Vermont: Peregrine Falcon Nesting Season Complete

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Vermont: Peregrine Falcon Nesting Season Complete

MONTPELIER, VT – Hikers and rock climbers can return to Vermont cliffs starting August 1 now that peregrine falcon nesting season has ended. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has confirmed that all the young falcons have learned to fly and should not be disturbed by human presence on the cliffs.

“The young peregrines have fledged, and nesting data suggest Vermont falcons had a very successful year. A final report will be issued later this year,” said Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s migratory bird biologist Doug Morin. “The falcon’s nesting success is due to a combination of good weather and the cooperation from hikers and rock climbers who observe a respectful distance from nesting falcons during this critical period. Peregrine nesting success would not be possible without more than 50 volunteers who monitor the nest sites statewide from March to the end of July.”

According to Audubon biologist Margaret Fowle, who coordinates the monitoring effort on behalf of the Fish & Wildlife Department, biologists and volunteers monitored peregrine pairs that occupied at least 56 Vermont cliffs in early spring and summer.

“We greatly appreciate the time and effort volunteers put into monitoring the population this year, and we thank landowners and recreationists for their cooperation in protecting nesting peregrines from human disturbance,” said Fowle.

Vermont Fish & Wildlife and Audubon Vermont partner to monitor and protect peregrine nesting sites in Vermont. Peregrine falcons were removed from the state’s Threatened and Endangered Species List in 2005. Ongoing cooperation from recreationists and continued monitoring efforts by Vermont Fish & Wildlife and Audubon Vermont will help ensure the peregrine’s remarkable recovery in future years.

Media Contacts:

Doug Morin, VT Fish & Wildlife Department 802-793-3837

Margaret Fowle, Audubon Vermont (802) 238-0046

VTF&W photo by Tom Rogers

Vermont cliffs monitored by biologists and volunteers for nesting peregrine pairs this spring and summer are open August 1 for recreationists.

Vermont’s Moose Hunt Auction Closes Aug. 12

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

MONTPELIER, Vt. – Vermont’s auction for three moose hunting permits is open until 4:30 p.m. August 12.  Bids will be opened and winners notified on August 13.  

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board authorized a total of 55 permits for the 2020 moose season.  Auction winners of three of those permits will hunt in Wildlife Management Unit E in the northeast corner of the state during the October 1-7 archery season, or in the October 17-22 regular season. 

Bids must be entered with a sealed bid form available from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.  A minimum bid of $1,500 is required, and winning bids have typically been at least $4,000 when the number of permits available were higher.  Bids do not include the cost of a hunting license (residents $28, nonresidents $102) or moose hunting permit fee ($100 for residents and $350 for nonresidents). 

Moose permit bid packets can be obtained by calling Fish & Wildlife at 802-828-1190 or by emailing (Cheri.Waters@vermont.gov). 

Proceeds from the moose hunting permit auction help fund Vermont Fish & Wildlife educational programs. 

“Moose density in WMU-E, where the hunt will occur, is more than one moose per square mile, significantly higher than any other part of the state,” said Nick Fortin, Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s biologist in charge of the moose project.  “Moose densities greater than one per square mile support high numbers of winter ticks which negatively impact moose health and survival.” 

“Research has shown that lower moose densities, like in the rest of Vermont, support relatively few winter ticks that do not impact moose populations,” said Fortin.  “Reducing moose density decreases the number of available hosts which in turn decreases the number of winter ticks on the landscape.  The goal is to improve the health of moose in WMU E by reducing the impact of winter ticks.” 

Nonresidents are cautioned that COVID-19 travel restrictions could be extended into the fall moose hunting season. 

Thank You, Congress....

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

House of Representatives Passes Great American Outdoors Act

We’ve reported quite a bit on the Great American Outdoors Act, which combines full and permanent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, as well as billions of dollars for maintenance and repairs in the national park system. Last month the Senate passed the bill in an overwhelming show of bipartisan support. Yesterday, the House did the same, finally sending the GAOA to the President, who is expected to sign after Tweeting in support of the legislation months ago. Briefly, the bill allocates $900 million per year, forever, to the LWCF which goes largely toward acquiring sensitive lands for conservation and preserving access to public lands, while also tossing $6.5 billion over 5 years to the NPS to fix their incredible backlog of maintenance projects. The LWCF is the big deal in this legislation, a crucial program that has teetered on the precipice of outright elimination for years. While support among Congress and the public is a rare and bright spot of bipartisanship, not all lawmakers support the bill. Utah Rep. Rob Bishop (R) and Senator Mike Lee (R) had urged Congress not to pass the legislation. They argued that spending on public lands during a time of soaring deficits was a financial misstep. The money that’s funneled into the LWCF comes from royalties earned by the federal government for allowing oil and gas drilling on public lands.

