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MassWildlife News is published 1-2 times/month. If you are interested in receiving the MW News electronically, send an e-mail to the following address: Join-MassWildlife.news@listserv.state.ma.us

February 2008

Released February 14, 2008

FRESHWATER SPORTFISH AWARD WINNERS RECOGNIZED

Anglers who reeled in the biggest fish of 2007 from Massachusetts lakes, ponds, and streams were recently honored by state fish and wildlife officials at the Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition in Worcester. On February 9, Massachusetts Fish and Game Commissioner Mary Griffin joined with Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Director Wayne MacCallum to present the annual Freshwater Sportfishing Awards. Among the dozens of fish enthusiasts to be honored was Roy Leyva of Plymouth, who was named MassWildlife's Angler of the Year - an award that recognizes the sportsman or woman who weighs in the largest number of species that qualify under the Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program. Leyva landed 13 different species throughout eastern and central Massachusetts, from Hoxie Pond in Sandwich and the North River in Pembroke to Plugs Pond in Haverhill and the Wachusett Reservoir.

At the Awards ceremony, gold pins and commemorative plaques were presented to those anglers who caught the largest fish in 22 species categories. The heaviest fish landed during 2007 included Leyva's 21-pound broodstock salmon, caught in Brewster's Cliff Pond; a 19-pound 6-ounce lake trout caught at the Quabbin Reservoir by Belchertown's Stephen Utley; a 29-pound 4-ounce carp pulled from the Connecticut River in Holyoke by Edward Pratt of Florence; and a 25-pound 1-ounce northern pike reeled in by Todd Matera of Palmer at Holland Pond in Holland.

In the Youth category (age 17 and under), Sean Ryan Jr. of Lowell caught a 29-pound carp from the Merrimack River in Lowell; while Natick's Tony DiRuscio caught a 16-pound 8-ounce northern pike in Webster Lake in Webster. A complete list of all 23 adult and 19 youth Gold Pin winners can be found on the MassWildlife website. Photos of award winners at the Ceremony are available upon request to mass.wildlife@state.ma.us.

MassWildlife's Freshwater Sportfishing Awards program presents bronze pins to adult and youth anglers who catch fish of certain minimum weight requirements for 22 species. Anglers must have their catch weighed on a scale and submit an affidavit PDF icon and photo of their catch to: Sportfishing Awards Coordinator, MassWildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd, Westborough, MA 01581.

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Released February 14, 2008

YOUTH ARTISTS! ENTER THE JUNIOR DUCK STAMP CONTEST BEFORE MARCH 15

"There is still time to enter the Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) contest," advises MassWildlife Education Coordinator Pam Landry. "Any student, from kindergarten through grade 12, regardless of whether they attend public school, private school or are home-schooled, can submit original artwork for this fun and educational competition. The entry deadline is March 15, 2008." Art teachers, science teachers, and parents who home-school who want JDS information packets for more details are encouraged to contact Pam Landry, 508/389-6310, or pam.landry@state.ma.us . "Even if someone decides not to enter the art competition, the related information can be valuable in the classroom," says Landry.

Landry noted there are other opportunities for aspiring artists to see artwork from the 2007 contest and to participate in a Junior Duck Stamp workshop:

  • From February 18-23, join children ages 10 and older to learn about wildfowl and how to draw them at Borderland State Park in Easton from 3:30pm - 5pm. The class will end with a finished drawing to submit to the JDS Contest. Materials will be supplied. Class will be directed by the Park Supervisor, Ellenor Yahrmarkt and two student artists. Please register by calling Borderland State Park 508/238-6566.
  • Young artists in the western part of the state can visit the Holyoke Heritage State Park to view an exhbit of 2007-2008 JDS art. Bring family and friends to see these terrific works of art by children of all ages!

The Junior Duck Stamp Program was launched in 1991 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to increase young people's awareness of the importance of preserving wetland habitats and introduce children to the delights of wildlife watching. Entries are reviewed in four categories representing grades K - 3, grades 4 - 6, grades 7 - 9 and grades 10 - 12. All entrants are recognized for their efforts, with the top 25 receiving prizes in each age category. The overall state winner represents Massachusetts at the National Competition.

"JDS is really a lesson in conservation through the arts, so everyone who participates is a winner," continues Landry. "Not only is it fun to create a drawing or painting, it's interesting to learn about the species being drawn so it can be depicted in a natural habitat." More information about JDS.

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Released February 14, 2008

SUPPORT THE RARE WILD THINGS ON YOUR STATE TAX FORM!

