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Large New England Marshes Likely Created By Settlers

USGS — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:00:54 +0000

: Settler deforestation increased coastal sediment contributing to large New England marshes

The work of settlers clearing the land two centuries ago may have had a far greater impact on wetland growth than previously known, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey study.

Researchers found that deforestation in the New England area at that time produced significant soil erosion, increasing sediment delivery rates — the natural flow of sand and soil in water systems. The large amounts of sediment traveling in rivers and streams to the coastline spurred a significant period of wetland growth, leading to marshes lining the coast of New England that today are abnormally large.

“For more than 40 years, the rise and fall of sea-level has been thought to control the formation and behavior of coastal marshes,” said Matthew Kirwan, USGS research geologist and lead author of the new report. “Our findings suggest however that sediment delivery rates related to historical land use change are equally, and in some cases, a more important factor.”

The scientists collected core samples along the Plum Island Estuary — the largest in New England— correlating the presence of fossils and other organic matter to the initial formation of the salt marsh. They found that these marshes began expanding rapidly during the 1700’s and 1800’s, a time when settlers were clearing forests and replacing them with farms.

While logging was devastating to the inland landscape, the large run-off of sediment released through these practices benefited marshes by supplying them with sediment, and turning open waterways and rivers into new shallow bays, ideal for wetland growth.

“This is an interesting example of the tradeoffs in nature,” said Kirwan. “Settlers’ agricultural development was clearly harmful to forests, but in this case, it was also extremely beneficial to the coastline.”

Understanding that the current size of wetlands is in some cases an artifact of historical land use change poses conflicting implications for wetland restoration.

The finding that the growth of coastal marshes in the area was influenced by man has led researchers to question whether the current deterioration of the wetlands may signal a slow return to a more natural state.

“If marshes today are bigger because of agricultural practices that occurred 200 years ago, we need to reevaluate current restoration efforts with the mindset that what we are trying to restore and protect may not actually be a completely natural thing,” said Kirwan.

However, returning these wetlands to their more natural state and smaller size may jeopardize the many benefits they provide to coastal residents. Marshes protect coastal cities from storms, filter and clean water of pollutants before reaching shore, protect and shelter marine life, and support commercial fisheries. “Wetlands are some of the most ecologically and economically valuable ecosystems on earth,” said Kirwan.

Despite ongoing wetlands restoration efforts, human influences during the 20th century, such as the construction of dams and reservoirs, have significantly decreased the amount of sediment traveling to the coast. Today’s more refined agricultural practices, in addition to significant reforestation along the eastern shoreline, have also reduced the amount of sediment traveling to the coast leading to a decline in wetland growth.

The article, “Rapid wetland expansion during European settlement and its implication for marsh survival under modern sediment delivery rates,” was published in the May issue of Geology.

Are Abnormal Beaks Indicative of a Bigger Problem?

USGS — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:15:16 +0000

The highest rate of beak abnormalities ever recorded in wild bird populations is being seen in a number of species in the Northwest and Alaska, and scientists to this point have not been able to isolate the cause.

Black-capped Chickadees, Northwestern Crows, and other birds are being impacted by the problem, which affects their ability to feed and clean themselves and could signal a growing environmental health problem.

: Black Capped-Chickadee with deformed beak

In birds affected by what scientists have termed “avian keratin disorder,” the keratin layer of the beak becomes overgrown, resulting in noticeably elongated and often crossed beaks, sometimes accompanied by abnormal skin, legs, feet, claws and feathers. Biologists with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Alaska Science Center published their findings in this month’s issue of The Auk, a Quarterly Journal of Ornithology.

“The prevalence of these strange deformities is more than ten times what is normally expected in a wild bird population,” said research biologist Colleen Handel with the USGS, “We have seen effects not only on the birds’ survival rates, but also on their ability to reproduce and raise young. We are particularly concerned because we have not yet been able to determine the cause, despite testing for the most likely culprits.”

The disorder, which has increased dramatically over the past decade, affects 6.5 percent of adult Black-capped Chickadees in Alaska annually. Beak deformities in this species were first observed in the late 1990s and biologists have since documented more than 2,100 affected individuals. Increasing numbers of other species have also been observed with beak deformities throughout Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. An estimated 17 percent of adult Northwestern Crows are affected by avian keratin disorder in coastal Alaska.

: Northern Crow

Beak deformities in birds can be caused by many different factors, including environmental contaminants, nutritional deficiencies, and bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infections. In the past, other large clusters of beak deformities have been associated with environmental pollutants such as organochlorines in the Great Lakes region and selenium from agricultural runoff in California. These biological discoveries were the first indication that something was wrong in the ecosystem and led to efforts that ultimately corrected the problem.

