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MassWildlife
News Release
All Media Inquiries: (508) 389-6300
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
June 2008
Mid-June Newsletter
- JUNE IS TURTLE MONTH
- COYOTE FIGURES FOR 2007-08
- WILDLIFE VIEWING SITES POSTED ON LINE
- TERN CAM ON LINE!
- 2008 MASSACHUSETTS ENVIROTHON WINNERS ANNOUNCED
- ANTLERLESS DEER PERMIT DRAWING AND GAME RECIPE CONTEST, JULY 31
- UPCOMING MEETINGS
- NEWS & NOTES-Aquatic WILD Workshop for Educators; State Record Bullhead Caught; Spring Turkey Season Preliminary Figures; Forest Management Site Walks Reminder; Sign Up For Youth Pheasant Hunt
Early June Newsletter
MID-JUNE NEWSLETTER
JUNE IS TURTLE MONTH
June is the month when normally aquatic snapping, painted, spotted,
red-bellied, Blanding's and other turtles leave the relative safety
of their water world and venture overland in search of nesting sites.
With alarming frequency, these ancient reptiles are cut off from traditional
nesting areas by an ever increasing network of roads, leaving the turtles
vulnerable to high rates of road-kill.
Dubbed the "Killing Grid" by herpetologists studying the dilemma,
roads take a terrible toll on female turtles that normally offset low
reproductive success rates with long reproductive life spans. Cutting
short adult life spans limits recruitment of young turtles in the wild
and can ultimately result in the complete loss of local turtle populations.
To add to the crisis, roads bring increasing development which translates
into loss of nesting habitat and additional losses of turtles and turtle
nests to people, and predators associated with human residential areas
such as skunks, foxes and raccoons.
The solution? On a landscape scale large tracts of habitat need to be
protected to ensure the viability of Massachusetts' native turtles.
The BioMap and Living Waters, created by MassWildlife's Natural Heritage
Program with funding from the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs,
identifies such tracts and superimposes them on a statewide map creating
a "greenprint" for the conservation of biodiversity. State,
local and private conservation agencies and organizations are embracing
the BioMap and Living Waters maps to guide habitat protection efforts.
The adoption of Green Certification standards by state environmental
agencies for sustainable forest management also helps to insure that
care is taken to conserve rare species during the planning and implementation
of timber sales on state owned forest lands.
On an individual level, citizens can assist turtles moving to and from
nesting areas by helping them to cross roadways. While this Samaritan
act should never be attempted if any human risk is involved, a successful
road crossing can make the difference between nesting now and well into
the future, versus no nesting at all. Always remember to help a turtle
only when safe to do so and always move the turtle in the direction
it is heading. Do not take the animal to another location or a pond!
Snappers may be safely held by the tail with the underside of the animal
toward your leg while painted, spotted and other turtle species can
be safely grasped by the sides of the shell. For more useful turtle
conservation tips and Turtle FAQs, go to www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/conservation/herps/turtle_tips.htm.
Encounters with rare state-protected turtles should be reported to MassWildlife
with photo and map documentation. To
report a rare turtle species visit the MassWildlife website in the
Natural Heritage area.
COYOTE FIGURES FOR 2007-08
Final figures gathered by MassWildlife's five district offices totaled a record 442 coyotes taken by licensed hunters during the 2007-2008 coyote season. The coyote harvest for 2007-2008 nearly doubled from the previous season total of 222. 199 coyotes were taken in the Southeast District, 34 in the Northeast District, 50 in the Central District, 58 in the Connecticut Valley District, and 99 in the Western District. 2 additional coyotes were checked in at a Western district check station, but the hunting locations of these animals were not documented. The Eastern coyote is a protected game species in Massachusetts with the shortest coyote hunting season in the United States. The 2008-09 hunting season dates for coyotes are October 18, 2008- March 7, 2009.
Approximately half of the increase in harvest was attributed to 5 additional weeks newly added to the 2007-08 season and the other half of the increase was attributed to an increased harvest during what had been the traditional season dates. 58 coyotes were taken during shotgun hunting season for deer. Since 2002, the Division has seen a steady increase in the number of coyotes harvested as well as the number of successful licensed hunters. 173 licensed hunters were successful in taking at least 1 coyote compared to 84 successful coyote hunters in the 2006-07 hunting season. More details on harvest information will be posted in the hunting area of MassWildlife's website.
