Mascomabirds.org        

A summary of presentations made during our

Winter/Spring Nature Series talks:

2019-2020, 2018-2019, 2017-2018, 2016-2017, 2015-2016, 2014-2015, 2013-2014 & 2012-2013

 Mascoma Chapter

Nature Series Talks

Howe Library - Hanover, NH

Winter 2019 - Spring 2020

Dr. Carol Foss

Motus: A New Revolution in Migration Research

Tuesday, March 10

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is an array of radio telemetry stations that track the movements of birds and other small animals fitted with small radio transmitters (nanotags). Gathering signals sent by these transmitters are receiving stations operating 24/7/365. Scientists, can use the data collected from the systems many, disparate sites to track the movements of bird populations across vast stretches of landscape running to thousands of miles. Dr. Carol Foss, Senior Advisor for Science and Policy at NH Audubon, will provide an overview of the Motus system, what we are learning from it, efforts underway to expand the network in the Northeast, and how interested citizens can get involved.

On the Trail of the Bicknell’s Thrush in Cuba

Tuesday, January 14

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

In late March 2019, Vermont Center for Ecostudies Executive Director Chris Rimmer touched down in Cuba for a long-planned trip to survey the island’s mountainous habitat for the Bicknell’s. thrush. The goal was, as Chris notes, to attempt to establish baseline data regarding the Bicknell’s thrush’s presence there in order to take “the first steps in obtaining crucial information to prioritize and direct both local and range-wide conservation planning for this species’ vulnerable winter habitats.”

Chris’s focused on the expedition’s field work, some of which occurred in areas never before surveyed. He recounted the arduous challenges climbing mountainous terrain presented in order to access the bird's likely habitat. He also reflected on the challenges that lie ahead for proactively stewarding the Bicknell’s through an environment that is growing increasingly fragile due to loss of habitat and changing climate.



Adair Mulligan 

  The Connecticut: New England’s Great River

Tuesday, December 10

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

The largest river in New England rises in a small beaver pond near the Canadian border and flows over 400 miles through four states, falling 2670 feet to the sea. On its way, it passes through the Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge America's only-watershed-based refuge.

A contributor to essential writings about the Connecticut River and Executive Director of the Hanover Conservancy, Adair Mulligan is well-qualified to tell the Connecticut’s story. The breadth of her presentation was far-ranging whether describing the river's natural beauty or its essential place in New England’s development from the time of the indigenous people to the present. Her talk was both informative and entertaining including little known aspects about the river's settlement as well as tails about some of the Connecticut's more flamboyant characters.

Finally, Adair discussed the challenges that lie ahead both for maintaining the river’s health and in keeping secure its integral role in the region’s life.

Co-sponsored with the Hanover Conservancy.



Winter 2018 - Spring 2019

James Kennedy

The American Woodcock; Ecology and Management

Tuesday, April 9

Wetland scientist and landscape architect Jim Kennedy gave a very informative and entertaining  talk on the habits and the ecology of the American woodcock, the migratory bird famous for its springtime mating ritual on the “singing grounds”.

Jim described the woodcock’s unique anatomy and habits and where this adapted shorebird is found in our area. By most accounts the American woodcock is declining in the northeast due to habitat loss. Jim described the steps being taken to preserve and enhance the particular habitat of fields, brushy edges, and young forests which are critical to woodcock survival.

Jim also shared his enthusiasm for working with bird dogs.He has navigated thick woodcock “covers” throughout the Northeast, Midwest, and Atlantic Canada and has competed, judged and reported on wild bird field trials. Jim is a former winner of the International Amateur Woodcock Championship, held annually in New Brunswick (no birds are killed in these events).  He has worked on the Huntington Hill Wildlife Management Area in Hanover for 40 years, maintaining and enhancing woodcock and ruffed grouse habitat. Jim also is Chair of the Hanover Conservation Commission.





Nathaniel Sharp

Exploring Tools for the Citizen Scientist

Tuesday, March 12

There have never been more programs available for people to engage in "citizen science." In the Upper Valley there are Vermont eBird and New Hampshire eBird as well as iNaturalist. These tools not only help you track your own sightings but put a wealth of useful and interesting data at your fingertips.

