Highlights

OCTOBER 2021 - Biodiversity, Linton Harrington, Fall Colors

INFO ALERT - Losing biodiversity ...one species at a time!


"To protect, promote and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural and recreational resources for the well-being of all." 


The above is the preamble to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation's Mission Statement. Have they been protecting, promoting and enhancing the Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve's natural resources? Nope! 

Should our state forests and other public open space lands continue to be mismanaged by the dysfunctional Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) or should our public forests and undeveloped parkland be split off and placed in a new Massachusetts Department of Wildlife and Wildlands? Maybe just add public forest land to MA Fish and Wildlife? Other ideas?

Some history: DCR was spawned in 2003 when carpetbagger Governor Mitt Romney combined the huge pork-filled Metropolitan District Commission (MDC), staffed by mostly political hacks and their relatives, with the somewhat more benign, less controversial, Department of Environmental Management (DEM). Since its creation up until now DCR has been plagued by controversy and scandal. Google "MA DCR scandals and problems" if you'd like more on that subject. DCR is just too large an agency with too many disparate responsibilities staffed by many, but not all, who have little to no interest in conservation, natural resources or biodiversity.
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Here are ten native species, there are many more, that are slowly winking out or have disappeared entirely due to negligence on the part of DCR and other Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve land holding agencies/organizations who ignore the problems:

 

 

Our Massachusetts State Flower, mayflower or trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens). Gone from many areas of the Bioreserve due to habitat destruction from legal and illegal off road vehicle activity, also from illegal trail construction and fires.



The beautiful and inoffensive box turtle is still present but the population is plummeting due to people picking them up and carrying them home, road kill, inholding development and industrial development surrounding the SMB, managed fires at the wrong season, illegal atv activity especially on powerline corridors that run through the SMB. Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program lists the box turtle as "A Species of Special Concern."


The rare and unusual Hartford fern or climbing fern (Lygodium palmatum). This fern is found in only one small colony in the entire 16,000 acre SMB. Illegal and legal off road vehicle activity, erosion and maturing forest shading it out are all leading to its demise. Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program lists the Hartford fern as "A Species of Special Concern."



The beautiful wild red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) used to be a common wildflower in its prefered SMB habitat growing in and around rocky forest outcroppings and ledges. Picking the flowers, illegal trail construction and rock climbing threaten its existence. (Photo courtesy USFWS)



The marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum) has apparently disappeared from the area of the SMB that borders the industrial land adjacent to Innovation Way in Fall River. On the other side of the SMB it still exists in small numbers in a few limited spots in the Miller Brook/Copicut Reservoir drainage. Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program lists the marbled salamander as "A  Threatened Species."



An orchid, this wildflower with striking variegated foliage only remains in a few small areas in the SMB. The largest rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens) group we know of has been all but eliminated by almost constant illegal dirt bike activity.



We haven't found an adder's tongue, or yellow trout lily, or yellow dogtooth violet (Erythronium americanum) in the SMB in recent years. The last ones we know of were growing in wet areas near Spring Brook and adjacent Doctor Durfee's Mill Pond. Development, illegal camping and trail cutting may have eliminated them. (Photo courtesy USFWS)
 


Another member of the orchid family. Ladies' tresses (Spiranthes cernua) used to be very common growing in wet areas along the gasline easement that runs through the SMB. Illegal activity in that area by ATVs, dirt bikes and off-road 4WD trucks has turned some of these wet areas into mud wallows and all but eliminated this native wildflower. (Photo courtesy USFWS)



Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) is a shy, small aquatic turtle. Once found in just about every SMB waterhole they have been turtlenapped and taken home or flattened by traffic while crossing local roads. Innovation Way, on the northwestern edge of the SMB, has been particularly lethal to this species due to the high curbs on either side of the road. A small turtle, once in the road, is often stuck there until hit by a passing vehicle due to the turtle's inability, after crossing the road, to climb out and over the opposite curb.


The red trillium, or wake robin, or stinking Benjamin (Trillium erectum) used to be found in the SMB woods north of Slab Bridge Road. We haven't seen one in that area in years. Off road vehicles and illegal activity have apparently eliminated this interesting spring wildflower. (Photo courtesy USFWS)
 
 

There are many other species in trouble due to lack of an updated SMB management plan and the apparent disinterest in safeguarding biodiversity in the SMB by DCR and other SMB land holders.  

A few other species that appear to be fading or have already faded from the SMB are the northern goshawk and its favorite prey the ruffed grouse, wood turtle, black racer, northern parula, cecropia moth, polyphemus moth, meadow jumping mouse, short tailed weasel, hog nosed snake, wood lily, pitcher plant.  

If you see any of the above species, or other disappearing or unusual species in the Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve let us know what you saw, where and when. We will add your finds to our biodiversity list. Email sightings to info@greenfutures.org. Thanks!

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LINTON AVERY HARRINGTON


Linton Avery Harrington was a naturalist, educator and friend. Linton passed away September 29, 2021. 

We first met Linton when he accepted a position with The Trustees at the Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve as their environmental education coordinator. Linton was a kind, gentle, soft spoken teacher interpreting the natural wonders of the Bioreserve to hundreds of children and adults. His enthusiasm and love of nature was contagious and converted many to more fully appreciate our shared natural environment here in southeastern New England.
 
Every spring we would partner with Linton on his "Salamander Soiree" walk to observe spotted salamanders and other vernal pool critters. These nighttime walks through the dark and spooky forest were loads of fun and became so popular that one spring we had 60+ children and adults all crowded around, jostling for position, to see the many salamanders and wood frogs that were swimming about and courting.

Over the years we partnered with Linton on many walks and talks. One doesn't encounter a Linton very often so we realize how privileged we were to have him as an occasional outdoor partner and friend. Linton's friendship, outdoor wisdom and love will be sorely missed.

“As we work to know the life that surrounds us, we stand in a lineage of naturalists — past, present, and even future. We join the "cloud of witnesses" who refuse to let the more-than-human world pass unnoticed.” 
 Lyanda Lynn Haupt

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INFO ALERT - Right here, right now! You don't want to miss Mother Nature's great performance 

 
Only happens once a year across New England. Peak color in our neck of the woods usually starts about right now and intensifies through the next week or two. Strong winds and heavy rain may cancel the show early, so don't dawdle.

Past October photos follow. Get out and make some of your own ...right now!


Our favorite October red. Here's a tupelo in the rain. Tupelo tree foliage turns bright red in early October. Are you as sweet as tupelo honey? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq3YLhtuzTQ Other red leaves you may see in the landscape are red maple, blueberry, woodbine, poison ivy, scarlet oak, dogwood, viburnum. (photo- courtesy Barry French)

 

 

 

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Sunset/Moonlight Ride


Friday night was a perfect night for a Fall Sunset/Moonlight Ride.

  It was the Full Hunter's Moon.  The air was cool, crisp and clear.  Six of us started in Warren.  We arrived at Colt’s State Park just in time for sunset and pictures.  After enjoying the panorama that nature provided for us, we headed to Independence Park in Bristol.  On the way there, we encountered two of our riders who had arrived late and managed to catch up with us.  Independence Park was beautiful and very windy.  After a short stay we headed back to Warren and onto Riverside where we decided to turn around.  On our return trip we decided to test out the new bridge crossing arrangement that the DOT has been working on. To our surprise the first bridge’s sidewalk (bike path) was blocked off because it was being worked on.  We gave up, took to the streets, and never looked back.  When we arrived at the parking lot in Warren we packed up and headed home invigorated after a great night. 

 


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