In the summer of 2007, the Fisheries and Wildlife Board promulgated
new coyote regulations designed to balance public interests and respond
to public inquiries and concerns while recognizing the coyote as a protected
valuable wildlife species. The two most significant regulation changes
involved expanding the coyote hunting season by five weeks, which also
allowed for coyote hunting during the shotgun season for deer. Secondly,
coyotes were added to the list of 25 species that Problem Animal Control
(PAC) agents are currently authorized to remove, with a certification
training requirement for any agents who want to manage individual problem
coyotes. Laura Hajduk, recently hired MassWildlife Furbearer Biologist,
said that agency staff are currently developing a certification training
program required for interested PAC agents which will be offered this
year.
WILDLIFE VIEWING SITES POSTED ON LINE
A new addition to MassWildlife's website has been posted for wildlife watchers. A listing of the 67 Wildlife Viewing Sites as designated in the Massachusetts Wildlife Viewing Guide are now posted on line in the Recreation area. The Wildlife Viewing website provides helpful hints on how and when to watch wildlife, links to Viewing Site webpages, and updated telephone numbers for current site information. Use the material presented to plan a wildlife viewing trip and to make the most of your time in the field, whether it be going on a coastal whale watch, looking for wintering bald eagles, or just spending an hour in a nearby park. Take advantage of the sites listed on the website and discover the scores of others that are your gateway to wildlife watching.
Trips and outings for the specific purpose of watching wildlife are
increasingly popular. In fact, figures compiled by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service in 2006 indicate 71 million Americans are involved
with wildlife viewing each year. Here in the Bay State, about 1.9 million
residents participated in wildlife viewing activities. To help meet
the demand for information on wildlife viewing opportunities, and to
make the experience more enjoyable, Massachusetts, as a partner in the
National Watchable Wildlife Program, developed a wildlife viewing guide
in 1996. The project involved the collaboration of state environmental,
tourism and transportation agencies, federal agencies, state conservation
organizations, and utilities. Copies of the 1996 Massachusetts Wildlife
Viewing Guide are still available for purchase from MassWildlife.
Purchasers are reminded that certain information such as telephone numbers
may be out of date. The Viewing Guide is available for purchase from
MassWildlife's Westboro Field Headquarters for $5.00/copy.
TERN CAM ON LINE!
Bird enthusiasts are invited to visit a Tern Cam website that recently went live on the MassWildlife website. Tern Cam enables viewers to observe activity at a Common Tern nest located on Bird Island, a small, but important tern nesting location off the coast of Marion. Bird Island, owned by the town of Marion, is one of three islands in Buzzards Bay where MassWildlife has been actively working towards restoration of Common and Roseate Terns. Bird Island is home to about 12% of Massachusetts' Common Terns, state-listed as a Species of Special Concern, and 22% of the Northeastern population of the Roseate Tern, federally and state-listed as Endangered. The Tern cam is a result of cooperation between Burr Brothers Boatyard, who provided most of the funding for equipment, the Town of Marion and MassWildlife. "We especially wish to acknowledge and thank Andy Shor of Burr Brothers Boatyard in Marion for his support and assistance with the web cam," said Carolyn Mostello, MassWildlife Tern Restoration Manager. Web link for the tern cam. Web users are advised that they may need to load AXIS Media Control software to view streaming video. Click on the "Snapshot" icon for still images.
Until the early 1950s, up to 15,000 pairs of terns nested on several islands throughout Buzzards Bay but by 1975 only 1,400 pairs remained, all at Bird Island. Gulls displaced terns from nesting islands, and exposure to PCBs from New Bedford Harbor also impacted tern populations. Over a period of decades, intensive management at Ram, Penikese and Bird Islands has resulted in a gradual recovery of numbers to nearly 7,000 nesting pairs as of the 2007 nesting season. Overall funding for tern restoration and management on these islands has been provided by the New Bedford Harbor Trustee Council since 1999. More information about MassWildlife's tern restoration project.
Management at Bird Island is conducted with the cooperation of the
Town of Marion. Each year, MassWildlife staff protects, manages, and
monitors the terns to increase abundance, enhance productivity, and
gauge progress towards recovery of the populations. Tern restoration
benefits New Bedford and its surrounding deep-rooted sea-based communities
aesthetically, culturally and economically. The sights and sounds of
summer seabirds greatly enrich the marine environment. Restoration of
terns contributes to citizens and visitor's enjoyment of the environment
by increasing species richness and abundance. Fishermen benefit from
enhanced tern populations because presence of a flock of terns on the
water surface often signals the presence of fish below.
