 p.m., explore Myles Standish State Forest to catch a glimpse of the beautifully adorable whip-poor-will. As dusk falls, their voice grows; come listen to the songs they sing and the stories they tell. There may even be a few owls! For more information, and to preregister, visit http://www.meetup.com/friendsofmylesstandishstateforest/events/104183732.

Frequently forgotten in the bright city lights, the night sky has remained a source of inspiration, imagination, and fantasy. On June 14, in Halibut Point State Park, escape with the Gloucester Area Astronomy Club at 9 p.m. to gaze at the stars and other celestial beings. Telescopes will be available, and local astronomers will be present. So, bring your kids and a blanket and let your mind drift off into the cosmos. Call 978-546-2997 for more information.

Continuing on with your rediscovery of Mother Nature and join Adam Morris and Christine Ward as they lead an invigorating ID hike along the Tree-mile Hill Trail near Fountain Pond the morning of June 15. Listen for wildlife and investigate the diverse species of plants and trees over 1.5 miles of the trail (a shuttle will be provided for a ride back). A perfect family activity and it’s completely free! Bond with your beau, your brats, and your buddies, all while basking in Beartown State Forest. To register, please call the Berkshire South Community Center at 413-528-2810.

To cap off the events, don’t miss the summer solstice lecture in Western Gateway Heritage State Park June 15, beginning at 2 p.m. Titled “Yours Truly, Earth”, this year’s lecture centers around the golden record that was attached to the Voyager spacecraft. A sort of time capsule, on it is recorded 115 images, a variety of natural sounds, greetings in a multitude of languages, musical selections from different cultures and eras, along with other representations of the people on Earth. Come learn about this special, hope-infused piece of history, and listen and look at its portrayal of Earth and its people. Appropriate for adults and children high school and up.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the trials and tribulations of everyday life. But this week, turn off your cell phones and turn on your senses. The world is a wonderful, magical place, if we only take a moment to notice. Don’t forget to check out the Great Outdoors interactive Google calendar for a full calendar of Massachusetts’ outdoor events!

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04/26/2013

Weekend Outdoor Events - April 26-28. Celebrate Park Serve Day!

Saturday, April 27, 2013 is Park Serve Day in Massachusetts.

Park Serve Day is an initiative created by Governor Patrick to improve state recreational spaces throughout the Commonwealth by fostering a sense of a shared purpose by communities to maintain public spaces for the greater good. Most events will take place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., though hours may vary by location and participants are encouraged to reach out to their local Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) park to confirm event times.

DCR will provide work gloves and equipment needed for the various projects, though participants may want to bring their own gloves or hand tools, clearly marked with the owner’s name and phone number. Power tools are not allowed. Wear sturdy shoes and work clothes, and bring sunscreen and insect repellent. All events are rain or shine, so dress appropriately for the weather. Parking fees will be waived at all DCR facilities where Park Serve projects are taking place. Drinking water and a snack will be supplied, though participants should feel free to bring their own water and food as well.

Last year, nearly 5,000 people volunteered at 53 parks across the state. In addition to collecting more than 19.5 tons of trash, those volunteers had planted over 187 trees, 167 shrubs and 1,742 flowers.

To find a Park Serve Day event near you, check the list below or search the Park Serve Day website. To register for an event, use the online volunteer application.

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03/25/2013

Weekly Outdoor Events - March 25-31: Easter Weekend Fun!

 

On Saturday, March 30, head over to the Blue Hills Reservation at 1:00 p.m. for Project Bluebird! Build and “adopt” a Blue Bird box for our feathered friends in the reservation. You build it and we will place it in the park. No need to be a master carpenter to enjoy this program! Tools and materials provided. For ages 8 and up. Email Raymond.F.McKinnon@state.ma.us for registration and meeting place.

On Sunday, March 31, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., investigate vernal pools. Come and learn why vernal pools are a vital part of the ecosystem within the Wachusett watershed. These pools dry up later in the year, but are teaming with an interesting array of life in the spring. Participants will learn how to identify a vernal pool in the field and carefully search within the pool for organisms that rely on this habitat for breeding. This is a program suitable for families. Meet at the Stillwater Farm in Sterling.

And next week, check out Agriculture Day at the Massachusetts State House! Each year, Massachusetts Agriculture Day is held to showcase agricultural products and industry achievements!

On Tuesday, April 2, join hundreds of Massachusetts farmers, agricultural officials, legislators and residents at the State House to celebrate the agricultural industry's contribution to the Commonwealth's culture and economy.The event kicks off at 11:30 a.m.

Ag Day

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01/14/2013

Weekly Outdoor Events January 14-January 20: Experience Winter Wildlife

As we reach the middle of winter, now is the perfect time to experience all of the season’s wildlife. Learn more about nature with three events this week:

Enjoy birding and wildlife? Love Boston Harbor Cruises? Combine the two for the Winter Wildlife Cruise on Saturday, January 19th! Departing from Quincy or Boston, discover wildlife as you cruise through Boston Harbor, the outer islands and Hingham Harbor. The cruise lasts from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm from Quincy Shipyard or from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm from Long Wharf in Boston.  