“We’re seeing ecologically unique species affected across a wide range of habitats. The scope of this problem raises concern about environmental factors in the region,” said USGS wildlife biologist Caroline Van Hemert.

The increasing occurrence of deformities in multiple bird species with broad geographic distribution suggests that avian keratin disorder is spreading and may be an indication of underlying environmental health problems. Additional studies by the USGS will continue to investigate why so many birds are currently affected in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Current research is focused on understanding the disease and potential causes of the disorder.

“Epizootic of beak deformities among wild birds in Alaska: An emerging disease in North America?” and “Beak deformities in Northwestern Crows: Evidence of a multispecies epizootic,” are available in this month’s printed issue of The Auk, a Quarterly Journal of Ornithology.

Visit the Alaska Science Center’s photo gallery of beak deformities for additional pictures.

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey
Department of the Interior/USGS
U.S. Geological Survey/photos by Bill O’Bien

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Nationwide Events Planned for National Public Lands Day

Bill Askenburg — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:01:04 +0000

: Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge – Harvard, MA

This year’s National Public Lands Day supports the efforts of Let’s Move Outside, a program of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move!campaign. By linking parents to nearby parks, refuges, trails and waters, Let’s Move Outside promotes a healthier and more active lifestyle for all family members. The volunteer experience allows children to explore and enjoy the outdoors while benefitting the community. After volunteering, families can take advantage of the many recreational opportunities on public lands.

“In an increasingly urban, technology-focused world, more Americans of all ages are becoming disconnected from the natural world,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “National Public Lands Day gives us – especially our children – an opportunity to get outside and lend a hand to help conserve our public lands and fish and wildlife resources.”

In 2010, 170,000 volunteers worked at more than 2,080 public land sites in every state, the District of Columbia and in many U.S. territories to remove trash and invasive plants, build trails, and plant trees and other native plants.

Eight federal agencies, nonprofits and state, regional and local governments participate in National Public Lands Day, a day when people can visit all federal lands – including the Service’s national wildlife refuges – without paying an entry fee. This year, September 24 will be a “fee free” day on national wildlife refuges and many other federal lands.

Many national wildlife refuges will invite volunteers to commemorate this national day of service by helping to clean and enhance refuge property. See what’s planned at a refuge near you by using the refuge finder tool or check event calendar listings.

Among refuges planning National Public Lands Day events on Saturday, September 24:

Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, TX – 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Help pick up trash at the Highway 105 Trinity River Bridge. Learn about Trinity River Refuge.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, GA – 8:00 a.m. to noon.
Help maintain the historic Chesser Island Homestead. Free hot dogs and refreshments for participants. Learn about Okefenokee Refuge.

Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, IN – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Take part in clean-up activities. A free lunch will be provided. Learn about Muscatatuck Refuge.

Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, WI – 9:30 a.m. to noon.
Help rid the refuge of invasive plants. All ages are welcome. Wear long pants, sturdy shoes and gloves. Meet at the Egret Trail boardwalk parking lot off of the auto tour route off Hwy 49. Learn about Horicon Refuge.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

5 Outstanding Bird-Watching Locations in Maine

Cliff Calderwood — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:00:27 +0000

Brown Thrasher

Bird-watching in Maine is popular and big business. The state is second only to Montana in terms of birding participation so you can be sure it has many superb locations for bird-watching and here are just a few.

Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve:

The first of the coastal bird-watching locations to explore sits in southern Maine east of Wells off busy Route 1, and is the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. Here you’ll discover salt marshes, a boardwalk through a red maple swamp, the Little River, and beaches with dunes.

Take the Cart Path out to the Laird Norton Trail and to the wetlands behind the dunes. This is a great location for spotting the snowy egret, great blue heron, green-backed heron, whimbrel, lesser and great yellowlegs, and willet. Look for eastern towhees and brown thrashers in the fields and terns and gulls on the northern end of the beach.

The reserve can be found on Route 1 north from Exit 19 off the Maine Turnpike on Laudholm Farm Road about 1.5-miles after the exit.

Monhegan Island

Monhegan Island:

Monhegan Island is one of those small isolated island gems on the Atlantic Coastal flyway, and is particularly popular for bird-watching in spring and autumn with late September and early October being peak spotting time.

There are 17-miles of trails that crisscross this small island and while hiking you can spot blue-winged teal, yellow-billed cuckoo, red-bellied woodpecker, cedar waxwing, warblers, and osprey, American kestrel and peregrine falcon. The only way of reaching the island is ferry and there are daily boats from Port Clyde, New Harbor and Boothbay Harbor in the summer and reduced services in the fall.

