Bald Eagles Nesting on Cape Cod, Mass.

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

BARNSTABLE – The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife have announced that the first bald eagle nest with eggs was recently spotted on the Cape in more than 100 years.

The nest in the Town of Barnstable is one of nine other new nests that were documented across the state.

Nests were also sighted in Wareham.

It marks the first bald eagle nest with eggs seen on Cape Cod in 115 years, as the last one was in Sandwich in 1905.

Wildlife officials also said that this spring represented the first documented case of eagles nesting on Martha’s Vineyard.

But they warn that as the population continues to grow, new challenges have emerged.

“An eagle pair took over an osprey nest and were incubating eggs when the ospreys returned from their wintering grounds. The osprey pair that most likely built the nest harassed the incubating eagle who would flip upside down with its talons in the air in defense. Eventually the eagle cracked the eggs doing this, and this historic nesting attempt failed.”

Officials added that due to successful conservation measures, the status of the bald eagle recently improved from threatened to special concern on the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list.

Are you ready for Memorial Day Weekend on the water ?

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Although we wish it were under different circumstances, we are thrilled so many people and families are taking the opportunity to spend more time outside and try new hobbies! As we head into Memorial Day weekend, here are a few reminders:

• Fishing and hunting licenses are required, and all current laws and rules apply. Hunting and fishing licenses can be purchased online at mefishwildlife.com
  For fishing tips, please check out the Maine Fishing Guide.
  
  
• Boats and ATVs must have valid registrations. For more information on how to register your boat or ATV please read below.
  
  
• Not all ATV trails are open. Check with the local club before you go and obey closed trail signs. The future of ATVing in Maine depends on you: always stay on open, marked trails and drive responsibly.
  
  
• While you are enjoying your time outside, please continue following CDC guidelines, always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return, be prepared for ticks, avoid crowds, pick up after yourself, wear a life jacket when on or near the water, and please stick to your comfort level to avoid injuries.
  
  
• And last but not least, enjoy your time outside and take a few pictures! Share them with us by using #keeperofme or #allinforthemaineoudoors

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How to register your boat: 

The easiest way to renew your boat registration is online, but not all towns have signed up with the state’s internet vendor, InforME, to do registrations.

Here are a few suggestions from the Department to help you get your boat registered for the 2020 season.

• First time boat registrations cannot be completed online, they must be done at the town office so the town can collect sales and excise tax. Registrants should call their town office to see if they are open, and possibly register their boat with the town office through the postal system.

• If you cannot register your boat online or at the town office, MDIFW will work with you to register your boat. Please call the main office at 207-287-8000 for further assistance.

• If you just purchased a new boat from a dealer, you should have a temporary registration that is good for 20 days.

RI LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATION TESTS START MAY 20-21

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Strict COVID-19 safety measures for physical distancing, gathering sizes, cleaning and health screenings will be followed throughout the testing process

               

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced today it is administering conditional Non-Surf and Surf Lifeguard Certification tests beginning next week. Lifeguard positions at all beaches in Rhode Island require certification and special training in first aid, CPR, and lifeguard training. 

 

The schedule of testing is as follows:

 

May 20, June 10, and June 25 | 9 AM – 2 PM

Prosser Grove Picnic Area, Burlingame State Park, Charlestown

Non-surf tests for lifeguards working at freshwater/bayside beaches

 

May 21 and June 11 | 9 AM – 2 PM

Scarborough State Beach, Narragansett

Surf tests for lifeguards working at all types of swimming facilities

 

To help reduce wait times and maintain social distancing requirements, all lifeguard candidates must pre-register for their examination and schedule their test time online at www.riparks.com/lifeguard.

 

To qualify for testing, all candidates must have successfully completed courses and hold valid cards in lifeguard training, first aid, and CPR that includes infant, child, and adult. Candidates will be required to upload a copy of their training certificates (lifeguard training, CPR, first aid) when registering and digitally sign the waiver of liability. A valid photo ID with verification of date of birth must be presented at check in.

