Commonwealth Conversations: The Great Outdoors

Weekly Outdoor Events 5/7/12

Maia Fitzstevens

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

View Maia's Bio

Opportunities for family friendly fishing continue this week! This is your chance to enjoy the natural resources and beauty of our Commonwealth and to connect with other anglers. Weekend fishing festivities include a Kids Fishing Event on May 12 in Sunderland at the Cronin National Salmon Station, sponsored by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (email Bryan for more information) as well as the MassWildlife Fishing Derby at Coes Pond in Worcester (see picture below).

Photo credit: By Michaeldavid54 on Flickr

For those in the Boston area, this weekend is the perfect time to head over to Milton for some fun outdoor events! Give back to the community and join the Friends of the Blue Hills Trail Crew on Saturday morning to help spruce up the trails of the beautiful Blue Hills Reservation. If you’d rather just enjoy the gorgeous view of the Blue Hills, Department of Conservation and Recreation staff will host an Open House and Kite Festival at the Blue Hills Observatory (call 617-696-0562 for more information). Also in Milton this Saturday is Creepy Crawly Days at MassAudobon’s Trailside Museum, where kids of all ages can enjoy live animal exhibits, fun bug hunts, crafts and more!

Photo credit: Blue Hills Reservation http://www.flickr.com/photos/pmch/ 

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!

Weekly Outdoor Events 4/30/12

Maia Fitzstevens

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

View Maia's Bio

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!

As always, 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!

Bird's Eye View of the Great Marsh

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

Weekly Outdoor Events 4/16/12

Maia Fitzstevens

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

View Maia's Bio

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.

The spirit of spring

Madeleine Barr
Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
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Although it has been a relatively mild winter, signs of spring still ignite positive energies and excitement within the Commonwealth.  Lunch breaks take a little longer and the walk to your T stop is a bit more relaxed.  To many people, springtime is about more than just an escape from the bonds of cold weather.  Springtime is the start of the birds’ mating season and the farmers’ planting season; the activities we do in our free time change and we can spend more of our day outside interacting with the nature around us.   

Today I spoke with members of the various environmental agencies to find out what they love about spring.  For Marion Larson with MassWildlife, the mating call of the American Woodcocks “peent….peent…peent,” is a clear sign of the new season.  Although SJ Port, who works with the Department of Conservation Resources (DCR), is reluctant to put her hockey gear away, she is excited to replace her skates with sneakers and take a walk along DCR's Charles River Reservation's Esplanade and hike through some of the DCR state parks.  Anna Waclawiczek, in the Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR), looks forward to the busy planting season at our local farms.  Now is the time, she says, whether you are a farmer or a green thumb hobbyist to visit a garden center or nursery and get your fingers dirty with fresh planting soil.  To find local nurseries, garden centers, farmers’ markets and much more go to the MassGrown & Fresher Agri-Google map.   

What do you love about the transition into spring?  What smell, sight, or sound is most indicative to you that springtime is here?  For me it is the smell of hyacinths when I am out on a jog or walking my dogs.  Use the comment space below to share with us your thoughts.     

Weekly Outdoor Events! 3-12-12

Maia Fitzstevens

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

View Maia's Bio

Maple Month is in full swing! Don’t miss Breakheart Reservation’s annual Pancake Breakfast in Saugus, on March 17, from 9am to noon, where you can enjoy some delicious fresh maple syrup. Come back on Sunday March 18, from 10am-2pm for Maple Sugaring to learn about the history of maple sugaring, participate in tree identification, and even tap your own maple tree.

Interested in learning about local wildlife? Head over to Norwell for a talk on black bears, fishers and beavers in southeastern MA this Wednesday, March 14, from 7-8:30pm, brought to you by the North and South Rivers Watershed Association. Or, make your way to the Dennis Conservation Land Trust for a talk on local wildlife and preventing conflict with your furry neighbors, on Saturday March 17, from 10am-1pm.

If you’re looking to get outside this week, meet at the Harold Parker State Forest headquarters in North Andover to walk the woods at 10am on Wednesday, March 14, or head over to Walden Pond State Reservation on Sunday for a Thoreau Ramble.

Educators and teachers: check out the Growing up WILD Workshops on March 13 in Newburyport, and on March 17 in Norwell, designed to help your students connect to nature.

And for more Massachusetts Outdoor Events, visit The Great Outdoors interactive Google Calendar.

