March 5th, 2010
Ever wondered what it would be like if our roads and highways were constructed in such a way that bridges were impassable, roads were blocked by large objects, or if you had to dodge pedestrians walking across a four-lane highway. Driving would become a hair-raising experience and your chances of actually reaching your destination would be greatly reduced.
Now think about what it is like for wildlife to have to cross that four-lane highway, for a fish to swim through a perched culvert with no place to rest inside, for a turtle to have to crawl up and over the road to get to the wetland on the other side.
In an effort to improve landscape connectivity and to reduce the impact of the existing road network on wildlife, MassWildlife and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) have joined together to launch the “Linking Landscapes for Wildlife” program. By reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions, you not only improve public safety, but you also improve the ability of these critters to cross our roads safely. A critical strategic component of the program is to gather information on the locations of wildlife roadkill hotspots. This is where your observations come in handy!
The effort includes three focus areas:
Starting this Spring, there will be a special focus on identifying turtle roadkill hotspots. Volunteers are needed to monitor turtle roadkill sites and report findings to the Turtle Roadkill Monitoring Project.
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January 14th, 2010
Jim Caffrey, The Trustees of Reservations, discusses Garlic Mustard found at Glendale Falls
A group of conservation organizations and individuals working in the Westfield River watershed recently held a kick-off meeting to discuss establishing a Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) for the region.
“What is a Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)?”
The goal of a CISMA is to promote cooperative efforts to manage invasive species through an integrated approach of protecting or restoring desired native communities at the watershed level through education, early detection and eradication, and management. Read the rest of this entry »
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November 9th, 2009
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September 1st, 2009
Bee & Butterfly Sharing Sweetness
Recently, we were asked about what you could do to encourage bird and wildlife habitat in your yard. If you have attended one of our volunteer trainings, you might recall our “messy habitat” slide — where we talk about how creatures of every size like habitats with plenty of cover, hiding places, and sources of food. Sounds like a kids messy bedroom might be a good place for some critters to live, though I suspect you would much prefer them out in the yard. Well their are many landscaping techniques you can use to mimic the “messiness” without it really looking dingy. In fact, using Nature’s main ingredients can take you a long way in encouraging birds and other wildlife to visit and use your yard.
The four basic needs of all wildlife include Food, Water, Cover, and Space. Meeting these needs in your yard can be as simple as choosing native plants that offer fruits such as berries, seeds such as nuts or acorns, grains and nectar. Read the rest of this entry »
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July 9th, 2009
If you were to write a horror story set in the aquatic world, the main character might be the villainous Zebra Mussel. Sure it does not have a jarring name like “Rock Snot” and in some ways sounds cute and fuzzy — as images of black and white striped zebras dance through your head. However the stories of ecological and economic devastation stand out with this invasive. With destructive powers that lie in their sheer number and ability to attach to solid objects — water intake pipes, propellers, boat hulls, dock pilings, submerged rocks, and even other aquatic animals — these invaders surely can reign terror in the aquatic world. Read the rest of this entry »
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May 5th, 2009
Installing the first steps down Glendale Falls
Volunteer Workday
Saturday, May 9th, 2009
10am-2pm
Exposed Tree Roots Glendale Falls
While conducting Shoreline Surveys, Stream Team volunteers found that vegetation had been trampled on and roots exposed by visitors to Glendale Falls in Middlefield. Through support from the Westfield River Wild & Scenic Advisory Committee and The Trustees of Reservations, volunteers will make improvements to access along a designated trail and restore vegetation through a series of workdays. The first volunteer workday is scheduled for this Saturday, May 9th.
Get your gloves and buckets! Help move the small stones that will fill in the steps. Bring a lunch, sun hat and lots to drink. Many hands make light work! Read the rest of this entry »
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Ever wondered what it would be like if our roads and highways were constructed in such a way that bridges were impassable, roads were blocked by large objects, or if you had to dodge pedestrians walking across a four-lane highway. Driving would become a hair-raising experience and your chances of actually reaching your destination would be greatly reduced.