 

Any candidate under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to sign the waiver. Candidates will be able to download the waiver when they register, and it must be brought with them to the test. The parent or legal guardian must present a valid photo ID when handing in the waiver. Parents and legal guardians will not be allowed to stay in the testing area and are encouraged to wait in their cars or in other areas and follow all social distancing guidelines.

The entire testing process will follow strict COVID-19 safety guidelines for cleaning, health screening, and testing procedures, as follows: 

• Candidates will not be allowed into testing area until 15 minutes before their scheduled testing time.
• At check-in and check-out lifeguard candidates must remain at least 6 feet apart from other candidates and testing staff. Areas and spaces will be designated to assist in maintaining these distances.
•  Candidates will be required to bring and wear cloth face coverings. Candidates will be screened by testing staff upon arriving at the testing area. The following is the screening tool that will be used.   https://www.reopeningri.com/resource_pdfs/COVID19_Screening_Tool_English-
  Strict COVID-19 safety measures for physical distancing, gathering sizes, cleaning and health screenings will be followed throughout the testing process
                 
  The schedule of testing is as follows:
   
  May 20, June 10, and June 25 | 9 AM – 2 PM
  Prosser Grove Picnic Area, Burlingame State Park, Charlestown
  Non-surf tests for lifeguards working at freshwater/bayside beaches
   
  May 21 and June 11 | 9 AM – 2 PM
  Scarborough State Beach, Narragansett
  Surf tests for lifeguards working at all types of swimming facilities
   
  To help reduce wait times and maintain social distancing requirements, all lifeguard candidates must pre-register for their examination and schedule their test time online at www.riparks.com/lifeguard.
   
  To qualify for testing, all candidates must have successfully completed courses and hold valid cards in lifeguard training, first aid, and CPR that includes infant, child, and adult. Candidates will be required to upload a copy of their training certificates (lifeguard training, CPR, first aid) when registering and digitally sign the waiver of liability. A valid photo ID with verification of date of birth must be presented at check in.
   
  Any candidate under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to sign the waiver. Candidates will be able to download the waiver when they register, and it must be brought with them to the test. The parent or legal guardian must present a valid photo ID when handing in the waiver. Parents and legal guardians will not be allowed to stay in the testing area and are encouraged to wait in their cars or in other areas and follow all social distancing guidelines.
  The entire testing process will follow strict COVID-19 safety guidelines for cleaning, health screening, and testing procedures, as follows: 
  • Candidates will not be allowed into testing area until 15 minutes before their scheduled testing time.
  • At check-in and check-out lifeguard candidates must remain at least 6 feet apart from other candidates and testing staff. Areas and spaces will be designated to assist in maintaining these distances.
  •  Candidates will be required to bring and wear cloth face coverings. Candidates will be screened by testing staff upon arriving at the testing area. The following is the screening tool that will be used.   https://www.reopeningri.com/resource_pdfs/COVID19_Screening_Tool_English-NEW.pdf

R.I. Supreme Court Blocks DEM's Arcadia Visitors Center

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

The 12,716-square-foot building with two parking lots was to serve as a Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management field office. The project was expected to cost $7.2 million. (DEM)

R.I. Supreme Court Blocks DEM's Arcadia Visitors Center

The Rhode Island Supreme Court recently overturned two lower court decisions, imperiling a visitors center proposed by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for the Arcadia Management Area, the state’s largest conservation and recreation area.

It’s unknown what implications the April 29 ruling by Justice Gilbert V. Indeglia will have on state-sponsored projects by requiring that proposed developments abide by local zoning rules and comprehensive plans.

Prior rulings found that the Rhode Island Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Regulation Act exempted the state from municipal zoning ordinances. But Indeglia argued that the Zoning Enabling Act of 1991 requires state and local land-use disputes to be resolved through the 27-member State Planning Council.