Redtail on the hunt

Marion Larson

Outreach Coordinator, MassWildlife

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Recently, I was hiking with family around a cranberry bog in Barnstable when we spotted a red-tailed hawk. The bird dove into the plant-filled bog, landed, and then “mantled” over the prey it had successfully caught.  Mantling is when the bird spreads its wings out to protect its prey from other predators—(see the outstretched wings image). The bird then flew to a nearby tree and began to pick at it — only ten yards away from us! 

We were close enough to identify the prey as a vole, take photos, and ensure we didn’t stand in the “drop zone” as pieces of vole were falling away while the bird tore at the carcass.  Within a couple of minutes, the bird swallowed the vole in one gulp and then scanned the area for more prey. We enjoyed every minute of this amazing experience and were so grateful to have been in the right place at the right time!  If you have had a similar “Wild Kingdom or Animal Planet Hunt experience” like this recently, please share it!

 

 

Weekly Outdoor Events! 3/5/12

Maia Fitzstevens

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

View Maia's Bio

With Massachusetts Maple Month kicking off and spring right around the corner, MassWildlife and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) have a lot of exciting events in store for this week.

Check out Maple Sugar Days this weekend in Milton, where you can make real traditional maple syrup and enjoy the beauty of Brookwood Farm. If you can’t make it to Milton this weekend, be sure to preregister for Maple Sugarin’ on March 18 at 10 a.m. at the Breakheart Reservation in Saugus, where you can enjoy some delicious maple syrup and learn about its production.

History buffs will love learning about the history of ice harvesting at Walden Pond, this Sunday at 1 p.m., on an interactive 1.5 mile hike at the Walden Pond State Reservation in Concord.

Anglers and fish enthusiasts won’t want to miss a talk by Ken Simmons, MassWildlife Hatchery Chief, about Massachusetts trout stocking in Worcester on Wednesday, at 7pm on March 8! This talk is sponsored by the Central Massachusetts Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Click here for directions.

For families this week we have Snakes Alive!, a presentation by Peter Mirick featuring live snakes, hosted by the White Oak Land Conservation Society. It’s in Holden on March 10 at 10:30am.

Celebrate maple sugar days at DCR parks

Hilary Katulak

Press intern, Department of Conservation and Recreation(DCR)

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It’s that sweet time of year again, so join the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) as they unlock the mysteries of maple sugaring! Throughout the month of March, DCR will host activities in state parks across the Commonwealth that will show visitors how sap is collected from trees and boiled down to produce pure maple syrup.

Originally an early Native American tradition, the craft of maple sugaring was adopted by early Puritan settlers and continues to be a strong part of New England heritage today. This tasty delight is produced during a four to six week period that lasts from early March into April.

Traditionally, maple syrup is made by allowing to sap fall into buckets, which are then collected and brought to a sugar house, an outdoor shack containing a cauldron in which the sap is simmered for hours, reducing moisture and condensing the sap into pure syrup. More modern farms are coming up with advanced techniques that use plastic piping that runs from the grove of the sugar maples tress to the sugar house.

Be a part of DCR’s winter maple sugaring activities and experience this process first hand, from start to finish. Come learn, taste, and explore the natural sweetness of New England.

For all maple sugaring programs please wear sturdy footwear and warm clothing. These activities are open to participants of all ages. Most programs are free, unless otherwise noted. For details on events go to http://www.mass.gov/dcr/DCRMapleSugaring.htm.

Hope to see you there!

Weekly outdoor events - 2/27/12

Madeleine Barr
Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
View Madeleine's Bio

On Tuesday, please join the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife’s chief of Hatcheries, Ken Simmons, for a discussion about Trout Stream Insects.  This talk will be especially pertinent for those interested in fly fishing and/or marine habitats.  This event will take place at the South Foxborough Community Center. 

Also, don’t forget that pre-registration is still going on for the Maple Sugarin’ event in mid-March at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus.  This will be a unique opportunity to make your own maple syrup! 

We have a little less going on this week in terms of planned activities, but that does not mean you should feel confined to your houses.  Grab a pair of binoculars and visit one of the many state parks to scout for birds that stick around New England all winter. 

Or visit a local winter farmers market and try a new recipe with some local seasonal food.   Many local farmers can continue growing root vegetables, such as beets and potatoes, throughout the winter.  Food that is grown locally is better for the environment because it does not need to travel as far nor consume as many pesticides as food grown on large-scale farms far away.