Conservation Efforts
Pitch Pine Nursery
To support the final phase of the entrance improvement project, the pitch pine conservation and demonstration area, the FOHNP Stewardship Committee just received a generous grant from the Dominion Foundation. According to Emery Gluck, CT-DEEP Forester, “it is estimated that 95% of the pitch pine-scrub oak barrens have been lost, making these landscapes the most decimated upland ecosystem.” FOHNP is trying to make a difference and help restore them!
The conceptual plan on right, shows the pitch pine nursery design, with some planted pitch pine trees left to grow to maturity. Benches will surround a portion of the circle and the area bordered with split rail fencing and native plants, grasses and wildflowers. Penny Heller, Master Gardener and FOHNP member has created the draft planting plan for the project.
In early November Matt Varsen, from VarsenScapes, started work on grooming the site and installing a 20’ circular paver ‘stage’; the cost of the pavers is being discounted by 50% through Riverhead Building Supply of East Lyme. Once that is complete, EL Parks & Rec will machine dig the post holes for the 170’ of split rail fencing, which was donated by Rings End of Niantic.
The pitch pine saplings once large enough, will be transplanted up to the ridge tops in the preserve to help repopulate the dwindling imperiled species. With a focus on conservation education, interpretive signs also will be installed, and talks about the conservation effort as well as historical uses for pitch pine in Colonial times, will be held prior to guided hikes for visitors in the center circle. This space will offer a comfortable gathering point to start guided hikes, as well as a place to cool down, reflect and relax after a magical hike in the Hills.
Update 2/24/20:
Due to the cold weather, the outside site work on the pitch pine tree nursery is on hold until warmer/dryer weather returns in the Spring, but that doesn’t mean work has stopped entirely. This Winter, Master Gardner and EL Conservation Commission Member, Penny Heller, drafted a landscape planting plan for the site. It includes not only the placement of the young pitch pines – which will be left to grow to maturity – but also areas of native wildflowers, ferns and plants.
A second generous donation by Riverhead Building Supply in East Lyme was made to the project which included 10 pallets of stone pavers of different types. Project Manager and FOHNP Stewardship Chair, Greg Decker plans on using a portion of the donated stone to build curved benches to partially surround the now installed 20’ paver “stage” where talks will be given and where guided hike will begin. Decker also plans on using freshly cut white oak, donated by Thompson Native Lumber in Rhode Island, to steam bend the curved supports to support the seating for 4 benches.
Final grooming of the site will begin later this Spring which will incorporate a meandering 215’ gravel path through the exhibit.
The conceptual plan on right, shows the pitch pine nursery design, with some planted pitch pine trees left to grow to maturity. Benches will surround a portion of the circle and the area bordered with split rail fencing and native plants, grasses and wildflowers. Penny Heller, Master Gardener and FOHNP member has created the draft planting plan for the project.
In early November Matt Varsen, from VarsenScapes, started work on grooming the site and installing a 20’ circular paver ‘stage’; the cost of the pavers is being discounted by 50% through Riverhead Building Supply of East Lyme. Once that is complete, EL Parks & Rec will machine dig the post holes for the 170’ of split rail fencing, which was donated by Rings End of Niantic.
The pitch pine saplings once large enough, will be transplanted up to the ridge tops in the preserve to help repopulate the dwindling imperiled species. With a focus on conservation education, interpretive signs also will be installed, and talks about the conservation effort as well as historical uses for pitch pine in Colonial times, will be held prior to guided hikes for visitors in the center circle. This space will offer a comfortable gathering point to start guided hikes, as well as a place to cool down, reflect and relax after a magical hike in the Hills.
Update 2/24/20:
Due to the cold weather, the outside site work on the pitch pine tree nursery is on hold until warmer/dryer weather returns in the Spring, but that doesn’t mean work has stopped entirely. This Winter, Master Gardner and EL Conservation Commission Member, Penny Heller, drafted a landscape planting plan for the site. It includes not only the placement of the young pitch pines – which will be left to grow to maturity – but also areas of native wildflowers, ferns and plants.
A second generous donation by Riverhead Building Supply in East Lyme was made to the project which included 10 pallets of stone pavers of different types. Project Manager and FOHNP Stewardship Chair, Greg Decker plans on using a portion of the donated stone to build curved benches to partially surround the now installed 20’ paver “stage” where talks will be given and where guided hike will begin. Decker also plans on using freshly cut white oak, donated by Thompson Native Lumber in Rhode Island, to steam bend the curved supports to support the seating for 4 benches.