Exploring and understanding all these programs have to offer, can be somewhat daunting, but Vermont Center for Ecostudies "Citizen Science Outreach Naturalist" Nathan Sharp is more than capable of helping interested users navigate their way.

Nathan will provide an introduction to both the eBird and iNaturalist portals showing how to enter data into both websites. He'll also discuss the myriad uses of eBird and iNaturalist, ranging from tracking the migratory patterns of birds, to pinning down locations for hard to find species, to viewing phenological changes throughout the year. 

Whether just starting out or experienced users looking to maximize the range of information available to them, attendees are sure to find Nathan's talk both informative and entertaining.



MK Beach

The Arctic Through My Lens

Thursday, February 28

In August, 2018, MK Beach traveled on an expedition cruise from Iqaluit, Nunavut to Western Greenland. Part of Dartmouth's Alumni Travel program, the group navigated across the Davis Strait and above the Arctic Circle to experience remote towns and villages, sea ice, icebergs, fjords, and Arctic flora and fauna. They ultimately set foot on the Greenland ice sheet. This is her story, told through her camera lens.

MK first moved to NH in 1972 when she enrolled in the historic first co-educational class at Dartmouth, graduating in 1976. She later earned an MBA from the Tuck School of Business, She describes herself as an "Observer, Creator, Consultant, Occasional Teacher, and Eternal Student." MK says she  is very aware of a "sense of place" and feels enormously grateful to live in a region where she can steward 100 acres of land which includes delaying the mowing of her fields so the Bobolinks can safely nest. She  "loves Nature and capturing - with whimsical words and various camera lenses - big skies, small moments, billowing clouds, bees on flowers and birds on branches." She "has a special affinity for Ravens."



Adam Kozlowski

The Secret Lives of Bats

Tuesday, January 8

Did you know that one out of every four mammals in the world is a bat?  That over 50 million years of evolution have gone into shaping the exotic shapes and behaviors exhibited by bats?  That of the nine species of bats currently known to inhabit Vermont, five (56%) are listed on either state or federal threatened or endangered species lists? While in NH the situation is no better with all eight of the state's eight species listed as either endangered, threatened or species of special consern.

Threse were just a few of the many interesting and revelatory insights offered by National Park Service biologist Adam Kozlowski at his recent presentation on behalf of the NH Auubon's Mascoma Chapter nature series.

During his hour-long presentation, attendees learned about the specializations that make bats both so fascinating and misunderstood. Adam provided an overview of bat ecology, physiology, and mythology that helped listeners better understand the threats bats are facing. He also delved into the world of both echolocation and hibernation with a review our native species and the characteristics that make them who they are.  

Dr. Pamela Hunt

Aerial Insectivores: The Who. What, Where and Why of an Important Emerging Conservation Issue

Tuesday, December 11

Aerial insectivores are those birds that feed primarily on insects captured in flight, and include nightjars, swifts, flycatchers, and swallows. Many of these species, particularly swallows and the Chimney Swift, are experiencing significant population declines across the Northeast, and sometimes across their entire ranges. Dr. Hunt's program provided an overview of these species’ biology and population trends exploring what we know – or don’t know – about the causes of the declines.

Dr. Pamela Hunt serves as Avian Conservation Biologist for New Hampshire Audubon. She received he Ph. D. from Dartmouth College in 1995 and has been with NH Audubon since 2000. In addition to aerial insectivores, specific areas of interest include habitat use by early successional birds (particularly whip-poor-wills) and the effects of events outside the breeding season on long-distance migrants. Pam also coordinated the “NH Dragonfly Survey,” a five-year project that mapped distributions of these insects throughout the state

 Winter 2017 - 2018                                       

Dr. Benjamin Steele

Behavior of the Common Eider: "Darwinian Puzzles"

Monday, April 9

Groups of eiders we see along the coast look like unsophisticated flocks, but careful examination reveals surprisingly complicated decision making, interaction between individuals, and even different personalities.  Many of these behaviors at first glance do not appear to enhance reproduction or survival, hence I call them “Darwinian Puzzles.”

