Help Metacomet Land Trust Observe 1,000 Species by Year's End!

Need an excuse to get outside?

Help Metacomet Observe 1,000 Species by Year's End!

Thanks to our amazing community of nature lovers, 804 different species have been spotted on Metacomet Land Trust properties using the iNaturaIist app (App Store or Google Play) — from birds and butterflies to fungi and frogs!

Now, we're setting a new goal: Help us reach 1,000 species before the end of 2025!

Help Metacomet Land Trust Observe 1,000 Species by Year's End!

Whether you're a seasoned naturalist or just curious about what's out there, all you need is a cell phone and a pair of binoculars to join the fun. To start, visit one of our most accessible conservation areas:

• Stevens Pond (Sutton)
• Hop Brook Preserve (Blackstone)
• Szerlag Farm (Northbridge)

Download the free iNaturaIist app, snap photos of what you see, and contribute to real community science that helps us steward our lands.

Together, we can learn more about the rich biodiversity protected by your local land trust!l

Want to see if you've found a new species? Head to the project page and see for yourself. -> https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/metacomet-biodiversity-adventure

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/1J2QevfdSp/

Open Space and Recreation, and Natural, Cultural, and Historic Resources - Sep 10, 2024

Open Space and Recreation, and Natural, Cultural, and Historic Resources

Master Plan Subcommittee

Agenda for September 10, 2024

Virtual session

1. Role Call

2. Meeting Minutes Approval

a. February 12, 2024

b. March 18, 2024

c. May 14, 2024

3. Review of Open Space and Recreation & Natural, Cultural, and Historic Resources

Goals and Objectives

4. OSR & NCHR Implementation Plan

Agenda doc contains remote participation info

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/osrp_and_nchr_subcommittee_agenda_-_sept_10_2024.pdf

Open Space and Recreation, and Natural, Cultural, and Historic Resources - Sep 10, 2024

Master Plan Subcommittee: Open Space and Recreation, and Natural, Cultural, and Historic Resources - May 14 (virtual meeting)

Open Space and Recreation, and Natural, Cultural, and Historic Resources

Master Plan Subcommittee

May 14, 2024 - 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held virtually

Agenda

1. Role Call

2. Discussion and edits of Open Space and Recreation & Natural, Cultural, and Historic Resources Goals and Objectives in light of additional public input

Agenda doc with virtual participation info ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/osrp_and_nchr_subcommittee_agenda_-_may_14th_2024.pdf

Master Plan Subcommittee: Open Space and Recreation, and Natural, Cultural, and Historic Resources - May 14 (virtual meeting)

"Who will speak for the bees, for the bees have no tongues?"

The sentence got my attention, and the verse held it. A long Twitter thread but the thread reader PDF output makes it easier to read.

Joe LaRusso 🔌 🕳🐇 (@jglarusso) tweeted at 2:19 AM on Sat, Feb 12, 2022:

"Who will speak for the bees, for the bees have no tongues?

🌸🌾🍃💐🌸 🌺 🌷🌼🌹🌿
——————-
At the south end of town where the Grickle-grass grows between tracks, & the wind smells sour after trains disgorge commuters & belch the stench of diesel-kvetch, and no birds…"

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/jglarusso/status/1492397901192044546

ThreadReader PDF ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/11wG3gOR1PPG4YH0-fXM8TY-uyKWvHhoY/view?usp=sharing

NATURE: A Walking Play -> Sep 24 - Oct 3

"NATURE: A Walking Play is coming to Bird Park! Don’t miss this immersive and family-friendly performance that highlights the natural world and Emerson & Thoreau’s love for nature.  

Walk along with the actors as the play’s scenes unfold throughout beautiful Bird Park.  

Performances at the park run from September 24-October 3. Please visit https://thetrustees.org/program/nature-play/ to order tickets. 

Performances also take place at Fruitlands Museum in Harvard and Appleton Farms in Ipswich."

Shared from Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/187390667963129/posts/4516651385037014/

NATURE: A Walking Play  -> Sep 24 - Oct 3

“Some people are afraid of opossums based on their looks"

From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin:

Some are fearful of their beady eyes and sharp claws, but any danger opossums pose is usually outweighed by a human’s reaction to them, says Franklin wildlife rehabilitator Stacey Cobb.

On Sept. 14, she met “Hope,” a juvenile opossum who was shot repeatedly with a pellet gun, she said.

“He was in rough shape,” said Cobb, of Nature’s Nurse Wildlife Rehabilitation, when she met the injured marsupial at about 5 that morning. A North Attleborough woman and her niece, who Cobb noted were both “pretty badly beaten up” themselves, brought the animal over after he was shot by a neighbor a few hours earlier.

