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. 

According to the MassWildlife Monthly Report for June, there was a record deer harvest in 2019.  Some 13,920 were taken, the second highest on record. For the first time ever, there were more deer taken during the archery season than the shotgun season. Harvest figures by season are:

• Youth Deer Hunt Day and Paraplegic Hunt: 94
• Archery Season: 6,149
• Shotgun Season: 4,956
• Primitive Firearms Season: 2,692
• Quabbin Hunt: 29

However, the Western District (Zones 1 through 4) bucked the trend of the rest of the Commonwealth. The total count was 2,199 which was down 418 or roughly 16% from the 2018 harvest.

I posed the question as to why the Western District had the reduction to DFW Deer Biologist, David Stainbrook. 

His short answer was that the poor shotgun harvest (which was likely driven by not as many hunters out in the deep snow), did cause the harvest for the whole season to be down in the western zones. The other factor is that ​deer harvests have been pretty high in the western zones over the past 3 years, which makes the drop in 2019 appear like a bigger deal that it is. But it is actually quite higher than what was seen 5-10 years ago. 

He felt that it is unlikely that the drop in 2019 harvest didn’t have anything to do with the deer population. Actually, when you look at harvest by season, the harvest didn’t drop in the other seasons, just shotgun. You can actually see that the 2018 shotgun season was an anomaly in many of the zones with pretty good weather for hunting, which makes the 2019 drop look even greater. 

It is best visualized in figures of harvest over time, he said. Total harvest is influenced by how many antlerless permits are given out, but adult male harvest is not, so it is a better indicator of population trends. But it can be influenced by hunter effort, especially poor weather on the big days like the shotgun opener and the Saturdays. 

Though Massachusetts is the 3rd most densely populated state in the country, it is a state where quality deer can be found anywhere. MassWildlife biologists estimate that there are over 100,000 deer statewide. Estimated densities range from about 12-18 per square mile in western and central Massachusetts to over 50 deer per square mile on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Islands, and certain areas of eastern MA where hunting access is restricted.

After analysis, the DFW recommended and the Fish & Wildlife Board approved that the 2020 antlerless permit allocations remain the same as in 2019.  (See graph)

Incidentally, don’t forget to apply for a permit by July 16. Then, check back any time between August 1 and December 31 to see if you won the right to buy a permit.

2020 spring turkey harvest

The spring turkey harvest for 2020 was 3,304, including the 73 turkeys taken on the Youth Day. This was the highest harvest ever recorded for the spring season. Harvests have totaled more than 3,000 on only two other occasions—2009 (3,027) and 2017 (3,181). Last year’s spring harvest was 2,740. This record harvest can most likely be attributed to the increase in hunter effort that resulted from COVID-19 closures.

You can find the number of turkeys harvested in Massachusetts for the last 10 years by clicking onto https://www.mass.gov/service-details/wild-turkey-harvest-data.

The final turkey harvest totals (after the fall turkey hunting season) will be added to this page at the close of 2020.

I couldn’t get out turkey hunting this year but while speaking with those who did, some commented that there were a lot of toms that managed to elude the hunters this spring.

Report wild turkey sightings

Sportsmen and women, birders, and other wildlife enthusiasts are encouraged to assist with MassWildlife’s Annual Wild Turkey Brood Survey.

MassWildlife conducts a Brood Survey from June 1 through August 31 each year to estimate the number of turkeys in the state. The brood survey helps its biologists determine productivity and compare long-term reproductive success while providing an estimate of fall harvest potential. Turkey nesting success can vary annually in response to weather conditions, predator populations, and habitat characteristics.

Citizen involvement in this survey is a cost-effective means of gathering useful data, and can be a fun way for people to connect with nature. Record sightings of hens, poults (newly-hatched turkeys), and males (both juvenile and adult).

For help identifying male and female turkeys and determining if a male is a juvenile (jake) or an adult (tom), click onto https://www.mass.gov/service-details/identifying-female-and-male-turkeys-in-the-spring. Be sure to look carefully when counting turkey broods, the very small poults may be difficult to see in tall grass or brush. MassWildlife is interested in turkey brood observations from all regions of the state, including rural and developed areas.

There are two ways to participate:  Report individual observations online or download and print a Turkey Brood Survey form to complete over the course of the summer.

Mail completed forms to: Brood Survey, MassWildlife Field Headquarters,1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.

If you submit your observations online, you are asked to not mail in duplicate observations.

Free Fishing Weekend

You still have some time to enjoy what’s left of Free Fishing Weekend.  No license is required to fish any public lake, pond, reservoir, stream, or river in Massachusetts.  It began at 12:00 a.m. yesterday and will last until 11:59 p.m. tonight.  

Other than on Free Fishing Weekend, you need a license to fish in fresh water if you are 15 or older. If you’re 15–17 or 70 and older, your license is free. Funds from fishing license sales support MassWildlife’s fisheries research, fish stocking programs, and angler education programs. You can buy your fishing licenses at https://www.ma.wildlifelicense.com/Internetsales.  All other regulations, including catch limits, apply during Free Fishing Weekend. Before heading out on the water, make sure you know the rules.

For saltwater anglers, Free Saltwater Fishing Weekend is June 20–21.

MassWildlife to monitor fish using video

Cameras at fish passages on Massachusetts rivers capture anadromous fish traveling to their spawning grounds.

Each spring MassWildlife monitors fish passages at hydroelectric dams on the Westfield and Merrimack Rivers. Operations at these locations allow fish biologists to monitor the number of anadromous fish traveling upstream. Anadromous fish are born in fresh water but spend most of their adult lives in the ocean before returning to rivers and streams to spawn. Fish passage facilities, including fish lifts and fish ladders, allow fish to swim upstream of dams. Without these structures, anadromous fish would be cut off from their spawning habitat and populations would plummet. Through a federal permitting process, MassWildlife works with dam owners where hydroelectric power is produced to ensure safe, timely, and effective passage of anadromous fish. ​

This year, a new system was installed on the Westfield River to record digital video of fish traveling upriver. As fish exit the fish ladder, they pass an underwater window and are caught on camera. The American Shad run on the Westfield averages 4,000 but has been as high as 10,000. Sea lamprey, American eel, smallmouth bass, river herring, white suckers, carp and several species of trout also travel upstream using the fish ladder. To date, the camera has recorded all of these fish species and even a beaver on its journey upstream. Technicians will review the video footage and count fish at a later date. A similar camera system has been operating at the first dam on the Merrimack River in Lawrence, MA for several years. This technology is allowing monitoring to continue despite the COVID19 pandemic.