Colby-Sawyer College Prof. Dr. Benjamin Steele has a BA from Harvard University, an MS from Utah State university, and a PhD from Dartmouth.  He has studied seabirds and migrating ducks in Alaska, White-faced Ibises in Utah, and Warblers in NH, Illinois, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Austria.  For the past 14 years, he has been studying the behavior of Common Eiders with colleagues in Finland.

 

Photo by Dr. Benjamin Steele



Ken Cox

"Bird Photography on a Budget"

Monday, March 12

You don’t need an armful of expensive photographic equipment to get good results when taking pictures of birds. Retired fisheries biologist and avid birder Ken Cox made that point when he  presented his talk "birding on a budget" to a gathering of two dozen enthusiastic birder/photographers.

Ken's presentation made a survey of camera options from the standard "point and shoot" models, to "bridge" cameras like the Canon SX50 PowerShot to digital single lens reflex cameras (DSLR). He cited plusses and minuses for each emphasizing that the right camera for an individual depends on what he or she is trying to achieve.

Ken said that for himself, he prefers the so-called "bridge" camera class. They have greater range and clarity than the "point and shoot" models while offering excellent resolution at a variety of distances. They also are less cumbersome than the DSLR's can be for taking out into the field, are less expensive and provide excellent results.

A selection of Ken's photography can be found on his Blog page:

http://northernwingsbirder.blogspot.com/

His birding expeditions have taken him all around the United States, and he is an active “citizen scientist” undertaking projects for the US Geological Survey, the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and Audubon Vermont. Ken also is a member of the Vermont Bird Records Committee

Taber Allison, Ph.D.

"Impacts of Wind Energy on Birds: What We Think We Know and What Is Uncertain"

 Monday, February 12

Wind turbines are seen as one of the best available technologies for carbon, emission-free power generation, but the siting and operation of wind energy projects has impacts on wildlife, particularly birds and bats.

In a highly informative presentation, Dr. Taber Allison shared insights from his nearly two decades studying the impacts of wind energy on wildlife and developing solutions to minimize those impacts. Most recently his work has been at the American Wind and Wildlife Institute (AWWI) where he is Director of Research.

Taber presented information generated by studies underyaken by a variety of sciesntific entities. Some of the results were surprising. For example, initial research has shown that wind power projects do not cause much impact on greater prairie chickens and that there are actually positive trends in the survival rates of females.

A visit to  AWWI's website provides access to current research on a variety of wind and wildlife interactions.

https://awwi.org/resources/the-basics/

Monday, January 8

 Phred Benham

"Ornithology and Birding in Peru:     Explorations in One of the Most Biologically Diverse Regions on Earth"

Phred Benham, doctoral candidate at the University of Montana, shared his experiences studying the birds of Peru with a special focus on his study of the Andean hummingbird Tyrian Metaltail, Phred has been researching how changes in the landscape effect the Metaltail’s bill morphology.

Phred also detailed his involvement in wide-ranging bird surveys in such disparate areas as the Department of Tumbes in the Northwestern part of the country, the unique Polylepis forests of the high Andes and other ecosystems of the many present in Peru. Aided by photographs Phred gave fascinating details regarding the lives of such birds as the Buff-fronted Owl, the Peruvian Plantcutter, the Guira Tanager and the Royal Cinclodes among many others.

Phred's talk offered something for everyone, from the science of the relationship of avian hemoglobin and altitude to the beauty of the many spectacular tanagers that exist throughout the different heights of the Andes.

 

Wednesday, December 20

Jason Hill

"Unlocking the Migration Mysteries of Two Grassland Bird Species; the Grasshopper Sparrow and Upland Sandpiper"

Grassland bird populations have undergone steady declines over the last half century due to agricultural expansion and industrialization on their breeding grounds. However, we know relatively little, about the fate of grassland birds on their wintering grounds. Where do they go and how do they get there?

VT Center for Ecostudies conservation biologist Jason Hill has been working to help us better understand the migration behaviors of two grassland species; the grasshopper sparrow and upland sandpiper.

Jason's team captured individuals of these two species on military reservations in the east and midwest and then marked them. The sparrows received light-weight geotags which require recapture of the bird in a subsequent year to collect the data. The sparrows went to Florida and Mexico. The sandpipers were followed by satellite transmission down to their wintering grounds in South America.