MassWildlife's Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) was removed from the state's operating budget in 2004. Since then the NHESP has been funded by project-specific bond monies, fees, federal grants, and voluntary contributions. A major source of funding for the protection of rare and endangered species in Massachusetts comes from voluntary tax refund donations. Since 1983, Massachusetts tax filers have had the option of donating to MassWildlife's Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund while filing their state income tax form (Line 32). All contributions go to the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund, which currently is the source for a significant portion of the annual operating budget of the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program. Over 20,000 tax filers support the program each year. When you contribute to the fund, you help to protect and restore rare and endangered animals, plants, and their habitats. Past donations have helped conserve and restore in the Commonwealth populations of the Bald Eagle, Hessel's Hairstreak butterfly, the Redbelly Cooter, and the beautiful Eastern Silvery Aster. If you have made a contribution in this manner, thank you for supporting the Program and its conservation efforts! Contributions can also be made directly to the fund by sending a check payable to the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund to: Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd, Westborough, MA 01581.

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Released February 14, 2008

MASSACHUSETTS WATERFOWL FEEDING SURVEY RESULTS

In January, biologists from MassWildlife's offices fanned out across the state to sites where people feed waterfowl. The biologists were participating in the 2008 Waterfowl Feeding Survey. This survey has been conducted by the agency every 5 years since 1973. Feeding site reports from the public were also gathered. Because most of the waterfowl associated with these sites are mallards, this survey has been dubbed the "Park Mallard Survey". This year, 12,681 mallards, 422 black ducks, and 1,768 Canada geese were counted on 160 sites, down from 15,244 mallards, 1,583 black ducks, and 3,361 Canada geese on 193 sites counted in 2003. This is well below the 20,659 mallards, 2,504 black ducks and 5,110 Canada geese counted at 224 sites in 1993.

Over time, Park Mallard Survey trends showed that wintering mallard populations increased during the 1970s and '80s, peaking at over 20,000 mallards on the 1993 survey. Canada geese, which were so few in number at feeding sites when the survey began that they were not even counted until the 1983 survey, began to increase. By 1993 over 5000 Canada geese were recorded at feeding sites. This created a problem for the mallards. Because geese spend more time on land than mallards, visitors to parks and other sites where people feed waterfowl encountered increased amounts of goose "droppings". Towns began posting "No feeding" signs at some spots and discontinued official feeding programs. The larger geese also competed directly with the mallards for handouts, with each goose consuming as much food as several mallards.

H. Heusmann, MassWildlife Waterfowl Biologist, first noted a decline in the numbers of mallards wintering at feeding spots on the 1998 survey, while the number of Canada geese increased. That decline in mallard numbers continued on the 2003 survey, though by then goose numbers were also declining as less feeding was taking place. What is uncertain is if the Massachusetts mallard population is decreasing or just being redistributed. Mallard numbers in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Midwinter Waterfowl Inventory, a separate, coastal oriented survey, have gradually increased from a few hundred birds in the 1970s to over 5,000 last year. These results suggest some mallards that typically overwinter on freshwater sites are learning to spend the cold season on coastal saltwater areas. Spring breeding surveys also show little evidence of a decline in breeding mallards in Massachusetts.

During banding studies done on park mallards during 1971-1976, agency biologists discovered that a third of winter banded Massachusetts park ducks were migrants from western and northern areas. "It could be that these birds may no longer find Massachusetts parks an inviting place to overwinter," speculates Heusmann. "In addition to official bans on feeding waterfowl, sometimes backed up by fines, it appears to be less socially acceptable to feed waterfowl. Concerns about Bird Flu, skyrocketing grain prices, and children of the Baby Boomers having pretty much grown up and moved on may also be involved in the cessation of artificial feeding."

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Released February 14, 2008

WOOLSEY HONORED BY THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

The Massachusetts Chapter of The Nature Conservancy presented its 2007 Conservationist of the Year award to Henry Woolsey, Program Manager of MassWildlife's Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP). The Conservancy selected Mr. Woolsey to receive the award in recognition of his 20 years of leadership and vision in support of land and water conservation. "Every day, the Heritage Program identifies and mitigates impacts on truly critical lands before it is too late," said Loring Schwarz, acting state director of The Nature Conservancy's Massachusetts Chapter. "Over the years, Henry's program has developed new and innovative ways to measure, map and protect our natural areas. The Massachusetts landscape and the animals and plants it harbors would have a different quality if not for his persistent leadership." Schwarz noted that Woolsey conceived and oversaw the development of the BioMap and Living Waters maps that have driven many conservation initiatives and decisions over the past several years. She also noted that recently these maps served as integral elements in the Massachusetts's Wildlife Action Plan, a planning tool recognized as one of the best in the nation, in part due to the quality and quantity of Natural Heritage Program data and input.