Cadilac Mountain, Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park (Mount Desert Island):

New England’s only National Park, Acadia, is made up of a number of locations but the largest is Mount Desert Island which has a visitor center and loop road. Acadia National Park in fall is especially scenic and outstanding for wildlife viewing.

Popular bird-watching locations on Mount Desert include: Cadillac Mountain in the fall for hawks and eastern towhees and dark-eyed juncos in the summer, Jordan Pond carriage roads and trails for songbirds, and Seawall rock beach is great to spot sea ducks and purple sandpipers.

Mount Desert Island can be reached by taking Route 95 north to Augusta and then Route 3 to Ellsworth and then onto Mount Desert Island.

Baxter State Park

Baxter State Park:

The original gift of land to the state by former governor Percival Baxter required the state honor his request that it remain a wilderness and as a “sanctuary for wild birds and beasts.” This is music to the ears of bird watchers in the state as its undisturbed habitats of ponds and streams and boreal forest, provides excellent opportunities to spot pine and bay-breasted warblers, thrushes, least flycatchers, warblers, blackpolls, yellowbellied flycatchers, chickadees and black-backed woodpeckers.

The road through Baxter State Park has a 20-mph limit, slow-moving but great for spotting the wildlife. Destinations in the park for bird-watching include Togue Pond, Roaring Brook, and Kidney Pond, but there are so many more opportunities that you can take a week or two to cover just a fraction of the available forest trails.

The park has a north and south entrance, with the south being the most popular with mountain hikers. For south entrance take I-95 to Exit 244, turn west on Route 11/157 and follow through Millinocket along Route 157 to the park.

Male Spruce Grouse

Grafton Notch State Park:

Located in the western Mountains region is Grafton Notch State Park. Nature lovers can find remote waterfalls and gorges providing nesting opportunities for Peregrine Falcons, and spruce forests containing boreal chickadees, black-backed woodpeckers and Bicknell’s thrushes.

If you’re not up to climbing then follow the walk along the Bear River which takes you to Screw Auger Falls, Mother Walker Falls and out to the deep flume of Moose Cave. Continue to the parking lot for the Table Rock Trail where you’ll have an opportunity to spot Philadelphia Vireos. The challenging and higher elevations of the Table Rock Trail offer the chance on the ascent to see gray jays, spruce grouse, yellow-bellied flycatchers, bay-breasted warblers and blackpolls. Grafton Notch State Park is located 8-miles north of Newry on Route 26.

For more details on these and other attractions to see during Maine Vacations and to pick up your free New England trip planner package go to Cliff’s New England Vacation Guide at: http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com

5 Bird-Watching Locations in New Hampshire

Cliff Calderwood — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:04:45 +0000

Great North Woods - Pittsburg, NH

From remote and rugged northern forests and notches to sparkling lakes and rocky shorelines this sample of bird-watching locations in New Hampshire offers destinations to satisfy all manner of bird spotting habitats.

Connecticut Lakes State Forest – Pittsburg:

Deep in the North Woods of New Hampshire and far away from the busy hiking paths in the White Mountains is Connecticut Lakes State Forest.

Getting there is easy – just follow Route 3 20-miles north of Pittsburg to Moose Falls Picnic area and Deer Mountain Campground – but getting yourself around is where the fun begins.

Species you’ll likely see include: olive-sided flycatchers, purple finches, blackpoll, warblers, thrushes, redstarts and ruby-crowned kinglets. In nearby Scott Bog you can also view great blue herons, bitterns and snipes. For Scott Bog take the dirt road on the eastern side of Route 3 about 0.5-mile south of Moose Falls and follow it to the walking trail. The trail out to the bog is along Scott Brook and is 2-miles.

The Balsams - Dixville Notch, NH

Dixville Notch State Park – Colebrook:

At 127-acres Dixville Notch State Park is the smallest state park in the New Hampshire system, but it packs a lot of scenic locations and bird watching opportunities into its compact locale. Because it’s located in the Great North Woods region its not as busy a destination as its larger cousins to the south in the White Mountains Region. The precipitous cliffs at the notch provide home for Peregrine Falcons and other raptors.

The park is 7-miles east of Colebrook on Route 26, and contains a forest of mostly red spruce and balsam fir and includes wonderful wildlife viewing on the Table Rock Trail and a short interpretive trail at Waterfall Walk.