2008 MASSACHUSETTS ENVIROTHON WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Lexington High School was the winner of the 21st annual Massachusetts
Envirothon, a statewide natural resources program and competition for
high school age students. As the overall winner, the Lexington team
has been invited to go to Flagstaff, Arizona, July 27 to August 3, to
compete in the International Canon Envirothon.
In this year's Massachusetts Envirothon, a field competition was held
on May 6th and 7th at Hopkinton State Park. Teams of five students rotated
through four "eco-stations" where they demonstrated their
knowledge through hands-on activities such as soil analysis, wildlife
and plant identification, tree measuring and investigation of water
insects. Each team also gave a presentation on their research into the
year's designated current issue "Outdoor Recreation and the Environment"
before a panel of judges that included environmental professionals from
government agencies, non-profit organizations, academia and private
industry. Teams were required to research the outdoor recreation opportunities
in their community, identify a key recreational issue or opportunity
and make recommendations for how their community should address the
situation.
The top four teams went on to compete in the final competition held
May 17th at the Doyle Conservation Center in Leominster and Lexington
High School was declared the top winner. Placing second was Tantasqua
Regional High School, Sturbridge; third place was Quabbin Regional High
School, Barre; Somerset High School in Somerset came in fourth place.
A complete list of top winners, ecostation category winners, and for
current issue presentations on Outdoor Recreation can be found at the
Massachusetts
Envirothon website.
ANTLERLESS DEER PERMIT DRAWING AND GAME RECIPE CONTEST, JULY 31
Every year MassWildlife holds a public drawing to determine who will receive an Antlerless Deer permit for particular hunting zones throughout the state. The Antlerless Deer Permit Drawing will take place on July 31 beginning at 5 PM at the Lenox Sportsman's Club in Lenox. This year, the Gun Owner's Action League is partnering with MassWildlife with a new format for this event which will include a Game Recipe Contest, a presentation on deer management in Massachusetts, drawing the Antlerless Deer Permit numbers and announcing the Game Recipe Contest Winners. Proceeds from the Game Recipe Contest will benefit the Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp. For more details on the event, including Recipe Contest registration, visit the Gun Owner's Action League website.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
June 25-The Fisheries and Wildlife Board June meeting will be held at 1 PM at MassAudubon's Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, 472 Mountain Rd. Board meetings are open to the public.
July 10--Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Advisory Committee Meeting, Westboro - This public meeting will be held from 1:30 - 4:30 pm at MassWildlife's Field Headquarters in Westboro. The meeting site is handicapped accessible. For directions or more information, call 508/389-6360.
News & Notes-
Aquatic WILD Workshop for Educators
Kettle Pond Farm in Berkely invites all K-12 educators to participate in an exciting six-hour interdisciplinary hands-on/minds-on workshop focusing on aquatic wildlife and ecosystems. Participants will actively engage in activities, evaluate materials for unique needs & settings, share experiences with other educators, take home ideas & resources to integrate in to their teaching, and make correlations to national & state content standards. Scout leaders, youth group leaders, and formal & non-formal educators find the materials & workshop experience very valuable. Hours may be used toward obtaining PDP's. Pre-registration is required by calling Nancy Possinger at (508) 824-4814.
State Record Bullhead Caught
In May, a bullhead caught on May 25 in Forest Lake, Methuen by Roger Aziz, Jr. from Methuen, was certified by MassWildlife fisheries biologists. The bullhead weighed 6 lbs, 4 oz. To catch his trophy, Aziz used a spinning rod with a sunfish chunk for bait. This fish breaks the state record set in 2005 of a 4 lbs 10 oz bullhead caught by Robert Coffill in the same waterbody! A listing of state fish records and the Freshwater Sportfishing Awards program.
Spring Turkey Season Preliminary Figures
Preliminary numbers gathered by MassWildlife's five district offices total 2,612 birds taken by licensed hunters during the 2008 spring turkey season, already breaking last year's record final total of 2,481 birds. The breakdown by MassWildlife District is as follows: Northeast District, 221 birds; Southeast District, 337; Central District, 640; Connecticut Valley District, 688; Western District, 726. Turkey enthusiasts are reminded they can assist in estimating the fall population of turkeys by reporting turkey broods (families) in their area now through the month of August. Turkey Brood Survey information and form.