Questions/comments:  Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com.   Phone: (413) 637-1818

According to Leanda Fontaine, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Western (DFW) District Aquatic Biologist, they liberated their allotted supply of trout last week.  Some 100,000 trout were allotted to the Western District.

The following Western District water bodies were stocked with trout during the weeks of May 4, May 11, and May 18:

Hoosic River (North Branch) in Clarksburg and North Adams, Hoosic River (South Branch) in Adams and Cheshire, Hudson Brook in Clarksburg and North Adams, Hemlock Brook in Williamstown, Green River in New Ashford, and Williamstown, Green River in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Williams River in West Stockbridge and Great Barrington, the East, West and Mainstem of the Westfield River;  Cold River in Florida and Charlemont, Chickley River in Charlemont and Hawley, Clesson Brook in Ashfield and Buckland, South River in Ashfield, Stones Brook in Goshen, Mill Brook in Cummington, Bronson Brook in Worthington, Depot Brook in Washington, Factory Brook in Middlefield, Buck and Clam Rivers in Sandisfield, Dunbar brook in Monroe, Pelham Brook in Rowe, Housatonic River (East Branch) in Hinsdale and Dalton, Housatonic River (Southwest Branch) in Pittsfield, Hop Brook in Tyringham and Lee, West Brook in Great Barrington and Lee, Beartown, Greenwater, and Goose Pond Brooks in Lee; Konkapot River in Monterey and New Marlborough, Little River in Huntington and Worthington, Town Brook in Lanesborough, Walker Brook in Becket and Chester, West Branch Brook in Chesterfield and Worthington, Westfield Brook in Cummington and Windsor, and Windsor Brook in Hinsdale and Windsor.

Recent lake stockings include:  North Pond in Florida, Otis Reservoir, Lake Garfield, Stockbridge Bowl, Onota Lake and Goose Pond.

So, go catch a few of these fish.  Be sure not to crowd out your fellow anglers and continue to practice social distancing.  We don’t want to get careless and cause the Covid-19 virus to return and shut down things again.

Bass fishing is getting good now, too

On Thursday, May 14, at approximately 8:00 pm, 11-year old Michael Morrill of Lee was fishing in an undisclosed local lake with his father, Gregg Morrill.  He was casting a big metal spoon (spinning lure) named the Laker Taker along the shoreline.  It was getting late, so he made one last cast.  He hooked into something heavy, in fact, he thought it was a sunken log.  But then, his fishing rod bent sharply.  Fortunately, he had the drag set on his reel so that the fish wouldn’t snap the line.  He would reel it in a ways, and then the fish would make a run and pull some line off of his reel.  It happened a couple of times, sometimes the fish would jump out of the water.  Luckily the drag worked and the line didn’t snap.

Finally, he got the fish near the shoreline, but it was no way totally subdued.   His dad finally had to step into the water and net it.

It was a huge largemouth bass.  What a hawg! (bass fisherman’s term for a really large bass).  It measured 21 inches long.  They didn’t have a scale, but his dad guesstimated it to be around 10 lbs.  Judging from the accompanying picture, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Michael then let the fish go.  Later on, he began to have second thoughts for some of his friends and relatives felt that he should have kept it and had it mounted, or perhaps he could have gotten a bronze or gold medal from MassWildlife.

His mom Pamela Brown said that he felt better when he learned that at this time of year, the bass are on their spawning beds laying eggs and protecting them from predators.  If he kept that bass, yellow perch and sunfish would probably eat all the eggs and tiny bass.  In fact, back in the day, anglers could not keep a bass until after June 15, for that very reason.

Maybe the next time you catch that fish, Michael, you might want to keep it.  Or, you can bring a tape measure and camera along to take a picture of it to send to the State.  But in my book, you did the right thing that Thursday night.

Many thanks to Michael’s grandpa, Bill Brown, for giving me the heads up on this catch.

It’s also time for bull-heading

Bullhead fishing is best when the apple blossoms are in bloom.  The meat is firmer and sweeter.  That’s what the old timers used to say.

Dig up some worms or night crawlers and head for the pond just before darkness.  Weight the worms down with non-toxic sinkers, and toss your line out into the pond to settle to the bottom and let it sit there. Prop up your fishing pole with the bail open to let the fish run without feeling any resistance (and not pull it into the pond). 

Some anglers I know attach a little bell onto their fishing poles to indicate when a fish is biting.  Others have small lights that they can see when the pole bobs up and down.  I use longer shanked hooks as they make it easier unhooking them.  Bullheads don’t mess around and have a tendency to swallow the hook before you know they have even nibbled on your bait.

Open up your portable chair, light up your lantern, have some German cool-ade and relax.  Enjoy the sounds of the geese coming in for the night, the peepers and bull frogs and, depending on where you are fishing, the unmistakable eerie call of the loon.

Don’t feel like cleaning the fish when you come home at night?  No problem.  Fill a large pail of water and put the fish in there.  They should be fine the next morning, provided you didn’t leave them out of the water too long.  I usually put them on a stringer which allows them to stay alive until you leave.

Spring Turkey Hunting Season is over

The spring turkey hunting season ended yesterday.  Time to clean and oil up the turkey gun and lock it away until this fall. 

Good friend Robert (Gus) Murray of East Nassau, NY passed on some interesting information that he read in a recent issue of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Hunting & Trapping Newsletter.  It mentioned Bill Hollister, formerly of Pittsfield, a veteran spring turkey hunter who now lives in New York that bagged a bird in 2018 with rare triple spurs

Retired DEC biologist and avid turkey hunter, Hollister knew he had found something rare after he bagged a gobbler in Columbia County. Once he had the bird in hand, he saw that it had three spurs on each leg!

According to NYDEC in general, most gobblers have spurs and the length of the spurs is an indication of a bird’s age. On rare occasions, a gobbler will fail to develop one or both spurs and even more rare still, is a gobbler with two spurs on a leg. A bird with triple spurs is almost unheard of.

Over the past decade, DEC staff have examined thousands of legs from turkeys killed by hunters in the fall and have seen missing spurs and double spurs, but never a triple spur.

From the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks: “Mature gobblers without spurs, or with only one spur, comprise less than two percent of the total harvest. It is more common for gobblers to be missing a spur on only one leg than to not have any spurs. Another abnormality is when gobblers have multiple spurs.

There are only two reports of birds with triple spurs – one of which is from Mississippi and the other is Hollister’s. A triple spur is quite the find!

Thanks to Gus for passing this information to us.

