In the summer of 2018, I received an email from Fred Moran of Adams. In the email message he wrote that he would like me to take him to fish the Housatonic River.  Of course, I jumped at the opportunity to fish with this local flyfishing legend.

Fred was a teacher and principal in the Central Regional School District for twenty-five years. Fred also is the well-known elder statesman of fly fishermen in Berkshire County. He has been a local fly-fishing guide, owned a flyfishing shop in Adams, taught flyfishing courses, restored antique bamboo fly rods, and did some fly tying.  I have known Fred and his wife Marilyn for quite a long time through our affiliations with Trout Unlimited chapters. Incidentally, Marilyn is also an excellent flyfisher and has assisted Fred in guiding.  Some readers may remember her as a key local person in the Casting for Recovery organization. Fred’s three sons also fllyfish.  I hadn’t heard from them for quite some time.

Conflicting schedules, high water conditions and a lot of obstacles prevented us from going fishing that year.  In 2019, I contacted Fred again and for health reasons, water conditions, etc., we couldn’t go at all that year either. Earlier in this year I contacted Fred once more and he said that he couldn’t go fishing for a while due to surgery he had on his foot. He said that he would have to practically learn how to walk all over again., much less handle slippery rocks, river currents, etc.  Maybe later this year.

Oh no, that didn’t sound good. Not only that, but Fred is getting older and may not be able to go fly-fishing anymore.  (Subsequently, I learned that we are the same age ……he’s not really that old after all.)

About a month ago, I contacted Fred’s son, Kevin, and asked him if he thought that Fred would ever be able to go fly-fishing again.  I didn’t want to make Fred feel badly by constantly asking him if he can go when, in reality, he might not be able. Kevin said that he recently tried taking him to fish the Deerfield, Swift and other rivers but due to his foot condition and the steep banks and stairs that have to be navigated, he couldn’t get him to the water.  I suggested that perhaps he could fish some private waters that I know of where we could practically drive up to the water and fish from the banks.  Kevin was going to see if Fred was interested and when he got back to me, I was delighted to hear that Fred was looking forward to it.

Now it was a matter of logistics.  Not being a member of that club, I prevailed upon two members of the ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out) who were also members of the private club to allow us access to the water.  They were happy to accommodate us and wanted to be there to see Fred again.  

While making plans with Fred, we decided to bring along some “friendly spirits” with us.  We both possessed bamboo (cane) rods that were made by the late legendary bamboo flyrod maker Francis “Digger” Degere of Adams.  Digger passed beyond the riverbend in 1999 but his rod making fame lives on nationally. (perhaps a future article on him in this column?) For a while Fred assisted Digger in the making of bamboo fly rods.

When I arrived at Fred’s place, there he was waiting at the end of his driveway.  Off we went motoring down the road, two 77-year olders going fishing like a couple of youngsters. Our bodies have acquired a few dings, dents, and additions and lost a few parts over the years, but we are still on this side of the riverbend and anxious to catch a few more trout before we get there.

Upon arrival at the private club, we were met by fellow fly-fishing ROMEOs Ron Smith of Pittsfield, retired Dr. Richard Greene of Tyringham, Paul Knauth of Hinsdale and Bob Baumann of Lenox, all fly-fishermen. There was no way they would miss this event.  We had one goal, that being to enable Fred to experience the thrill of once again casting a fly with the flyrod that his good friend Digger Degere made and, good Lord willing, to catch a trout.

Our group separated with Fred and I going downstream to fish off a dam while Ron and Bob fished upstream around a bend.  Paul didn’t fish this day but acted as our gilly (Usually a Scottish attendant or guide for fishing) even though he is not Scottish. He carried a beautiful long handled wooden net that Dr. Greene had made during his retirement.  He also didn’t fish that day but preferred to watch the master.

When we assembled our rods and reels, I was surprised to see that in addition to our rare Degere rods, we both were using classic Bill Ballan reels.  They were not massed produced but individually hand crafted by Bill Balland himself. Fred actually met Balland at a fly-fishing show who, after having a nice conversation, suggested that Fred buy one of his reels.  “Darned if I didn’t” said Fred.  My reel, and Degere’s rod, were given to me by the family of the late Tony Lorio.  Tony and I were close friends who fished together in several Canadian provinces and the family felt that Tony would want me to have them.

Fred and I didn’t do well at all.  Fred caught a couple of small sunfish. It was getting near lunch time and after having a photo op, we walked back to the vehicles to get our sandwiches and find a shady spot to eat.  When Ron joined us, he said that he had some luck, having caught one trout and hooking a couple more.  Well, we were there to fish, not to eat, so we delayed our lunch and went to the spot that Ron had mentioned.  When we got there, trout were rising and splashing apparently chasing some kind of an emerging fly.

Because of Fred’s foot/leg condition, it was uncomfortable for him to stand very long so he sat on a small stool and cast from the bank.  I was a short distance from him and managed to hook a couple of trout but both were able to shake my barbless fly. We insisted that Fred move and try fishing there.  Fred put on a bead-headed nymph and after some perfectly executed fly casts, he was into a nice trout.  The trout did its darndest to shake Fred’s fly, but to no avail and Paul ultimately netted it with the wooden net.

Fred didn’t see it, but after the fish was landed and released, there was a series of hand pumps by the guys. We were elated that Fred caught that nice 12-inch rainbow trout, perhaps more excited than Fred himself.

Now we could finally eat lunch.  After that, we went back to see if Fred could catch another one, but the fish had stopped feeding.  The time was not wasted though, as Fred shook off the rust and was casting even better, with beautiful tight loops.  He was delicately laying the fly out at least 30 feet, all while sitting on the stool. Truly, fly casting is an art form, and Fred was a master at it.

Finally, it was time to go home.  You couldn’t find two happier guys than us on the way back.  We agreed that old Digger was probably smiling down on us as we were putting his beautiful rods to use more than 50 years after his making them.  I didn’t say it then, but I’ll bet he was especially happy to see his old friend Fred haul in that nice trout using his rod.

I recently received an email from Fred thanking me and the ROMEOs for providing him with a day “he will remember for a long time.”  Of course, the pleasure was all ours.  He also tacked onto the message, “Hopefully, when I get my legs back to working, we can share a fishing day that will concentrate on the fishing only.”  Let’s hope so Fred.

The Franklin Land Trust (FLT) recently acquired for conservation 154 acres in Heath abutting its 96-acre Crowningshield Conservation Area (CCA). The 154-acre parcel purchase – which took place on June 25, 2020 from the Gudell Family – was supported by funding from the MA Dept of Fish and Game; local, state and national chapters of Trout Unlimited; the John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation; the William P. Wharton Trust; and Franklin Land Trust’s Heath Conservation Fund.

Tom Curren, FLT Executive Director, is thrilled to see this project cross the finish line. “This is a fine example of FLT’s partnership with other organizations in pursuit of shared conservation goals. We’re proud to expand here upon the work accomplished during decades of efforts by local volunteers, private groups, other non-profits, and governmental agencies.

” FLT’s Crowningshield Conservation Area was originally purchased and protected in 2015 with the support of local and regional Trout Unlimited chapters. It is preserved permanently under a Conservation Restriction held by the MA Dept of Fish and Game. “This land protection project and the habitat restoration of the uplands and stream habitat in the North River West Branch is the result of an incredible long term partnership including Franklin Land Trust, Trout Unlimited, MassWildlife, private foundations and local residents,” said Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Ron Amidon.

“The conservation restriction we acquired ensures permanent protection of the land, access for hunting, fishing, hiking, and birding, and protection of one of the finest cold-water fisheries in the region.” CCA has over one mile of river frontage on West Branch Brook, a tributary of the North River and an important subwatershed of the Deerfield River for native brook trout. In their native range, wild brook trout are a valuable indicator species for the overall health of a river and its watershed. They require clean, cold water to thrive and have seen sharp population declines due to warming water temperatures, pollution, and loss of habitat.

