Daily Archives: October 5, 2016

Thursday, October 13 – MassWildlife Habitat Site Walks

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The public is invited to free Habitat Site Walks on MassWildlife Lands in Falmouth and Mashpee on Thursday, October 13.
MassWildlife Ecologists and Foresters will lead a series of habitat site walks on MassWildlife lands to highlight active habitat management projects in recent years. These management projects and others scheduled for the future are aimed at improving habitat for rare and declining animals and plants along with game animals. These site walks allow the public to learn about the management being done on state lands, to learn why different management practices are chosen, and to understand the resulting impacts on wildlife. Landowners interested in managing their property for wildlife may find these habitat walks particularly useful. Dress for the weather; plan on all events occurring rain or shine. Consider bringing insect repellant, binoculars, camera, sunscreen, and wearing sturdy boots. The walks are listed and described below.

Frances Crane Wildlife Management Area, Falmouth – October 13. Meet at 3:00 P.M. at the MassWildlife field trial parking area on the north side of Rte. 151 near Hamilton Tree. This site walk will highlight grassland expansion and adjacent pitch pine/oak woodlands thinning. Directions: click here for a map

Quashnet Woods State Reservation/Wildlife Management Area, Mashpee – October 13. Meet at 1:00 P.M. at the power line parking area on Turner Road in Mashpee. This site walk is co-hosted with DCR Bureau of Forestry and Mashpee Conservation Commission and will highlight an eighty-acre New England Cottontail habitat site favoring retained pitch pine and to stimulate a shrub understory of blueberry and scrub oak completed in 2016. Directions: From Rte. 151 in Mashpee, turn south on Old Barnstable Road, proceed south on Old Barnstable Road for a quarter mile (passing Lakeside Estates), then turn left on Turner Road. Follow Turner Road for 0.1 miles to the parking area beneath the power line.

Saturday, October 21, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Tree ID Using Bark and Habitat Clues

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Join naturalist Nancy Goodman and take a close look at trees and other botanical wonders we encounter at Northfield Mountain. Have you ever looked at a tree in winter and wondered what it might be? For more than half the year, bark provides the best clue to tree identification. We will be keying out some of the trees to see what we can learn. Become familiar with the characteristic bark of different trees in different habitats and at different stages of growth, as well as identification from leaves and other clues. Bring binoculars, water, lunch, sturdy walking shoes and the book Bark by Michael Wojtech, if you have a copy. This program is co-sponsored with the Athol Bird and Nature Club and will take place at Northfield’s scenic Riverview area along the Connecticut River. This special location has an especially rich variety of tree species. Meet in the Riverview parking area at 10 or at the Northfield Mountain Visitors Center in Northfield at 9:45 a.m. for a short walk to Riverview. For ages 16 and older. FREE , but pre-register by calling 800-859-2960.