The verdict comes after Superior Court decisions in 2017 and 2018 rejected the claims brought by Exeter and Richmond that a state project is subject to local review. In 2018, cases filed against the development by each town were combined in a single case as an appeal and heard by Indeglia in Supreme Court.

Residents of Richmond and Exeter were irked that the proposed $7.2 million Arcadia Natural Resources & Visitors Center was being sited in both communities without public input. The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) started planning for the facility in 2014. There is disagreement about when town officials were notified. But it wasn't until about three years later, after the project had been awarded to a developer, that residents had an opportunity to comment on the project.

“It was quite the sore spot for the town considering how (DEM) did it,” Richmond Town Council president Richard Nassaney said. “People were taken aback and quite opposed.”

The proposed 12,716-square-foot building with two parking lots was to serve as a DEM field office and laboratory, with space for school groups and public visits. The main building is sited on land in Richmond and a lot for a parking area and septic system are in Exeter.

Had the towns known that the project would be built next to Browning Mill Pond, a popular recreation area, officials said they would have suggested a suitable alternate site.

“If they put it 500 feet away on the other side of the road no one would have noticed,” Nassaney said.

Exeter Town Council president Calvin Ellis suggested building on top of a hill near the pond, a safe distance away from the recreation area with less risk of pond contamination from the building’s septic system.

“I’m very pleased the Supreme Court gave Exeter and Richmond the opportunity to review the project,” Ellis said.

Another point of concern was that DEM was seeking to install the septic system in violation of the agency’s own setback standards.

“The Supreme Court ruling put DEM on notice that you should follow the rules, especially their own rules,” Nassaney said.

Other residents have argued that DEM should have considered locations within the conservation area where they already have buildings.

“Most residents in the area opposed the project entirely because we have seen how DEM has taken care of the area in the past and we have seen their other buildings left to rot,” said Katrina Thornley, an early opponent of the project. “We don't want another eyesore in the area.”

If DEM wishes to proceed with the project, it must first abide by a review from the State Planning Council and then go before local zoning and planning boards to assure the development meets local regulations and complies with the local master plans.

DEM has yet to say how it will proceed with the case in court or if it will go forward with the project through the full state and municipal review. In a statement the agency said, “We are currently reviewing the decision.” Source: TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI News staff

Vermont Fishing License Sales Boom During Shutdown

Posted by Wayne G.Barber

Spring is having a hard time this year deciding whether it wants to show up. Winter doesn’t seem to want to relinquish its grip. It’s the age-old Vermont battle of the seasons. A typical day right now sort of goes like this: Winter is at 6am. Spring starts at 10. Summer will be from 12 to 2. Fall starts around 4:30.

Mother Nature’s recent mood swings and snowy tantrums haven’t seemed to deter Vermonters though. We’ve seen an unprecedented surge in fishing participation this spring, with nearly 6,000 more licenses sold through April 20 then what was sold by the same date in 2019.

This isn’t exactly a surprise. It’s well-known the main reason people drift away from fishing is a lack of time. Our lives get busy. School, work and family commitments, kid’s activities … there’s a long list.

But with the current COVID-19 shutdown, Vermonters have found themselves with a lot of unexpected time on their hands, and they’ve come flooding back to fishing. It’s the perfect outlet for these times – a proven, and inexpensive stress-reliever.

My hope is all these lapsed anglers who’ve decided to pick up their rods again this spring after a long absence will realize what they’ve been missing, and remember all the reasons why they loved it so much in the first place. Enjoying our great outdoors, spending quality time with family, catching a fresh meal, all the while helping to fund important fisheries conservation and management work through their license purchases.

Fishing is the ultimate social distancing activity, as Fish & Wildlife staff member Megan Duni shows here fishing the Mad River.If you’re reading this and haven’t gotten out fishing yet this year, don’t worry. The best is yet to come. May is just around the corner, and it’s my favorite month to fish. Stream conditions will improve as the waters finally warm up, pre-spawn bass fishing will be on fire, panfish will start swarming the back bays, marshes and shorelines, walleye will be running, post-spawn pike will be prowling... the opportunities will be endless.