Final grooming of the site will begin later this Spring which will incorporate a meandering 215’ gravel path through the exhibit.
Southern Pine Beetle Study
Southern Pine Beetle Trapping Results for 2019
Southern pine beetle (SPB) trapping by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) continued this year at four sites in CT., one being the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve. The monitoring is to determine whether the SPB is overwintering in CT or being killed by cold weather. Climate change has allowed the invasive pine beetle to continue to move further north into New England and eventually beyond into Canada.
Results show an overall increase in SPB numbers this year with numbers skyrocketing at a trap site in a pitch pine stand in Groton, causing concern by CAES that an infestation there may be underway.
If there is any good news in the data, it’s that the numbers of SPB in the Hills were low for the years 2018 & 2019 but the year over year trend increasing. The beetle was first discovered in CT in 2015. It’s is considered one of the most destructive insect pest of pine forests and has a sever negative impact for endangered species and recreational areas.
Southern pine beetle (SPB) trapping by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) continued this year at four sites in CT., one being the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve. The monitoring is to determine whether the SPB is overwintering in CT or being killed by cold weather. Climate change has allowed the invasive pine beetle to continue to move further north into New England and eventually beyond into Canada.
Results show an overall increase in SPB numbers this year with numbers skyrocketing at a trap site in a pitch pine stand in Groton, causing concern by CAES that an infestation there may be underway.
If there is any good news in the data, it’s that the numbers of SPB in the Hills were low for the years 2018 & 2019 but the year over year trend increasing. The beetle was first discovered in CT in 2015. It’s is considered one of the most destructive insect pest of pine forests and has a sever negative impact for endangered species and recreational areas.
SPB Trapping 2018 & 2019
FrogWatch Project - 2018 and 2019 Observations
By Don Danila and Susan Gonzalez
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FrogWatch is a nationally recognized program connecting people with nature and providing valuable data on frogs and toads found throughout the U.S., many of which are decreasing in number and range. In early winter of 2018, Don and Susan (current and former Board member, respectively) were trained in the protocols of FrogWatch USA at Mystic Aquarium and passed an online test showing that each could recognize the calls of all 11 frogs and toads found in CT. FrogWatch protocols call for 3-minute observations to be made beginning 0.5 hour after sunset and recording all species heard and the intensity of their calls.
We made observations once a month, from April through July in 2018 and March through July of this year at six sites in East Lyme, including three in the Preserve. Our Preserve sites were Clark Pond by the beginning of the Red Trail and sites overlooking both Wetland (WL) #20, located off the Red Trail Overlook spur, and WL #24, found off the Green Trail (2019 only). Both WL sites are found in the southern portion of the Preserve (see Gallagher 2011; O.H.N.P. Terrestrial Ecology Survey). At least four frogs use Clark Pond for reproduction with the spring peeper and gray treefrog particularly abundant in April and May. Both green and bullfrogs are commonly heard calling in Clark Pond from May through July. During April the WL sites had abundant spring peepers and we heard at least some gray treefrogs in WL #20 in 2018. But we heard no calls emanating from either WL site after May. Our listening posts are located on small cliffs above each WL and being present at night we could not see the site to know if they had sufficient water to attract frogs or toads after early spring. |
We were particularly frustrated by our lack of wood frog observations, even though we know them to be present in the Preserve and breeding in various WLs. Certainly, our late start in 2018 was a factor, so we started 2019 observation in March when others told us about hearing the “quacking” wood frog calls during the day in the northern portion of the Preserve. One of us (Gonzalez) also heard wood frogs in a WL at Millstone Power Station during the day, but not at night, so perhaps we need to ignore the FrogWatch protocol and make both day and night observations in early spring.
We are also interested in knowing if both the American and Fowler’s toads are reproducing in the Preserve. The former is known to be present and the latter has been recorded in the nearby towns of Waterford and East Haddam by Klemens (1993; Amphibians and Reptiles of Connecticut and Adjacent Regions). But we heard no toads calling in either year. According to Klemens, toads tend to breed and call en masse during the first warm spring rains during March and April. When we continue FrogWatch sampling in 2020 we will recognize this fact and attempt to make our observations accordingly.  The Elusive Wood Frog
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