SUMMER 2019 FROM THE PRESIDENT ike many of you, I am sure, I made Lit through what I call SOS (Spring NH AUDUBON Optimism Syndrome). In March and April, I am ready to go! I start working BOARD OF TRUSTEES on the garden; I plant seeds; I look Michael Amaral, Vice Chair, Warner longingly at the bird feeders; and I David Howe, Secretary, Concord wonder why the heck it is still cold Tom Kelly, Londonderry in the mornings and muddy in the Mavis Brittelli, Hebron driveway. Bring on spring - I can’t wait David Donsker, North Hampton any longer! Paul Doscher, Weare And now, well into May, it has Lauren Kras, Plymouth, MA happened. Almost overnight, the Tom Lee, Lee migratory songbirds are back, singing Paul Nickerson, Hudson one million species face extinction risk in and nesting. The weather is warming Chris Picotte, Webster the coming decades because of land use Brian Reilly, Keene and emerging leaves are quickly filling in changes, direct exploitation of species, Melissa Smart, Contoocook the gaps, closing the canopy. And now climate change, pollution, and invasive Tom Warren, Dublin I want it to slow down. Particularly species. These are not issues that are during a cold and gray spring, things relevant somewhere else, they are relevant STAFF are happening too fast outside for me to everywhere. Douglas Bechtel, President keep up. Migration season brings this Shelby Bernier, Education Coordinator In this spring edition We have been point home. Today, I saw 30 Lynn Bouchard, Director of Human Resources of Afield, I’m excited to thinking a species of migratory birds in a Phil Brown, Director of Land Management share with you our new lot about NH half hour walk in Concord. On Hilary Chapman, Education Specialist Strategic Vision. We Audubon’s World Bird Day, NH Audubon’s Joseph Consentino, Director of Finance have been thinking a lot Ammonoosuc Chapter annual Diane De Luca, Senior Biologist about NH Audubon’s next century walk at Pondicherry Sanctuary Carol Foss, Senior Advisor for next century and what and what we encountered 92 species of birds. Science and Policy we must do. As you must do. We are incredibly lucky to Frederick “Chuck” Gallant III, Custodian might expect, we will live in a state that offers the Dawn Genes, Massabesic Center Director always honor our roots, while looking opportunity to encounter such a rich Sean Gillery, Director of Membership forward to what we can do better. and Development diversity of wild animals, just by going One thing is clear. Wildlife will Craig Holmes, McLane Center Coordinator on a field walk. This precious heritage is continue to face challenges and our something we must work hard to protect Pamela Hunt, Senior Biologist – Avian Conservation focus must be to fight to protect them. for the next century and beyond. Amanda Klemm, Massabesic The recent report released by the United NH Audubon is part of the solution. Animal Care Specialist Nations (Global Assessment Report on We will continue to take actions inspired Jane Kolias, Membership Coordinator Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) by both optimism and crisis, as outlined Lauren Kraemer, Events Manager makes it clear that our native wildlife in the Strategic Vision. Chris Martin, Senior Biologist – Raptors species are facing a crisis caused by Stay in touch, and please think of Rick Matthews, Custodian human actions. The report states that ways you can help us protect Marc Nutter, Grants Manager wildlife forever. Jonathan Saulmon, Massabesic Center Manager Protecting New Hampshire’s Dyanna Smith, natural environment Director of Communications for wildlife and for people. Doug Bechtel Judy Spigarelli President Development Coordinator Becky Spinney, Accountant Rebecca Suomala, Senior Biologist – Cover Photo: Citizen Science Bird Data Project Leader alter Keane captured this image of the rare Trumpeter Swan at Abe Emerson Michelle L. Varga, Nature Store Manager WMarsh Sanctuary in April: “The swan was calmly moving around in the marsh, feeding on vegetation underwater. It was a misty morning and its white feathering NH Audubon Afield Dyanna Smith, Editor/Designer showed in sharp contrast to the muted colors of the dark water and reddish brush. The still mood was just what I wanted as I adjusted my position and took the photo.” 