Rhododendron State Park, Fitzwilliam, NH

Posted by Wayne G. Barber &  Photos Property of Wayne G. Barber

Captain Samuel Patch settled in the town of Fitzwilliam on the land surrounding the rhododendron stand in 1788. He or his son, Sam Jr., built the family cottage, affectionately known as the “Old Patch Place,” sometime between 1790 and 1816. Ownership of the house left his family about 1841 and after a series of other owners, Stephen Follansbee purchased the property in 1865. At this time the property first came to public attention, but not just for the majestic rhododendrons. Mr. Follansbee sold bottled mineral water, potted rhododendrons, and silica which he advertised as, “silverette, Flour of the Forest.” This commercial activity, which included a mail-order business, represented the peak of activity at this site which has been forgotten and re-discovered many times during its 200-year history. In 1901 a subsequent owner, Levi Fuller, planned to “lumber off” the property. In reaction to this threat to the rhododendrons, Miss Mary Lee Ware of Boston (and Rindge, NH) purchased the land. She gave it to the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) in 1903 with the stipulation that the rhododendron grove and pine forest “...be held as a reservation property protected and open to the public....forever.” The AMC remodeled the “Old Patch Place” as a hostel/clubhouse adjacent to the Metacomet Trail which they had established. The building was ideally located to offer hospitality and shelter. When the operation of a hostel was no longer possible, the AMC transferred the property to the N.H. Division of Parks and Recreation. Since 1946, the property has been operated as the State Park system’s only designated botanical park.  The “Old Patch Place” cottage near the park entrance was listed on the  National Register of Historic Places in 1980. 
Division

A Botanical History Rhododendron means “rose tree,” and what better way to describe this fragrant, conspicuous and universally popular plant group! Nicknamed “rhodies,” this family of plants is believed to have descended from magnolias. Millions of years ago they originated in Asia, where several relatively primitive forms persist. The earliest North American fossil record dates  from 50 million years ago. Rhododendron maximum is a shade-tolerant species. They prefer acid soils, and grow in association with hemlock, red maple, and here where the soil is drier, yellow birch trees. The plant’s large leaves help it absorb much light. During winter, the leaves curl and droop to conserve moisture and shed snow. The bell-shaped blossoms grow in tight light clusters and bloom in mid-July. Rhododendrons are members of the heath family, which includes blueberries, cranberries, mountain laurel, heathers, trailing arbutuss and wintergreen. You can find several of these relatives growing along the trails in the park.

Rhododendron State Park is named after the 16-acre grove of Rhododendron Maximum, which is the focal point of the park. A 0.6 mile-long universally accessible trail encircles the grove allowing visitors to observe, close up, the fragrant clusters of pink blossoms as they burst into bloom in mid-July.

A wildflower trail, winds through the forest adjacent to the grove. From early spring to the first frost, wildflowers bloom throughout the 2,723-acre park. The last blooms in the fall are complemented by the forest's brilliant foliage. Visitors exploring the trails are often serenaded by song birds which live in the grove.

The rhododendron grove, which is the largest in northern New England, was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1982.

Hot Weather Trout Fishing Tips...

Posted by Wayne G. Barber  & Photo by Wayne G. Barber

 The Outdoor Scene is encouraging anglers to consider their impact on trout when fishing during the current hot weather because many of New England's streams and rivers are at or above stressful temperatures for trout, and flows in most rivers are very low. 

 

“With air temperatures expected to be close to or above 90 degrees over the next week, we want to offer a few tips on trout fishing.  Trout prefer water temperatures in the upper 50’s to mid-60’s, but hot weather like we’ve been experiencing can push some streams over 70 degrees, which is highly stressful, especially for brook trout,” said fisher Joe Barber.  “If you plan to harvest trout, there’s no need for concern, but catch-and-release angling during hot spells could result in the unintentional death of your released fish.”

“As an alternative, you can switch to fishing for warmwater species such as bass, northern pike, bowfin, or panfish,” he added.

 

Here is a summary of the Outdoor Scene's tips for fishing during hot summer weather: 

• Avoid catch-and-release fishing for stream trout when water temps are over 70 degrees.  Fighting and handling a trout under these conditions increases the risk of the fish dying after release.
• If you do fish trout in streams or rivers with marginal temperatures, play, land and release the fish quickly, and keep it in the water as much as possible while unhooking it.
• Fish early in the morning when stream temperatures are at their coolest.
• Avoid fishing in areas where trout have congregated in unusually high numbers.  Springs and coldwater tributary inputs attract fish and make them vulnerable to angling pressure.
• Switch tactics and target warmwater fish species such as bass, northern pike, pickerel, bowfin, or panfish.

“Over the long term, the single most important thing we can do to protect New England’s wild trout populations is protect and restore forested streambanks,” added Barber

.  Forested streambanks help keep trout streams cool by providing shade from the sun.  The root systems of shrubs and trees also help hold soil together and reduce erosion, and when trees do fall into a stream, they provide habitat, cover and protection for trout and other fish species.”

 

Anglers interested in protecting trout stream habitat can get involved through angling clubs, local Trout Unlimited chapters and watershed partnership groups.