Get your entire family learning about the outdoors with the Winter Family Hike. Experience winter wildlife as you hike along Easthead Reservoir Trail on Sunday, January 20th from 10:00 am to 11:30 am.  Meet at Myles Standish State Forest headquarters in South Carver for this 2.5 mile hike.

Also on Saturday, January 20th is the Winter Greens Hike. Walk with a DCR naturalist through different habitat types in Nasketucket Bay State Reservation and experience the area’s winter greens! The hike, appropriate from ages 8 and up, is from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.

For more great events happening this and every week, check out our outdoors calendar for events near you.

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06/20/2012

Paddling the Squannacook River

Marion Larson

Marion Larson

Outreach Coordinator, MassWildlife

View Marion's Bio

Last June, I kayaked a portion of the Squannacook River, a cold river which wends its way from the towns of Townsend, Groton and Shirley. My first experience with this river was in the mid-1980’s as a rookie Natural Resource Officer (now called Environmental Police Officer) when I took a downstream trip with an officer who was “breaking me in.” We dressed in regular outdoor clothing instead of the uniform, packed lunch coolers, stowed ticket books in a waterproof ammunition box, and launched our canoe in West Townsend, close to the Willard Brook State Forest.

Impoundment area, Squannacook River 

Because we looked like an ordinary couple enjoying the day, it was easy to paddle up to anglers on the riverbanks, ask about the fishing and then ask if they had a fishing license!  It was the height of the trout stocking season and we checked many fishermen that day.  There were a fair number of anglers who didn’t have a license—at which point they often received a ticket and always given the advice to reel in their lines and buy a license! It took us all day to paddle downstream to our cruiser parked in West Groton, but it was one of the most enjoyable days of my time in law enforcement.

The river flows through the DFW’s Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area.  The amount of land protected by DFW in this area has expanded since the 1980’s and now includes nearly 1000 acres in Townsend, Groton, and Shirley. The Squannacook offers some interesting portages, including one area called Townsend Harbor where a historic cooperage (basket-making facility) stands.  
On the holiday weekend, my husband and I put in at the Vose launching area in West Groton and paddled upstream. Tight spot in Squannacook River

Here the river is dammed by the Hollingsworth and Vose factory and we explored a series of impoundments and dead ends. We finally found the mainstem of the river and paddled into a narrower, forest-canopied waterway. Despite the midday hour, many songbirds were in full voice, Wood lilies bloomed in several areas and dragonflies zipped all around us. Downed trees due to the flooding and the ice storm of a few years ago made for some challenging paddling as evidenced by my husband squeezing through one tight spot. Surprisingly, we only encountered two groups of paddlers during our three-hour trip. A couple of people carried cameras and one woman peered through binoculars. The only fishing activity we saw was from a Great Blue Heron and a Kingfisher!


Wood lilies, Squannacook River

The Nashua River Watershed Association offers a useful paddling guide you can order for the Nashua River and its main tributaries, including the Squannacook River.

Also, check out the Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area Map.

Nearby state properties:

DCR's Willard Brook State Forest, Ashby. This property offers camping, swimming, hiking and horseback riding trails. DCR's Pearl Hill State Park in Townsend also offers swimming and camping. A 4 mile trail connects to the two properties. 

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05/14/2012

Weekly Outdoor Events 5/14/12

This week, take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Massachusetts Department of Ecological Restoration (DER). DER sponsors weekly events to give you the chance to explore some Massachusetts’s pristine wetlands reserves. Wetlands are home to a large number of diverse wildlife and bird species, and DER guides will point out all the hidden spots where these animals like to nest. Some of the tours take you by foot through the nature paths, and others allow you to paddle in your kayak right down the river. This week alone, DER will be sending experts to lead explorations of the Quinsigamond River, the Ispwich River, the Weweantic River, and the Muddy River in the Charles River Watershed.

Also on Saturday, May 19, the 19th annual EarthFest celebration is taking place at the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplanade. EarthFest is a free, family-friendly event to celebrate the earth. The event will showcase national and local music acts, environmentally-friendly products and local non-profit environmental organizations presented by Whole Foods in conjunction with DCR. 

Learn more about EarthFest is available here!

And remember to check out the Great Outdoors interactive calendar for a complete listing of outdoor events in Massachusetts. Bookmark the MassWildlife events page too, for wildlife related talks, events, hikes and more!

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04/25/2012

Trees, Paddlers & Wildlife

TPW brochuere cover
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-posted PowerPoint 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.  

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04/20/2012

Bird's Eye View of the Great Marsh

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. 

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04/16/2012

Weekly Outdoor Events 4/16/12

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.

For a full list of Massachusetts outdoor events, visit the Great Outdoors interactive Google calendar.

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04/09/2012

Weekly Outdoor Events 4/9/12

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.

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