BTV Conservation News
The Pulse of Burlington's Wild Green Heart

May/June/July
Issue No. 7
A Letter from Dan & Alicia 

Spring is in the air and on the ground underfoot.  As the warblers take flight and wildflowers unfurl, the snow whites, cloudy grays and dark browns in Burlington's woods are giving way to the riots of purples, blues, greens, yellows and reds.  Spring is the season of wild edibles, wildflowers and a visit to Burlington by the occasional moose.

The Vermont Master Naturalist BTV Program is entering its third year.  Learn along side the Master Naturalists as they explore the settlement history of Burlington, meet the current team by reading their bios, and fill out an application if you would like to join the 2018-2019 program starting in the fall.  In the meantime, you can find a sit spot and start a practice of "sinking into the land."  The Master Naturalists are hard a work on a variety of projects around the city.  Watch for a show in celebration of Burlington's wild places with art by the people and for the people Burlington at the South End Art Hop this fall.

The Burlington Wildways Coalition visited the Neighborhood Planning Association in March and April to talk about conservation and connection of our wild lands.  See the video and count The 7 Natural Wonders of Burlington (hint: there are actually more than seven.)  Also read about BPRW's initiative to allow unused open spaces to reforest or become pollinator meadows. And please join us for outdoor events throughout the year. 

Hope to see you in the woods,

Alicia Daniel
Field Naturalist, BPRW
 
Dan Cahill,
Land Steward, BPRW
Wild Edibles, Wildflowers, Moose and More 
Stalking Wild Edibles
Everywhere you look this spring, new shoots are pushing up through the soil--buds are swelling, leaves are opening, and fields are greening. In  Burlington, we have an abundance of prolific wild plants growing around us that are delicious, nutritious, and deeply healing.  What to eat or not to eat, that is the question.  Here are some wild edibles to put on your harvesting list, including deep-fried burdock root (shown at right.)  
 Photo by nAok0  
Photo by Lisa Liotta
Where to see Wildflowers

In early May, the rocky woods in Burlington begin to fill with spring ephemeral wildflowers.   Before the trees leaf out deeply shading the forest floor, flowers including Hepatica, Bloodroot, and Dutchman's Britches tap into the energy in their bulbs and shower color across the faded mat of brown leaves. Now is the time to catch this spring extravaganza. 
 
Photo by District of Wells, BC
Burlington: Moose on the Move

The Burlington Mammal Tracking Project has reliably recorded at least five visits by moose to the city in the past five years.  All of those sightings of tracks and/or animals were in April or May.  What brings these large animals to town and why in the spring? 

Photo by Diana Gurvich
Birding to Change the World

But on a warm Wednesday afternoon, a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers cackling back and forth amongst the Silver maples won't be the loudest calls heard in Derway Island. Fifty students from Flynn Elementary and the University of Vermont descend on the preserve weekly as part of a Birding to Change the World collaboration and their laughter, shouting, and sounds of play fill the land. Screams of excitement echo across the river as a group of students celebrate witnessing a beaver slap its tail on the choppy water. A brief moment of quiet and stillness comes only as they lift binoculars to their eyes to gaze upon a Bald eagle perched high above the river. An expression of amazement is uttered as a low, drawn out "wow" from one of the students before they march on to find something else exciting.

Photo by David Stanley
Burlington's Only Upland Vernal Pool Teaming with Life

On April 26 a group of Burlington's Vermont Master Naturalists joined Vermont Center for Ecostudies Americorps Intern, Liza Morse, to visit the largest vernal pool in Burlington.  In low elevation warm spots of Vermont, frogs and salamanders have started to emerge from their wintering sites and move to their breeding ponds, pools, marshes, and swamps. The earliest amphibians move when the snow is reduced to only patches, the ground and roads are thawing and wet, and night-time temperatures are above freezing.  As a Peregrine falcon keened overhead, our team found Spotted Salamander eggs (in photo) and heard Wood Frogs calling in the pool.                                   

The Vermont Master Naturalist BTV Program
Photo by Becca Harris
A Walk Through Burlington's Settlement History
 
On March 4th the 2017-2018 Vermont Master Naturalist BTV candidates gathered for the fourth time for a training at Ethan Allen Park. Canada Geese flew overhead through sparse wet snow. The forecast could have deterred a less intrepid group, but talk among the intrepid naturalists was of their excitement for winter tree identification and tracking opportunities. After introductions, we walked up a new VYCC trail to the Ethan Allen tower, a formidable monument that overlooks the New North End of Burlington. Sam Ford, a Historic Preservationist, then led the group on a trip to explore on the past 250 years of human history in Burlington.   
   
Photo by David Stanley
Meet the 2018 Master Naturalists
 
The Vermont Master Naturalist Program launched in Burlington in 2016 and is now expanding to eight other towns in the Champlain Valley.  Meet the ten people currently training as Vermont Master Naturalists in Burlington and learn how they are giving back to the City through a range of  volunteer projects.     
 
 
How to Apply to the Vermont Master Naturalist BTV Program

BPRW is hosting a third year of the Vermont Master Naturalist BTV Program.  For more information and  to fill out an application click on the link below. All applications should be returned to BPRW by June 1.
 
                                                          
 
Photo from Crow's Path
Naturalist Practices: Sit Spots

Becoming a naturalist is truly a life long journey.  This article is the first in a series that will explore how people deepen their connection to the natural world. Some of these practices are as easy--or should we say as hard?-- as sitting in one place in the woods watching the seasons change.                                                                                                                       Click here to read the article by Julie Pacholik


Photo by Sidheshwar Chauhan
Burlington Wild! Storytelling: 
Monarchs, Migrations 
and Miracles
 
Last fall, the Burlington Master Naturalists curated an art show and hosted a storytelling event during the South End Art Hop.  The event showcased Burlington artists and featured photos, illustrations, poetry, and textile art celebrating nature in Burlington.  Over 30 people attended the Burlington Wild! storytelling event that capped off the weekend.  Here is one of the stories from that afternoon.   

        
Click here to read the story told by Alicia Daniel
 
Elise Schadler, one of the Master Naturalists who organized the Burlington Wild! event, tells the story of how they design such a successful collaboration in 
the Conservation Year in Review video.  Look for the  2nd 
annual event at Evolution Yoga during the 2018 Art Hop.
Conservation Corner

The 7 Natural Wonders of Burlington:
The Burlington Wildways Coalition Goes to the NPAs
 
Photos by Sean Beckett 
In March and April, The Burlington Wildways Coalition went on a tour of the Burlington's Neighborhood Planning Associations to talk about conservation priorities throughout the city. The Coalition , established by a June 5 Burlington City Council resolution, seeks to connect and protect Burlington's open and natural areas. Click the link below for a visual tour of some Burlington's natural gems.

 

Unlawning Burlington:
Creating Pollinator Meadows in Unused Open Space
 
Stock Image
Around 40 million acres of the continental U.S. is mowed lawn - four times more land than we use for corn. Much of this is mowed once a week with gas-powered mowers. Imagine the ecological gains from reducing this amount by half, or more. What if we only mowed the places we actively use for sport or play space?   By mowing unused spaces less often--every year or two--we could create acres of meadows for pollinators like bees and butterflies. 

Save The Date: Field Walks & Talks

Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront:

Woodland Wildflowers Walk with Burlington's Vermont Master Naturalists 
Sunday, May 13: 10 am at Ethan Allen Park. Meet in the main parking lot.  Short hike on trails.
 
Spring Wildflower Walk in Arms Forest
Saturday, May 19: 3 pm at Arms Forest. Meet in
the parking lot behind the North Avenue Alliance Church.  
 
Photography Workshop with Sean Beckett
Friday, July 6th:  5:30 p.m. until dark.
Maximum 12 people .  Find upcoming details on Facebook

Burlington Wilds Workshops, offered by the Vermont Master Naturalists and local artists supporting the community's relationship with the wild places of Burlington.  This series will culminate in an exhibit at the Art Hop at Evolution Yoga.
 
Nature Poetry Writing l
ed by Angela Patten
Saturday, May 19 (rain date May 20th):  6:00-7:30 pm at Oakledge Park. Meet at TreeHouse.
Maximum 20 participants. 
 
Watercolor Workshop led by Katherine Montstream
June 3rd: 10:00- 11:30 am at the North Beach shelter. Maximum 30 participants.
 
Drawing In Place led by Lauren Sopher
Saturday, June 23 (rain date June 24): 9:30-11:30 am. Meet at Burlington High School. Maximum 20 participants.   

Wildercrafters Conference

Saturday, May 5, 10am-6pm and Sunday, May 6, 12-5pm.
A free two-day conference about wildcrafting (foraging) and related subjects including: gleaning, invasive species, and the ethics and legality of gathering wild products. For more information and to obtain a free ticket, visit  here.

Branch Out Burlington
 
Saturday, May 5: Tree planting day at the nursery.
Saturday, June 9: Free tree walk at North Beach Campground. 

 
This issue of BTV Conservation News edited by Eileen O'Connor
with assistance from David Stanley  
Banner photo: Bloodroot courtesy of Lisa Liotta