McLane Center & Silk Farm Sanctuary – Concord:

The New Hampshire Audubon Society manages over 40 properties in the state and is headquartered in Concord. The Silk Farm Audubon Center in Concord is a popular location for birders with its centerpiece of Great Turkey Pond and three primary trails.

Trail include: the short Forest Floor Trail where you’ll get to spot ovenbird, warblers, chickadees, tufted titmice, and the white and red-breasted nuthatches, and the Great Turkey Pond Trail which at 1.2-miles is the longest walk but offers the chance to view waterbirds and includes a boardwalk for viewing along the pond.

The sanctuary is located off Exit 2 on I-89. Take left at ramp and at first blinking light make a right onto Silk Farm Road and the entrance to the center will be on your right.

Common Loon

The Loon Center and Markus Wildlife Sanctuary – Moultonborough:

Who hasn’t been mesmerized by the call of the loon when first heard? The haunting yet soothing sound is heard most often between mid-May to mid-June by the common loon in New Hampshire, the only bird of the species found here.

The Loon Center and Markus Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the north shore of Lake Winnipesaukee in Moultonborough and offers visitors information and exhibits about the loon and nature trails over the 200-acres of the wildlife sanctuary. The habit includes: upland forests, marshes, ponds, streams and the shoreline of the lake. The sanctuary is not only home to a resident pair of loons but birders can also spot forests and woodland birds such as warblers.

To get to the center and sanctuary at Route 25 in Moultonborough turn onto Blake Road at school and go one mile to end and turn right onto Lee’s Mill Road. The Loon Center is on the left.

Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve:

Great Bay is located about 15-miles inland from the New Hampshire coastline and Portsmouth and encompasses tidal marsh and freshwater wetlands, mudflats, and upland fields and forests.

Glossy Ibis

Prime bird-watching opportunities are found at Adams Point in Durham, Sandy Point in Greenland, and Chapman’s Landing. Adams Point is ideal for viewing bald eagles and Chapman’s point provides views of an osprey nesting platform.

Sandy Point is at the Great Bay Discover Center and is an excellent location for viewing glossy ibises, green-backed herons, snowy egrets, wood ducks, greater and lesser yellowlegs, American woodcocks, owls, kingfishers and a large assortment of songbirds. And the discovery center itself has exhibits and interactive learning areas to delight both adults and kids.

The Great Bay Discover Center is an ideal place to begin exploring the reserve and you can reach it by taking I-95 North to Exit 2 and head west on Route 101 for 4.5-miles until Routes 33/108. Turn right at bottom of ramp and follow Route 33 for 4-miles. Take second left onto Depot Road and follow to the end.

For more details on these and other attractions to see during a New Hampshire Vacation and to pick up your free New England trip planner package go to Cliff’s New England Vacations Guide at: http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com

Plymouth Plantation and Mayflower – Experience Pilgrim Life (includes video)

Cliff Calderwood — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 05:00:08 +0000

Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower II ship are illuminating exhibits on a major event in early American history. Both are places to stir the imagination and entertain your knowledge cells. At the Mayflower II you’ll discover first-hand all about the voyage the pilgrims endured, and then barely a few miles away you’ll experience the early and struggling years of settlement.

Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower are both located in Plymouth, Massachusetts – a small city 40 miles south of Boston.

Authentic yet entertaining the two attractions are links to our past and the 102 passengers that survived the journey across the stormy Atlantic seas.

The Mayflower voyage of 1620 took 66 days after leaving Plymouth, England on September 6. It anchored in present day Provincetown harbor in Cape Cod on November 11, 1620.

Only one individual did not survive the journey. Though the pilgrims had endured much hardship on the voyage the worst was yet to come.

Deciding Cape Cod was not a suitable place for a settlement, and forced north because of the weather and shoals south of Cape Cod, the pilgrims finally came ashore in late November in present day Plymouth center. That first winter at Plimoth Plantation decimated the settlers due to cold and disease. Of the 102 that came ashore only 52 were left in the spring.

The native Wampanoag men showed the survivors how to plant corn and in October 1621 the Pilgrims celebrated their first harvest at Plymouth Plantation and which today we mark on our calendars as Thanksgiving Day. Plymouth Plantation is a 1627 Pilgrim authentic village just a few miles outside of the city. (see video tour or Wampanoag village below)

The plantation itself is a loop tour with two primary sites, the 1627 Pilgrim Village and the Hobbamock’s (Wampanoag) Homesite. The village itself consists of modest timber-framed houses, and fragrant raised-bed gardens. Everything is plain and productive, and authentic – this means don’t expect neatly maintained and tended areas and settings. This is how the first permanent English Settlement in New England would have looked seven years into the venture. (see video below)

The people of the village dress, talk, and act, as best we know they would’ve on the original Plymouth Plantation. But that doesn’t mean they are aloof or communicate in riddles or a strange tongue. Their aim is to educate and entertain but still remain true to the era. I’ve always found they are engaging and excellent in this balance.