Memorial Day

This year, with the absence of Memorial Day parades due to Covid-19, you might have a little time to pick up the fishing rod and do a little fishing.  If you have a quiet moment, please take a moment or two to remember those servicemen and women who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  You also might want to remember and thank the doctors, nurses, first responders and others who also suffered or lost their lives fighting this different, most recent enemy.

Needless to say, the pandemic has caused a lot of interruptions in our daily lives, especially with our local outdoor sports community.  They used to receive information from the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen on a monthly basis regarding DFW hunting, fishing, land acquisitions, etc., but with the social distancing, that had ended.  The various DFW District offices were ordered to close their offices to the public until it is over.

Now, at least until the ban is lifted, the League is able to meet with the DFW Western District (WD) Supervisor Andrew Madden face to face……..via Zoom.  Madden took the time to show up at his office and 7:00 pm Thursday night and coordinated the Zoom connections with the various League delegates at their homes.  It’s the next best thing to being there with him for we could see and hear him as well as the fellow League delegates.  Many thanks to Andrew for going that extra mile to keep the local outdoor sports folks informed.

Here’s what transpired at our first Zoom meeting.

DFW WD Staffing

Because the DFW is a State organization, they have been put on an altered work assignment.  Most of the DFW WD Office staff is still coming in to do essential work.  The office is still operational, although not open to the public.  But could be reached if the needs are there.  The ban will last at least until May 18 and then they will see what happens after that. It’s up to Governor Baker. 

During this spring, its main functions have been:

Trout stocking. 

Rumors have been spreading that due to Covid-19, the trout in the hatcheries were all stocked out, including the big ones, and the hatcheries were closed.  Andrew reported that they are not true.  At the beginning, not knowing what was going to happen with the pandemic, DFW moved a lot of the fish earlier than they normally would have from middle March until the end of April. Then they received directives to slow down for a while because they had moved a lot of fish into all of the ponds and some of the rivers, There was a lull in stocking, but now they are back to a point where they can safely go into the hatcheries with their own staff and started moving fish again. 

The DFW Web Page will show what has been stocked.  DFW personnel should be stocking through the week of May 11 and possibly the week after.

Regarding the big fish that many anglers have caught, Madden said that most of the big fish came from the Sandwich Fish Hatchery.  Every year the Western District receives one or two of them.  Most of the fish received from them were in the regular size range, but there were some doozies this year.  According to Andrew, there was nothing out of ordinary this year as far as emptying the hatcheries.  Fish have to be stocked in order to make room for next year’s fish and the year after.

Land Acquisition

Andrew noted that activity is still ongoing.  But due to the social distancing, it is more difficult to hold public meetings and have the right people present at the right places.  They anticipate the land acquisitions to be about the same as they have been in prior years and their projects should all get done.  DFG WD Land Agent Peter Milenasi has been working on them right through the pandemic.

Biological Stuff

DFW WD staff is still doing some of the biological projects during the spring – grouse surveys, woodcock surveys, counting duck plots, installing loon rafts, etc.  They still have one more loon raft to put out.  Andrew mentioned that in one of the sites, the loons were back and waiting for their raft.  Andrew is looking for other places to put in more rafts.  If anyone hears of loons anywhere especially in ponds that don’t get much use, please let him know. 

Stewardship

This year they have been able to do a lot more stewardship work.  There is a lot of pressure on the Wildlife Management Areas and other open spaces, with many more people looking for places to go.  Most of WMA’s don’t usually get a lot of people in the spring and summer, but this year they are seeing a substantial increase in them due to Covid-19.  They are having more than their normal issues with ATV’s because lots of people have more time. They are working on WMA boundaries.  The bear project is still up and going. Collaring of the bears went well this year. They are doing a little more work with kestrel boxes because numbers of them are coming back in the Berkshires.

Habitat Projects

Andrew reported that there is a big habitat project going on at the Stafford Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Cheshire, primarily mowing and mulching with big machines.  There is another habitat project planned in the town of Middlefield, presumably the Walnut Hill WMA, but it hasn’t started yet.

Turkey Season

Because of the closures and mandates, all check stations were closed.  DFW had a phone check-in at the Dalton office but very few people called.  Andrew felt that most people checked in on line.  Discussions ensued over the fact that some kids lost out turkey on hunting this year because they couldn’t get FID cards when they turned 15. (Offices closed).   In spite of that, Andrew felt that it was a good youth hunt for those who had licenses this year with a lot of people getting birds.  However, it was tricky with the Covid-19 mandates.

Future

Andrew thinks the mandates will continue until at least May 18.  If anyone has a question or needs to reach someone from his office, they are answering the phones. No person is working there all the time, but most of the time there will be someone there.  Phone calls will be returned.

Keeping tabs on our Onota Lake Bald Eagles

Did you happen to see Berkshire Eagle photographer Ben Garver’s excellent pictures of the bald eagle flying around Onota Lake?  It was on the front page of the May 12 Berkshire Eagle entitled Unfurled wings.  A lot of people have been watching that eagle and its mate for some time. 

One of them is photographer Mark Thorne of Pittsfield.  He is keeping us up-to-date with the eagle happenings on Onota Lake, too.  Mark has been kindly sending us amazing photos of an old couple that has resided there for some time.  He got a chance to check on them nesting at Onota Lake recently.  His pictures make it quite evident that the eggs have hatched and the adults are feeding chicks.  Over the 4 hours that he was there they swapped nest sitting twice, were extremely careful sitting on chicks, and occasionally fed them.  

Mark said that around 4:00 pm one day things got “a little dicey” due to an immature bald eagle flying way too close to the nest.  At the time the male was on the nest and the female was soaring low over it.  Possibly because he felt the need to protect the chicks, or maybe because he did not see the other bird as a threat, the male never left the nest.  The female joined him and soon after the immature eagle flew off.  A few years ago, Mark saw the male attacking an adult eagle that came too close to the nest.

Mark believes that the female is 18 and the male is 16 years old this year!  Unfortunately, he did not tell us their names.

Many thanks to Mark Thorne for sharing the wonderful pictures and the eagle updates with us. He is an excellent wildlife photographer and has some amazing pictures of a nesting pair of red tailed hawks that, with his permission, I hope to include in an upcoming column.

The following are guidelines for boating and various other and inland waterway related activities during the duration of Governor Baker’s stay-at-home advisory and essential services order.  Not listed here are the guidelines for marine (ocean) activities.

Inland boat ramps and canoe launches:

Inland boat ramps and canoe launches within state parks, forests, wildlife management areas, boating access facilities and other state owned properties managed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts remain open for use by boats being launched by vehicles registered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, except where the access has already been closed due to parking restrictions or other restrictions.