FLT’s partnership with Trout Unlimited offers a unique opportunity for those who care about fishing, climate change, and land conservation to take real and meaningful action. “Our partnership with the Franklin Land Trust goes beyond our local chapter,” said Michael Vito, president of the Deerfield River Watershed Trout Unlimited Chapter #349. Paul Beaulieu, president of the Mass-Rhode Island Trout Unlimited Council, notes “The Council, a number of Massachusetts TU chapters, and individual TU members from around the Commonwealth reached into their own pockets and generously contributed to this purchase. We even got a grant from TU National’s Cold-Water Land Conservation Fund.” Bill Pastuszek, Mass Representative to TU’s National Leadership Council, noted:

“The West Branch of the North River is an important native brook trout stream in Massachusetts. We all want to see it protected. The diversity and breadth of support for this acquisition shows the importance associated with this effort to preserve and enhance this resource.” The Deerfield TU chapter will now start planning conservation projects to help protect and enhance the West Branch’s cold-water fishery. “We’ll start doing an assessment of this new stretch of river and see what it needs,” Vito said. Fish assemblage, bank erosion prevention, fish habitat restoration and a macro invertebrate study have already been completed by Trout Unlimited, FLT and Cole Ecological, Inc. in the Crowningshield portion of the West Branch.

The newly acquired 154-acre parcel abuts the original 96-acre CCA to the south of West Branch Brook, ensuring that both sides of this cold-water stream and the drainages that feed it are permanently protected. “FLT is thinking about land conservation on a watershed scale,” said FLT Head Land Steward Will Anderson. “Tributaries and headwaters like those found at Crowningshield Conservation Area and the new Gudell acquisition are fed by groundwater and travel through shaded forests, supplying important cold water to the mainstems within the watershed. This cold water is critical to many aquatic species facing warming temperatures due to climate change.”

“The Gudell acquisition was the last piece of a very large puzzle,” said Alain Peteroy, FLT’s Director of Land Conservation. The Gudell parcel connects CCA to a 60-acre Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuary along its eastern border, and FLT recently conserved a small farm field, now owned by Heath Farmer Mike Freeman, that abuts the northern boundary of the CCA. The Freeman Farm produces organic beef, honey, and maple syrup and abuts 130 acres of privately conserved land on its northeastern boundary. Continuing north, the HO Cook State Forest offers an additional 918 acres of conserved land in the region. “This has been a continued process of building a significant conservation block, incorporating Sanders Brook and the West Branch of the North River,” said Peteroy. “We are looking at almost 500 acres of conserved land sitting next to over 900 acres of state forest land, all with tributaries that drain into the Deerfield River.”

But as our rivers and streams face the impacts of climate change, land conservation is just one part of the solution. FLT, the Massachusetts Woodlands Institute (MWI), and Trout Unlimited are working to restore fish habitat by developing a new program called Forests for the Fish. This project is designed to enhance habitat for cold water fish by offering tools to forest landowners interested in improving fish habitat in their forest streams. “Private landowners – farms, families, organizations, and individuals – own over 2 million acres of forest in Massachusetts. This places the future of threatened species like native brook trout squarely in all of our hands,” said Emily Boss, MWI Executive Director. “Forests for the Fish will connect landowners who love and cherish their woodland streams with management resources and expertise.”

To learn more about the Forests for the Fish program email info@masswoodlands.org. The Gudell parcel will be open to the public for hiking, fishing, birding, and hunting. Access to this newly acquired land will be through the trails at Crowningshield Conservation Area off West Branch Road. To learn more about the Crowningshield Conservation Area, and the Forests for the Fish program, visit www.franklinlandtrust.

Readers may recall my July 19, 2022 column entitled Climate change and the effects on brook trout, particularly the section which included these words from Dr. Rebecca M. Quinones, the MassWildlife Rivers and Stream Project Leader:

“By 2099 there could very well be a 77% drop in the cold-water streams available for habitat for brook trout (in MA).  The projections indicate that perhaps some of the cold-water streams located primarily in north western MA could be cold-water climate change refugia.  Even with a 6 degree C temperature increase, they could still provide cold water habitat for brook trout.”

Well guess what.  The Crowningshield land and other abutting protected lands, which total approximately 1,400 acres are right in the middle of that northwest section of MA which is so critical. To reiterate, they incorporate Sanders Brook and the West Branch of the North River which are tributary streams to the Deerfield River

NYS Hunting and Trapping Licenses go on sale tomorrow

There are a considerable number of local hunters who hunt over in New York State.  If you are one, please know that that hunting and trapping licenses and Deer Management Permits (DMPs) for the 2020-2021 season will go on sale tomorrow, August 10.

You can purchase licenses and permits at any one of the Department of Environmental Conservation license-issuing agents or by telephone at 866-933-2257. The new hunting and trapping licenses are valid from Sept. 1, 2020 through Aug. 31, 2021, while annual fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from date of purchase.

Adult non-resident hunting license fees are $100.  To that add $30 for a bow permit, $30 for a muzzleloader permit and $20 for a turkey permit if you hunt them there.

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) recently announced the findings of a 2020 Special Report on Fishing noting that participation is still on the rise The Outdoor Foundation and RBFF-produced report, now in its 10th year, provides insights into demographics, the “leaky bucket,” perceptions of fishing and more.

“Thanks to the strong improvements in recruitment and reactivation, fishing participation (in our nation) is up again this year,” said RBFF president and CEO Frank Peterson. “Better yet, the key audience segments we feel are tantamount to the future of fishing continue to see gains in overall participation and participation rate.”

Key Findings:

• Participation is up to the highest rate since 2007.
• 17% of the total U.S. population participated in fishing in 2019 which equates to a total of 50.1 million Americans ages 6+. A net increase of more than 700,000 participants. 
• 1 million Americans tried fishing for the very first time in 2019, making up 6% of all active participants.
• Youth participation is up over the last years.
• Hispanic participation continues to rise – 4.4 million participated in 2019, participation rate of 12% is the highest ever recorded in the Special Report. Hispanics go on an average of nearly three more trips per year than the general population.
• Female participation grew to 17.9 million, the third straight year of growth. The gender gap is continuing to close.
• “Leaky bucket” is still an issue. Fishing lost 9.3 million participants in 2019 – a loss of 19% of the 2018 participant base – and nearly double the 5.6 million lost participants in 2017.

Peterson continued, “Despite losing 9.3 million participants, fishing is still making gains. We are pleased with the increases among newcomers and key growth segments but are again reminded of how important effective angler retention efforts are in safeguarding the future of fishing and boating. To that end, we are continually working on ways to keep participants better engaged, including developing programs and resources for our state agency and industry partners, as well as assisting them in developing their own R3 (recruiting, retaining and reactivating) plans.”

“In addition to demographic and participation-related data, the Special Report also looked at intangibles such as perceptions of fishing and trends that can help the industry predict and shape the future of participation.”

“Overwhelmingly, anglers look to fishing as a way to escape the day-to-day, become close with nature, and of course, catch fish. While survey respondents didn’t hold strong stereotypes of anglers, more men than women feel that fishing participants look similar to them. Prioritizing youth participation continues to be a theme in preserving the future of fishing; 91% of current anglers first participated before the age of 12.”

I don’t know about you, but I have never seen so many anglers out on our ponds and rivers as this year, undoubtedly indirectly due to the Corona virus. Anybody want to bet that the 2020 Special Report will indicate another rise?

Keep an eye out for Water Chestnut

Thom Smith, popular Berkshire Eagle Naturewatch columnist is on a mission.  He is trying to determine on what Berkshire lakes/ponds Water Chestnuts exists.   In case you don’t know, they are nasty invasive aquatic vegetation that can severely choke a shallow pond.

So, it you can identify them and know in what ponds they exist, you might want to get in touch with him at Thom Smith” naturewatch@live.com. If he gets enough data, he plans to do an article on them. As I understand it, his list is already up to 10 local water bodies.

