Here’s to the next fifty years

By Beth Sullivan

Avalonia Land Conservancy is coming to the end of its 50th Anniversary Year. It has been a full year too. There have been celebrations, acquisitions, and new initiatives. In our 50 years Avalonia has evolved into an organization that does more than just protect open space; we engage in environmental advocacy and education, wildlife and watershed protection, community outreach, public recreation, and more. Over this last year we have experienced real growth spurts on many fronts.

We have acquired, or begun the process to acquire, hundreds more acres of amazing land. These landscapes are precious, and by protecting them, we are creating greenways and blue-ways and providing habitat for species that may be threatened if the land was developed. These acres are now available, or will be soon, for all of our members and friends to explore and appreciate. Keep an eye on the website as we introduce each new preserve.

We are finishing our first fifty years.

The Ram Point donation started us off in 1968.

The next fifty years will bring the challenges of climate change and rising seas. Photograph by David Young.

Updated Website

The website itself has leaped into a new phase with additional information and resources, as well as introducing interactive mapping for use on our trailed preserves. With a smart phone and some common sense, you can find your way around even an untrailed property. With the same phone you have access to the Hike & Seek program. You and your family can get more information before you hike and enhance your experience by looking for, and understanding, some of the natural features along the way.

We have reached out to the greater community to increase awareness of Avalonia’s presence and importance in our area. We have seen many more people responding to our call to arms-that is, the helping hands on the ends of the arms for stewardship and volunteering. There are several new teams created to help organize our willing volunteers and direct the energies we need to carry out our mission. The website is also the place to find information about how you can help.

We are collaborating with other organizations and institutions to combine forces and share resources. As an organization, we are involved in trying to understand the impact of climate change on our communities as well as on our preserves. We have to think about how best to manage our protected land to withstand the changes that will come over the next years. We get help from academics, scientists, and business experts. We seek funding from individuals, groups, and corporations, as well as grants from institutions and organizations that can help us further our mission.

Collaborations and teams will get the work done.

Technology is now a part of exploration.

New ways to communicate

We reach out now in ways we did not even know would exist fifty years ago. Who ever imagined smart phones, the internet, and all the social media opportunities and outlets? We still use paper and stamps to send out a few newsletters, but more and more our communications are done electronically. People get their updates in snippets or flashes of information. Long, newsy reports are a thing of the past. Even this blog is probably too long.

As all this evolution has taken place, it has prompted the need to change the face of our digital-self. Avalonia is introducing a new logo, a digital-friendly design. and one that can be creatively adapted for different purposes. A clean new design, it is one that invokes the colors of nature, the contours of our landscape and the waterways that we value so highly.

Please check out the story of the process that went into this design, here. It is an amazing education itself.    

We think this newest chapter in Avalonia's remarkable story will help us reach the next generation of members, donors, and volunteers that will continue to support the mission of Avalonia.

Our new logo will lead us into the next fifty years.

We remain committed to preserve and protect the land for the next generations.

Photographs by Beth Sullivan unless otherwise indicated.

Where the bugs are

By Beth Sullivan

It’s really beginning to feel like winter. The temperatures have really taken the downward turn, and as I write this, we are anticipating a winter storm. We have had a few random warmer days when I have noticed small flies doing an air dance outside the window in the sun and the winter moths were out on warmer nights several weeks ago, but overall, the insects are not in evidence at this time of year. There are, however, birds that rely on insect protein to be part of their winter diet.

Spring or bust

Insect species have different ways of surviving the winter. In many cases, though, it is not in the adult form. With the exception of those that migrate, like some large dragonflies, or hibernate in their adult form like some bees and hornets, most are in some other stage of their life cycle. Many insects lay their eggs in the fall before they die. The eggs winter-over and hatch in the spring if they are not disturbed or eaten by birds. Most insect eggs are protected in ways to deter birds: think of praying mantis egg masses which are straw like and uninviting. Rarely have I seen a bird attack a mantis egg case. Other insects, most notably species of flies or small wasps, lay their eggs inside plant tissue which then modifies itself to create a protective casing around the egg and later, the developing larva. These are galls. The type most visible now is the goldenrod gall. The stem of the goldenrod forms a ball of tissue around the egg which stays intact all winter. They can be seen easily at field edges. They are not, however fully protected from the eyes and beaks of small birds. The downy woodpeckers and black-capped chickadees are noted for alighting on the sturdy stem and pecking into the gall to expose the egg, and then picking it out . Perfect protein.