All other inland boat ramps that are currently managed by municipalities remain open subject to the discretion of the city or town. 

 User Guidelines: 

• Ramps remain open subject to available parking. A ramp will be considered closed if all parking is full. Illegally parked cars will be ticketed and may be towed. 
• All boat ramp and canoe launch users shall practice social distancing. Users should allow appropriate space for users of the boat ramp or launch and clear the ramp when users launch is complete. 
• Users should ensure they are ready to depart quickly from the ramp or dock as soon as their boat is put into the water. Users not actively launching their boat should clear the launch area.
• Upon return to ramp, users should load their boat as quickly and safely as possible and then clear the launch area. 
• Use of ramps for organized fishing tournaments, derbies, or any other type of gathering is prohibited.
• Loitering on ramps or use of ramps for any activity other than launching boats is prohibited.  Parking at ramps for activities other than launching boats is prohibited.
• Masks or face-coverings should be worn in public in accordance with the Department of Public Health’s advisory when social distancing is not possible. 

Recreational boating:  The safe operation of recreational boats is permitted under the following guidelines:

• Only persons from the same household should be together on a boat at one time.
• No gathering or groups of persons from multiple households will be permitted on boat ramps, docks, piers etc., and all users shall practice strict social distancing. 
• All recreational crafts shall remain a safe distance apart. Tying boats or other crafts together is prohibited.
• All recreational boating is subject to the discretion of local officials, harbormasters, and law enforcement. 
• All local rules, regulations, laws and Coast Guard requirements still apply.

For hire boating: For hire boating will not be permitted while the Governor’s stay at home advisory and essential services order is in effect. This includes:

• Charter and head boat fishing
• Sailboat rentals and lessons,
• Canoe, kayak, and stand-up paddleboard rentals,
• White water rafting and river tubing rentals,
• Whale watches and other pleasure cruises,
• Any other operation or use of a vessel that is not registered to the passenger.

Many thanks to Jim McGrath, Pittsfield Harbormaster, for passing this information onto us.

Some people are undoubtedly displeased with the Governor’s restrictions and mandates associated with Covid-19. From my perspective, I think he is doing the right thing. 

My parents lived through the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1920.  They had some interesting tales to tell, especially my mother Agnes. As a teenager, she was the only person on her street well enough to walk to town to obtain and deliver medicines and groceries for her neighbors.  Every other family on her street had the flu. 

Her own brother, my Uncle Clarence Cummings, had contracted it.  He recovered, but according to my mother never fully recovered and was as thin as a rail for the remainder of his life.  My Uncle Fred was on a troop ship headed for France during WW1 when after a couple of days at sea, it had to return to New York because many of the troops on it had died from the flu.  My uncle helped to stack the bodies “like cordwood” on the ship’s deck.  Boy, did he have stories.

I remember when the polio epidemic was on during the 1940-50’s.  People were frightened, and kids couldn’t go anywhere, beaches, movie houses, etc.  My own sister Emily was a victim of polio.  It affected her legs, and thanks to the Shriners Hospital in Springfield, was able to walk, albeit with a limp.

So, from my perspective, epidemics and pandemics are things to fear, and the governor can’t do too much to curb the spread of this one.

May is a good time to flyfish

While it is true that some diehard anglers fly fish all year long, many of them consider the month of May as the perfect time.  It is the time that many major insect hatches such as Ephemeroptera (Mayflies),Trichoptera (caddis flies) and Plecoptera (stoneflies) mature and rise from the stream bottoms and transform from bottom dwelling nymphs to dry flies.  Some rid their nymph shucks on the way to the surface while others swim to rocks, climb onto them and hatch there.  It’s the time that anglers call “the hatch”

Above picture is of Dwayne Anderson making a beautiful cast.

That’s not to say that insect life and flyfishermen are not active in April.  There are some hatches like the Epeorus pleurali) (commonly referred to as Quill Gordons named after Theodore Gordon who developed an imitation pattern of it, or the Ephemerella subvaria (commonly referred to as Hendrickson named after a fly fisherman in 1918…..long story),and other aquatic insects that hatch during that month.  However; most of the time anglers have to use sunken flies (nymph imitations) to catch them.  During that period of cold water, the trout are a little logy and prefer to pick off these insects before they reach the water’s surface.

But it’s when the water temperatures rise to the 50/60 degrees Fahrenheit range that the major hatching activities start. Some insects hatch over a period of a couple of weeks, while other hatches are over in 3 days.  Although some hatches may overlap a little, fortunately, they don’t all hatch at the same time.  To avoid insect traffic jams, Mother Nature has schedules when the various types hatch, all summer long and into the fall.  By doing so, there is a constant supply of food for the fish and birds throughout the warm weather months.  Pretty smart on Mother Nature’s part, ey?

It’s amazing when you think about it.  Most mayflies spend 360 or so days of the year on the river or streambed.  Based upon their biological clock, they hatch out as sub-imagos (duns), molt into imagos (spinners), mate in air, drop their eggs in the water, stretch out their wings and die.  Some insects like the larger stoneflies will spend a couple of years under water before hatching.

During periods of hot weather with water temperatures exceeding 70 degrees and with low water conditions, the trout activity slows down.  Trout find it difficult to survive in water temperatures warmer than that and seek colder water tributaries and river bottom springs to survive.  (That’s why it is so important to maintain trees and canopy vegetation along the banks of the streams to provide shade to cool the water and help them survive)

Successful anglers have learned when the various flies hatch out as well as their size, coloration, idiosyncrasies, etc.  Although trout brains are no larger than peas, they are not fools.  If they have been feeding on a brown colored size #12 mayfly for days and then are presented with a sized #16 tan imitation, forget it.  They will just give the angler the fin.

Volumes and volumes have been written about these aquatic insects and the fascinating sport (or art, if you prefer) of flyfishing over the last several hundred years.  Tradition abounds in this sport.  For me, the thought of casting a fly imitation, perhaps developed by Theodore Gordon and successfully fished by him in the 1800’s simply turns me on.

If staring at a bobber for hours no longer thrills you, you may want to step up your game and take up fly fishing.  Don’t let the Greek or Latin names of the flies discourage you.  There are thousands of species of each type and there has to be some scientific way to identify them.  Call them brown, gray or green flies if you wish.  Neither the insects nor fish care.  You really only have to know about a dozen or so of them.

Fly fishing is not necessarily easy, it can be challenging and downright frustrating at times, but with determination and practice, you can do it.  Any when you do, the only regret you may have is that you didn’t take up the sport earlier.