Undoubtedly, Thom knows his stuff when it comes to Water Chestnuts.  He did an article about them in the Massachusetts Wildlife Magazine #1, 2006.  We hope he gets the required data so that he can put together the planned Naturewatch column.  We all look forward to it.

Antlerless Deer Permit instant award period began August 1

If you applied for an Antlerless Deer Permit by the July 16 deadline, you can check back this upcoming week to find out if you have been awarded one. The award period began August 1 and ends on December 31. Your odds of being awarded a permit are the same regardless of when you check your permit status. You can check the status of your permit through MassFishHunt, or by visiting a MassWildlife office or license agent location. A $5 fee is charged only if you are awarded a permit.  Good luck!

If you aren’t awarded an antlerless deer permit, you might want to consider applying for a surplus antlerless deer permit in zones 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14 until sold out.

Surplus Permits are first-come, first-served and must be purchased within 15 minutes after being placed in your shopping cart. The MassFishHunt online licensing system only allows 1 session per customer, so do not log in on multiple devices or you may be kicked out of the system and need to start over. 

You may purchase only one Zone 11 and one Zone 10 permit per day; up to four permits per day may be purchased for Zones 13 and 14. 

Steel Challenge at Lee Sportsmen’s Association

Next Sunday, August 9, the LSA is conducting its Steel Challenge.  There will be a safety briefing at 11:45 and starting time will be at noon.  Cold range rules apply.
There will be six stages with two being classifier stages. Center fire pistol and pistol caliber carbine, 22LR pistol and rifle.

The cost is $20.00, additional gun costs $10.00. You must bring exact payment as there will be no change made. You can sign up for the matches at Practiscore.com.

Individuals should use a face covering or mask at all times, especially when social distancing is difficult to maintain, and carry a facial covering or mask on their person at all
times while on Club property.  Check leesportsmens.com home page for covid-19 requirements.

Lenox Sportsmen’s Club Update

In an update for the LSC Board of Directors, it was noted that while the LSC is suffering a little bit with this Corona crisis, fortunately during the summer months the ranges don’t see as much use as the winter months but their other events that help make up the revenue stream for this time of year have been affected.  They had to cancel their end of summer Steak & Lobster Dinner Dance, the first time in over 30 years.  The club is not sure if it will be able to hold its annual Fall Turkey Shoots at this time.  It does not look good.  It has an outdoor 3D Archery Tournament scheduled for August and they may be able to host that one.  They are worried about the upcoming winter indoor shooting leagues for both the archery and pistol range.  No determination has been made on those yet, they will see where this virus leads.
 
Right now, the club indoor pistol range is open, still with the limitations on the number of ports and members allowed in the ready room.  The outdoor archery range as well as the indoor archery range are open with the same restrictions. 

The saving grace for some of its members is its Outdoor Rifle Range located at the GEAA on Crane Ave in Pittsfield. 

It is a research project in collaboration with MassWildlife, the Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Amherst College, and University of Massachusetts, Amherst. It is a study of black bears in Massachusetts in order to estimate their population size and distribution, and provide other information about bear movement and conflict with humans. Such information will help managers make scientifically-informed decisions about managing black bears across the state.

In this study, data is collected in various ways: by the hair corrals described below or, by reporting the sightings on the MassBears website (https://massbears.wordpress.amherst.edu/). 

Hair Corrals

To be able to estimate density and population sizes for wildlife, MassWildlife often captures and marks individuals and then recapture them later. This allows them to compile a history of captures which in turn permits them to estimate the number of bears in an area. Due to advances in their ability to identify individuals from DNA extracted from hair, they do not need to physically capture bears for this study, they only need to capture their hair.

To do this, they use a non-invasive wildlife survey technique called hair corrals. (Click onto the web site to learn what they look like and how they work).  They are used extensively throughout the range of black bears and do not harm bears, other animals, or people. The corrals only stay up during the field season and are taken down at the end of each summer. Students working on the project check each site weekly and collect any bear hair. They record where the hair was found and what day they collected the sample.

Population Estimation

According to information provided on its website, density estimates are a tool used to estimate population sizes for wildlife. The last density study was conducted in the Berkshires in 1993 and it was estimated that there were 18 female black bears per 100 km².(about 62 square miles).

Because the black bear population has expanded well beyond the Berkshires into different habitat types with different levels of road densities and human development, a new density estimate is needed. With the new estimates, they can determine how black bear densities change with different habitat types across the state. For example, other studies have shown that the density of black bears can be higher in suburban environments than in more natural environments due to the availability of anthropogenic foods (relating to the influence of human beings). However, this also means bear-human interactions may be elevated in these areas, which sometimes causes conflict. New density estimates will result in more accurate population estimates for black bears across the state.

This project aims to update the density estimates from 1993 with current data and provide estimates of black bears numbers in Massachusetts. This information will help managers make scientifically-informed decisions about how to manage the black bear population and help predict where nuisance situations may arise.

Sightings Map

Sighting reports will appear on a map. It will take a few days for the map to update with your sighting.

If interested in volunteering to collect further information that would augment this study, contact them through the website.

Incidentally, it is a research project so if for some reason you need assistance on how to deal with a bear in your backyard etc., you should contact the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife at 508-389-6300 or Environmental Police Dispatch at 800-632-8075.

Ladies night at the range

By popular demand, the Lee Sportsmen’s Association (LSA) is bringing back Ladies Night at the Outdoor Pistol Range.  The first night was last Thursday evening, but there will be another on August 6 starting at 6:00 pm. There will be a safety briefing at 5:45.

New or inexperienced female shooters are welcome.  If you have no gun/equipment, they can provide safety equipment, firearms, limited ammo, and friendly instruction.  The focus is on shooting fundamentals and having safe fun.  Cold Range Rules apply; gun handling only at the Safety Table.  For those with their own equipment: 5 magazines are recommended.

The cost is $3 for LSA members and $5 for non-members who provide their own firearm(s) and ammo. $10 for LSA members and non-members who do not provide their own firearm(s) & ammo (to help defray costs).

For further information, contact Stephanie DuPont at dupontfam5@gmail.com or call / text (215) 668-7808. 

Silent stalkers

Right around dawn, they appear out of the morning mist and are upon you with no warning sound, silently stalking.  At first sighting from a distance, they appear to be walking on water, silently stalking – one, two and sometimes three of them.  Eerie, like something out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie.  Makes one wonder if the grim reaper is finally coming after you.

It is only when they get nearer that you realize they are bass fishermen, standing up (or seated in the high seats) in their bass boats.  They are not stalking you but rather the bass.  Their electric motors make no sound as they drift slowly past you casting away.  The only sound you hear are the plops of the fishing plugs and lures as they hit the water and occasionally the jumping or splashing when the bass hit them.

Just about every morning you will see some of them on your favorite lake.  I usually see them on Ashmere Lake in Hinsdale around 5 or 6 am as I myself am silently trolling with my electric motor for crappies. Lately, we are being joined other silent stalkers, those fishing out of kayaks and canoes. You hardly hear a clunky, creaky rowboat anymore.

Early mornings are our favorite times to fish the lakes and ponds during the hot summer months because there are no speed boats or jet skis out yet.  Any wakes made are by some kayakers or canoeists who are seriously working out, perhaps getting ready for the next Josh Billings Race.

There is always something interesting to see or hear on the lake at that time of day, geese, ducks, herons, bullfrogs and perhaps an eagle or an osprey.  Where I fish, I am usually greeted by a huge snapping turtle that swims out to my boat, after my lure. It chases my lure no matter which side of the boat I cast.  Actually, it’s kind of hilarious.  I finally leave for that’s one critter that I don’t want to hook.

I had a couple of interesting sightings on the lake this year.  One morning, I caught movement along a summer camp shoreline and when I focused on it, it turned out to be a deer, doe to be exact.  For a while, she appeared a little nervous with me around.  Ultimately, she jumped into the lake and swam toward a nearby island.  I thought that maybe a coyote was chasing her, but neither saw nor heard any.   A little while later I heard splashing on the island shoreline.  There was the doe walking along and following her was a little fawn jumping and playing in the shallow water. It appeared happy to see mama again.

