July 2010 Archives
Malin Clyde wrote:
2010-08-20
Dear Coverts volunteers, Friends, and Partners,
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer - workshops and events are pretty quiet this time of year, but I have a few announcements of interest.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Coverts Project Seeking Applicants for Fall Training Workshop
We still have space available in the fall training workshop for the Coverts Project! Coverts Cooperators and other friends of the program are our best resource for identifying new participants. You know other landowners, others involved in conservation, or others on your boards or commissions who might be interested. Please encourage folks to apply today! They can call me (603-862-2166) or email me (malin.clyde@unh.edu), or you can send them to this link: Coverts Application Information. Thank you!
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITES
Go Batty This Summer!
Do you own an old barn? Do you have bats in your attic? NH Fish & Game is looking for volunteers willing to count bats at local maternity colonies (barns, attics, etc.). There is more information about the effort, including data forms and the monitoring protocol, available at their website: Count Bats for Conservation
Contribute to Making Tracks Newsletter!
Coverts Cooperators, we need your contributions to the “Happenings” section of the next Making Tracks newsletter! We haven’t published an issue for awhile – but thanks to a great new article by Coverts Cooperator Bob Ball of Jefferson (CC03), we’ll be putting out an issue soon. But we need your help. Please send me news of your activities:
- events you’ve hosted
- projects you’ve worked on
- successes you’ve had
- wildlife that have visited your property
- challenges you’ve encountered
- anything else you think will inspire your fellow Coverts volunteers and partners!
The newsletter would not be nearly as interesting without your submissions...I keep hearing from other Coverts Program coordinators in other states, “We love your newsletter! How do you get your volunteers to send in those great stories?” Well, I’m asking! Click here to send me an email, and thank you!
Researchers Seek Reports of Invasive European Fire Ants
Biologists at the University of Connecticut are studying an invasive stinging ant that is spreading in New England. We are seeking help from nature centers, wildlife sanctuaries, and similar organizations to find locations of this species. The ant, Myrmica rubra, is sometimes called the "European fire ant." Although several species of ants sting if provoked, M. rubra is more aggressive towards people than are the native ants of New England.
The sting is painful and may cause swelling and itching for a day or two, so anyone unfortunate enough to run into this insect usually remembers. For this reason, we are often able to locate the ant through reports from people who are active outdoors. Please let us know if you have heard of anyone being stung by ants in your area. Specific locations are very useful, such as street addresses or names of rivers, ponds or other landscape features. We'd be happy to answer any questions (more info here), and we will confirm identifications. The ants are reddish brown and about a quarter of an inch in length. Some basic information (including a photo) is available from Wikipedia. Sent reports to: ant_hunt@uConn.edu
WORKSHOPS
NH Tree Farm Landowner Education Series
Thursday Evenings, May – Sept., Pines Community Center, Northfield
Join the NH Tree Farm Program for a series of programs focusing on the cornerstone themes of sustainable Tree Farm management: wood, water, wildlife and recreation!
August 26 – How Do Your Logs Saw Out (Where is the Value)?
September 23 – Social Behavior of Black Bears with Ben Kilham
Contact Rita Carroll, Tree Farm Administrator at 603-224-9945 x331, or email at rcarroll@forestsociety.org
GIS & GPS Workshops
There are quite a few introductory GIS & GPS workshops with space available taking place in Durham this summer. Many of the tools they will teach you about are available online, free, to anyone with a personal computer. I recommend “Making Maps the Google Way” and “Getting to Know the GRANIT Data Mapper.” Both are great for conservation work! Lots more information about all the workshops is online here.
Great Bay Discover Center Offers Kayak Tours of Great Bay
Looking for a summer kayak adventure? Join staff of the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve for kayak tours in the Great Bay Estuary, where you can watch osprey diving for fish, herons gracefully glide overhead and learn what makes the Great Bay Estuary one of the most amazing and diverse places on earth. Learn more, including a schedule of programs throughout the summer, here!
OTHER RESOURCES
Forestry for the Birds Proceedings Online
The powerpoint presentations from the May 11, 2010 Mud Season breakfast, Forestry for the Birds are posted to the UNHCE website here. The talks and information presented were outstanding! If you are interested in birds and the implications and effects of forest management on habitats, there are lots of great references.
Asian Longhorned Beetle Sentinel Tree Project
Nigel Manley (CC96) who works at the Rocks Estate, sent in a great article about a project they are hosting to help with research and public awareness-raising regarding the threat of the Asian Longhorned beetle (which has not yet been identified in New Hampshire). Read more about the project here.