Tight lines!

Are there Brown Bears in our midst?

A few weeks back, old friend and fellow hunter Rick Stanard of Lee sent me a picture of what appeared to be a brown bear which was hanging around his house on Beartown Mountain/Benedict Pond Road. It also had a unique light- colored snout. Before contacting me, Rick had done some research on the subject of brown bears in Massachusetts and found out that they do not normally exist here.  I also did some research and came to the same conclusion, however, Cinnamon Bears do exist as far east as PA and I wondered if perhaps one strayed up our way.

I contacted Dave Wattles, MassWildlife Black Bear & Furbearer Project Leader, about the bear and sent him a picture of it.  I inquired if the bear could possibly be a brown or cinnamon bear. 

He responded that it is definitely a black bear and that brown or cinnamon colored black bears are very uncommon in MA. When it does occur, it is often in young bears and the coloration will gradually turn to black as they get older.  He said that the light-colored muzzle is very common in our bears. MassWildlife does reasonably often handle cubs in the den that have varying degrees of blonde heads, not only the muzzle, that also darken as they age.  The bears are almost always “typical” black bears in coloration when they handle them as yearlings the following winter. 

So there we have it, Rick, mystery solved.  It is a brown black bear.

Many thanks to Dave Wattles for solving this mystery.

New Ocean Recreational Fishing rules go into effect this year

At this time of the year many Berkshire anglers start planning their trips to Cape Cod, Rhode Island and other parts east to do some salt water fishing. Please be aware of the following:

New recreational fishing rules have been adopted in Massachusetts to increase the conservation of Atlantic striped bass. The size of fish that can be recreationally harvested has been further restricted to end overfishing on the resource, while additional fishing gear requirements have been established to address recreational catch and release mortality. The commercial striped bass fishery has been similarly reduced through a quota cut. These changes were recommended by the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), approved by the Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission, and take effect on May 1, 2020.

• Slot Limit: Only striped bass measuring at least 28” and less than 35” (total length) may be retained in the recreational fishery. Recreational anglers may harvest and possess one striped bass per day within this slot limit, year-round. Striped bass measuring less than 28” or 35” and greater, must be immediately released.
• Circle Hooks: Recreational anglers are required to use an in-line circle hook when fishing for striped bass with whole or cut natural baits. A circle hook is defined as a fishing hook designed and manufactured so that the point of the hook is not offset from the plane of the shank and bend and is turned perpendicularly back towards the shank to form a circular or oval shape.   Exceptions. This requirement does not apply in the following circumstances: 1) when a recreational angler is fishing aboard a for-hire vessel on a for-hire trip; and 2) when a recreational angler is fishing with natural bait attached to an artificial lure that is trolled, jigged, or casted and retrieved (e.g., “tube and worm”). 
• Non-lethal Removal Devices: When using a device to remove striped bass from the water, recreational anglers must use a non-lethal device. A non-lethal device is defined as any tool used in the removal of striped bass from the water or to assist in the releasing of striped bass that does not pierce, puncture, or otherwise cause invasive damage to the fish that may result in its mortality. This effectively prohibits the gaffing of striped bass by recreational anglers.

Anglers are referred the DMF list of Frequently Asked Questions for more information. Email them at marine.fish@mass.gov with additional questions, so they can update this list accordingly.

Recreational Bluefish Regulations for 2020 

The Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission has approved DMF recommendations to adjust the recreational possession limit for bluefish effective May 1, 2020:

For more information, visit the DMF website: www.mass.gov/marinefisheries

Where Have All the Insects Gone?

In the May, 2020 issue of National Geographic there is an interesting article written by Elizabeth Kolbert entitled “Where Have All the Insects Gone?”  It is an eye-opening article detailing how over the last 30 years insects in various parts of the world have declined by as much as 70%.  As the article points out, insects may sting or startle us, but they keep the planet livable. 

It lists 5 crucial insect jobs: 

• Providers – Insects are in nearly every food chain, especially birds, bats, amphibians and fish.
• Decomposers – Waste eating insects unlock nutrients for use by the ecosystem that would otherwise stagnate in dung, dead plants and carrion.
• Pest controllers -By feeding on crop-threatening pests, predatory insects perform the role of pesticides without chemicals.
• Pollinators – Nearly 90% of flowering plant species and 75% of crop plant species depend on pollination mostly by insects.  If crops can’t reproduce, humans and animals lose key food sources.
• Soil engineers – Termites and ants can transform soil in hot, dry climates.  Their tunneling aerates hard ground, helping it to retain water and add nutrients.

What is the value of the services these insects provide?  Back in 2006 an attempt was made by some entomologists and they came up with a figure of $57 billion in the US alone.

A study of mayflies in the upper Midwestern US found their populations had dropped by more than half since 2012.  Studies have also concluded that population losses of 27% of the dragonflies and damselflies, 36% of the butterflies and moths, 42% of the bees, wasps and ants, 61% of the beetles and 85% of the grasshoppers and crickets. This should be of concern to everyone, especially the flyfishing folks.    

What are the reasons for the decline?  Some entomologists blame climate change while others blame farming practices or other infringements on insect habitat. 

What can be done?  If the cause is climate change, then it would seem that only global action to reduce emissions could really make a difference.  If pesticides or habitat loss are the main culprits, then action on a regional or local scale could have a big impact.  The article noted that the European Union has banned most neonicotinoid pesticides which several studies have linked to insect and bird declines.  The German government adopted an “action program for insect protection” which calls for restoring insect habitat, banning the use of insecticides in certain areas and phasing out glyphosate, a commonly used herbicide.

Personally, I believe the bug zappers kill a lot of harmless insects as well as the biting ones.  No harm in having one on your deck while you are outside trying to dine and/or enjoy the sunsets, but may I suggest that you turn it off when you go inside for the evening.  There are a lot of moths and other harmless insects drawn to the light and killed during the evenings.

As one prominent entomologist wrote, “Plants and insects are the fabric of this planet.  We’re ripping it to shreds and we need to knit it back together.

May Hatchery fishing derby cancelled

In its effort to reduce the community spread of COVID-19 through social distancing, the Berkshire Hatchery Foundation in Hartsville-New Marlborough cancelled its planned youth fishing derby which was scheduled for this upcoming Saturday.  Oh well, maybe next month.

Be safe!

This year marks the 40^th spring turkey hunting season in Massachusetts.  It opens tomorrow morning and runs through May 23. There have been a lot of changes with regard to turkey hunting this past year and this column has relayed them piecemeal during the year.  To make sure that all of the turkey hunters are up-to-date with these changes, please bear with me as I list them out again.