Forest Management Site Walks Reminder
On June 18, walk with MassWildlife Foresters and Biologists at the on the Herm Covey Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Belchertown and learn about the wildlife habitat management activities occurring on this property. Meet at 6 PM at the McLaughlin Fish Hatchery on East Street. This walk will take place rain or shine--wear appropriate clothing and sturdy footgear for walking in the woods and fields. Bring insect repellant, binoculars and a camera! A Forest Management Site Walk at the Chalet and Eugene Moran WMAs in Cheshire and Windsor is scheduled for July 18 at 2PM. Forest reserves and shrubland management efforts will be discussed during this event. For more on monthly site walks go to MassWildlife's Habitat webpages.
Sign Up For Youth Pheasant Hunt
Young people ages 12-17 years old who are interested in pheasant hunting and have successfully graduated from a Basic Hunter Education course can contact sportsmen's clubs offering the Young Adult Pheasant Hunt Program. This program was developed by MassWildlife to provide an opportunity for young adults to practice firearms safety, develop shooting skills, and participate in a special pheasant hunt with a safe, experienced hunter in a friendly environment. It is a comprehensive three part outdoor recreation program which includes a day of shooting practice, a "dress rehearsal" pre-hunt and a day for the actual pheasant hunt. Shooting instruction and practice take place during the summer or early fall. The pre-hunt workshop is usually held a week or two before the young adult pheasant hunt. The actual hunt will be scheduled for a Saturday prior to the October start of the regular pheasant hunting season. More details on the program and a list of participating sportsmens clubs.
EARLY JUNE NEWSLETTER
FREE FISHING WEEKEND JUNE 7 & 8
Looking for a way to spend some quality time with your friends and family in the great outdoors? Take a family member or friend fishing in Massachusetts for free during the statewide Free Fishing Weekend of June 7 & 8. Fishing offers family and friends a great way to spend time together and create fun memories that will last a lifetime. If you don't know how to fish, consider attending fishing festivals or other free fishing related activities sponsored by MassWildlife's Angler Education Program this summer! Freshwater fishing license fees help pay for fishery and hatchery management, habitat development and protection, endangered species programs, fishing and conservation education, lake and pond maps, other publications, and many other valuable programs.
- June 1--Horn Pond Family Fishing Festival, Woburn--On the shores of Horn Pond, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. MassWildlife's Angler Education Volunteer Instructors will be on hand to assist novices. Equipment will be provided, but if you have your own, bring it along! 9 AM - 1 PM. This special event is organized in cooperation with the Woburn Elks and MassWildlife. For more information, contact Jim Lagacy at 508/389-6309.
- June 7--Family Fishing Day, Montague--The Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center invite families to participate in a fishing festival with the MassWildlife Angler Education Program. The Festival will be held at the Great Falls Discovery Center at 2 Avenue A in Turners Falls from 10 AM - 2 PM. Designed to introduce curious or beginning anglers of all ages who have an interest in learning about fishing, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. Equipment will be provided, but if you have your own, bring it along! For more information, contact Sarah Bevilaqua at 413/863-3676.
- June 8--Introduction to Fly Fishing, Shutesbury--This workshop is
designed for beginners and is sponsored by the Shutesbury Public Library.
Participants must be 10 years old or older. All children must be accompanied
by an adult. Learn some of the basics of fly fishing from MassWildlife's
Angler Education Volunteer Instructors. Workshop will be at the Shutesbury
Public Library and will be held from 2-4pm. Equipment will be provided,
but if you have your own, bring it along! Pre-registration is required.
Contact the M.N. Spear Memorial Library in Shutesbury at 413/259-1213.
MASSWILDLIFE FOREST MANAGEMENT SITE WALKS
Following up on a public site walk at the Montague Plains Wildlife Management Area in May, MassWildlife's Forestry Program is hosting a series of public site visits on state wildlife lands throughout the summer and fall of 2008. Each visit will focus on wildlife habitat enhancement goals for the property, and the forest harvesting and other habitat management activities employed to achieve those goals. Foresters and biologists from MassWildlife will lead the site walks, provide information and answer questions.
The next public site visit will be held at the Herm
Covey Wildlife Management Area 
in Belchertown on June 18 at 6:00 pm. Meet outside the McLaughlin State
Fish Hatchery on East St., in Belchertown, just south of Route 9. On
this property habitat management activities include white pine shelterwood
harvests to establish structurally diverse young forest habitat of mixed
white pine and native hardwoods. The walk will occur rain or shine.
Wear appropriate clothing and footgear. Consider bringing insect repellant
and binoculars.