MassWildlife's NHESP is responsible for the conservation and protection of hundreds of species that are not hunted, fished, trapped, or commercially harvested in the state. The overall goal of the Program is the protection of the state's wide range of native biological diversity. The Program's highest priority is protecting the 178 species of vertebrate and invertebrate animals and 264 species of native plants that are officially listed as Endangered, Threatened or of Special Concern in Massachusetts.

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Released February 14, 2008

2008 BECOMING AN OUTDOORSWOMAN WORKSHOP SCHEDULE POSTED

The 2008 Becoming An Outdoorswoman schedule of workshops is posted in the Education area of the MassWildlife website. Novice and experienced adult outdoorswomen are invited to sign up for workshops in which they can learn a new outdoor skill, meet like-minded women and have fun at the same time! All workshops are designed for beginners and are taught by experienced and friendly instructors. On March 29, a Maple Sugaring and Woodlot Management workshop is scheduled in Orange. A Turkey Hunting Seminar and Hunt are scheduled for early April and May. Registration materials will be posted as details are finalized. Consider giving the gift of outdoor learning and experiences to the woman in your life!

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Released February 14, 2008

CONSERVATION CONFERENCES MARCHING IN

The month of March is crammed with a number of environmental conferences in which MassWildlife staff will be participating. Conservation minded citizens may want to take a look at the offerings below and sign up soon!

  • March 1-MassWildlife at the Annual Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commission Conference, Worcester - The 2008 MACC Annual Environmental Conference will be held at the Hogan Campus Center, Holy Cross College. Over 1,000 Conservation Commissioners, other local officials, state and federal environmental officials, consultants, attorneys and others enjoy a full day of activities. Fisheries and Natural Heritage Program staff from MassWildlife will make several presentations and staff will be on hand at the Exhibitor area to answer questions. Registration information can be found online or call MACC at 617/489-3930
  • March 5-State Environmental Education Conference, Worcester-The Massachusetts Environmental Education Society (MEES) will be holding its annual conference at the College of the Holy Cross Hogan Campus Center. This year, the MEES conference will focus on Energizing EE and Going Green. The Conference will help educators plug into Environmental Education with GREEN hot topics, concepts, impacts and solutions. For over 30 years, the MEES conference has attracted participants with its innovative presentations, networking opportunities, informative exhibits and pleasant atmosphere. The conference draws a diverse audience including classroom teachers from pre-school to college, museum and nature center staff and administrators, and community resource leaders. Pre-registration is required, walk-in registrations are not accepted. More details.
  • March 15-Massachusetts Birds Conference, Waltham-Calling all bird enthusiasts! This conference is all about Massachusetts birds and for the people who enjoy them! MassWildlife and MassAudubon are co-sponsoring the 16th Annual Bird Conference . This year's theme is "Massachusetts Birds: Our Common Wealth and Natural Heritage." Whether you feed birds at home, seek birds with binoculars, spotting scopes or hunting gear, you are sure to find topics that appeal to your interest in Massachusetts birds including: research findings, waterfowl identification, youth bird clubs, conservation stamps, bird calls, habitat management techniques for birds in decline and many other bird related topics. Presentations will be offered by a variety of experts from MassWildlife, MassAudubon and other conservation organizations. Visit displays and exhibits offered by bird oriented groups and businesses and lunch with bird enthusiasts from all walks of life! Proceeds from this conference will support MassAudubon's Important Bird Area (IBA) program and MassWildlife's Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. Program details and registration information or call Linda Cocca at 781/259-2151 or e-mail birdersmeeting@massaudubon.org.
  • March 29-Massachusetts Land Trust Conference, Worcester-This annual conference, co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition and The Trustees of Reservations will be held in a new location this year, the recently completed Worcester Technical High School. These workshops and discussions offer valuable assistance to land trust board members, volunteers, staff, municipal commission members, and others committed to land conservation. "Collaborating on Land & Habitat Initiatives with the Sporting Community" will be offered by Joseph Larson, Fisheries & Wildlife Board member and Susan Benoit of the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation. Pre-registration required. Conference details or contact Angel Vega, 978/840-4446 x1905.

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Released February 14, 2008

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The following meetings will be held at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters. Both are open to the public and the building is handicapped accessible.

February 28--Fisheries and Wildlife Board Meeting, Westborough --The February meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, (off North Drive) in Westborough. Please Note: In case of inclement weather the meeting will be held the following day at the same location. This meeting is open to the public. Phone is 508/389-6300.

March 13--Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee Meeting, Westborough - Held at MassWildlife's Field HQ, this meeting is open to the public. Topics on non-game and endangered species will be covered, an update on agency activities will be part of the agenda. The Committee makes recommendations on these issues to MassWildlife's staff and the Fisheries & Wildlife Board. 1:30 - 4:00 PM. Phone is 508/389-6360.

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Last Updated: 02/14/2008