One surprise finding, said Jason, was that upland sandpipers can winter in the Amazon Basin well farther south than where they previously had been recorded in South America.

He said the new studies are a valuable corrective to previous misinterpretations of the migrations of these birds. as shown by comparisons with the respective 

Winter 2016 - Spring 2017

Steve Faccio

"Vernal Pools: Wicked Big Puddles or Critical Wildlife Habitat?"

Monday, April 10

VT Center for Ecostudies Conservation Biologist Steve Faccio was the final presenter in the Mascoma Chapter's 2016-2017 Nature Talk series.

More tha fifty people heard him present a very informative discourse on the indespensible role vernal pools play in the life cycle of amphibean species. He focused on the ecology of vernal pools with an emphasis on the amphibians that depend upon them for breeding with special attention to salamanders and wood frogs.

His prsentation explored the characteristics of vernal pools, the life histories and ecology of the unique assemblage of wildlife, both amphibian and invertebrates, that utilize vernal pools, and the roles these small, inconspicuous wetlands play in our forest ecosystems.  Also of interest was Steve's research project that is radio-tracking salamanders and investigating mercury levels in vernal pool “foodwebs."



Bill Shepard

Tools and Tricks of the Birding Trade

Monday, March 13

Connecticut River Birding Trail Project Coordinator Bill Shepard led a group of 50 assembled attendees on a fast-paced, lively and informative tour through his birding world "sharing  some juicy tips on how to make birding more fun and productive."

Bill's wide-ranging survey discussed Upper Valley birding hot spots, field guides, recommended birding optics, bird identification and the latest birding apps for smart phones and tablets.

Bill's enthusiasm for his subject was infectious leading to an animated give and take between him and the audience that continued well beyond the talk's close.

Tig Tillinghast

Getting Close to Coopers Hawks

Monday, February 13

It is rare for a birder to be priviliged to the intimate nesting behavior of birds, but that's just what Thetford naturalist Tig Tillinghast experienced for two nesting seasons when he was able to observe a mated pair of Coopers Hawks raise their young.

In a presentation both enlightening and entertaining,  Tig shared his experience recording the hawk's nesting activity combining automatic, remote digital photography, with adventurous tree climbing. Tig's extensive photographic record provided sights into "the remarkable nesting life of Cooper's Hawks." Attendees got an insider's look into the rarely seen, daily habits of these reclusive woodland raptors from the hatching to the fledging of each season's broods.

Dr. Pamela Hunt

Birding Cuba:

Expedition to the Forbidden Island

Monday, January 9

A packed house was on hand at the Howe Library for Dr. Pamela Hunt's presentation on her trip to Cuba. NH Audubon's senior avian biologist traveled to the once inaccessible island with a group of NH birders and shared her adventures and some misadventures with us.

A visit to a place a birder has never been provides an opportunity to see new birds and almost immediately Pam and her group began to encounter some of the island's twenty-plus endemic species. Their stay in Havana yielded some of the more common birds, but also gave them a chance to experience some of Cuba's rich history. They visited famous landmarks and monuments to some of Cuba's historic figures such as Che Guevara and Jose Marti.

They travelled from Havana to the Bay of Pigs, picking up most of the Cuban endemic birds along the way such as the Cuban Trogon, the Cuban Tody, the Blue-headed Quail Dove and the world's smallest bird, the Bee Hummingbird. A good representation of North American migrants were also present, wintering on the island. Their stay around the Bay of Pigs included tours of the mangrove forests and the Zapata Swamp. Some bird highlights from this region included the Cuban Black Hawk, the Cuban Green Woodpecker and the Zapata Sparrow.

Dr. Hunt's presentation was both entertaining and informative. Many of us were inspired to visit the island ourselves, now that it has become easier to do so.


 Ted Levin

America’s Snake:

The Rise and Fall of the Timber Rattlesnake

Tuesday, December 13

More than 50 people gathered in the Howe Library's Mayer Room for Ted Levin's thoroughly engrossing presentation on our only native rattlesnake, the timber rattler.

