Recently in News Category
A few weeks ago, I received a lovely surprise in the mail from Coverts Cooperator Don Wharton (CC07) of Landaff, NH. Ever since, I've been enjoying my copy of "Landaff Days," a book Don recently published about his relections on living in the small, north country town of Landaff, New Hampshire (population 415). It's a real treat...here's the text from the back cover:
The forests, fields, mountains, weather, wildlife and people in Landaff, New Hampshire, are the particular subjects of Don Wharton's sketches of rural life "North of the Notch." He writes of a very special landscape and environment - at once inviting and challenging, beautiful and fierce at the same time. In Wharton's view, Landaff is a microcosm of the larger natural world, having its own beauty, rigors and mystery. With humor, empathy, realism and wonder, Landaff Days explores and illuminates life in New Hampshire's North Country.
You can find yourself a copy at Gibson's bookstore in Concord, the Bookexchange in Plymouth, the bookstore in St Johnsbury,VT, and the Village Bookstore in Littleton.
Or you can email Don directly: Email Don Wharton
In the interest of spreading news about innovative wildlife and conservation projects happening around the state, Coverts Cooperator Alicia Robinson (CC11), chairperson of the Kingston Conservation Commission, recently sent along this flyer about a photo contest they are holding, called "Wild Kingston."
Wild Kingston Photo Contest (click for promotional flyer)
Speaking for Wildlife....NH's Natural Communities and A Walk in the Woods
with Coverts Cooperator Barbara Fales and Ron Klemarczyk
June 9, 1:30 - 2:30 PM
Community Room, Hopkinton Town Library, Contoocook
Through stunning Natural Heritage Bureau photos of rare and special NH plant communities and habitats, learn more about some of our unique natural places.Immediately following this presentation, enjoy a walk at the Ransmeier Trail, Hopkinton, led by Town Forester, Ron Klemarczyk.
Raindate for trail walk is 6/10 at 3:30 PM.
This program is free and open to the public.
Trail walk details can be found on the Museum's website calendar page: http://www.littlenaturemuseum.org.; Directions to the Town Library: www.hopkintontownlibrary.org
Registration requested: 746-6121 or 344-2605; e-mail: info@littlenaturemuseum.org
The Speaking for Wildlife Project is a volunteer effort of UNH Cooperative Extension, the NH Coverts Project and NH Fish and Game, with support from the NH Charitable Foundation and the Davis Environmental Foundations.
Statewide Survey of NH Dragonflies Completed
NH Fish and Game reports that between 2007 and 2011, a small army of net-wielding naturalists was unobtrusively scouring the wetlands of New Hampshire for dragons - or more specifically dragonflies an
d damselflies. And they found them - lots of them. Over those five years, roughly 100 volunteers collected more than 18,000 records of dragonflies and damselflies, representing 157 of the 162 species known to occur in the state. They surveyed sites from the southern border along the Connecticut River to Fourth Connecticut Lake (only a couple of hundred feet from Canada), and at elevations from sea level along the coast to the top of Mount Washington. Read more
Tree Selection Guide Now Available
Landscape Trees and Their Susceptibility to Invasive Insects is a new fact sheet that will help property owners and landscape contractors select appropriate trees for New Hampshire’s changing environment. Despite the likely arrival of exotic invasive insects like Asian longhorned beetle and Emerald ash borer, there are still many tree species not threatened by these destructive insects. Read more & download brochure
Join Coverts Project volunteer Jim Kennedy for a program hosted by the Hanover Conservancy on May 31 from 2:30 - 4:30pm.
"Landscaping for Wildlife" is a presentation from the Speaking for Widlife program, but Jim, a wetland scientist, will provide his own enthusiasm, experience, and knowledge making this a special event! 
Here are ideas for your garden and yard! We’ll begin at the Etna Library with an indoor presentation by Jim Kennedy on landscaping with native plants to benefit wildlife. Then we’ll head out (rain or shine) for a gentle to moderate walk up through the Hayes Farm Park to the new Nan & Allen King Bird Sanctuary to tour blooming wildlife plantings and enjoy views over the Mink Brook valley of Etna. Includes a printed guide to the sanctuary’s plantings. Location: Etna Library & Hayes Farm Park. Leaders: Adair Mulligan, Hanover Conservancy Executive Director & Jim Kennedy, NH Coverts Cooperator and Wetland Scientist
Introduction to ArcGIS 10 Workshops:
June 4-6, Lee, NH
June 11-13 Randolph Center, VT
Complete GIS/GPS Training Center Schedule and Registration
Learn the basics of working with ArcGIS 10 in a hands-on learning environment! This course is useful for people who have no prior GIS experience, as well as those who have used ArcGIS, but are new to ArcGIS 10. Familiarity with Windows is highly recommended.
With a focus on New Hampshire data and applications, participants learn how to use ArcGIS 10 to produce attractive, effective maps. In addition, each participant receives their own detailed step-by-step manual to use as a reference after the course is over.
General topics:
GIS concepts
GIS techniques
ArcGIS 10
Participants will learn to:
symbolize GIS data
add labels and annotation
query data
use geoprocessing tools: merge, buffer, dissolve
manipulate attribute tables: adding fields, calculating values, and joining tables
import data into ArcGIS 10
design maps using layouts
add online data to your maps
interact with time data
Software used: ArcGIS 10
Emerald Ash Borer Edges Closer to New England:
What Does it Mean for New Hampshire?
The USDA Forest Service reports emerald ash borer (EAB)—a non-native and destructive insect—recently crossed the Hudson River in New York—its last major natural eastward obstacle. The good news is that forestry officials believe the infestation is less than a year old and it is isolated.
“It is very manageable at that age,” said Forest Service entomologist, Nate Siegert. “It’s rare that infestations are detected this early. Management can have a much greater impact on the EAB population at this stage of infestation.” Read More
Grasslands, Shrublands and Wet Meadows: Ecology, Establishment, and Management
Friday, June 15, 2012
NH Fish & Game's Region 3 Office and the Bellamy River Wildlife Management Area in Dover, NH
Registration information: contact Jim Kennedy at 603-643-6446 james.kennedy @ valley.net, or NHANRS at 603-224-0401 assistant@nhanrs.org
On Friday, June 15, 2012, The New Hampshire Association of Natural Resource Scientists (NHANRS) will present a workshop titled "Grasslands, Shrublands, and Wet Meadows - Ecology, Establishment, and Management". Topics will include cool-season and native warm-season grasses, wildlife habitat management techniques, agro-forestry suitability, wet meadow identification, and native pollinators. The single-day event will be held at the NH Fish & Game's Region 3 Office and the Bellamy River Wildlife Management Area in Dover, NH. The workshop is open to natural resource professionals, land resource managers, and wildlife conservationists. For more information and registration, contact Jim Kennedy at 603-643-6446 james.kennedy @ valley.net, or NHANRS at 603-224-0401 assistant@nhanrs.org
A new online source for up-to-date information about bats is now available at:
They'll have webcasts and other distance learning opportunities, great for teachers or others doing education about bats (Speaking for Wildlife volunteers!)
The website and materials are provided through a partnership among many different groups including Bat Conservation International, the US Forest Service, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
