Purple Martin Nest Box Installation

Purple Martin Nest Box Installed at Little Pond Boardwalk
photo by James Fischer

(l to r) Nicole Morin, Marcus Johansson, Dave Rosgen (White Memorial Biologist),
Amanda Downey, and Geoff Krukar (CT DEEP Wildlife Division Technician)
 hoist the Purple Martin nest box into its final position.
photo by James Fischer

We are pleased to announce that a Purple Martin nest box has been installed on the Little Pond Boardwalk near Sutton's Bridge.  Geoff Krukar, CT DEEP Wildlife Division Technician, facilitated the next box installation today.  The nest boxes were purchased using funds from the CT Endangered Species/Wildlife Income Tax Check-off Fund.  Purple Martins are colonial nesting swallow that have high nest fidelity.  It is quite challenging to initiate and maintain appropriate habitat for Purple Martins.  Currently, Connecticut has only a few colonies.  Hopefully, there will be at least one more colony in the state through the efforts of CT DEEP Wildlife Division at White Memorial.  The habitat was a vital consideration in this effort.  The Little Pond vicinity boasts several critical habitats, the most important for Purple Martins is vast herbaceous inland wetland where very few shrubs or trees can grow.  We have observed Purple Martins migrating through the Little Pond vicinity before, so we are optimistic that a colony will start to nest in this new nest box.  The box and pole is specifically designed for them.  The nest box is constructed of aluminum and can be lowered by using a winch and pulley cable system.  So, keep your eyes open for Purple Martins the next time you walk the Little Pond Boardwalk.

Confirming the presence and local distribution of porcupine (Erithizon dorsatum) on the White Memorial Foundation property, Litchfield and Morris, Litchfield County, USA. -- Update I

Peculiar gnawing patterns observed on a salt-treated pine stake,
could be evidence of porcupine but we'll see!
photo by James Fischer

Setting the Scene:  Remote-Triggered Infrared Game Camera image of a salt-treated pine stake
 to serve as an attractant for animals that crave salt during the summer months,
 including porcupine, white-tailed deer, and squirrel species.
photo by James Fischer

A porcupine was observed near Teal Pond July 18, 2011 (Wildlife Monitor blog post).  This observation corresponds with other porcupine evidence observed earlier this year, which is our first observation of this species for the White Memorial Foundation property (Wildlife Monitor blog post).  We have been placing salt-treated pine stakes throughout the vicinity of these observations since late-March.  Marcus Johansson and Amanda Downey helped replace the stakes on July 28 & 29 with fresh stakes, which has occurred approximately monthly.  This insures that the amount of salt on the stakes is fairly consistent from month to month, since the salt can be leached out by precipitation and several different species that are also attracted to salt during the summer.  We observed some peculiar chewing on several of these stakes over the past several months (Wildlife Monitor blog post).  Notably, we observed this same peculiar gnawing pattern on the stake that was closest to the locale of the direct observation of the porcupine (see image).  This same stake has already been chewed on within the past week since it was replaced with a fresh salt-treated stake!  Therefore, we have selected this stake as a site for the use of a remote-triggered infrared game camera (see image).  We'll post any images that are recorded by this game camera, so check back often!

Click on the labels below to review all of our Wildlife Monitor published posts associated with this project. (i.e. porcupine, Five Ponds, etc.)

Introducing More of Our Summer Volunteers

Ryan Gannon

Ryan is a senior this year at Litchfield High School and has helped the program in a variety of capacities.  Ryan helped us with last year's Crayfish Survey and continues to help us with this project again this year, as well as with several other projects.  Ryan has turned into an ace crayfish rustler and is able to call out a field identification standing in shoulder deep water.  When he is not helping us, you will commonly see him running on White Memorial's trails training for the various cross country races that he runs in the area.

Madeline Bove

Madeline is a self-starter who is helping White Memorial Museum as well as the Research Program.  Although Madeline is fairly new to volunteering for White Memorial, she has been around attending the Education Programs.  She is great with multitasking.  Madeline can ring up a purchase at the cash register, run outside to capture Cerceris Wasps, and be back at the museum answering visitors questions, while smiling and asking if there is anything else she can do.  We look forward to having Madeline around because she brings a great deal of energy and enthusiasm with her.  She loves school, especially science courses, and is a sophomore at Litchfield High School.

Amanda Downey

Amanda attends the Agriculture Education Program at Region #7 High School, in Winsted, CT.  Amanda has was showing off her skills and abilities while we were bushwhacking through the Five Ponds area on the The White Memorial Foundation Property.  She was following the GPS to locate the salt-laden stakes used for the Porcupine Survey.  Amanda was climbing up cliffs and traversing every valley while focusing her attention to find the next stake.  Amanda was a real trooper and demonstrated that she has true grit.  We are looking forward to having her around White Memorial.