MassWildlife cautions us to remember to practice safe social distancing while enjoying the outdoors. COVID-19 related restrictions and precautions will impact some in-person services, including license sales and check stations. Most hunters already take advantage of easy online purchasing and harvest reporting through MassFishHunt. MassWildlife has created some new options to support hunters who are unable to do business online. If you know someone who doesn’t receive their emails, give them a call and let them know what’s happening or have them visit mass.gov/turkey2020 for up-to-date information.

Hunters are strongly encouraged to purchase licenses online. MassWildlife offices are closed until further notice, and many license vendors are closed as well. Hunters can purchase licenses and permits online with a computer or smartphone through MassFishHunt, or through any license vendors that remain open (call first). A printed license and turkey permit must be carried with you while turkey hunting.

There is a new online purchasing option for 15–17 year-olds. Under normal circumstances, minors aged 15–17 must purchase a license in person and provide written parental consent. During the COVID-19 State of Emergency, parents and guardians can use an electronic form to provide consent and then purchase licenses online. You can email mass.wildlife@mass.gov if you have any questions.

Due to COVID-19 public health measures, no check stations will operate during the spring 2020 turkey season, including all MassWildlife locations. Hunters are strongly encouraged to use MassFishHunt to report harvested birds online.  Hunters without computer or smartphone access can call MassWildlife to report a harvest over the phone.

To report your harvested turkey over the phone, call your nearest MassWildlife District Office, or the MassWildlife Field Headquarters. Staff will be available to help hunters report their harvest over the phone. When reporting a harvest over the phone, hunters should be prepared to provide the following information: date of harvest, town and Wildlife Management Zone of harvest, the sex and age of the turkey (bearded birds only in spring), and the method of take (shotgun/archery/crossbow). Staff can assist if you are unsure of the sex or age of the turkey.

Note: If you get a busy signal when calling the district office in Dalton ( 413) 684-1646), try again in a few minutes or call the Field Headquarters at (508) 389-6300 to leave a message. If you need to leave a message, include your full name, customer ID number from your hunting license, and a phone number where you can be reached.

Hunters including youth huntersmust follow the standard ½ hour before sunrise to 12 noon hunting hours.

Note: Minors aged 12-14 may hunt with a licensed adult during the regular turkey season. (Minor and licensed adult must share one firearm/bow and share one bag limit.) 

All hunting regulations, are still in effect during the State of Emergency and Stay at Home Advisory. Several changes to wild turkey hunting regulations were approved by the Fisheries and Wildlife Board in 2019. The summary below provides an overview of the changes now in effect for the 2020 turkey hunting seasons.

• Increased annual limit of three birds—2 bearded turkeys in the spring and 1 of either sex in the fall.
  Prior to the regulation change, turkey hunters were only permitted to harvest either two bearded birds in the spring with no fall birds or one bearded bird in the spring and one bird of either sex in the fall, for an annual limit of two birds. Now, hunters can take 2 bearded birds in the spring and 1 of either sex in the fall.
• Increased daily bag limit of two per day during the spring season.
  Prior to the regulation change, turkey hunters were only permitted to harvest one turkey per day during the spring season. Now, hunters may fill their spring season limit of 2 bearded turkeys in a single day.
• Changed shot size
  Prior to the regulation change, turkey hunters were only permitted to use #4–#7 size shot for turkey hunting. With this change, hunters may now take advantage of advanced ammunition that will allow for greater flexibility with different shotguns, including #9 TSS shot produced by several manufacturers.
• Expanded Youth Day turkey hunting hours to ½ hour before sunrise until 5 p.m.
  Hunting hours were expanded for the Youth Day only (April 25, 2020), providing young hunters with additional turkey hunting opportunity. However; during the regular season,all hunters including youth huntersmust follow the standard ½ hour before sunrise to 12 noon hunting hours.

Surely turkey hunters remember the tragic accidental shooting last year of local turkey hunter Chris Puntin.  It would be well to review these safety tips before heading afield:

• While hunting this year, be aware that more hunters and non-hunters may be out and about in the woods and fields as a result of the COVID-19 situation.
• Always follow the 10 basic rules of firearm safety, (listed on mass.gov/service-details/firearms-safety).
• Be completely sure of your target and what is beyond it before you shoot. Always practice firearm safety.
• Do not stalk turkey sounds; it could be another hunter. Sit or stand and call the birds to you.
• Do not wear red, white, blue, or black; these colors are associated with male turkeys.
• Protect your back. Set up against a large tree or rock and make sure your view isn’t obstructed. Don’t hide in a place with an obstructed view.
• Do not place decoys too close to where you set up. Never carry an exposed decoy or tail fan while hunting; put them in a bag when carrying them in or out of hunting locations.
• Consider wearing hunter orange when entering or leaving your hunting area.
• All hunters must have a green safety sticker on their firearm positioned so it can be seen when sighting down the barrel. If you need a new or replacement sticker for your firearm, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: MassWildlife, Attn: Turkey Safety Sticker, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.  After you place a safety sticker on your shotgun, put a piece of clear packing tape on top of it and it will last years, even through harsh hunting and weather conditions.

Access to some hunting areas may be impacted by the COVID-19 emergency; hunters should check with landowners about any special restrictions. Again, hunters should be aware that more people may be enjoying the outdoors as a result of COVID-19. Avoid crowded areas and have a back-up plan if your usual hunting spot is crowded.

All MassWildlife Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) remain open to the public for hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation during this time.

Hunters should remain at least 6 feet away from others, avoid gathering in groups, and stay home if they’re feeling sick. Given the current public health situation, MassWildlife recommends that mentors only hunt with immediate family members (within their residence) this year. Massachusetts hunters are reminded that most other states have quarantine orders in place for non-residents crossing state lines. Follow the latest official state guidance and recommendations regarding COVID-19.

MassWildlife will post any new information about the Spring Turkey Hunting Season to Mass.gov/turkey2020. You can easily add or update your email address by logging into your account at any time. Help spread the word to other hunters, especially those who may not have access to email or a computer.

Watch out for ticks!  This year appears to be another bad year.  Spray your clothes with Permethrin or other suitable insect repellent.

Good luck!  Here’s wishing you all a safe and enjoyable turkey hunting season.

Before reviewing the modernization of the P-R Act, let’s review what the original Act did.

In 1937, the Pittman-Robertson Act redirected an existing federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition used by hunters and other outdoor recreationists to a Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund. The excise tax is set at 10% of the wholesale price for pistols and revolvers, and 11% for other firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment. The funds are apportioned to state fish and wildlife agencies annually through an equation based on the geographic area and the number of hunting licenses annually sold in each state.