The stroll out of the village along the Eel River walk takes you to the Native people homesite. As mentioned earlier, the Pilgrims wouldn’t have survived the first year had it not been for help from the Native Peoples. They taught them about the region and it’s agriculture and the resources of the land, and how to thrive.

This special area is a home for an extended family not another village. It honors the importance and affinity the Native People have in this region. Take time to appreciate the skills of weaving and tanning practiced at the site, and the use of fire for burning out boats. Go inside one of the houses and notice the materials and bindings used for construction. The inhabitants here do not role-play so feel free to discuss modern day subjects with them.

The Mayflower II replica is docked on State Pier on Water Street. You’ll think it a small ship, and wonder how it could’ve survived the wild and unforgiving North Atlantic. A 2,760-mile trip in a ship that leaked and creaked at an agonizing speed of 2 mph!

During your Mayflower tour you’ll meet passengers on the ship role-playing for you. You’ll get to see the passenger’s cramped quarters and the captain’s spacious cabin. But most of all you’ll be cast back in time… and if you close your eyes and listen to the gulls overhead, maybe you’ll hear the shouts of a sailor as he sights landfall and one journey’s end… and the start of another.

Enjoy your day at Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower II. They’re entertaining reminders of our history and a link back to a monumental place in our past.

Plymouth Plantation is one of my favorite three living museums in New England. The other two are Old Sturbridge Village in Central Massachusetts, and Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut. All three for different reasons are marvelous experiences of New England’s contribution to American history. To discover more about each visit my web site at www.new-england-vacations-guide.com/

For more details on these and other destinations on Massachusetts vacations and to pick up your free vacation reports go to Cliff’s New England Vacation online guide at: http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com

This Unique New England Business is For the Birds

Bill Askenburg — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:47:45 +0000

New England Birdhouse

Ingenuity, uniqueness, quality and craftsmanship are characteristics often associated with New England’s culture, people and crafts. Cut from this mold, New England Birdhouse is a Massachusetts based business, who has carved out their niche by specializing in fine architectural birdhouses.

At NewEnglandBirdhouse.com they offer handcrafted custom and stock replica bird houses and bird feeders, a variety of backyard birding supplies, handcrafted & personalized gifts, garden decor and “Uniquely New England” artisan wares. Through their blog they provide original articles about backyard birding, gardening, garden and patio decor and New England topics of interest. They are committed to promoting regional artists and other New England based small businesses and interests.

Sapoch Custom Bird House

New England Birdhouse was founded by Bill Askenburg, a lifetime woodworker and avid backyard birder. The idea for the business began in 2001 with the creation of a custom birdhouse replica of his Chelmsford, MA colonial home as an anniversary present for his wife. Soon thereafter, custom birdhouses were built for the neighbors and for his wife’s coworkers. The reaction to the birdhouses was terrific, and a website was built to generate orders. New England Birdhouse was opened for business.

The company’s custom bird houses are in great demand, with orders from across the United States as well as abroad. The birdhouses are frequently commissioned as gifts, and Askenburg takes great pride in crafting each custom bird house, always mindful of how special it will be to the recipient.

Askenburg uses client submitted photos to create CAD plans for each replica bird house. The plans are reviewed by the client to ensure accuracy before construction begins. The custom bird houses are built from milled Eastern White Pine. To maximize weather resistance, exterior grade paint, fasteners and joinery are used to construct the bird houses.

Shrader Custom Bird House

The custom bird houses are both decorative and functional, with “bird friendly” features including ventilation, drainage, easy clean-out access and unfinished interior nest boxes. Entry holes are sized for common nest cavity dwellers including wrens, chickadees, nuthatches and titmice. The bird house details are painstakingly carved, burned and painted into the bird house using a number of different artistic techniques. Each custom replica bird house takes approximately a month to complete, with the average price being $1,200 – $1,600.

In 2009, New England Birdhouse added a catalog of backyard birding supplies, stock replica bird houses and bird feeders, handcrafted and personalized gifts and Uniquely New England products crafted by regional artisans, and also launched their blog.

“by Bill Askenburg, Owner – New England Birdhouse. For more information, please visit www.NewEnglandBirdhouse.com, their blog, or email Bill Askenburg.”