Paper wasps, or white faced hornets, make the big gray nests that hang unnoticed overhead all summer and are only revealed when the leaves fall. Very often the colony is killed by the cold before all the eggs have hatched or larvae developed in the fall. I have watched several species of birds, including blue jays and titmice, go after such nests as they remain hanging or even rip at them once they fall. The frozen eggs and larvae are great sustenance.

The paper nest of the hornet may still contain unhatched larvae and eggs well into the winter.

Some flies and wasps will inject an egg into the goldenrod stem which swells around it, creating a gall.

Inside the gall, the egg and then the developing larvae are protected over winter.

Winter treehouse

Other groups of insects spend the winter under bark flaps and in crevices on trees. They can be adults, eggs, larvae, or pupae. Some are even embedded in bundles of lichen or deeper in holes where there may be some rot. This is also where the birds know where to look. Spend some winter day observing a tree, preferably from inside at a warm window. These persistent birds, woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, and kinglets, among others, will hop along branches, inspecting all surfaces. What is also interesting is observing how each species of bird approaches the task. The nuthatches will always work a tree going head first, down. They inspect bark flaps and cracks from this particular angle. Another very special, very small, bird is the brown creeper. They are not nearly as common as the other birds, and their camouflage is so good they are rarely spotted, except as they move around a tree trunk. This birds start at the bottom of the tree and work their way up the tree, examining the underside of everything and finding what the nuthatches may have left behind. They each have their own niche.

Of course the larger woodpeckers have the greatest advantage of having a big enough beak to delve deep into the heart of a tree, especially dead or rotting ones, to find the ants and termites and beetles in all stages.

The insects are out there. You just need to have a bird-brain to find them.

The tiny brown creeper goes headfirst up a tree then drops down to the bottom to do it again.

The white breasted nuthatch will go down the tree headfirst.

Woodpeckers with long, strong beaks can probe deep inside a tree looking for insects. 

Photographs by Beth Sullivan.

A caring steward

By Beth Sullivan

Sometimes people make special connections to a certain piece of land. Maybe they live near by, maybe it is a favorite place to hike, maybe there is a historical tie to the property. Something draws them to a place, and they choose to devote time and effort and offer TLC to a favorite preserve.

The trail head

Our friend RB is one of those people. His family has ties, very close ones indeed, to the White Cedar Swamp and Deans Mill Preserves, accessed off Jerry Brown Rd. in Mystic. RB grew up on these lands as years ago his family owned a large farm, most of which is north of I-95. The Deans Mill Preserve is that portion of his childhood farmland that was cut off from the rest and is south of the interstate.

RB has taken us through those preserves and lovingly pointed out the historic features, walls, bar-ways, old roads, areas where trees were harvested and a lovely fresh spring. The area boasts ledges, bald rock faces underfoot, and some spectacular peeks over the Deans Mill/Aquarion Reservoir.

A stone bench waits for winter hikers.

One of the unique features of the area, is a rare, White Cedar swamp. Atlantic White Cedars grow in wet, acidic boggy areas. The plant community is quite rare this far south in CT. Over the last years RB noticed that the area was changing. The cedars were dying out; there were no new seedlings coming along to replace the old ones, and the entire ecosystem was evolving. Red Maple and Black Birch trees were growing into the sunny openings. They are rapid growers and quickly invaded and crowded the Cedars which cannot compete.

The boggy pond is frozen over.

Preservation and conservation are interesting concepts. They don’t always mean just letting nature take her course. Stewardship is where Avalonia makes decisions about the best way to manage and help preserve special habitats. Knowing that we would certainly lose the central gem of this preserve without some action, RB engaged on a personal mission to save the White Cedar Swamp. Over the last several years he has begun to cut down many of the smaller sapling Maples and Black Birch. He has also thinned out many of the larger ones to reopen the area to the sun that the Cedars need to thrive. Some of the larger trees have been girdled- a process that cuts around the tree into the bark. It ultimately will kill the tree but the tree remains standing as a snag, roost site and habitat for insects and birds.

Mature White Cedars

RB also transplanted seedling White Cedars from elsewhere in the preserve, back into the areas that were lacking, thus giving Mother Nature a jump start on the restoration of the swamp population.

A White Cedar seedling

Nature takes her time. Having a steward like RB gives her a boost and a gentle nudge in the direction we hope will be the most valuable for wildlife and overall habitat.

Small cones and scales of green mark a White Cedar in place of needles and large cones of other conifers.

A recent walk on a winter’s day gave us lovely looks of the swamp, the rock faces of ledge and trail which was slick with ice but with moss and lichen still visible. The stone bench overlooking the pond was covered with snow. We noted seedling cedars standing up bravely in the cold. With the opened up canopy and more sunlight, they will certainly grow quickly and continue the line of White Cedars in the Swamp.