The timber rattlesnake is found in 31 states including NH. Its present day range, greatly reduced since Colonial times, includes the eastern U.S. from Minnesota and NH in the north to Texas and Florida in the South.

Timber rattlers are listed as “threatened” or “endangered” throughout most of their territory. Not surprisingly, very few us have ever seen one, and they remain for many people poorly understood. Ted's talk went a long ways towards changing that circumstance.

Drawing on his more than three decades of experience studying "America's Snake," Ted discussed its place in America’s pantheon of creatures and in our own frontier history. He also reviewed its current conservation status and the heroic efforts to protect it against habitat loss, climate change and the human tendency to indisciminantly kill what we fear.

In addition, the timber rattler's survival is hampered by its own reproductive cycle. According to Ted, females don't start giving birth until they've reached between six and eleven years of age, and they don't breed every year thereafter. Further, their litters are small, only eight young on average. Loss of individual snakes is not easily overcome through replacement. Presently, timber rattlers are listed as "endangered" in both New Hampshire and Vermont and are protected by state law.

Winter 2015 - Spring 2016

Rick Van de Poll

Plotting Wildlife Populations

and Their Movement in Lebanon and Hanover

Monday, April 11 

Dr. Rick Van de Poll will present an illustrated talk on the condition of Lebanon’s salient wildlife populations as well as Hanover’s Mink Brook Nature Preserve.  His talk also will discuss the results of the wildlife corridor analysis he has conducted in Lebanon since 2009 during which time he identified 65 wildlife crossings there. This presentation also will highlight the findings of last year's analysis and describe ways that Lebanon plans to improve its "green infrastructure" to benefit wildlife species and the residents that appreciate them.

Co-sponsored with the Howe Library



Matt Tarr

Exotic Shrubs and Songbird Breeding Success

Monday, March 14

When it comes to scientific research, sometimes there are no straight lines between cause and effect. This adage was insightfully brought home again by UNH Coop Extension Associate Professor Matt Tarr.

For more than two years, Matt has been researching the impact of "alien shrubs on catepillar abundance and the breeding success of common yellowthroats." He walked 24 intrigued audience members through his research to date focusing "on the differences in feeding rates and/or the types of insects that adults bring to their young between territories composed of different proportions of native/exotic shrubs." He outlined how he developed test plots with different mixes of native and invasive shrubs and how he mapped out individual common yellowthroat territories within them. To date, Matt has found that factors behind the causality determining breeding success, such as site fidelity and and intraspecies competition, are much less black and white than one might have thought going in.

We look forward to hearing more about Matt's research as his field work continues.

Our thanks to the Hanover Conservancy for co-sponsoring the event.

 Len Reitsma

“Sex, Lies and Videotape,

Canada Warbler Style "

Monday, February 8

Despite a steadily falling, light snow, 30 people came out to hear Len Reitsma's very engaging and informative discussion of the Canada warbler's nesting and breeding behavior.

For the last twelve years, Plymouth State University (PSU) biology professor Len Reitsma and colleagues have been studying the Canada warbler with particuklar focus on Canaan, NH's Bear Pond Natural Area. The group's focus has been the Canada warbler's habitat selection, age composition, reproductive success and mating system. Len shared insights about the Canada warbler's present condition and future prospects based on that research. Using a series of Powerpoint charts and graphs, he showed how Canada warbler nesting sites are distributed throughout a defined territory and how male and female members of the species pair up. Among the revelations of the research was the extent to which Canada warblers can have multiple mates.

Another concern Len addressed was the Canada warbler's steady population decline throughout the first 15 years of the 21^st century with annual loss thought to be in the 6% range. He posited that, like other species that breed in New England, such as the Bicknell's thrush, the Canada warbler population faces severe pressure on its northern South America wintering grounds where habitat destruction is widespread.

Chris Rimmer

"Bicknell's Thrush -- Conserving a Bird of

Two Worlds"

Monday, January 11th

Bicknell’s Thrush is one of North America’s most rare and vulnerable songbirds. Nesting only in mountaintop forests of northern New England and New York, and wintering primarily on the island of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), Bicknell’s Thrush faces numerous threats to its long-term survival.  