“It was bad,” said Cobb. “He was shot in the eye, and the bullet had gone into his eye and was trying to come out his cheek/jaw area.” He was also shot in the abdomen, she added.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20201009/franklin-rehabilitator-applying-to-keep-injured-opossum-as-educational-ambassador-against-animal-cruelty?rssfeed=true

 

"Nature's Nurse Wildlife Rehabilitation is a registered 501c3 in Franklin, Massachusetts. We nurse sick, orphaned and injured wildlife back to health and back into their natural environment within the state of Massachusetts."

Visit their webpage  http://naturesnursewildliferehabilitation.org/

Or their Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/naturesnursewildliferehabilitation/

 

Nature’s Nurse Wildlife Rehabilitation has an easy way for you to help today!

"Friends, Family, Everyone 😁 Please, PLEASE vote for me through the Tractor Supply Rescue Grant. I am one of the 25 finalists ( through my Nature’s Nurse Wildlife Rehabilitation page ) Top 8 win $25,000 for their rescue. 

Voting started at midnight and ends Sept 30. You can only vote once so please share with everyone you know and encourage them to vote. I would be so grateful and can do so much more with these funds ❤️🐾. 

You vote by putting a heart on my photo through the link I'll provide.

Vote here > http://tractorsupply.com/rescueyourrescue

#RescueYourRescue #Contest

Please share on Instagram and Twitter if you have them. Thank you all!"

(This is the photo you'll see on the link)

Nature’s Nurse Wildlife Rehabilitation has an easy way for you to help today!

"Nature's Nurse Wildlife Rehabilitation is a registered 501c3 in Franklin, Massachusetts. We nurse sick, orphaned and injured wildlife back to health and back into their natural environment within the state of Massachusetts."

Visit their webpage  http://naturesnursewildliferehabilitation.org/

Or their Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/naturesnursewildliferehabilitation/ 

September Events with Metacomet Land Trust

Join us on these outdoor adventures!

View this email in your browser This wonderful little songbird was safely tagged and released in May as part of bird-banding projects in our region. See below for our September 14th event at which you can help this effort! Upcoming Hikes in Blackstone with Volunteer Tom Bik Tom Bik is leading two free hikes in Blackstone in early September. Please check our calendar and join us to visit the Blackstone River Gorge and Metacomet's Hop Brook Conservation Area! Thursday, September 5th - Afternoon Guided 1-Mile Hike, Blackstone Gorge State Park, end of County Street, Blackstone, MA. 4:30 p.m. Join Blackstone Heritage Corridor Trail Ambassador and Metacomet Land Trust board member Tom Bik on a guided, one-mile hike in the woods along the Blackstone River. Tom will highlight the history and natural resources along the Blackstone River Gorge. This easy-to-moderate hike is just long enough to satisfy outdoor enthusiasts and short enough for beginners. Free and open to all. Rain date September 6th, 2019, same time. This event is co-sponsored with the Go! events program of the Blackstone Heritage Corridor.   Saturday, September 7th Morning Nature Walk, Hop Brook Conservation Area, Mendon Street, Blackstone MA. 10:00 a.m. Please join us for a morning nature walk at our Hop Brook Conservation Area in Blackstone at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 6th. Tom will guide you and your family through the woodlands of this large preserve. Metacomet's property is a key protected area within more than 1,000 acres of conservation land. For more information please email info@metacometlandtrust.org or call 508-271-7131. This event is free and open to all. In case of rain the walk will take place on September 8th at the same time. The entrance to the parking lot is opposite 249 Mendon Street, in Blackstone. The Google Map link is: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1K9J_0kB68ExLdtKziZNnejSQ3lIFB-42&usp=sharing Copyright © 2019 Metacomet Land Trust, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a subscriber to our e-newsletter. Our mailing address is: Metacomet Land Trust P.O. Box 231 Franklin, MA 02038

This newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of content please visit https://mailchi.mp/38d938528805/join-us-outdoors-at-these-upcoming-events-596687?e=935e913775

Parmenter Story Walk in 2010

An explore along the nature trail and now a story walk behind the Parmenter Elementary School, in Franklin, MA. These are a sample of the views along the walk in the fall of 2010.




or go directly to Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157625155278049/

In the News: schools wrestle with hate crimes; wild turkeys return

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"As schools across Massachusetts grapple with a recent surge in racist graffiti and anti-Semitic incidents, many educators say they are working to build programs into their curriculum to combat hate. 

As schools across Massachusetts grapple with a recent surge in racist graffiti and anti-Semitic incidents, many educators say they are working to build programs into their curriculum to combat hate. 