Photographs by Beth Sullivan.
This post originally appeared January 13, 2014.

Walk with mindfulness

by Beth Sullivan

We all walk or hike with different intents, at different speeds and for different reasons. Many of us prefer natural trails through whatever scenery we choose on any given day. With so many habitats locally, and such wonderful, preserved, open space, we have plenty to choose from. We don’t live in a truly mountainous area, so most trails are generally easy to travel. We do not have the thousands of acres of wild landscape like out West, but some of the state lands, and Avalonia’s newer acquisitions, cover greater numbers of acres and offer better opportunities to rack up miles.

A Veery makes its nest on the ground.

Walk with common sense

However and wherever you choose to walk, there are some common sense guidelines to keep in mind to make your experience safe and enjoyable for yourself and for others and, respectful of the land and wildlife within it. The first thing to keep in mind is that Avalonia’s preserves are nature preserves and not parks. Their primary purpose is to provide sanctuary for wildlife, protect watersheds, and create greenways. In properties where it is appropriate, there are trails created to allow people to get close to nature, to experience what has been preserved. There is no better way to develop a conservation ethic than to get immersed in nature.

I love hiking with kids. Maybe it’s because they are closer to the ground and see more and are just enthusiastic open books, ready to experience everything. Experiencing the woods, fields, and shorelines with children is the best way to have your own eyes opened; however, care must be taken to also impart lessons of caution and to provide oversight. You can’t really keep a child on a leash (though I have encountered that) so care is always needed lest they scramble up an inviting rock, try to climb a tree, get too close to a water way, pick berries, or even decide to hug a tree that may be covered in poison ivy. Children run fast and with enthusiasm. Usually when they trip, they just get up, dust off and keep on going. But care is still needed.

I also like hiking with my dog. She leads me with her nose and often makes me look more closely at things she has discovered, even if it is gross, like a carcass or pile of scat. I know her well enough to know that she must be leashed because she turns off her ears and would be off and running into the next state before she realized I wasn’t with her. But the leash works for so many other reasons. I don’t WANT her to run off, I don’t want her to get lost, or get to the road, or get hurt. But I also do not want her running into another dog that may not be as friendly as she is, or to be over friendly to someone who doesn’t like or fears dogs. The prime reason to keep a dog on a short leash and under control is to protect wildlife. I have seen the aftermath of a dog ripping into a log to get in after some small creature. Ground- nesting birds and small mammals are particularly vulnerable. Some dogs just want to play and explore, but playing with a young creature often means death for the smaller animal, and can also put your pet in danger if the animal bites or carries a disease.

Climbing rocks is great adventure just make sure that an adult is nearby.

From puddles to coves, water features offer so many opportunities for exploration.

And walk with awareness

In the course of the seasons and storms, trees and branches fall. After the last years of stress on our forests, there are a lot more dead trees out there. Be careful! Be aware of your surroundings. It is our policy and practice to leave trees where they fall to provide habitat for all manner of creatures. They enrich the earth with slow decomposition and they become opportunities to observe and learn about that process in a forest. We only remove them if they completely block a trail. Most of the time a tree left across a trail is just an easy step-over, a nice place to sit, and it also makes the trails a little less inviting for ATV’s and motorized bikes which are not allowed.

When I walk, I manage to stumble around a lot. I like to look up and around, but I realize I need to watch my footing as well. I spend a lot of time looking down to watch my feet and explore things on the ground, but then I stop to look up to observe what I might be missing. I do fall down. I can’t look everywhere at once.

We do our very best to tend to issues but much is beyond our control. There is a lot of water out there this season. Brooks are overflowing, and trails may have washed out or be flooded. We are heading into winter with often snow-covered or icy trails. Please use appropriate footwear. Enjoying the outdoors in natural environments does have risks, and personal judgement and responsibility is required.

You can check maps on-line and assess trail length and terrain. There are new apps ( see our website for information) that detail all Avalonia’s trails and can pinpoint your location at any place on the preserve. You need to decide for yourself if a trail is good for you or your group. If an area presents a problem, turn around. There are many miles of trails to enjoy and many alternatives to choose from.

In this new year, enjoy our beautiful land, but please do it with mindfulness and you will not only be safe but enjoy it more.

Beth

Downed trees are cleared when blocking trails, but are left to create habitat.

The CT DEEP is posting signs suggesting vigilance while hiking.

This year trails are flooded in many areas.

Soon trails will be covered with snow and ice.

Photographs by Beth Sullivan.