Fifty people turned out to hear VT Center for Ecostudies (VCE) Executive Director Chris Rimmer share his considerable experience and expertise gained by spearheading since 1992 work to conserve Bicknell's thrush and the habitats on which it depends.  Rimmer discussed this fascinating and rare songbird, VCE’s efforts to study it in New England and the Caribbean, and how Bicknell’s Thrush represents a vital conservation link across the hemisphere.

There have been challenges at both ends of the bird's range. In NH, warming temperatures are having an impact on the spruce population, a vital food source for the  Bicknell's thrush. In the Caribbean, logging of the forests habitat where the Bicknell's overwinters is reducing the size of key nesting areas.

At the same time, there have been gratifying successes. In June 2014, a Bicknell's that had been banded in the Dominican Republic by VCE staff was captured in a mist net on Mt. Mansfield by the VCE team. According to Chris, in his 23 years working on the Bicknell's project, it was the first time, to his knowledge, that a bird banded in one place was retrieved by the same group that had done the original banding.  

Ian Clark

"Puffin Stuff"

Wednesday, December 16

Nearly 50 attendees were treated to Newbury, VT - based photographer Ian Clark's lively and infortmative presentation about his experiencre last summer photographing a puffin recovery project on Machais Seal Island in the Gulf of Maine.

With its over-sized, brightly-colored bill, the Atlantic puffin is among the most comical looking of all bird species. Indeed, it has been nicknamed “clown of the sea.” In the late 19^th century over-hunting caused the puffin to disappear from the Gulf of Maine. In the 1970s efforts were begun to restore puffins to their ancestral nesting islands in those waters.

When visiting the project site, Ian had an opportunity to photograph from one of the island's viewing blinds. That afforded him closeup photo opportunities of not only puffins but razorbills, common murres and common terns as well. The result wasn extensive “photographic travelogue” that afforded excellent views of his subjects.

A sample of Ian's work can be viewed at: www.ianclark.com.

Winter 2014 - Spring 2015

Dr. Pamela Hunt

"Birding with Sacagawea" 

Monday, April 13 

When the Lewis and Clark Expedition set out on its celebrated journey to the Pacific Northwest, they were charged by then President Thomas Jefferson to catalog all manner of animal, insect and bird life they encountered. Their legacy for birding is represented by the Lewis’s Woodpecker and Clark’s Nutcracker named after the two intrepid explorers. NH Audubon Senior Biologist Pamela Hunt has twice traveled 
the Lewis and Clark
 Trail. Her presentation will recount those expeditions, the most recent one completed in the spring of 2013. Pam’s talk will describe the places the
 Corps of Discovery saw
 on its three year journey focusing on how the landscape and 
wildlife along the route have changed from that time to the present. 

Co-sponsored with the Hanover Conservancy.



 David Govatski

"The Nature of Pondicherry"

Monday, March 9

Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Jefferson, NH is a very special place. Come learn about the wildlife of Pondicherry with this slide show hosted by Dave Govatski Chair of NH Audubon’s Amonoosuc Chapter and President of the Friends of Pondicherry.  

Pondicherry NWR is a 10 square mile wetland complex located in the towns of Jefferson, Whitefield and Carroll. Learn where its name came from, why it is such an important wildlife area and the events that have occurred over the past fifty years to make this such a well loved area. Pondicherry has recorded an amazing 237 species of birds, 77 species of dragonflies and damselflies, 65 species of butterflies and it has many other interesting features and trails. Learn about what is new at the Refuge since it became a National Wildlife Refuge in 2000.

Co-sponsored with the Howe Library

 

Dr. Judith Scarl

"Unlocking the Mysteries of the Rusty Blackbird"

Monday, February 9

Rusty Blackbirds have experienced one of the steepest declines of any once-common North American landbird, losing more than 85% of their population over a 40-year period.  Yet, only within the last 15 years did scientists notice theat alarming trends.  What caused Rusty Blackbird populations to plummet, and why did it take so long for anyone to notice?  Dr. Judith Scarl will address these questions as well as discuss the Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz, a 38  state, 9 province, and 3 Canadian territory citizen science initiative to find Rusty Blackbirds during their northward migration. 