A couple of weeks later while crappie fishing with fishing buddy Doug Yates from Dalton, we had the privilege of seeing 9 great blue herons land on the shore of that same island.  They squawked, did some bobbing and weaving and shortly thereafter all but three of them flew off for parts unknown.  Doug and I joked that they probably flew in to get their morning joe or to get their daily assignments.  It was quite a sight to see.

The lakes are usually calm and quiet at that time of day, save for the honks of the geese and quacks of the ducks and the croaks of the frogs.  One sound I really enjoy hearing is that beautiful sound of loons.  They are not on Ashmere Lake, but on nearby Cleveland Reservoir. Their calls resound eerily in the early morning calm.

You will note that I never mentioned how good the fishing was on those mornings.  Who was it that said that fishing is not all about catching fish? If you get a chance, give it a try.  You will be glad you did.

Last Tuesday the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board held its July meeting via Zoom.  In it there was a presentation by Dr. Rebecca M. Quinones, the MassWildlife Rivers and Stream Project Leader who is an expert in aquatic biology and climate change.  Much of the information used in her presentation was derived from an article in the June issue of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, which she co-authored.

The focus of her presentation was to help the Board understand and address the impact of climate change in Massachusetts and how it impacts streams, in particular cold-water habitat, and how those changes can be reflected by fish responses.  

Ultimately, the goal is to identify cold- water climate change refugia (areas where conditions can enable a species to survive after extinction in surrounding areas). She noted that it is necessary to think about these areas in order to develop specific restoration and land protection actions that would continue to provide good habitat in the future.

Generally, in the Northeast, there has been a 1 ½ degree Fahrenheit (F) temperature increase from 1970 to 2005.  The changes in temperature have some differences seasonally so, for instance, scientists know that winter temperatures are warming faster and in that same time frame they know that temperatures have increased about 4 degrees F.  That has implications for precipitation that we are seeing across the state, particularly the range of snow ratios. We are seeing much more rain and that has resulted in a 7% loss of snow and a 16% decrease in snow pack in March and April and that has heat implications for the hydrology.  We are now seeing more higher peak stream flows in the spring, about 2 weeks earlier than historically.  On one side of the spectrum we are seeing peak flows increase, but on the other side of the spectrum droughts are becoming more frequent and droughts that last a few months have become more frequent over the decade.

There are studies that project that the Northeast is feeling the impacts a lot faster than other parts of the world.  Studies show that a typical degree increase in Celsius (C) will be likely coming our way by 2040, in comparison, in the continental US, it will probably occur sometime in the mid 2040’s.  That still is much earlier than we would see it happen in the globe as a whole which is likely to happen around 2060.

It is anticipated that conditions in MA will be more like the southern states by 2099.  The weather here is likely going to be similar to what is being seen in South Carolina now. So, when scientists start to think about cold water climate change refugia and see what it looks like in SC, then they might have an idea of what kind of a characteristic we can expect.  The distribution of cold-water species will shrink to by 2099.

The changes they are expecting in cold water streams that stay pretty much intact, will remain fully functioning cold water streams. But we may have other systems that may transition and become completely transformed with different types of habitat available to them.

If you are a fish, you will have only 3 options – stay in the habitat you are in and try to adapt to the changes, move to more suitable habitat if there are no barriers  (dams, culverts, etc.) and you have the capacity to do that,  or you can stay in place and die.   We are seeing those responses already in all the cold-water fishes.  In several fish species in the northeast, in some areas we are seeing that trout can continue to do well.  They are able to deal with warmer conditions, but not so warm that it will impact their ability to assimilate foraging enabling them to grow.

In some areas we are seeing trout grow much faster in warmer conditions, but if we exceed the tolerance of the temperature that they can thrive in, the brook trout actually decrease in survival.  It becomes much more obvious in larger age classes particularly under drought conditions.  Because of the increased frequency of the droughts, we might see survival decrease across the state. We are also seeing changes to earlier upper migration which causes earlier spawning. 

So, if we are seeing changes in habitat, there is the likelihood that we will see changes in the assemblage.  In some habitats, you may see the species change from trout to warm water species.

Dr. Quinones is hoping that we move forward to where we are thinking about the exposure of species to climate change, their sensitivity and adaptability capacity (the 3 vulnerability elements where we think about climate change impact).

There are landscape characteristics that define what residual habitat could be and could act as climate change refugia. Refugia are not meant to be static.  They are still going to be impacted by climate change but its impact will be felt at a much lower pace. 

For cold water climate change refugia, you could look at elevation.  Habitats in higher elevations tend to be colder and might stay colder for longer periods of time.  Likewise, you have cold-water from deep snow, and snow-packs can mitigate warm water temperatures.  Likewise, being in a valley having a lot of canopy cover can increase the amount of shading, protect the streams from solar radiation and keep them cooler. 

There are other characteristics such as being on north facing slopes, ground water which can give some source of cold water and deep lakes which stratify with cold water bottoms which provide cold water habitat.

MassWildlife has put together a team which has been thinking about temperate change, on brook trout specifically, for many years.  Brook trout have been used as an emblematic species in the state, representing the suite of cold-water species.    They are already working with models trying to determine how the species might survive into the future.

They have charts and maps enabling them to see the range of the brook trout in MA.  Surveys have been conducted in MA fisheries from year 2000 and a data base, especially on larger rivers, has been created.  These models give them opportunity to think about climate change problems.

In the predicted 2-degree C increase in July temperatures by 2040, you might see a 42% decrease in streams that could support brook trout in summer.  Of course, there might be small pockets of cold water, while some areas might become warmer quicker than others.

A 4- degree C increase in temps which may occur by the 2070’s indicates another 28% decrease in the amount of cold waters available in July. If a 6 degree C increase in temperatures, which is projected by 2099, occurs there will be another 25 % decrease in cold water streams that are supporting brook trout in summer.  By 2099 there could very well be a 77% drop in the cold-water streams available for habitat for brook trout.

The projections indicate that perhaps some of the cold-water streams located primarily in north western MA could be cold-water climate change refugia.  Even with a 6 degree C temperature increase, they could still provide cold water habitat for brook trout.  The headwater streams will provide cold water habitat but there are also high risks of becoming dry during a fluctuation of flow.  High temps affect the high parts of the watershed as well as the low.

After Dr. Quinones’ presentation, the F&W Board conducted discussions regarding climate change.  DFW Directors Mark Tisa and other Division aquatic biologists assured them that they recognize the importance of cold-water streams and have spent more than 20 years finding out where they are. In their land acquisition decisions, they are high on their radar screen and give priority to lands with cold water streams.

Dr. Quinones noted that there are great trout habitat areas today that are likely not going to be in the future.  Those are areas where restoration would be really important. Groups like Trout Unlimited have been doing a lot of restoration on the ground and these are areas where she can see them moving work forward.  

Besides catching a few nice fish, Ashmere Lake anglers (in Hinsdale) had an added pleasure on the afternoon of July 4. They got to see a parade from their boats.  I’ll bet you thought there were no parades around here on that day this year, but there was…. a boat parade.

It’s a tradition that began years ago and is still going strong.  Under the direction of the Skyview Grove Lake Association, boat owners, especially pontoon boat owners, decorate their boats with flags and bunting, form up in a designated location and sail into each area of the northern basin of Ashmere Lake.(They can’t cross Rte. 143 to the south basin due to the size of the culvert).  All of the 20 or so boats tooted their horns and some of them provided patriotic music.  The weather was perfect and all of the passengers waived to the cottage owners and visitors who were out on docks and lawns and who eagerly awaited their sail-by.  Even though the ruckus may have put the fish down, the anglers received and returned enthusiastic waves…..and a few put down their fishing rods and took time to honor our flag..

