11.07.2015 Views

Connecticut River Birding Trail - New Hampshire Fish and Game ...

Connecticut River Birding Trail - New Hampshire Fish and Game ...

Connecticut River Birding Trail - New Hampshire Fish and Game ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

©JIM BLOCK PHOTONorthern parulaGet Out <strong>and</strong> ExploreThe trail is a “great idea because it gets peopleout there looking at birds, <strong>and</strong> hopefully thatinterest will lead to stewardship,” said Pam Hunt,a bird conservation biologist with N.H. Audubon<strong>and</strong> coordinator of the state’s Important Bird AreaProgram. “The <strong>Birding</strong> <strong>Trail</strong> shows people linkageswith the river, which is animportant flyway,” Hunt said. Thesouthern stretch of the river fromClaremont to the Massachusetts borderhas recently been identified as an ImportantBird Area, largely because it is a major corridorfor migrating waterfowl that rest <strong>and</strong> feed on itsimpoundments, marshes <strong>and</strong> setbacks. This stretchof the river also hosts two bald eagle nests.Sites along the <strong>Connecticut</strong> <strong>River</strong> <strong>Birding</strong> <strong>Trail</strong>give people a chance to discover a rich diversity ofhabitats. “We have wonderful forests <strong>and</strong> wetl<strong>and</strong>s.Why not get outside <strong>and</strong> explore the naturalenvironment we have in the region?” says Shepard.The Otter Brook Lake site in Keene, for example,owned by the Army Corps of Engineers, featureswetl<strong>and</strong>s, old fields, shrub <strong>and</strong> forest habitats thatsupport many different bird species.Part of the fun is discovering regional differencesalong the trail. North Country sites, like the<strong>Connecticut</strong> Lakes Headwaters Natural Areain Pittsburg (another ImportantBird Area), have a unique habitat<strong>and</strong> ecology that can sustainHow tobird species not often found inOrdersouthern reaches, includingspruce grouse, gray jay <strong>and</strong>Mapsblack-backed woodpecker.Wildlife educator Judy Silverberg, N.H. <strong>Fish</strong><strong>and</strong> <strong>Game</strong>’s liaison to the project, agrees that thesites serve many users. Since Texas first launchedthe birding trail idea, “the concept has spread toother states <strong>and</strong> become a way to identify sites ofinterest for multiple audiences,” Silverberg said.“<strong>Birding</strong> sites often coincide with other wildlifeviewing opportunities <strong>and</strong> areas of other natural orcultural interest.”Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, in Cornish,is a perfect example. This historic home of anoted American sculptor is also a site on the<strong>Birding</strong> <strong>Trail</strong>. Its 150-acre grounds include trailsthat wind through numerous habitats where visitorscan watch for ruby-throated hummingbirds,cedar waxwings <strong>and</strong> scarlet tanagers.Hikers <strong>and</strong> bikers will enjoy the Northern Rail<strong>Trail</strong>, which stretches 23 miles from Lebanon toGrafton, offering easy birding from the rail bed asit passes through a variety of habitats, includingfields, woods <strong>and</strong> wetl<strong>and</strong>s. More than 100 birdspecies have been recorded along this trail, includingthe pied-billed grebe, American woodcock <strong>and</strong>Baltimore oriole. Further north at PondicherryWildlife Refuge in Whitefield, also an identifiedImportant Bird Area, you’ll find a great diversityof birds (234 species, 135 breeding species), butalso spectacular mountain scenery, easy walking,isolation <strong>and</strong> wildlife.The maps include recommended times forbirders to visit the sites, usually from spring throughfall. “May st<strong>and</strong>s out as a prime birding month.Many migrating birds are coming <strong>and</strong> going, settingup nesting territories. Life is exploding. There’slots of singing <strong>and</strong> the birds are in their best springplumage,” said Shepard. “But don’t forget oppor-©JIM BLOCK PHOTO<strong>Connecticut</strong><strong>River</strong> <strong>Birding</strong> <strong>Trail</strong> mapsfor the Northern, Central <strong>and</strong>Southern sections (NH/VT) are free, butcontributions are welcome. Visitwww.ctriverbirdingtrail.org to ordermaps or make a donation. Maps are alsoavailable from N.H. <strong>Fish</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Game</strong>; emailinfo@wildlife.state.nh.us or call(603) 271-3211. Please specify whichmaps you want to get.<strong>Birding</strong> <strong>and</strong> MoreBirds aren’t the only attraction.“It’s called a birding trail,but when you’re going to thesebeautiful spots, you’ll see lotsof different wildlife,” saysShepard. “It’s really a naturalhistory trail. You can also seemany different butterflies, dragonflies<strong>and</strong> mammal tracks.”Bill Shepard (in green jacket), the driving forcebehind the development of the <strong>Connecticut</strong> <strong>River</strong><strong>Birding</strong> <strong>Trail</strong>, leads a bird walk at one of thetrail’s prime viewing sites.16 March/April 2007 • WILDLIFE JOURNAL

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!