Judith holds an A.B. from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from Cornell University, where she studied vocal communication and sex differences in parrots. She is coordinator for “Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz” and “Mountain Bird Watch” programs at the VT Center for Ecostudies in Norwich, VT.

Peg Ackerson

Adventures in Birdland,

Volunteering at VINS

Monday, Jan., 12

Peg Ackerson is very active in many aspects of the Upper Valley birding scene as well as at the state level working on projects with NH Audubon. She has been a volunteer at VINS for almost ten years, and at present serves as a docent.

Peg's slide and video presentation offered a crowd of 30 people an intimate and often times amusing behind the scenes look at the Important work going on at VINS. From a towel stealing turkey vulture, to the release back into the wild of a rehabilitated, immature bald eagle, attendees experienced the range of activity that goes on there daily.

 

Winter 2013 - Spring 2014

Roz Renfrew

"A Tale of 56,000 Observations -- The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds of VT" 

Monday, April 14 

Breeding Atlas editor and VT Center for Ecostudies Conservation Biologist Roz Renfrew gave a firsthand account about the compilation and recent publication of this comprehensive survey of VT’s breeding bird population. Challenges for conservation programs in the face of habitat loss and environmental pressures were among the major themes Roz discussed.

Sponsored by the Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon and The Howe Library

Noah Perlut

“The Influence of Agricultural Management on Grassland Songbird Ecology and Evolution”

Monday, March 10

In his research on grassland bird populations, U. of New England Assist. Prof. Noah Perlut has explored the impacts of haying and grazing on breeding grassland songbirds, particularly Bobolinks and Savannah Sparrows.  His 13 year study has found that the timing and intensity of management affects not only these birds reproductive success, but also their annual survival and mating systems.  Current work focuses on these birds' entire life-histories, tracking both adult and young birds through their annual migration, in order to understand the pressures they face on the breeding grounds, during migration, and while wintering. 

Sponsored by the Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon and The Hanover Conservancy

 Sara Eisenhauer  

"Adventures of an Upper Valley Birder"

Monday, January 13, 2014

Come hear VINs Wildlife Services Manager Sara Eisenhauer talk about her considerable experience birding in the Upper Valley. Regular readers of the Upper Valley Birders Listserv will recognize Sara as one of the area's most active birders. In her talk she'll discuss how a young birder honed her understanding of the avian world through work as an avian rehabilitator.

A Pennsylvania native, Sara graduated from Penn State where she majored in Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences. She joined the VINs staff in 2008 as an Avian Wildlife Rehabilitator. 

Sponsored by the Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon

Eric Masterson

"Birdwatching in New Hampshire"

Monday, December 9, 2013

Nearly 50 enthusiastic birders crowded into the Mayer Room of Hanover's Howe Library to hear Eric talk about his newly published and critically acclaimed book, "Birdwatching in New Hampshire." Eric focuses on how to find birds rather than describing them. And the matter is not just finding any birds, it is one of finding "good birds." By this he means not only rarities but chance encounters of an unusual sort such as the time he looked up at the sky over his back yard and saw a kettle of 900 broad-winged hawks in migration or when he saw a flock of 40 hudsonian godwits migrating across an inland pond rather along their usual coastal route. There are numerous maps arranged by region, including the Connecticut River Valley, that show spots where one might find these "good birds." Well worth buying if you haven't.

Sponsored by the Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon

Winter 2012 - Spring 2013



Carol Foss

"Wind Power and Wildlife"

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

As the world tries to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and move to renewable energy sources, one of the most appealing options has been windpower, but even this abundant resource cannot be used without some downside effects. The birding community and environmental groups have long expressed concern about the potential impact of the rotating turbines on bird populations. There are also questions about the damage done to fragile hilltop ecosystems and their wildlife and plant communities by construction of the turbines and the access roads needed to service them.

As head of NH Audubon's Conservation Science Dept., Carol Foss has considerable experience with these matters. She'll talk to us about the pros and cons of windpower tapping into current research on the topic as well as examing the real life impacts these wind projects are having.