Eligible uses of the Fund include efforts to conserve wildlife populations, acquire and manage wildlife habitats, provide hunter safety programs, ensure public access to numerous acres of land, and much more.  State fish and wildlife agencies receive 75% of funding from the Fund and are required to match the remaining 25% of costs with funding often derived from revenues from the sale of hunting licenses, permits, and stamps.

Hunting license fees and excise taxes paid by hunters and other outdoor recreationists provide the funds that support the management and conservation of wildlife populations and their habitats. Historically, states have utilized these funds to restore populations of animals such as white-tailed deer, wild turkey, waterfowl, pronghorn, elk, and other economically important species across the United States.

Since the program’s inception, over $12 billion has been collected from hunters and outdoor recreationists and then allocated to state fish and wildlife agencies to fund wildlife conservation and management.

As a result, the amount of critical funding used to manage the majority of wildlife populations is directly proportional to the number of hunters in each state – through both collection and allocation of funds. Preserving and enhancing this user pay/public benefit funding source enables state agencies to continue providing a diversity of high quality outdoor recreational opportunities for all Americans to enjoy.

The increasing urbanization and suburbanization of our human population has made it more difficult for the public to participate in hunting. The average age of American hunters is steadily rising. To prevent the imminent decline in revenue for the Wildlife Restoration Fund, it is necessary to update the provisions of the Pittman-Robertson Act and provide flexibility for state agencies to manage their resources accordingly.

There is an increasing body of knowledge that provides effective and efficient solutions to increase the recruitment and retention of new hunters. However, because of the antiquated and unanticipated restrictions in the 1937 legislation, agencies legally could not use more contemporary approaches. Now, agencies can quickly respond to wildlife management challenges using science-based approaches and are no longer restricted in their ability to respond to shifting participation trends in hunting. 

The provisions of the Modernization Act in H.R. 877 / S. 2092 provides state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies the flexibility needed to adapt to the current business environment and develop tools and techniques to recruit, retain, and reactivate (R3) hunters and other outdoor recreationists. The Acts will enhance efforts to connect a growing urbanizing and diversifying population with the opportunities to get outdoors, actively acquire their own food sources and experience the numerous health benefits while doing so.

Without a federal mandate, or any increase in user fees or taxes, the Modernization Act preserves the current user pay/public benefit funding model of wildlife conservation for future generations by giving state fish and wildlife agencies the flexibility needed in today’s environment to utilize funds for state-specific needs while complimenting current, critical wildlife conservation efforts.

The future of conservation will rely on provisions in this bill to build a future reliant on agencies’ ability to restore habitat and confront threats like invasive species and disease, while at the same time engaging more and diverse participants in hunting and America’s outdoor heritage. The passage of H.R. 877/ S. 2092 should ensure a continued legacy of hunting and conservation of wild populations for all Americans.

The Act will ensure stable funding for conservation for years to come, while at the same time permit agencies to more effectively engage constituents serving to recruit and retain more and diverse participants in hunting.  Now more than ever, state fish and wildlife agencies require modern, innovative, and flexible approaches to wildlife conservation in their states. This bill expands the use of existing PR funds and increases the agencies’ authority to manage programs in their state.  

At the January MA Fish & Wildlife Board Meeting, DFW Director Tisa reported its passage and signing by President Trump.

Another act, the Dingell Johnson Act already provides agencies with the ability to promote angling and boating, and now the Modernization Act will permit agencies the same parity to do so with hunting. Further, provisions of this bill permit agencies to form collaborative and scalable approaches spanning geographic boundaries and may increase the efficiency of hunter recruitment and retention, thereby increasing conservation funding as well as an agency’s ability to respond to the myriad of diverse conservation challenges they face today.

There is another bill which is working its way through congress called the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA). That bill which complements the Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson) and the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (Dingell-Johnson), will fund

state-led recovery efforts on behalf of game and sport fish species that faced potential extinction in the 20th century.  This proposed bill will be covered in a future column.

New MassWildlife Western District Wildlife Biologist hired.

Eli Pease recently joined the MassWildlife Western District Staff as a Wildlife Technician. Originally from Worthington, MA, Eli first worked with MassWildlife under the American Fisheries Society Hutton Scholarship program while attending Wahconah High School. He was the first ever Hutton Scholarship participant from Massachusetts. Eli graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.

Prior to joining MassWildife, Eli worked on wildlife habitat management for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, on White-Tailed Deer movement with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and on land stewardship with the Franklin Land Trust.

Eli will be working on all of Western District programs; creating recreational opportunity, managing habitats, conducting wildlife research, and serving the public.  

Wear those personal floatation vests

Prompted by the April 2 drowning of Maeve Kennedy McKean, the granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy, and her 8-year old son Gideon, Marion Larson, MassWildlife Chief of Information & Education urged me to once again remind readers that Personal Flotation Devices (life jackets) are required to be worn by canoeists/kayakers from September 15 to May 15.

McKean, the mother of three, was playing kickball at her mother’s empty, waterfront house in Shady Side, Md., with her kids when the ball landed in Chesapeake Bay. McKean and her 8-year-old son, Gideon, boarded a canoe to retrieve it but high winds and large waves pushed them further out into the water.  They were unable to return to shore and the canoe got swamped.

An onlooker noticed that the two appeared distressed and were not sporting life jackets.

Moose relocated in Blandford

On Wednesday, DFW Western District Wildlife Biologists rescued a young moose from a dangerous situation. The moose had wandered into a congested area between I-90 and RT-23 in Blandford, where it was in danger of being hit by oncoming traffic. After closely monitoring the cow, they immobilized and relocated her to a nearby forested area with the help of the Massachusetts Environmental Police.

While moose sightings aren’t usually cause for alarm, this moose was near busy roadways, and was moved for both the safety of the public and the moose.

The epitome of social distancing

This past week, I received a call from Pete Lahart of Pittsfield who asked me if I ever heard of a goose landing on a building roof.  When I replied “no”, he said, well I have a picture to show you and he sent it along. 

Take a gander (pun) of that!  As you can plainly see, there is a Canada Goose on the roof of a house in Sheffield.  The picture was taken by Pete’s son Sean who, along with a buddy, witnessed two geese land there. Sean was standing on staging working on the house and was able to snap a picture of only one of them.  The geese stayed on the roof for a little while and then flew down and landed on a little pond on the grounds.

This takes social distancing to a whole new level (another pun).  Silly goose.   I hope those geese don’t make a habit of landing on that roof for it could literally become a slippery slope (pun #3).

