Just south of us in MA, a few hardy frogs and salamanders (mostly the males, which move a tad earlier) slowly made their way towards vernal pools in last weekend’s bout of rain.  While it will be a bit longer before amphibians in our corner of NH are on the move, it’s never too early to get ready for the Salamander Crossing Guards Program!   Click the links below to see what is new this year:

*Newly revised 2010_crossing_guard_handbook with tips for Big Night(s)!            *Updated Google Map to help you select and get directions to your crossing site!     *Intern Caitlin Sharp is cleverly creating ways to enhance everyone’s salamandering experience!

It’s almost time to bust out your rain jackets and rubber boots!  This year, Salamander Crossing Guards will head out to ten sites throughout Cheshire County to help migratory amphibians cross the roads that separate their upland and breeding habitat.  Please save the date(s) for free training sessions at the Keene State College Science Center on Friday March 19 7-9pm in Room 101, Saturday March 20 10-noon in Room 101, and Thursday March 25 7-9pm in Room 126.  We’ll walk you through identification of salamanders, frogs and toads, and get you up to speed on everything you need to become a Salamander Crossing Guard.

Also, AVEO is adding a new twist to our Vernal Pool program this year.  We’re currently in the process of locating potential vernal pools throughout Keene and we need your help to ground truth these pools.  This spring, we hope you’ll enjoy tromping through the woods and getting you feet wet to help document this critical habitat.  Come learn about vernal pool ecology and conservation (training dates TBA) - salamanders, frogs and a host of other critters will thank you!

For more information, please visit www.aveo.org or contact Kate at kate@aveo.org or (603) 358-2065.

We are pleased to welcome Caitlin Sharp to AVEO.  Caitlin is a graduate student at Antioch University New England where she is currently completing her final semester of the Environmental Education program.  Through Antioch’s practicum program, she will be providing invaluable support for the Salamander Crossing Guards and Vernal Pool Documentation programs this spring.  Growing up in New Jersey, Caitlin had ample opportunity to explore the great outdoors; she is excited to bring both passion for nature and scientific expertise to her work here in New Hampshire.

This past fall, graduate students from Antioch University New England partnered with AVEO staff and volunteers  for the third year of fall migration songbird banding in Keene.  The 2009 season marked our most comprehensive banding effort to date, with 22 banding sessions and nearly 800 net hours.  During this time, we netted 511 birds of 46 species at a rate of 0.66 birds per net hour.  Of the total, 439 birds were newly banded, 62 were recaptured, and 10 were released unbanded.  Gray Catbirds were netted most often, followed by Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Black-capped Chickadees, and Myrtle (yellow-rumped) Warblers.   If you’d like to read more, please follow this link until you’re prompted to open or save this file:

2009_fall_banding

Thank you to all of the dedicated people who enjoyed banding birds with us!

Cedar Waxwings by Byard Miller

AVEO wishes you a delightful holiday season filled with many opportunities

to pause and wonder at the unassuming beauty of the winter landscape.

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On Friday October 30th, we observed Northern Saw-whet Owl banding, led by Antioch University New England graduate student Chris Volonte.  After an introduction to the North American Bird Banding Program and Project Owlnet, we had the amazing opportunity to see three Saw-whets up close.

This season, Chris has banded nearly 100 owls at four sites throughout Cheshire County. Her research contributes to a nation-wide effort to better understand owl migration. Many thanks to Chris for hosting our visit and sharing such a wonderful experience with us all.

A special thank you to Ken Bergman and Sue Yarger for their great photos!

If you would like to learn more about owl banding, please email Kate at kate@aveo.org.

With a total of 34 birds, including the thrush that Dakota Luebbert is ready to release above, we had a great morning banding last weekend!  Species included Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Swainson’s and Hermit Thrushes, Eastern Tufted Titmouse, Myrtle Warbler, Song, Swamp and White-throated Sparrows.  Thanks to everyone who helped to make this day of banding a success!

Beginning in August, AVEO volunteers and graduate students from Antioch University New England have banded over 400 birds during our fall songbird banding project.  So far, Gray Catbirds are the most frequently netted species, followed by Song Sparrows, Myrtle (Yellow-rumped) Warblers, Black-capped Chickadees, and White-throated Sparrows, like the one shown above.

Songbird banding demonstration this Saturday, Ocotober 17 at 9 am!

For more information click here.

To review the complete list of all species banded or to join the bird banding email list, please contact Kate Yard at kate@aveo.org.

In addition to wrapping up invasive plant surveys in Pisgah State Park, AVEO is pleased to once again be monitoring migratory birds as they make their way through the Ashuelot Valley.

For the third year, AVEO volunteers, Dr. Jon Atwood and graduate students from Antioch University New England (ANE) are collaboratively operating a fall songbird banding station located at the Keene State College (KSC) Wildlife Management Area.  The objectives of the study are twofold; in addition to offering a unique educational experience for students and volunteers, banding records may also provide insight into the ways in which songbirds utilize powerline corridors as they head south to wintering grounds.

AVEO also partners with ANE graduate student Chris Volonte on her study of Northern Saw-whet Owl migration.  Using a playback technique, Chris and volunteers lure owls into nets at four sites located throughout Cheshire County.  Last year, Chris banded more than 150 owls in the first documentation of Saw-whet Owl migration through southwest New Hampshire!

Please join us on Saturday, October 17^th at 9:00 at the KSC Wildlife Management Area for a songbird banding demonstration.  For more information, contact Kate at (603) 358-2065 or kate@aveo.org.