2 SUMMER 2019 NH AUDUBON AFIELD Paradise Point turns 50 Newfound Audubon Center 1969-2019 aradise Point Nature Center was constructed 50 Pyears ago, in 1969. As NH Audubon’s very first Nature Center, it was designed to offer environmental education to people of all ages. Seasonally this mission persists, engaging thousands of visitors and teaching them about the wonders of this special place. Paradise Point Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, located on the north shore of Newfound Lake, includes 43 acres with 3,500 feet of rocky, unspoiled lakeshore. In the early 1960s, Colonel and Mrs. Alcott Elwell partnered with New Hampshire Charitable Fund to protect this property. It was donated to the Audubon Society of New Hampshire in 1966. This iconic property remains a special place of inspiration, reflection, and education to the town of Hebron and the Newfound Lake community. Some 20,000 visitors each year discover, and rediscover, the natural beauty and benefits of being outdoors. There is something wonderfully familiar about Paradise Point — bringing visitors back in time and offering up a welcoming sense of home. “Paradise Point Rocks” (archive file, 2005). The Giraffe Tree is still a favorite landmark along the Paradise Point trails, seen here in an archive photograph, and more recently during Top down: “A.S.N.H. Staff” (Tudor Richards, a staff retreat scavenger hunt in 2016 (left to right: Emily Johnson, 1982), “Luna Moth & Sign” (Bob Quinn, 1984), Becky Suomala, Chris Martin, Sean Gillery, and Sara Wall). “Ice out at sunset” (Tudor Richards, 1969). SUMMER 2019 NH AUDUBON AFIELD 3 McLane Center Pollinator Demonstration Garden Opens by Hilary Chapman e are excited to announce the opening of McLane Center’s pollinator demonstration Over 80% of all Wgarden! This new garden represents over a year of planning, reinvisioning the flowering plants rely on existing gardens to build a native plant landscape that showcases the beauty of native plants animal-assisted pollination and their incredible benefit to our native wildlife. The garden demonstrates plant and in order to reproduce. landscape configuration options for backyards, gardening practices that benefit pollinators, and provides opportunities to learn and grow visitor knowledge to conserve pollinators. The US Department The new garden is made possible through a partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife of Agriculture reports that Service (USFWS). When it comes to pollinator conservation, NH Audubon and the USFWS over 75% of the crops that share a vision for engaging the public in maintaining and recovering pollinator populations. are cultivated worldwide “Pollinator conservation is a USFWS national priority,” Tom Chapman, Project Leader for human consumption for the New England Field Office, explains. “Partnering with organizations like New depend on animal Hampshire Audubon to develop public demonstration gardens is a great way for us to pollinators. connect with people who are interested in building a coalition North America is home We had a of backyard gardeners that want to contribute to the local to over 4000 species of lovely working pollinator conservation effort.” native bees, the majority landscape The garden is already a calming place to rest, restore, inspire of which are solitary and already in place, ideas for your own backyard, and observe the wonders of nest in the ground, small which offered up pollinators buzzing about. “It’s wonderful to see the amount of cavities, or hollow twigs. public interest in pollinators and the outpouring of volunteers this wonderful and gardeners in New Hampshire who want to help,” Tom adds. Although bees are opportunity to The landscape plan was designed by Allen and Major famous for being very “grow it” to its Associates and installed by Olkonen Earth Landscapes, LLC. proficient pollinators, full potential. A cadre of volunteers will help maintain the garden and beetles actually comprise continue to enhance it for public education. Grants from the largest group of the Walker Family Fund, the Robin Colson Memorial Fund, and the Gertrude and pollinating insects. Benjamin Couch Foundations, have allowed us to add self-guided interpretation. Restoring native plant We’d also like to thank former staff and volunteers for the many hours given to habitat is vital to preserving create the original garden. We had a lovely working landscape already in place, biodiversity. Research has which offered up this wonderful opportunity to “grow it” to its full potential. shown that a native tree can Enjoy the garden using self-guided interpretation provided at the center or host more than 100 times attend one of the many programs to be presented as part of our Pollinator the number of caterpillars Series (see calendar insert). Our grand opening than an introduced and kick off for National Pollinator Week species. It takes over 6,000 will be held at the center on caterpillars to raise one June 15th. brood of chickadees…so that is important. You can make a difference to benefit birds and other wildlife by selecting native plants for your yards and gardens. Illustration by Lois De Luca: Long Dash Skipper and Eastern Tailed Blue on clover. For more information on pollinators and the See more of Lois’ work on display at pollinator garden, visit our Pollinator Page at this summer’s McLane art show. www.nhaudubon.org/conservation-2/pollinators. 4 SUMMER 2019 NH AUDUBON AFIELD by Phil Brown EXPANDING OUR LARGEST WILDLIFE SANCTUARY his past March, two important parcels of land Twere added to NH Audubon’s lands portfolio. The first was a donation of 27 acres of land that expanded the Willard Pond Wildlife Sanctuary to just over 1,700 acres.