Just remember when you’re fishing, practice good social distancing. For more information visit the department’s COVID-19 and outdoor recreation webpage.

Stay Safe, and Fish On!

—Shawn Good, Fisheries Biologist shawn.good@vermont.gov

Female Wild Turkey taking a break from sitting on her eggs...4-24-2020

Posted by Wayne G. Barber       Photos and Video property of Wayne G. Barber

Wild Turkey Hunting Seasons

2020 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide

Hunters may pursue wild turkeys during three separate seasons: Spring, Fall Archery, and Fall Firearms. A specific license and stamp are required to participate in each season. Spring turkey archery and firearms hunting bag limits and season lengths are not separate; whereas fall archery and fall firearms are separate seasons with their own unique bag limits and season time-frames.

Spring Turkey Season

New regulations have been adopted for the 2020 spring wild turkey hunting season. Hunters may now harvest a total of 5 bearded birds, regardless of property type. Specific state and private land bag limits no longer apply. In addition, spring turkey hunting hours have changed from a noon closure to a sunset closure.

Season Dates

• April 29 - May 30    State Land, Private Land, and Landowner

Bag Limit

• 5 bearded birds (on private land or state land or a combination of both). New Regulation

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset. New Regulation

License Requirements:

• CT Residents: Firearms hunting license or Small Game and Deer Archery Permit and a Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp.
• Non-residents: 3-day out-of-state bird hunting license or non-resident firearms hunting license and a Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp.
• Landowners (who own 10 or more contiguous acres) must obtain a Free Landowner Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp to hunt wild turkeys on their property. Landowners who wish to hunt on other private land or state land for wild turkeys must purchase the Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp for $28. There is no additional bag limit for turkeys due to the Free Landowner Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp.

Legal Firearms: Shotguns, 20 gauge or larger, with #4, 5, 6, 7 1/2 shot, or any combination. Shotguns must not be capable of holding more than 3 shells.

Legal Bows: For the purposes of hunting deer and turkey, legal bows include long, recurved, or compound bows with a minimum draw weight of 40 pounds and crossbows. Mechanical string release devices are permitted. Projectiles coated with any drug, poison or tranquilizing substance are prohibited.

• Crossbows: The use of crossbows for hunting deer, turkey and all other species is permitted. Legal crossbows must have a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds and permanent fixed rifle type stock with a functional mechanical safety device. Adjustable crossbow stocks are permitted, but folding stocks are not. The bolt (arrow) length must be at least 18 inches, excluding the broadhead. Crossbows are considered loaded when fully drawn with a bolt in place. Telescopic sights are permitted.
• Arrowheads: Legal arrowheads for hunting deer and turkey must have at least two blades and must be at least 7/8 inch wide at its widest point. Arrowheads that are designed to open on impact are legal provided they meet the above requirement.

Tagging and Reporting:  Immediately upon harvesting a turkey, complete and sign a Harvest Tag and keep it with the carcass at all times. The Harvest Tag must remain with the turkey until it is cut up for consumption. See Tagging and Reporting Requirements.

Special Conditions:

• State Land Hunting - See Public Hunting Areas for a listing of areas open for spring turkey hunting with a Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp.
• Private Land Permission - Signed written consent of the landowner on official forms for the current season must be carried while hunting.
• Decoys - Decoys may be used, but live decoys are prohibited.
• Free Landowner Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp - only available to persons owning 10 or more contiguous acres of land. Additional permits are available for their spouses, lineal descendants, parents, grandparents and siblings. Landowners who wish to hunt on other private land or state land for wild turkeys must purchase the Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp for $28. The stamp does not allow the harvest of turkeys over the standard 3 bearded bird bag limit.
• Junior Turkey Hunter Training Days - Saturday, April 18, through Saturday, April 25, 2020 (excluding Sunday)