March 2009 Archives
Malin Clyde wrote:
2009-3-19
New Workshops
Ice Storm 2008: Ecological Effect, Tree Health and Decision Making for Landowners
March 26, 2009 7 – 9 pm, Temple Town Hall
If you have trees damaged by the 2008 ice storm, come to this free workshop and learn: How to assess damage to a particular tree, which trees should be taken down and which left, whether and how to salvage trees, financial and legal considerations, safety and forest fire considerations. This free program will be presented by UNHCE staff Karen Bennett and Jon Nute. Complete information, including directions, are posted online here.
New Volunteer Opportunities
NH Outside Introductory Workshops – April 21, Boscowen OR April 23, Goffstown
Are you a Coverts Cooperator who loves to write or wants to improve your writing? This is a great opportunity get involved in NH Outside, a collaborative writing project through UNH Cooperative Extension. For complete details, including a link to sign up for a training workshop, go to: http://extension.unh.edu/Forestry/Docs/nhoinvite09.doc
Volunteers Needed to Stock Atlantic Salmon Fry
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is looking for volunteers to help stock millions of inch-long salmon fry (young salmon) into the Merrimack River basin, several rivers and streams in the Upper Connecticut River watershed in northern New Hampshire, and the Monadnock region of southwestern New Hampshire's Connecticut River watershed. The stocking plays a vital role in restoring runs of salmon to New Hampshire's waterways. Fry released in these river systems and their tributaries stay and grow in the rivers for about two years before migrating to the ocean. When the salmon are about four years old, they will try to return to these rivers to spawn. For dates and locations of volunteer opportunities, click here to visit the NH Fish & Game news release about the project.
Malin Clyde wrote:
2009-3-16
The announcement and flyer for a series of wildlife workshops taking place in Belknap and Carroll Counties this spring came out just after I emailed last Friday with the latest Coverts Project Update. So add this to the list (there was a save-the-date announcement, but this includes all the details)!
Spring Wildlife Workshop Series
An exciting new workshop series will take place this spring for landowners and professionals. Registration materials are available online at: Spring Wildlife Workshop Series 2009April 17 - Improving Your Land for Wildlife, Tamworth
May 16 - Vernal Pools & Wetland Wildlife, Gilmanton
June 5 - Managing Forestland for Migratory Birds, Gilmanton
June 19 - Managing Fields for Wildlife, South Tamworth
Volunteer Opportunity – Epping, April 18th
The Coverts Project will be offering a short wildlife program/activity at the 4-H Spaces Conference in Epping on Saturday, April 18 from 12:45 – 2:15. If anyone can help, we could use an extra set of hands and some new ideas! Contact Malin (862-2166 or email) if you can volunteer. No experience necessary!
Malin Clyde wrote:
2009-3-13
Dear Coverts Cooperators & Friends,
Lots of news for you today – a lot of workshops are planned for April and May, and we have been working on re-designing the Wildlife webpage here at Cooperative Extension, which should offer a lot more information online for you to use, instead of consulting your old Coverts Workshop notebooks! See below for details. Also, there is a new round of federal cost-share funding through WHIP and EQUIP starting shortly. If you are interested, your are encouraged to sign up now, so you are ready when the funding window opens (see details, below).
Coverts Event in Danbury a success!
Just for laughs, I’ve posted a few photos of the last three Coverts gatherings on the Coverts webpage, including the most recent snowshoe hike in Danbury last weekend. We had great weather! Note the photo of your very own Coverts Project Coordinator lying in a snowbank…have YOU ever tried walking backwards in snowshoes in heavy slush?
Upcoming Workshops
Saving Special Places – Conservation Conference, April 4, Gilford
This is the best conference of the year for those working on community conservation efforts. Lots of great topics and speakers this year! If you haven’t signed up already, you can still do so at the Forest Society’s website. Stop by the Coverts Project table and say hello!
New England Cottontails: Biology & Management (offered in two locations)
April 1, 8:30 – 12:30 p.m., Manchester or
April 10, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Durham
These workshops will introduce landowners, managers, and resource professionals to the biology and management for New England cottontail rabbits, a species recently added to the state of New Hampshire’s endangered species list. Click here for details and registration materials.
Woodcock Ecology & Management – April 16, noon–7:30 p.m., Etna,
At this afternoon and evening workshop, you will have the opportunity to witness the fascinating flight patterns of singing male woodcock. Coverts Volunteer Jim Kennedy is helping to organize this workshop, in cooperation with UNH Cooperative Extension, NH Fish & Game, and the Northern Forest Woodcock Initiative. Workshop registration and details are posted online here.