Co-sponsored by Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon and the Howe Library

Kent McFarland

Get the Buzz on Bumblebees

Monday, March 11, 2013

What's the latest "buzz” on Vermont's bee populations? More than 60 people came out to Hanover's Howe Library to find out. The news was anything but positive. To date most of the focus has  been on the decline of European honeybees, important pollinators of North American crops. But in the late 1990s, biologists started to notice a decline in the abundance and distribution of several bumblebee species in the Northeast. Today, three of Vermont's 17 bumblebee species may actually be extinct.  

Vermont Center for Ecostudies biologist Kent McFarland presented a most informative talk about the natural history and conservation of bumblebees in the region. In addition to being a co-founder of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, Kent has more  than 20 years of experience across the Americas as a conservation biologist.

Kent currently is spearheading the Vermont Bumblebee Survey, a project aimed at assessing both the historic and current status of Vermont's bumblebee population. So far, he said, the data collected is not very positive. In addition to the three likely extinct species, several others are in steep decline and may warrant protection as endangered species. Changing climate, pesticide use, disease and competition from other bee species may all have a part to play in this alarming trend, Kent said.

Learn more about the Vermont bumblebee survey at the Ecostudies web site:  www.vtecostudies.org

Sponsored by the Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon



Cynthia Crawford

"Birding with a Camera"

Monday, Feb. 11, 2013

Nearly 50 people were treated to a very informationally useful and visually stimulating presetation given by local wildlife photographer Cynthia Crawford.

Cynthia came to bird photography through her background in music and watercolor painting, the latter having a particular focus on animals and nature. Her bird photos originally were taken as references for her painting. Over time her skill in photographing birds evolved to the point where she began to publish and sell her photos. Yet it remainsed more than a business. Cynthia said, “... mostly I simply enjoy being outside, seeking that elusive wren or appreciating a flock of waxwings.”

She noted that the advent of digital photography made it possible to look at birds primarily with a camera rather than through the traditional binoculars and spotting scopes. Among the advantages of camera birding is the potential to record the wonders of birds in a permanent format and to obtain convincing documentation of sightings of rarities, hard-to-identify birds, or uncommon behaviors.

In addition to the dozens of beautiful bird images Cynthia presented, she also talked at some length about the pros and cons of digi-scoping as opposed to the more traditional camerra and telephoto lens combination.

To view some of Cynthia's work, visit her web site:

www.creaturekinships.com

Sponsored by the Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon



 Pamela Hunt

"Dragons and Damsels of NH"

Monday, January 14, 2013

Fifty-five people turned out to hear Pamela Hunt  talk about the fascinating world (and it is fascinating)  of the insect order Odonata. She provided an overview of the biology and ecology of dragonflies and damselflies and intoduced  a rapt audience to some of NH's more notable species.  Her presentation also included some of the results of the “NH Dragonfly Survey,” a five-year volunteer-based project Pamela coordinated, that documented the distribution of these insects across the state. Did you know that a few of these species occur only in NH?

Judging by the number of questions and how many people stayed after the talk, it was a thorough success. Thank you, Pamela.

Co-sponsored by the Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon and the Vermont Center for EcoStudies.

Catherine Greenleaf

"How to Help Wild Birds Through the Cold Winter Months"

 Monday, Dec. 10, 2012

Sixteen people braved unsettled, wintry weather conditions to hear Catherine Greenleaf, director of the St. Francis Wild Bird Hospital in Lyme, NH,  present an exploration of how bird enthusiasts can best help our feathered friends survive winter's challenging cold in addition to a discussion of  her work rehabilitating wild birds. A state licensed and federally permitted wildlife rehabilitator, Ms. Greenleaf has more than a decade's experience rehabilitating birds like owls, hawks, water birds and songbirds, and has been rescuing and rehabilitating birds in the Upper Valley for the last six years. 

Perhaps the most provocative part of the evening's presentation was Catherine's questioning the efficacy of our favorite past time of feeding birds at backyard feeders. She listed several good reasons not to - spread of disease, attraction of predators, tempting foraging bears - as well as suggesting alternative practices that focus on natural solutions such as native plantings of shrubs and trees that can year round provide food sources in a more dispersed and healthy manner.

Catherine also listed several books that specifically address the plantings question. These included:

                              

Catherine Greenleaf tending an injured osprey at the St. Francis Wild Bird Hospital in Lyme, NH