Stay safe!

MassWildlife recently reported that in order to help minimize crowding at the trout stocked areas, date information has been temporarily eliminated. Although trout stocking locations and frequency may be altered slightly due to the COVID-19 emergency, it will continue to stock trout this spring.

Consequently, there will be no trout stocking reports in this column, at least for the time being. A complete listing of all of the stocking locations is given on the MassWildlife web site, but not the dates.

According to Marion Larson, MassWildlife Chief of Information & Education, some towns have complained about the crowded conditions which exist in such locations shortly after trout have been stocked there.  There are concerns that social distancing is not being practiced there.

Some anglers may be unhappy with MassWildlife’s recent actions. They may be some of the 10 million people who filed for unemployment the last couple of weeks and are having problems putting food on the table.  They want to know if and when the stockings took place.  They don’t want to waste their time fishing an area that hasn’t been stocked. They want to take their kids to areas where they know they can catch fish.

But before you take to the social media and spew out vitriol about MassWildlife’s actions, please ask yourself one question:  Is catching three trout worth the risk of contracting the coronavirus and spreading it to your family?  Regardless what some people say, you know in your heart that it is not a hoax.  Just check the daily death count. 

Like it or not, the Commonwealth is doing everything it can to curtail the spread of the virus.  It may seem extreme, but it’s better to err on the side of safety.  We must practice social distancing.  Stay at least 6 feet away or you might end up 6 feet under.

In this day and age, the word of stocking locations spreads like wildfire and soon anglers start arriving.  If you show up at a usual stocking location and see a crowd, you might be consider going somewhere else otherwise the whole purpose of social distancing is for naught.

But for many other anglers, and not having this information poses no problems whatsoever.  They are disgusted by the fact that some anglers follow the stocking trucks and are after the fish as soon as the stocking trucks leave.  Casting out power bait or an imitation salmon eggs (which the trout mistake for pellets which were fed to them in the hatcheries) does not appeal to them.

Some folks wish we would go back to the good old days when there was an opening day of trout fishing.  The trout were stocked one or two weeks before the season opened, thus giving them a chance to spread out and get acclimated to their surroundings and food sources.  Anglers had to work for those fish and learn their likely locations and how to entice them to bite.  Ample fish were caught on spoons such as the Al’s Goldfish, certain flies, live shiners or old- fashioned night crawlers on a bobber.  Anglers fished different areas of a lake from shore or boat in their pursuit of the trout and not just where they were stocked, so they say. 

Well, that’s true to a certain extent, but I remember a lot of opening days, too, with anglers lined up shoulder to shoulder.  I can’t tell you how many times another angler would make an errant cast, cross my line and tangle me up.

The real lucky anglers learned long ago that fishing is not all about catching fish.  It’s the sights and sounds of the surrounding environment…. the sounds of a babbling brook, wood frogs and peepers.  The sounds of waterfowl coming in for the night, the peaceful twilights and the beautiful mornings. 

Henry David Thoreau expressed it this way, “Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. For the commercial fisherman, it is a living he is after. It is money to have a home and to feed his family.  For the sport fisherman it is often the getting away or the solitude of a mountain stream. 

People often think “they are going fishing”, but in reality, they are seeking something that fulfills their life and their dreams.”

Shoreline fishing postponed within watershed properties

To prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation is postponing the start of shoreline fishing at Quabbin Reservoir, Sudbury Reservoir, and Wachusett Reservoir from Saturday, April 4, to Saturday, May 9. Additionally, the opening of the boat launch areas for fishing within the Quabbin Reservoir is also postponed until Saturday, May 9,

Youth Turkey Hunt Day still on

Please remember that the emergency declaration and directive from Governor Baker to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, MassWildlife cancelled all turkey hunt seminars this spring.  However; past participants who have completed hunter education and the turkey hunting seminars can still participate in the Youth Turkey Hunt Day which opens on April 25.

Hunters aged 15-17 are required to purchase their hunting licenses at vendor locations in person, but many vendors are closed or are reprioritizing staff duties to essential activities. All MassWildlife offices are also closed. It is preparing an option that will allow minor hunting licenses to be purchased online. It expects that details will be available soon and updates will be available at Mass.gov/turkey2020.

All hunters should practice social distancing while participating in outdoor activities. Given the current public health situation, MassWildlife recommends that mentors should only hunt with immediate family members (within their residence) this year.

The regular spring seasons for adults opens on April 27 and runs until May 23.

Youth Artist from Boston Wins Junior Duck Stamp Contest

Chuxian Feng, a student of Mr. Gao’s Art Studio, Boston won Best of Show in the 2020 Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) Contest. Her colored pencil drawing of a Canada Goose with goslings was selected from 337 entries. Feng’s award-winning work will move on to the National JDS Contest.

Students from kindergarten through 12th grade from across the Commonwealth submitted original works of art depicting waterfowl in appropriate wetland habitat, demonstrating both artistic talent and a knowledge of the value of wetlands for wildlife. In March, MassWildlife held the judging at which time the top 100 winning artists were selected. A combination of the top 100 artworks will be exhibited throughout Massachusetts in the coming year. The Massachusetts JDS Program is sponsored by MassWildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with support from Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council. You can support the JDS Program and wetland conservation by purchasing Junior Duck Stamps featuring national winners from previous years; buy online at duckstamp.com.

Tel-Electric Dam removal proceeding 

In its 2019 Annual Report, the MA Department of Environmental Restoration (DER) has recently reported the following: The Tel-Electric Dam (also known as the Mill Street Dam) in Pittsfield has stood on the West Branch of the Housatonic River for more than a century. In recent years, the dam has fallen into disrepair and no longer serves a useful purpose. It also is a safety hazard for the community and contributes to local flooding during storms.

DER has been working with the City of Pittsfield, the private dam owner, and other partners for over 10 years to plan the removal of this dam. Deconstruction of the dam began this fall. Removing the dam reconnects nearly five miles of upstream river habitat with the lower reach of the West Branch Housatonic River.

This dam removal is part of the City of Pittsfield’s larger efforts for a clean, resilient, free-flowing West Branch of the Housatonic River that connects two local parks and increases residents’ access to the river. With the dam gone, kayaking and canoeing will be possible. The City envisions a new trail past the former dam as part of a river greenway.

Support for the project comes from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the  US  Department of the Interior Office of Restoration and Damage Assessment, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Dam and Seawall Repair or Removal Fund and  the MVP  Program, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Massachusetts Sub-Council of the Housatonic River Trustee Council, the City, and the dam owner.