After all our nation has had to endure lately it was a welcome respite.  While practicing social distancing, people were smiling and waving.  There were many shouts of “Happy 4^th”

Unfortunately, not all people choose to share the joy of Independence Day.  Although the Declaration of Independence holds certain truths to be self-evident, among them that all men are created equal, let’s face it, not all people in our country are treated equally.  We must correct that, and soon. 

Who doesn’t love the words of that old patriotic song “God Bless America.  “Stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above.”  There is another song, a country and western one, which carries another powerful message, too.  Entitled God Bless America Again, it goes like this: “God bless America again, you see all the troubles that she’s in. Wash her pretty face dry her eyes and then, God bless America again.   

Google it to hear the rest of it sung by country singers Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty or Bobby Bare.

Antlerless deer permit application due by next week

If you want to hunt antlerless deer in 2020, you must apply for an antlerless deer permit by this Thursday, July 16.  You can check back after August 1 to find out if you have been awarded the ability to purchase the permit. Hunters can apply online using MassFishHunt on a computer or smartphone. You need a valid hunting or sporting license to apply for an antlerless deer permit. There is no fee to apply; a $5 fee is charged only if you are awarded a permit during the instant award period.

The instant award period begins on August 1 at 8:00 am and ends on December 31. Your odds of being awarded a permit are the same regardless of when you check your permit status. You can check the status of your permit through MassFishHunt.

Sale of surplus antlerless deer permits by Wildlife Management Zone will be staggered over the following days in September and October:

• Zone 11: Tuesday, September 29 at 9 a.m.
• Zone 10: Wednesday, September 30 at 9 a.m.
• Zone 9 (if available), 13, and 14: Thursday, October 1 at 9 a.m. 

Surplus Permits are first-come, first-served. Surplus permits must be purchased within 15 minutes after being placed in your shopping cart. The MassFishHunt online licensing system only allows 1 session per customer, so do not log in on multiple devices or you may be kicked out of the system and need to start over. 

You may purchase only one Zone 11, one Zone 10, or one Zone 9 permit per day; up to four permits per day may be purchased for Zones 13 and 14. 

2020–2021 Migratory game bird hunting

The MA Fisheries and Wildlife Board recently approved season dates, bag limits, and other regulations for the 2020–2021 migratory game bird hunting seasons. You can view  the 2020-2021 Massachusetts migratory game bird seasons dates and bag limits by clicking onto the MassWildlife website https://www.mass.gov/doc/2020-2021-migratory-game-bird-regulations/download.  There will be more in this column as the hunting dates get closer.  I do want to bring to your attention that new this year, there will be two special waterfowl hunt days for veterans. 

Two statewide Veteran Waterfowl Hunt season dates (October 3, 2020 and January 30, 2021) are open for waterfowl hunting by veterans and current members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty (other than for training). The term “veteran,” is defined, per section 101 of title 38, United States Code, as a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. Proof of eligibility is required and must be carried on person while hunting.

All waterfowl hunting regulations and bag limits apply. Waterfowl that may be hunted include ducks, coot, mergansers, sea ducks, brant, Canada, Snow and Blue Geese.

COVID-19 and the 2020 Sportfishing Awards Program

There has been a change in the MA Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program this year. The Catch and Keep category, both Youth and Adult categories, has been suspended until further notice. Fish in the Catch and Keep category must be weighed on a certified scale to be eligible for the program. Since most public certified scale locations are no longer open due to the COVID-19 State of Emergency, MassWildlife is temporarily halting this portion of the program. Consequently, fish caught or submitted on or after March 16 will not be accepted. Submissions are still being accepted for Catch and Release category since the only requirements for entry are a picture of the fish with a measuring device.

MassWildlife says, “Don’t let this disruption keep you off the water! Fishing is still open and it’s a great way to relax outdoors while social distancing. Remember to remain 6 feet away from other people while participating in outdoor activities”.

We are in a drought

The MA Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Kathleen Theoharides declared a Level 2-Significant Drought in the Western, Connecticut River Valley, Central and Northeast EEA Drought Regions, on June 24, 2020, based on hydrologic conditions in May and June, 2020.  The Level 2- Significant Drought is more severe than the Level 1 – Mild Drought (formerly Advisory Drought). Based on the Secretary’s determination, a “drought” exists for purposes of Riverfront Area and Pond observations.

Wetlands Protection Act Regulations: For any Notices of Intent (NOI) or Notices of Resource Area Delineation (NRAD) filed on or after June 24, 2020, observation of rivers that have ceased flowing made on May 1, 2020 and thereafter, may not be used to prove a perennial river is an intermittent stream with no Riverfront Area since drought conditions. 

Drought for purposes of the Riverfront Area and Pond Observations will remain in effect until such time as the Secretary issues a written statement declaring that water resource conditions have returned to normal, ending the drought.  The written statement declaring the drought over will be posted at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs web site.

Fish & Wildlife Board Meeting

The July MA Fish & Wildlife Board meeting is scheduled for July 14 at 1:00 pm. The public is welcome to log in through Zoom and listen. The link is https://www.mass.gov/service-details/fisheries-and-wildlife-board-meetings. The presentation on trout this coming month should be very informative.  Many thanks to Western District Board member Steve Sears for the heads-up.

At its last Fish & Wildlife Board Meeting, Mass Wildlife’s John Scanlon, Habitat Program Supervisor, gave a presentation on Mass Wildlife Habitat Management Review 2015 – 2020,

So why does MassWildlife feel that it has to manage the habitat on its Wildlife Management Areas?  Because human infrastructure has greatly restricted natural disturbance processes that historically provided diverse open habitats for wildlife on portions of the landscape that are now developed.  In particular, flooding and fire are greatly constrained today on the portions of the landscape where they formerly occurred.  While control of flooding and fire is essential to protect human life and property, it also creates an obligation on their part to provide the dynamic habitats for wildlife that these natural processes formerly did.

MassWildlife’s desired landscape habitat goals for upland areas are:  Grasslands – 1-2%, shrubland 7-9%, young forest 10-15% full canopy forest 60-70% and forest reserve 10-15%.  MassWildlife feels that both shrubland and young forest habitat is needed. However; its work is under attack by those who want all state lands to be reserves.

So how does MassWildlife hope to attain the above goals?  Some habitat treatments are: mow/mulch, tree clearing, invasive control, water level management and prescribed fire. MassWildlife has been working on habitat projects for some time now.  During the period from 2015 to 2020, some 3,495acres of grasslands, 9,025 acres of shrubland, 625 acres of young forest, 7 acres of forest reserve and 1,374 acres of wetlands have been treated, or some 14,526 footprint acres.  The total treatment acreage is 17,300.

With active management practices, species that have suffered can be better supported by improving their habitat. For example, a closely managed fire policy will restore and promote resilient natural communities and landscapes for: oak forest, oak woodlands, pitch pine and oak barrens, Atlantic white cedar swamps, heathlands, grasslands and fens.

Hey!  These burns are not new.  For example, barrens were maintained for thousands of years by lightning induced and native-set fires that promoted berries and improved hunting grounds. Fire suppression was initiated in the early 1900’s to control wildfires, but in the absence of fire, trees that were minor components in health barrens expanded and changed habitat structure from dry, open, early successional conditions to mesic, closed canopy forests. Without fire, understory diversity is lost.

A couple of key points that Scanlon made were that, across all of Mass Wildlifes lands, for every 1 lb of carbon expended to perform habitat work, 17 lbs of carbon are sequestered and that currently, the average increased carbon storage per acre of MassWildlife lands is 0.8 tons/acre. The goals set by the board on various habitat types has stayed in place over the past 5 years as these goals are pursued.

Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Ron Amidon reported progress with interagency coordination in forestry habitat management. MA Energy and Environmental Secretary Kathleen Theoharides recently reviewed sites in western MA where significant improvements to habit is seen as a result of various management practices. Results have shown significant improvements in the number of non-game and game species. Much more needs to be done and the coordination across agencies could greatly impact the improvement of habitat across the state.

