Chapter Newsletter - The Harbinger
Green Mountain Conservation Camp (GMCC) Scholarships
AMAS will sponsor two campers this year. For information on the camps, see:
https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/gmcc
Point of Contact for AMAS is Ellen Allman (ellenallman@gmail.com)
Watch Butterflies for Conservation
Become a community scientist and join the Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas (2023 - 2027)! The Vermont Butterfly Atlas is a 5-year study conducted every 20 years to update the state butterfly species list. All you need to participate is your phone or camera and an enthusiasm for butterflies. No experience necessary, training provided online. Learn more at https://shorturl.at/EKIfa
Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival
May 4, 2025: Sunday 9:30 - 4:00 PM
Back this year by popular demand and willing volunteers, presenters, sponsors, exhibitors, and vendors. See the Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival webpage for updates.
Spring and Summer Bird Walks
All bird walks start at 7 am. Trips will be cancelled or postponed if heavy rain is forecasted. Points of Contact are listed below for each walk.
April 26, 2025: Keene Rail Trail
The bird walk is on the Ashuelot River Trail in Keene, NH. The trail is mostly shaded, flat and straight. We will meet on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 7 am at the end of Krif Rd at the junction with Krif Court where there is a pull-off parking area (42.9147, -72.2857) just before the gate to the Keene State Athletic Complex. We will head south on the trail through the floodplain of the Ashuelot River.
If anyone wants to carpool, please notify Marianne Walsh (amas@vermontel.net). Park and Ride locations and times would be: Springfield, VT at 6:10 am (I-91 Exit 7 at the corner of Routes 5 and 11) and Westminster, VT at 6:30 am (I-91 Exit 5 at 1387 Westminster Heights Rd, Putney, VT).
Point of Contact is Marianne Walsh at amas@vermontel.net
May 11, 2025: Paradise Park and Lake Runnemede, Windsor, VT
Lake Runnemede is the eBird Top Hotspot for Windsor County with 217 birds reported. The lake attracts many waterfowl and the surrounding vegetation attracts songbirds. This walk is timed to catch early spring migration, so we will be hoping to see newly arrived warblers. If time allows, we will also walk in Paradise Park to check for Louisiana Waterthrush and Blackburnian Warblers.
Latest bird sightings can be found at https://ebird.org/hotspot/L752029
We will meet at the Paradise Pond entrance (Eddies Place) on Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 7 am . There is limited parking along Route 5 and additional parking at Price Chopper.
Point of Contact is Marie Caduto at maleca333@ymail.com
May 31, 2025: North Springfield Dam and Trail
We will walk the trail along the east side of the Hartness State Airport in North Springfield, VT. The trail features Pine Warblers in the parking area and Prairie Warblers a short distance down the trail. Blue-winged Warblers have also been found in recent years.
We will meet on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 7 am at the Maple Street parking lot on the west side of the North Springfield Dam. From Rt. 106, turn onto Maple Street across from the North Springfield Citgo. The parking lot will be on your right. The trail is fairly flat. We will walk in and out the same trail so participants can turn around at any time.
Point of Contact is Beth Hunton at eah3891@gmail.com
June 7, 2025: Windsor Grasslands Wildlife Management Area
The Windsor Grasslands WMA is a birding hotspot that offers public access to habitat managed for grassland birds. No other publicly accessible site in the local Connecticut River valley offers the opportunity to see Blue-winged Warblers, Bobolink, Savannah Sparrows, Eastern Towhees, Black-billed Cuckoo, and many other birds in one area.
The latest bird sightings and a map showing the parking area can be found at: https://ebird.org/vt/hotspot/L725081
We will meet on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 7 am at the small parking lot on the corner of Marton Rd. and State Farm Rd.
Driving Directions: At the Main Street (US Route 5) and State Street traffic light go west on State Street to the intersection with County Road. Here, continue straight onto Hunt Road and drive 2.2 miles to intersection with Marton Road. Turn right onto Marton Road and drive 1.2 miles to the hilltop overlooking large open fields to the east. Continue until the parking lot next to a red pump house at State Farm Rd.
Point of Contact is Ken Cox at kencox5@gmail.com
June 21, 2025: Up on the Hill Conservation Area with UVLT
AMAS will join the Upper Valley Land Trust to look for a variety of warblers and thrushes, plus colorful Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, and Baltimore Orioles at the Up on the Hill Conservation Area in North Charlestown, NH. In addition, UVLT is welcoming observations of plants and animals through iNaturalist.
We will be walking up a hill on a forest trail.
eBird sightings can be found at: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L8722263?yr=all&m=
iNaturalist sightings can be found at: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/up-on-the-hill-conservation-area-natural-resource-inventory
A trail map is available on the UVLT website: https://uvlt.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Up-on-the-Hill-Trails-Map-7-23-18.pdf
A topo map is also on the UVLT website: https://uvlt.org/2017/03/hills-donate-1100-acre-conservation-area-up-on-the-hill/
We will meet on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 7 am at the parking area at the end of Richardson Road.
Driving Directions: From Route 11/12 near the Dean Hill RV Center, turn onto Morningside Lane at the Morningside Service Station. Drive 1.8 miles on the paved road. Just before the closed bridge, turn left onto the dead-end gravel road (Richardson Rd). Drive to the to the end of the road (0.25 miles). Park at the UVLT kiosk.
Register with UVLT at: https://forms.gle/RGgWGAZuQkvEbHnB8
Point of Contact for AMAS is Marianne Walsh at amas@vermontel.net