Discover WildNH Day, Saturday, April 18, 10 – 3 p.m., Concord
Save the date for this annual family-event, held at the NH Fish & Game headquarters. For more information, go to: www.wildnh.com
Vernal Pools & Wetlands Wildlife – April 25, 12:30–4 p.m., Keene
This indoor and outdoor workshop, co-sponsored by UNHCE, the Monadnock Conservancy, and the Harris Center, will cover all you need to know about vernal pools and the wildlife that use them. Workshop is free, but registration is requested by calling (603) 352-4550. Click here for more details, posted online.
Caring for your Forest Workshop Series – each offered in Londonderry or Wilmot
April 24 – Your Woodlot & Wildlife
May 1 – Firewood from your Woodlot
May 8 – Selling Timber? Do It Right!
May 15 – Chainsaw Safety for Weekend Woodcutters
Bring a friend or neighbor to one, two or more of these introductory workshops, offered in two different locations on each day. Workshops run from 12:30 p.m – 4:30 p.m. Registration materials and additional details are available on the workshop flyer, by clicking here.
SAVE THE DATE - Spring Wildlife Workshop Series – Belknap & Carroll Counties
An exciting new workshop series will take place this spring for landowners and professionals. Registration materials available online shortly!
April 17 – Improving Your Land for Wildlife, Tamworth
May 16 – Vernal Pools & Wetland Wildlife, Gilmanton
June 5 – Managing Forestland for Migratory Birds, Gilmanton
June 19 – Managing Fields for Wildlife, South Tamworth
Other Important Updates
New UNHCE Wildlife Website
A completely re-vamped UNHCE Wildlife webpage is underway. Click here to check out our work-in-progress. Note the “Workshops” button and icon where we will keep a running list of Wildlife-related workshops. The site is still under construction, but more will be added every week, including information on wildlife species and habitats. If you have suggestions or comments, please feel free to email me!
2008 Farm Bill Financial Assistance Coming
If you are interested in seeking financial assistance to do your wildlife and forestry improvement practices, you are encouraged to call or visit your local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to complete the necessary paperwork for program eligibility and develop or update your conservation plans. You can also contact your County Extension Forester to walk your property and help assess its suitability for wildlife and forestry practices and start your planning.
The two major Farm Bill program sources of funding are EQIP and WHIP.
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) – EQIP helps protect environmental quality and maintain agricultural production by addressing erosion control, animal waste management, nutrient management planning, prescribed grazing, irrigation efficiency, wildlife habitat loss, and forest health.
- Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) – WHIP provides assistance to address loss of critical fish and wildlife habitat, control of invasive species, and restoration of degraded natural ecosystems. One major change from the prior farm bill occurred in this program- state and local government land is no longer eligible (unless a private lease is involved).
Though the rules for the 2008 Farm Bill are still being developed, practices available will be similar to what they have been. Some common practices include forest trails and landings, developing early successional habitat, mast tree and shrub release, field mowing for wildlife, site preparation for regeneration, and timber stand improvement.
Applications are accepted on a continuous basis. All Farm Bill programs have specific producer, land, and practice eligibility criteria that must be met and this is a good time to start the sign-up process.
Volunteer Opportunities
Marine Fisheries Volunteers Needed
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's Marine Division in Durham, N.H., is seeking volunteers to assist them in various field activities this spring and summer. Volunteers will assist biologists in sampling coastal rivers for rainbow smelt during early spring or monitoring coastal fish ladders during the spring and early summer fish migrations. Time commitment would range between 3 and 8 hours per day, depending on the project. Help is needed on both weekdays and weekends. "This is a great opportunity for aspiring fisheries and wildlife biologists or those interested in the outdoors," said Jessica Fischer, a Fish and Game Marine Biologist. If interested, call Jessica Fischer or Mike Dionne at (603) 868-1095 at Fish and Game's Region 3 office in Durham, N.H., Monday - Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Learn more about Marine Resources in New Hampshire at http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/marine/index.htm.
Oiled Wildlife Volunteer Training – April 18, 2009, Durham
Get trained so you can be prepared to help during the next oil spill involving wildlife. To learn more about this all-day training (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.) at the UNH Coastal Response Research Center, call Rebecca Dunne at Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research at 302-737-9543 x109. There is no cost for the workshop, but they ask that participants be willing to volunteer if they go through the training.