A tentative schedule for future walks follows:
- July-Eugene
Moran
and Chalet
WMAs
in Cheshire and Windsor
- August-Fox
Den WMA ,
Middlefield-Aspen regeneration and abandoned orchard reclamation
- September-Peru
WMA ,
Peru-Conversion of Norway spruce plantation to a diverse stand
of northern hardwood, white pine, and Norway spruce.
- October-Phillipston
WMA ,
Phillipston-White pine seed tree harvest.
As details on each walk are finalized, they will be posted in the Calendar
and Forest
Management areas of MassWildlife's website. It is the mission of
MassWildlife's Forestry program to provide a range of forest conditions
that conserves the biological diversity of species, communities, and
ecosystems on state wildlife lands. MassWildlife foresters work with
the MassWildlife's Upland
Habitat Program to reclaim abandoned field habitats, the Ecological
Restoration Program to restore degraded habitats important to rare
species, and the agency's Land
Acquisition Program to provide technical assistance on using sustainable
harvesting practices to enhance wildlife habitat. MassWildlife Foresters
have also provided technical assistance to other public and private
landowners on forest harvesting practices.
PREVENT THE SPREAD OF NON-NATIVE AQUATIC HITCH HIKERS
Boaters launching their craft into Massachusetts waterways should check to be sure they aren't giving a free ride to non-native aquatic plants or animals. Aquatic exotic invasives can easily be transported between water bodies by boats, motors, trailers, fishing equipment, anchors, bait buckets, live wells, diving gear, and other aquatic equipment. These hitchhikers can wreak havoc in lakes and ponds by choking waterways through explosive growth, fouling intake and discharge structures, lowering lakefront property values, impeding boating, swimming and fishing, and reducing biodiversity by crowding out native fish, insects, other animals and plants,. Once established in a water body, it is nearly impossible to eradicate these non-native invasive organisms.
This summer, the Department of Conservation and Recreation's (DCR) Lakes and Ponds Program is launching its new Zebra Mussel Monitoring Program. Initially, the program will be focused on water bodies in western Massachusetts, which are at the greatest risk. Currently there are no known infestations of Zebra Mussels in the Commonwealth; however, they are found in Twin Lakes (CT), Lake Champlain (VT) and Lake George (NY). Zebra Mussels are small 1-2" D-shaped mussels with alternating light and dark bands. They are very prolific and can spread at an alarming rate, clogging boat motors, shutting down power plants, and out competing native freshwater mussels. Zebra Mussels have a microscopic larval stage and can travel undetected in bait buckets, live wells and cooling water. There are no known methods of control for Zebra mussels once they have invaded a water body. To prevent an introduction of Zebra Mussels, it is imperative that boaters empty all bait buckets, live wells and cooling water on dry land away from the shore. Report any sightings to Michelle Robinson at 508/792-7423 x304 or visit the Lakes and Ponds website www.mass.gov/lakesandponds for fact sheets. For information on the pilot Zebra Mussel Monitoring Program contact Tom Flannery at 617/626-4975.
Boaters and other water users can help prevent the spread of invasive non-native plants and other organisms by:
- Hand-removing all materials (plant or animal) from equipment and disposing of it far away from the water. Special attention should be paid to the bunks or rollers where the boat is seated on the trailer as well as the trailer hitch.
- Wash and dry all equipment before reuse. Hose off the boat, diving gear and trailer.
- Drain and flush the engine cooling system and live wells, bait buckets and the buoyancy control device from diving equipment that has been in contact with a water body.
- Join the Weed Watchers! The DCR Lakes and Ponds program is looking for anglers, boaters, lake and pond association members and other water users to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasives. Receive hands-on-training in plant identification, a Guide to Aquatic Invasive Species and other helpful publications. Information about the Weed Watchers program.
YOUTH ARTIST FROM MANSFIELD WINS JUNIOR DUCK STAMP CONTEST
Sabrina Palanza of Mansfield, a senior at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, won top honors among youth artists in the 2008 Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp Contest. Her pencil drawing of a drake (male) Mallard was selected from 326 entries as Massachusetts's Best of Show in the Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) Contest. Palanza's award winning work is also the Massachusetts entry in the national Junior Duck Stamp Contest held in San Diego, California.
Across the state, students from kindergarten through 12th grade submitted original works of art depicting waterfowl in the appropriate wetland habitat, sharing both their talents as young artists and their knowledge of the importance of wetlands for wildlife. The awards ceremony for the top 100 winning artists was hosted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service Regional office in Hadley on May 3. A complete list of all winners from each age group category from Provincetown to Springfield.
A combination of the top 100 pieces of art will be on exhibit throughout Massachusetts during 2008-2009. The Miller's River Environmental Center in Athol is hosting the first JDS exhibit through June 4 - July 2. Contact Sue Cloutier at sue@millersriver.net for more details on the exhibit. Borderland State Park in North Easton will host the exhibit during the month of August. Call 508/ 238-6566 for more details. Check the Education area of MassWildlife's website for a schedule of the Junior Duck Stamp Traveling Art Exhibit. Other sample artwork can also be found in the JDS webpages.
The Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp Program is sponsored by MassWildlife,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Massachusetts Wildlife Federation and
Massachusetts Waterfowler's, Inc. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
initiated the Federal Junior Duck Stamp program in 1994 to showcase
the talents of the nation's young artists while teaching youngsters
about the value of wetlands and waterfowl conservation. To purchase
Junior Duck Stamps from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, call 1-800-STAMP24
or visit http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/junior/junior.htm
for purchase information. Proceeds from the sale of Junior Duck Stamps
support conservation education and provide awards and scholarship for
the students, teachers and schools which participate in the program.
HUNTING PERMIT APPLICATIONS DUE JULY 16
Deer and bear hunters, don't wait in line; apply on time! All deer hunters are reminded that in order to take antlerless deer during any deer hunting season, they must possess an antlerless deer permit. The July 16 application deadline is fast approaching. Applications postmarked after July 16 will not be accepted. Antlerless deer permit applications are found on paper licenses bought over the counter. Internet license buyers need to access the MassOutdoors website and apply on-line. Only online license holders may apply for a permit through MassOutdoors. MassWildlife cautions deer hunters to refrain from assuming large quantities of over-the-counter permits will be available after permits are sent out. The bear permit application deadline is also July 16. Bear permit applications are found on the duplicate license certificate of the over-the-counter license or on-line for MassOutdoors license buyers. A mass mailing of these permits will be sent in August. Applicants again are reminded that only online license holders may apply through the website for a permit.
HELP MASSWILDLIFE COUNT TURKEY FAMILIES
Sportsmen and -women, birders, landowners and other wildlife enthusiasts
are encouraged to assist MassWildlife to count turkey families this
summer. MassWildlife conducts an annual wild turkey brood survey from
June through August. "The brood survey serves as a long term index on
reproduction," explains Jim Cardoza, MassWildlife's Turkey Project Leader.
"It helps us determine overall productivity and allows us to compare
rates of reproduction over a long period of time." Cardoza also points
out that citizen involvement in this survey is a cost-effective means
of gathering useful data, and he encourages all interested people to
participate. A turkey
brood survey form has been posted on the front page of MassWildlife's
website. Information needed includes date, town, number of hens seen,
and number of poults (young turkeys) and their relative size compared
to the hens. Multiple sightings of the same brood should also be noted.
The survey period runs from June 1 - August 31. The last two years of
survey data is posted in the Wild turkey area of the website. Completed
forms should to be mailed to the MassWildlife Westborough Field Headquarters,
1 Rabbit Hill Rd, Westboro, MA 01581.
LOOK OUT FOR LOONS!
The haunting wail of the common loon (Gavia immer) evokes a sense of wild and remote areas which may be why some people are surprised to learn Massachusetts is home to a small, but growing number of nesting loons. MassWildlife Biologist Bridgett McAlice compiled common loon nesting activity for 2007 and will be working with other cooperators this spring to document loon nesting sites across the state. In 2007, 20 territorial pairs on 8 waterbodies were documented. A total of 5 chicks were produced and presumed fledged. "The Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs are home to the majority of Massachusetts' nesting loons," said McAlice. "Other nests have been documented in relatively quiet water supplies and private ponds in Worcester County, but it's entirely possible there are nests in other parts of the state which haven't been reported to us." McAlice noted that cooperators and volunteers play a vital role in gathering field data for MassWildlife.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
- June 12-Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Advisory Committee Meeting, Westboro - This public meeting will be held from 1:30 - 4:30 pm. The meeting will be held at MassWildlife's Field Headquarters in Westboro. For directions or more information, contact Kim Ausmus at 508/389-6360. The building is handicapped accessible.
- June 25--Fisheries and Wildlife Board Meeting, Berkshires--The June meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Wednesday, June 25 at 1 PM at a location to be determined in the Lenox area. Final details will be posted in the Public Meetings and Calendar area of the agency website. Board meetings are open to the public.