Update on the cyanobacteria outbreak on Plunkett Lake

First, I must correct information that I included in last week’s column.  The cyanobacteria was first discovered on June 16 after the herbicide treatment and not June 23 as reported.  My apologies for that error.  As of this writing, the lake is still closed, but it is anticipated to be open by this weekend.

So how did it get into the lake?  Scientists believe that, cyanobacterium, are normally found in the water but start to multiply very quickly, especially in warm, slow-moving waters that are rich in nutrients. Usually nitrogen phosphorous overload can trigger an outbreak or a dissolved oxygen problem from decaying weeds.  Some suggest that an over treatment of herbicides, warm temperatures, lower lake levels and wind blowing the herbicide into a shallow cove increases the chemical ratio in water and could end up with dissolved oxygen problems.

Is it harmful to the fish or humans? DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden felt that generally it doesn’t affect fish directly during short blooms. However, prolonged severe blooms can have some impacts either directly physiologically or as secondary impacts to oxygen levels and water quality. Some scientists believe that certain species of cyanobacteria produce toxins that affect animals and humans. People may be exposed to cyanobacterial toxins by drinking or bathing in contaminated water.

Mahanna Coble Trail

In Wednesday’s Berkshire Eagle, readers probably read about the new Mahanna Cobble Trail in Pittsfield which was created by the partnership of Berkshire Natural Resources Council and Mill Town Capital (new owners of Bosquet Ski Area). BNRC President Jenny Hansell said  the new trail “embodies the core elements of BNRC’s work – our rich conservation history, efforts to open special places to all, and engaging in sustainable trail building for hikers now and long into the future.”

On it, hikers ascend approximately 600 feet to reach a stone bench which was dedicated to BNRC’s founding director, George Wislocki back in October 2010. There, you can enjoy the vista with a long view of uninterrupted forest.

The round-trip hike is 2.8 miles. There is an informational kiosk at the trailhead and blue-blazed path leads atop the northern reaches of the Yokun Ridge. The trail is classified as difficult—strenuous due to elevation changes. But the climb now is a lot better than it was.

My wife Jan and I attended the dedication ceremony at the stone bench in 2010 and the only way to it was to hike up the mountain on a ski trail or to ride up on a ski lift.  We chose to hike up.  Whew! It was at that time that I realized that I had become a senior citizen.  Thank goodness for that new trail.

Its hard to believe that that ceremony took place 10 years ago.  Where did the time go?

There were some 60 people there to celebrate the installation of the bench.  I wrote about it in this column.  With your indulgence, I would like to repeat some of the comments from that column.

Then BNRC Executive Director Tad Ames noted that in 1967, Wislocki had a vision and that was to save these special places that make the character of the Berkshires so unique.  In the early going George had some allies but for the longest time he was pretty much alone.  Some people might have been indifferent, ignorant or even hostile to his efforts but he was tenacious and did not stop.  His shepherding of the BNRC and the movement were measured in decades.

“In 1971 Wislocki knew there was a place called Lenox Mountain and a place called West Stockbridge Mountain”, said Ames.  “Not content, he unilaterally named the great 12- mile ridge line Yokun Ridge and in doing so, he understood that the whole is so much greater than the sum of all parts.  It included not just the mountains, streams and rivers but a community of people, of ideas and of cultures which his career of ongoing work in the Berkshires has stood for.  And that is something that the land trust movement nationwide has started thinking about in the last 3 or 4 years.”

At Mahanna Cobble, a large flat stone was set and inscribed “George Wislocki served the Berkshire Natural Resources as its first director from 1967 to 2001.  On October 18, 2010 his friends gathered here to thank him for his vision and determination to protect this ridgeline and many others throughout the Berkshires.”   Below that inscription, was another one that Wislocki selected from Henry David Thoreau. “If a person were to conclude that after all he is not lost but standing in his own shoes on the very spot where he is, and that for the time being he will live there, how much anxiety and danger would vanish.”

“These hills provided us so much comfort”, said Wislocki, “I hope people who love the Berkshires find this place.  This is a nice place to be and it belongs to all of us”. 

Recently Paul Knauth of Hinsdale, Allen Gray of Pittsfield and I spent a few days flyfishing for trout on the Ausable River in and around Wilmington, NY (near Lake Placid).  Like last year, Paul and I opted to bring along our bamboo rods. 

I chose to use my Orvis rod which was once owned by the late Russell Chenail of North Adams.  I purchased it from his niece in 2018.  The rod was built in 1967.  The reel I used was a Pflueger Medalist Model 1494 ½ which was once owned by the late Charles Lahey of Pittsfield. 

You may remember Charlie for he was a close friend about whom I often wrote.  At the age of 101, he was still casting a fly, more specifically, his Mad River Special bucktail that he created many years ago and was still catching fish. You may recall that Charlie was inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wisconsin.  After his death, in 2010, his daughter, Andrea Dimassimo of Pittsfield, gave me most of his fishing equipment, including that reel.  “He would want you to have it”, Andrea said.

I also took along a wading staff that once belonged to the late Robert Marsden of Stockbridge, MA.  A lot of his equipment ended up in my hands, thanks to his widow Jorja.  Most of that equipment will be put into raffles and fund raisers which are held by the Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, and other worthwhile non-profit organizations.  But I digress.

Like last year, Paul brought along his Phillipson PaceMaker bamboo rod which was built sometime between 1946 and 1951.

Neither Paul nor I brought our old willow creels.  Last year we did but they were only used to carry water and our lunches.  We release all trout that we catch and really have no need for them anymore. 

Allen preferred to use his tried and trusted modern graphite rods and reel.

We rented one of the cabins at the Wilderness Inn in Wilmington, NY.  We weren’t interested in one of their larger cabins, simply one which could accommodate 3 anglers with a refrigerator, micro wave and TV. Thanks to Paul who prepared all of the food at home and then froze it, all we had to do was nuke it.  This was especially nice as we fished until after 9:00 pm and didn’t get to our cabin until around 10.  Who wants to cook at that time of day?

We practiced social distancing, wore masks, and constantly washed our hands as much as possible all during the trip. 

On the way to check into our cabin, we passed many popular fishing areas on the river with no one fishing.  It looked like we were going to be able to get onto the best fishing spots, but wondered why?  We found out the answer. The Ausable River was rather low, due to the drought that they also are experiencing*.  Perhaps Covid-19 had something to do with it also.

On the afternoon of arrival and into that evening, we fished what we considered one of the best spots on the river, and, with the exception of some very small fish got skunked.  There were mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies flying around, but the fish, if they were there, didn’t show themselves. On the way back to the cabin we stopped and checked another usually productive area.  Same thing.

That evening after eating, Paul and I sat up discussed the fishing situation and other topics well into the morning, ending at 3:00 am, as I recall.

We didn’t resolve anything, for the next morning, we fished another area which usually provided excellent fishing action. The problem there was that the usually good runs were quite shallow and yielded no fish save a few caught below the dam of Lake Everest, which were caught on Charlie’s reel.    Once again there were flies hatching, but no fish were after them.  Around noon, it really got hot (80 degrees) and we went back to the cabin to take it easy until late afternoon/early evening.

We chose an area on the river which had two tremendous fishing holes, deep and fishy looking.  Once again, zilch!  We saw mayflies, including the rare Green Drakes, but the fish weren’t rising for them.  The Green Drake (Ephemera guttulate) only comes out about 2 weeks in the year.  It was as if we were fishing over fishless waters and we were perplexed. On top of that, we were roasting in our hot waders.  The Ausable is a fairly large river and anglers usually are in wide open areas, exposed to the hot sun and little shade.

On our last fishing day, we opted to get out on the river much earlier in the morning with the hopes that fish would be active in the cooler water. We fished an area far from the beaten path.  There we started picking up some fish. It was the first time we had seen any fish activity at all.

