A bald eagle nest on Nubanusit Lake that has thrilled thousands of people and produced 13 young eagles since 2004 is now permanently protected from development, thanks to a generous gift from the landowner, Eleanor Briggs.
 
The eagle nest is high in a tall white pine on the northwestern shore of Nubanusit Lake, straddling the Nelson-Hancock town line. The land is owned by Eleanor Briggs of Hancock, who founded the Harris Center for Conservation Education in 1970.
 
Briggs has donated to the Harris Center a conservation easement that protects from development 27 acres around the nest, including more than 1,500 feet of shoreline.
 
"Eleanor Briggs' gift is significant in so many ways," said Laurie Bryan, executive director of the Harris Center. "This easement protects one of New Hampshire's more productive bald eagle nests, helping to restore this remarkable species to healthy numbers. And when eagles are raising young on this nest, it's an amazing sight. So many people - young and old, from near and away - have been treated to remarkable views of bald eagles sitting in the nest, fishing for food and flying over the lake. These are priceless memories that last a lifetime."

 

In 1998, a nest in the Nubanusit pine tree was constructed by a pair of adult bald eagles that were raised near the Quabbin Reservoir in Massachusetts. In 1999, the Nubanusit pair started to raise young, when raccoons raided the nest and ate the chicks.  The pair then attempted nests in three other nearby sites, but failed to raise young. Then in 2004, the eagles rebuilt a nest in the original pine on Nubanusit Lake and successfully fledged three young. With a different male on the scene since 2005 (also from the Quabbin Reservoir), the pair has raised two or three chicks a year. This year, one of the two chicks died in the nest, but another survived and fledged.

 

Tom Ricardi has earned near legendary status among New England birders and conservationists for working tirelessly to rehabilitate injured birds of prey and help restore bird populations.

 

On August 30, Tom came to the Harris Center to show and explain why he is so devoted to the cause of bird conservation. While Tom was the star of the show, he brought several co-stars along, including a young barn owl, turkey vulture, peregrine falcon, golden eagle and others.

 

Nearly 200 people attended this special event for Harris Center members. In addition to seeing Tom Ricardi and his birds, they were treated to a terrific feed, featuring local beef (courtesy of the Faulkner family and Pitcher Mountain Farm), and local produce.

 

To all who helped, thanks for making the event a terrific success! To all who attended, thanks for coming!

September 18 (Fri) - Feast on This Film Festival: Short Films. This is the second annual Feast on This Film Festival, celebrating farms, community, sustainability and health. This year's focus is on short films, including "Asparagus: A Stalk-umentary," "Young Agrarians," "The Luckiest Nut in the World," "Inch by Inch: Providence Youth Gardens for Change," "One More Dead Fish," and "Terminator Tomatoes." Some of these 5- to 8-minute films are inspiring, others are funny, and a few are downright goofy. But they all relate to the food we eat, the environment, and the challenges of finding sustainable solutions. Co-sponsored with Cheshire County Conservation District's Monadnock Farm and Community Connection. (Other films in the festival will also be shown during the week at Stonewall Farm, Keene Public Library, Antioch University New England, and Keene State College). Popcorn will be served. 7:30 p.m. at the Harris Center.

September 19 (Sat) - More Mushroom Merriment with Dr. Rick Van de Poll, in his 19th annual fungal foray at the Harris Center. With our wetter-than-usual spring and summer, it's shaping up to be an amazing fall for mushrooms, in both abundance and variety. Rick is principal of Ecosystem Management Consultants and an adjunct instructor at Antioch University New England and Plymouth State University. His mushroom talks/walks are among the Harris Center's most popular events, not just because Rick knows his stuff, but also because he's a pretty "funguy." We'll start off indoors with a quick presentation orchestrated by Rick's Antioch students, then head out for some collecting and identifying. Bring a basket or a bag. 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Harris Center. (F)

September 26 (Sat) - High-Five for Thumbs Down. A recent grant from the N.H. Trails Bureau will go a long way in helping the Harris Center - really, Jim Orr and other volunteers - maintain our trails. We've got new tools and new incentive to improve the trails in small and big ways. This day's project involves moving the trail away from two wet spots and fixing an erosion issue below Jack's Pond. We provide the tools. No experience necessary, and we're hoping to see some new faces. If you use Harris Center trails, here's a chance to give back. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Harris Center; done by noon.

September 26 (Sat) - Stories in Wood: An opening reception for an art exhibit by Peterborough wood artisan Craig Altobello. Craig uses an inlay technique called marquetry, in which he creates images by skillfully using the grain, figure, and colors of thin pieces of wood. It's like painting with wood. He uses primarily North American woods, including local species like locust, apple, hickory, aspen, butternut, and figured maples. He also uses woods salvaged from fire and other woodworkers. Craig's colorful wood panels are inspired by nature, including birds, migration, landscapes, and leaves. Twenty percent of the sales will be donated to the Harris Center. