If there were ever a month to spend every spare moment in the Vermont woods--it is May. The signs of spring start to cloak the woods in colors with at a remarkable pace. The rapid unfurling of new green leaves, the riot of purple and pink spring wildflowers and the sudden splashes of color from orange and yellow warblers create a smorgasbord of hues. If you wish you could be outside every waking moment, at least join us for some walks around Burlington to enjoy the spring season. The list of public walks by hosted by the BPRW Conservation team, Crow's Path's Corvid Community Naturalists, Burlington Geographic, UVM'S Field Naturalist and Ecological Planning Program and the Burlington Mammal Tracking Club are all open to the public and are excellent ways to get out and explore. Please find them at the bottom of the newsletter.

 

You can go on your own, of course, to look for woodland wildflowers and birds in the forested Burlington Parks. Articles in this issue will help you get started and offer tips on where to look.

 

If you want to be outside all year, look into the Master Naturalist BTV Program. Not only will this training prepare you to appreciate so many aspects of Burlington's natural history, it will allow you to tackle interesting conservation projects like the unsustainable harvest of our local fiddlehead ferns addressed in this May/June issue. And check out the Conservation Board Corner for another perspective on the ongoing conservation efforts in our City.

 

Hope to see you in the woods,

 

Alicia Daniel

Field Naturalist, BPRW

 

Dan Cahill,

Land Steward, BPRW

One warm winter afternoon each February, an enthusiastic chickadee reminds us of a bygone Vermont. Its " feeee-beee " song is a delightful protest against months of austere soundscapes.

Thank you for your interest in the Master Naturalist BTV Program. The deadline for the application is July 15, 2017.

Click Here To Learn more and Download The Application

As winter melts away and April showers promise spring, the Winooski River braces itself to be overwhelmed. Water flows from all corners of the landscape until the river can hold no more. 

Click Here To Read The Article By Remy Crettol

In this piece you will learn about the dynamic life story of Kate Kruesi and how it interacts with her love of plants and the outdoors.

Click Here To Read The Article By Garrett Chisholm

What do the woods around Starr Farm Park, the former Burlington College property, and the Arms Grant Forest all have in common? All three were visited last month by a group of Master Naturalists-in-training. 

Click Here To Read The Article By Sophie Mazowita

The Conservation Board is comprised of nine Burlington residents appointed by the City Council.  In every issue, you will hear from a different member of the Conservation Board about issues important to conservation efforts in the city of Burlington.

Click Here To Read The Article By Damon Lane

• May 14^th: Woodland Wildflowers: Meet the Master Naturalists 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Ethan Allen Park. Hosted by BPRW Field Naturalist Alicia Daniel and the Master Naturalist Class of 2018.
• June 11^th: Lone Rock Point: Flowers on the Edge!  3:00 pm. Rock Point, 5 Rock Point Road. Hosted by Master Naturalists Kate Kruesi and Jacob Holzberg-Pill.