We quit around noon to get out of the heat, but returned to the same area that evening, and caught a few more fish.  We didn’t really catch any monsters, I think Paul and Allen each caught a fish measuring around 14 inches.  My biggest fish for the trip was no more than 9 inches.  I did hook two beauties on an imitation Green Drake mayfly but both of them spit the fly back at me.

In spite of being there in the prime fly fishing season (mid-June), the total take was probably 5 or 6 fish each for the 3-day trip. Why the fishing was so dismal?  Probably due to the warm, low water.  Most of the fish that I caught were on terrestrial flies (verses aquatic flies) such as the grasshopper and lady bug.  I expected a poor showing, but I didn’t expect the others to have similar luck. 

Why did I expect it?  Well, call it predestination.  It goes back to an old saying which I read in a fly-fishing book written by Douglas McGraith in 1929 entitled “By Dancing Streams”.  In the book’s preface, he wrote, “It has been said that with a certain degree of truth that, ‘Those who can fish can’t write, and those who can write, can’t fish”.  Hey!  That’s my excuse, assuming you buy into me being one of, “those who can write.”

In spite of the fact that the river was not producing as we would have liked, we had a wonderful, memorable trip, filled with good company, good food and plenty of nostalgia.  As I wrote in last year’s column, we were fishing in a gorgeous area, the foot of Whiteface Mountain.  It doesn’t get much better than that.

Incidentally, the whole trip cost less than $200 pp for the 3-day trip.  That includes the food, lodging and gas.  Cheap dates, ey?

*On June 23, the NY Dept of Environmental Conservation issued an alert stating that “The dry weather and warming temperatures have elevated the risk of fires statewide, particularly across eastern New York.  I encourage New Yorkers to use safety precautions to help prevent wildfire outbreaks. The last widespread rainfall we saw was more than a full week ago and over the last month, some parts of the state are 90 percent below normal rainfall levels”.NY DEC Commissioner Seggos said.

Cyanobacteria discovered in Plunkett Lake

If you are planning on fishing Plunkett Lake in Hinsdale, better check to see if it is open.  The day after the application of weed herbicide on Tuesday, June 23, an ugly looking algae appeared on the water.  Local bass angler Dan Miraglia, who was doing some work on a cottage on the lake saw it and immediately notified the Town Manager who also contacted the Board of Health.  After checking it out, they immediately closed the lake to swimming and fishing. It was subsequently identified as cyanobacteria.   Warning posters were immediately placed there.  As of this writing date, the lake was still closed.

To find out more about it and Board of Health recommendations, click onto the Town of Hinsdale web page.  Another good source of information about cyanobacteria is https://www.epa.gov/cyanohabs/causes-cyanohabs.

I hope to have an update on this in next week’s column.

Looking for an interactive way to learn more about the wild plants and animals in Massachusetts? MassWildlife may have just the thing.

Join iNaturalist—a worldwide, online community of naturalists working together to learn more about the natural world. The website connects you to a community of naturalists of all skill levels who are helping each other correctly identify wildlife and plants they have observed.

Using the camera on your mobile phone, you can post your observations to iNaturalist and get help with identification. You can also explore the species that others have observed in a particular location. Join MassWildlife’s iNaturalist project. It’s free, it’s fun, and you can help the agency discover and track what plants, animals, fungi, and other species are inhabiting some of our Wildlife Management Areas across the state.

To sign up, go to inaturalist.org, pick a username and answer a few questions to complete your profile. Next, visit the getting started section to learn about using the website. The short video tutorials are particularly useful to get you started. iNaturalist contains a lot of features that you don’t have to master all at once. 

MassWildlife believes that you can learn so much from using iNaturalist – and its fun.  You’re sure to make some mistakes, but you’ll learn from them.  Here are some additional tips for using iNaturalist:

• Like anything, iNaturalist gets easier the more you use it. Take your phone or camera with you every time you take a hike, and try to post a few photos every week.
• Take good photos. They don’t have to be perfect, but they should show the species you’ve observed as best as you can.
• Follow other people who make lots of observations, and see what they find.  Feel free to follow them on iNaturalist; their username is MassWildlife.
• If you’re going somewhere new, zoom to that spot in iNaturalist and see what other people have found there.
• Please document both common and exotic species, because, over the years, the ranges of these species are likely to shift and iNaturalist is one way to track those shifts.
• Join a project, such as MassWildlife’s All Wildlife Biodiversity Project, which is targeting the biodiversity of 15 Wildlife Management Areas across the state. 

The picture seen round the world

Readers may recall that a group of us local flyfishermen (Allen Gray of Pittsfield, Paul Knauth and Craig Smith of Hinsdale, Attorney Michael Shepard of Dalton and I traveled to Yellowstone National Park in Montana and Wyoming last year.  Readers may recall that Shepard and Smith hired a guide one day to float fish the Yellowstone River near Livingstone, MT.  Shepard had caught a large native brown trout which weighed 7 lbs and was 27 inches on his fly rod.  The battle with that fish, as he described it, was epic, something akin to the taking of Mount Serabaci on Iwo Jima.  Anyway, he landed the fish and released it to fight another day.

Fast-foward to last week.  Smith was looking to book another trip this year with the same outfitter and look what he saw on the guide’s web page.  None other than our own Mike Shepard shown with the guide and that big fish.  Apparently, that picture is being used to advertise the guide service and is probably seen around the world.

Perhaps because of some harmless jealousy, Mike took a ribbing from the other guys when they found out about the picture.  Some thought it was someone else who caught the fish, some said the fish was photo shopped enhanced, some said that the guide caught it, some said that it wasn’t even Mike in that picture with the guide and one said it was fake news.  Hey, what are friends for!

All kidding aside, Mike Shepard caught that fish and it was a great accomplishment, otherwise the guide wouldn’t use the picture for adverrtising.

Alice Christma, Youth Angler of the Year

As remarkable as Shepard’s accomplishment was, young Alice Christman of Pittsfield topped it.  I wrote about her in this column earlier this year.  She is the youngster who caught all of those gold pin fish last year.  You may recall that she caught the largest fish in eight categories of the Commonwealth, in the Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program – Youth Division.  She caught the largest Brown Trout, 7 lbs 5 oz, Bullhead, 2 lbs 0 oz, Carp, 16 lbs 9 oz, Northern Pike, 14 lbs 5 oz, Sunfish, 1 lb 5 oz,  White Perch, 1 lb 13 oz,and Yellow Perch, 1 lb 9 oz.

She ended up getting 8 gold pins and plaques and 7 bronze pins out of the 22 species of fish included in the program. For her accomplishments, she was named Angler of the year Youth Division, 

Well, recently, she received all of her plaques and gold pins.  That’s her surrounded by all of the plaques and holding the large trophy.

You are encouraged to explore fishing opportunities

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos recently announced a Free Fishing Weekend for June 27 – 28. The event is the second of six Free Fishing Days offered in New York State every year.

“This free fishing weekend could not have come at a better time,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Amid the uncertainty of these challenging times, being home together has allowed many families to get outdoors and experience new activities. Free fishing days provide the perfect opportunity for all New Yorkers-from Brooklyn to Buffalo and from Montauk to Mt. Marcy-to try fishing for the first time and encourage those who have fished before to dust off their fishing rods and get outside.”

DEC encourages all anglers, new and experienced, to recreate locally and seek out fishing opportunities close to home. DEC’s Places to Fish webpages are a reliable source for those ready to plan their next fishing trip. For beginning anglers interested in getting started, the I FISH NY Beginners’ Guide to Freshwater Fishing provides information on everything from rigging up a fishing rod, to identifying your catch, and understanding fishing regulations.

Additional Free Fishing Days in 2020/2021 include: National Hunting and Fishing Day (Sept. 26); Veterans Day (Nov. 11); and President’s Day Weekend (Feb. 13-14). During these designated free fishing days, New York residents and non-residents are permitted to fish for free without a fishing license. Free fishing day participants are reminded that although the requirement for a fishing license is waived during free fishing days, all other fishing regulations remain in effect.

Sign up for an online introductory fishing class!

Looking for a way to enjoy the outdoors this summer? Join MassWildlife for a free online introductory fishing class! This beginner’s class will teach you all the basics including what gear you’ll need and how to use it, rigging up your rod, where to find fishing spots, fish ID and anatomy, as well as the basic rules and regulations. Class times and dates are Tuesday, June 23, 4 – 6 p.m, Thursday, June 25, 5 – 7 p.m. and Friday, June 26, 3 – 5 p.m. Registration is required, space is limited to 50 people per class.

No equipment? No problem! All participants who are residents of Massachusetts and have a freshwater fishing license will be able to borrow a spin-casting rod for the summer. Class graduates will receive instructions on how to pick up the rods. Note: While fishing licenses are only required for those 15 and over, each household must have at least one licensed adult to borrow fishing rods; there will be a two rod per family maximum.

MassWildlife also has a Fishing Gear Loaner Program for groups who want to drop a line but don’t have equipment. You can borrow rods, reels, and tackle, and get instructional handouts.

Happy Father’s Day!

If you have been reading MassWildlife’s monthly newsletter and other material lately, you probably noticed the emphasis on birds.  They are probably most excited about the existence of a nesting pair of Bald Eagles in the town of Barnstable on Cape Cod.  This is the first time in 115 years since they have nested on the Cape.

The numbers of Bald Eagles in the United States crashed during the first half of the 20th century. Industry, which significantly increased during the first half of that century, produced harmful chemicals.  These industrial chemicals and pollutants, along with deforestation, raised havoc with their habitat.  Not only that, farmers hunted the birds because they thought they were killing live stock.  The spraying of DDT took its toll on them also.

It got so bad that Bald Eagles were listed as federally endangered species in 1967. In Massachusetts, they were absent from 1905 until 1982, when several eagles were discovered wintering in the Quabbin Reservoir area.

MassWildlife and its partners brought young bald eagles from Canada and Michigan to live in the reservoir area during the 1980s, hoping to restore their population in the state.  Well, it worked.  According to Marion Larson, MassWldlife Chief of Information & Education, the number of bald eagle nests in Massachusetts continues to grow and now they are up to 70 nests and growing.   MassWildlife reports that more than 845 chicks are known to have fledged in Massachusetts since their restoration.

Here in the Berkshires, it is quite common to see the Bald Eagle soaring high above, but it is a big thing on the Cape.

MassWildlife also recorded the first known nest on Martha’s Vineyard this spring, but the eggs were destroyed before they could hatch.  A Bald Eagle pair took over an Osprey nest on the island and laid eggs there, MassWildlife said. But when the Ospreys returned from their wintering grounds, they harassed the eagles and caused them to accidentally claw open the eggs while trying to defend the nest with their talons.

Bald Eagle chicks in two other nests in Massachusetts were also killed during attacks by intruding birds this spring. While sad, MassWildlife said these events are a sign of a thriving eagle population in the region. Sounds like we need a bird mediator here!

Interestingly, a Bald Eagle that hatched at the Quabbin Reservoir in 1997 migrated to New Hampshire and nested there between 2007 and 2014. The bird recently became the oldest Bald Eagle ever recorded in that state, according to NH wildlife officials. The previous NH record holder was a 19-year-old bird that had also hatched in Massachusetts. Thanks to the MassWildlife eagle reintroduction program that was conducted in the 1980s, other states in New England have also greatly benefited.

Incidentally, that NH bird is about 4 years older than the female bald eagle that photographer Mark Thorne of Pittsfield has been monitoring on Onota Lake in Pittsfield.

Thanks to conservation efforts, Bald Eagles were removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species in August 2007. Their status was also recently upgraded from “Threatened” to “Special Concern” on the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA) list.

Incidentally, the year 2020 marks the 30^th anniversary of the MESA. To celebrate, MassWildlife will be highlighting one rare species each month as a Species Spotlight. Through the implementation of MESA, MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) conserves and protects the most vulnerable animals and plants of Massachusetts and the habitats upon which they depend.

This month they are spotlighting the eastern Whip-poor-will which is classified as a species of Special Concern in Massachusetts.

They can be 19” long with an 18” wingspan.   Whip-poor-wills are nocturnal in that they migrate, call, court, and feed almost exclusively at night. Their primary foods are moths and other night-flying insects.

The Whip-poor-will’s life history is tied very closely to the moon cycle. Their signature call is most intense around the full moons of May and June. They lay their eggs so that the chicks hatch ten days before a full moon; that way, the adults will have the maximum amount of moonlight to forage as they feed their chicks.

Whip-poor-wills were once found in nearly every town in Massachusetts.  Their former ubiquitous presence, coupled with their mournful whistled call associated with moonlight, made them legendary features of folklore, superstitions, and omens. (Click on Wikipedia to learn more about the omens and superstitions.  Also, if you google the Whip-poor-will you can hear their call).

Habitat loss is the primary threat to Whip-poor-wills in Massachusetts. Habitat loss can be the result of land conversion through development, or lack of natural disturbance, such as the exclusion of fire from the landscape.

Whip-poor-wills rely upon habitats that experience regular disturbance events, such as fire. MassWildlife partners with conservationists to mimic these disturbance events using canopy thinning and prescribed fire in areas that historically saw regular fire. MassWildlife recently worked with the New England Forestry Foundation on a restoration project at Muddy Brook WMA in Hardwick and successfully saw the return of Whip-poor-wills to the site after a documented 30-year absence.

As ground nesting birds, Whip-poor-wills can be very vulnerable to the presence of dogs and cats, as well as unnaturally high populations of small predators, such as raccoons and skunks, often associated with residential development near their habitat.  Declines in nocturnal insects may also be a contributing factor to overall decline.

How you can help?

• Report sightings of Whip-poor-wills (especially calling Whip-poor-wills) to MassWildlife’s NHESP. These recorded observations help their staff to better understand the distribution and status of Whip-poor-wills in Massachusetts, can inform habitat management decisions, and may offer protection under MESA (Click onto  www.mass.gov/how-to/report-rare-species-vernal-pool-observations for instructions to submit rare species observations).
• Keep your cats indoors and dogs on a leash. This is not only a good practice to help vulnerable wildlife, but it’s also safer and healthier for your pets.
• Support restoration efforts by state agencies and non-profit organizations to conserve and restore the fire-influenced habitats that support Whip-poor-wills.

Natural Resource Settlement

State and federal environmental agencies will use $8.3 million from the Buzzards Bay oil spill natural-resource settlement to restore common loons and other birds throughout New England that were impacted by the 2003 spill.

They hope to return and increase loons to more water bodies in Massachusetts through the release of 45 to 60 common loon chicks from Maine and New York to historic Bay State breeding sites at Assawompset Pond Complex in Lakeville and October Mountain Reservoir in Washington.

In Massachusetts, common loons disappeared as a nesting bird for decades until 1975, and have since primarily returned to breed in the Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs and a few other central Massachusetts waters. Some $2,684,500 in funds will be allocated to this project.

They hope to increase survival of nesting loons at many breeding sites across New England and New York.  Several types of projects will be selected through a competitive grant process, such as deploying nesting rafts to withstand fluctuating water levels and reduce disturbance from predators and people, installing educational signs and hiring seasonal wardens to watch over nests to reduce disturbance, and preserving land to protect loon breeding habitat. Funds allocated: $3,685,500.

It is hoped that funds will also be allocated to include projects benefiting common eiders and other coastal birds.

So, things are “looking up” for our feathered friends here in the Commonwealth.

Landlock salmon stocked

A couple of weeks ago, Mass DFW completed stocking the Quabbin Reservoir with its annual allotment of 10,000 Landlocked Salmon raised at its Palmer Fish Hatchery. It will take about 3 years for these fish to reach the 15″ minimum size for harvest.

Drivers please take note

If you are driving out and about the Berkshires after dark, may I suggest that you slow down and be careful.  There have been some moose sightings in rather unusual locations – the back yards of some Lenox residents.