“We are trying to focus proactively on creating an inclusive culture and climate in a preventative way,” said Sara Ahern, superintendent of schools in Franklin, where swastikas were scrawled on school buildings and playground equipment three times last year and again earlier this month."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171110/massachusetts-schools-wrestle-with-hate-incidents

"For more than 100 years, there were no wild turkeys in Massachusetts. 

Hunting and increased development completely wiped out the wild turkeys, but in the past few decades, the large birds have rebounded in a big way. Turkeys are increasingly popping up in urban and residential areas. 

“It is a great success story we were able to get them re-established,” said Wayne Petersen, director of important bird areas for Mass Audubon. 

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife tried in 1911, then in the 1950s and ’60s, to bring wild turkeys back to the Bay State, but the attempts didn’t find success until the late-1970s. That is when adult turkeys trapped in upstate New York were moved into the Berkshires. The initial group of 37 turkeys took hold and thrived. As the wild turkey population grew, MassWildlife caught some of the birds and brought them to other parts of the state and turkeys soon became a re-established species."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171110/turkeys-conservation-success-story-in-massachusetts

part of the flock of wild turkeys seen in the Four Corners area

Charles River Meadowlands hike recap

The Oct. 28 Charles River Meadowlands hike attracted a total of 20 people. The group made it through the rugged, wet, and overgrown terrain south of Oak Street Extension, eventually emerging in beautiful upland fields and tall stands of evergreens, ultimately exiting via White Avenue. 

Two town council candidates attended the event: Eamon McCarthy Earls and Andy Bissanti. 

“It was great to have so many people exploring this area,” said Meadowlands organizer, Alan Earls. “We got to see the challenges for trail development in the wetter areas as well as the enormous potential in the extensive field and forest sections,” he added.

Charles River Meadowlands hike recap

New nature blog for Franklin's natural areas

Via Mike Perrin

Attention nature-lovers of Franklin, MA: As part of my internship with the Franklin Conservation Commission, I have created a public nature blog for the natural areas around town. The blog provides a great opportunity for citizens science, or gathering information/data from the general public, to keep an inventory on the flora and fauna of the sites.  

In addition, the blog will be used as an aid to track the impacts of climate change as the areas experience seasonal transitions.  

If you utilize the beautiful conservation areas in Franklin and would like to contribute to the blog by reporting a sighting, please go to https://franklinmanature.wordpress.com/ and follow the instructions.  

Thank you!

https://franklinmanature.wordpress.com/

Guided Nature Walk - Saturday, Jun 11 at 8 AM

The Stony Brook Nature Center in Norfolk is hosting a free event in Franklin this Saturday. Please see the attachment. We would appreciate any assistance that you can provide to spread the word.

one of the trails in the Franklin Town Forest off Summer St

Big Night! Vernal Pools come alive in Franklin

With spring-like weather expected this week and into the next few weeks, the Conservation Commission reminds you to keep your eyes and ears open for signs of "Big Night".

Big Night is the term we use for those first few warm, rainy nights of spring. The warmer weather and rain cue wood frogs and salamanders to begin migration, through forests and across roadways, to local vernal pools to breed. Vernal pools, as their name suggests are small depressions that collect snow melt and rain in the spring and fill for just a few short months, providing a safe place for some frogs and salamanders to breed.

These animals live in the uplands during most of the year and move in large numbers to the pool they were hatched in on these nights. If you’re lucky, you’ll hear wood frogs (they sound a little like quacking ducks) and spring peepers in the next few weeks.

If you are lucky enough to witness or hear nature's musings, please enjoy! And then do not forget to call the Conservation Department at 508-520-4929 to report it.

You can learn more about vernal pools here: vernalpool.org

image from vernalpool.org

This was shared from the Franklin webpage
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/02358E87-000F8513

Parmenter Bird House (photo essay)

Saturday's walk gave me a great chance to capture some photos of the new bird house  put in at the entrance to the Parmenter Nature Walk.

One weekend in June, I happened upon a group of parents and 5th graders working to clean up the trail and to prepare for the installation of the bird house.

entrance to Parmenter Nature Trail (bird house now in its own circle of stones to the left of the trail)

The bird house was supposed to be installed that Monday but the weather (rain) prevented that, time went by, it did get installed (sometime) and I finally did get to take some photos (on Saturday).

The group posed for a photo after their trail clean up work (thanks to Mary Jo Peterson for sharing)

The group posed for a photo (thanks to Mary Jo Peterson for sharing)

The bird feeder

front view

memorial plaque

one side view

other side view

full size  view

Photos of the Story Walk from October 2010 can be found here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157625155278049/

Note: The "Story Walk" is no longer but the trail is what was recently cleaned up

Photos of the Nature Trail from 2008 can be found here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157606926154439/

Get Psyched for a Hike over Spring Vacation!

My name is Jenn Conyers and I am a Girl Scout and Senior at Franklin High School. I am completing my Gold Award Project which involves mapping the nature trails at Dacey Fields and creating interactive nature trail signs.

Calling all young children who love or want to learn about the great outdoors. Do you like being outdoors or just walking in the woods? Then come join me Wednesday, April 22nd or Friday April 24th for a 45 minute guided tour of the new nature trails at Dacey Fields.

The guided tour is designed for children all ages and abilities. All families or big groups of kids are welcome. There is no cost. 

General tours are at 11am and 2pm however times are flexible. To reserve a spot and for more information please email me at jenny.conyers@gmail.com.

Dacey Community Field - Lincoln St, Franklin

Sara Lewis: The loves and lies of fireflies

When I spent some time in Central Pennsylvania this summer, the fireflies amazed me as they do every summer. Fortunately, this TED Talk provides some wonderful insights about fireflies, their life and how they create the light we have come to love.

"It's amazing to think that the luminous displays we admire here and in fact everywhere around the world are actually the silent love songs of male fireflies. They're flying and flashing their hearts out. I still find it very romantic."

screen capture of Sara Lewis's TED Talk

The link to the TED Talk page where you can find the author bio, the interactive transcript and more
http://www.ted.com/talks/sara_lewis_the_loves_and_lies_of_fireflies

Then and Now - Parmenter Nature Trail

On my weekly walks, one of the frequent side trips I make is along the Parmenter Nature Trail. I live a block from school and the Nature Trail is easily accessible across the playing fields behind the school.

Parmenter Nature Trail

The woods are lovely in the morning

 The trail is soft pine needles and slopes down quickly but easily

old stone wall

trail platform

split rock by water side

 The stream that runs from Spruce Pond on King St runs down here and then continues on to Mine Brook

side view of the split rock

what goes down, eventually goes back up

ah, daffodils!

bird house on tree behind the Parmenter School building as the trail ends

The Parmenter Nature Trail in August 2008
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157606926154439/

There was a "story walk" along the trail that I captured with photos in October 2010
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157625155278049/


Where is the Parmenter Nature Trail?
The trail is found at the edge of the playing fields and runs through the green section of this map along the water and back up to the school building

SNETT walk on Saturday, Sep 28

It was a glorious day to walk on the Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT). Hosted by the Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee, the Metacomet Land Trust and the MA Dept of Conservation and Resources, about 20 people enjoyed the walk along the trail stopping from time to time to check out nature along the way.

SNETT Trail sign

The rail still runs from Union St out to Grove St and ends there. On the other side of Grove St, the trail continues the path where the rails ran. The rails have been removed for some time.

the rails end here at Grove St

New England Aster

New England aster

the trail showing some wear from the motor bikes that travel it illegally

motorbikes create ruts on the trail

Toad sunning

toad in the sun

wooley bear caterpillar hitched a ride temporarily

wooley bear caterpillar

one of the activities for the younger members of the group was to find and frame some signs of life

life found and framed

Spider web in the sunlight

spider web

The group as they crossed Spring St

Spring St crossing

come on out to enjoy the trail

shaded trail

For more about the Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee visit their webpage
http://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/

For more about the Metacomet Land trust visit their webpage  http://www.metacometlandtrust.org/

For more about the MA DCR  http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/

Additional photos from the walk can be found in the set on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157636043702445/

Autumn Rail Trail Walk/Nature Hike - Sep 28

The Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee (FBRTC) and the Metacomet Land Trust (MLT) and happy to announce an Autumn Nature Hike on the Southern New England Trunkline Trail.

Please join us Saturday, Sept 28, 2013 at 10:00 am for this family-friendly event.  Enjoy all the sights, scents and sounds the seasonal changes have to offer on this Saturday morning hike. Kid-friendly guided activities will be provided along approximately one-mile round trip hike.  Recognize trees by their scent, bark and leaves; look and listen for signs of wildlife as they prepare for winter. A professional interpreter from the Department of Conservation and Recreation will lead the walk. 

All ages welcome.  This event is free, and you can register at  http://franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/calendar/sept-28-autumn-walk-hike.

and additional information about the hike is at www.fanklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/calendar/sept-28-autumn-walk-hike

We look forward to seeing you.

SNETT sign on Grove St

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

More about the Metacomet Land Trust: www.metacometlandtrust.org

More about Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee: www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org

Where is the trail?


View Larger Map