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The Pulse of Burlington's Wild Green Heart
Fall 2018
Issue No. 8
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A Letter from Dan & Alicia
Fall is the season of hawk migrations and a time to watch the trees changing color in the autumn woods. In this issue, read about the miraculous recovery of peregrine falcons from zero nesting pairs east of the Mississippi to thriving a population in Vermont (and elsewhere) today. Discover how UVM scientists are studying red spruce to better understand how they have adapted to climate change over the ages. Besides being just plain fun to draw, creating event maps can make us better observers and recorders of the nature world around us. Visit the Conservation Corner to find out the latest news about conservation initiatives in the City. And please join the Master Naturalists on Sunday October 14th for a tree walk through Arms Forest, one of the most ecologically diverse wildlands in Burlington. Meet us behind the North Avenue Alliance Church at 2:00 p.m.
Hope to see you out walking in the woods,
Alicia Daniel
Field Naturalist, BPRW
Dan Cahill,
Land Steward, BPRW
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Peregrine Falcons and Red Spruce
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Photo by Mike Baird |
Peregrines Nesting in Burlington
Since the 1970s, Peregrine Falcons have made a recovery east of the Mississippi and now are nesting in Burlington. How did this remarkable recovery take place in Vermont?
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Photo by Keith Kanoti |
20,000 Years of Climate Change: Red Spruce Tells the Story
Below the forest canopy at Lone Rock Point, near the outdoor chapel, a single red spruce waits patiently. It is not much taller than a person, but it could be many decades old. It is waiting for a break, literally: a gap in the canopy that would allow it to creep upward and join the tallest trees in the forest. Red spruce trees used to be more common in the Champlain Valley. UVM scientists ask what is the future of Red spruce trees in Vermont forests?
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Vermont Master Naturalist BTV Updates
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Record Enrollment: Vermont Master Naturalist BTV Turns Three
BPRW is hosting a third year of the Vermont Master Naturalist BTV Program and a record 19 people have signed up! Follow their adventures through the year on the
Vermont Master Naturalist BTV blog.
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Naturalist Practices: Event Maps
Becoming a naturalist is truly a life long journey. This article is the second in a series that will explore how people deepen their connection to the natural world. Discover how event maps can make you a better observer of the natural world and have fun doing it.
Click here to read the article by Laura Yayac
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City Councilor Richard Deane: Burlington Wildways
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strategic alliance of conservation and civic minded groups (The Conservation Board, the Department of Parks Recreation & Waterfront, the Winooski Valley Parks District, Rock Point and the Intervale Center) has been working to take the first steps toward a long-term goal of developing a citywide network of conserved natural areas, with guided access provided by a system of connected and consistently signed and maintained trails called Burlington Wildways.
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Rock Point and Arms Forest Coalition
One year ago, a coalition was formed
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Photo by Sean Beckett |
to protect the integrity of the ecology at Arms Forest and Rock Point.
Members of the Rock Point and Arms Forest Coalition are Burlington Parks Recreation and Waterfront, Burlington Conservation Board, Killarney Drive Inc., Fellowship of the Wheel, The Burlington Park Foundation, John and Jane Ewing, The Elks Club of Burlington, North Avenue Alliance Church, The Arms Family, The Lake Champlain Land Trust, The Episcopal Diocese, and Burlington Parks Recreation and Waterfront Commission.
The Vision of the Coalition:
- To protect key gems in Burlington's larger set of urban wild areas and shoreline so all visitors can visit these conserved woodlands and pathways, keeping them free and open to the public forever.
- To educate the public about the unique features of the land, including rare plant and animal species, special geology and scenic views of Lake Champlain.
- To guide visitors to enter these conserved lands from safe, designated access points on the Bike Path, North Avenue and Rock Point.
- To create a sustainable stewardship plan to improve, maintain, and monitor trails and wooded pathways throughout the natural areas.
- To connect these areas to the larger green network of conserved trails and natural areas in greater Burlington.
We will be sending out more information and a community survey in the coming months. We'd love to hear from you. Stay tuned!
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Save The Date: Field Walks, Talks and Events
Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront:
Master Naturalist Neighbors to Natural Areas Tree Walk in Arms Forest
with Nancy Knox, Jason Pepe and Michelle Tulis
Sunday October 14th: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Meet behind the North Ave. Alliance Church
This issue of BTV Conservation News edited by Claire Dumont and Eileen O'Connor
Banner photo by Jo Naylor
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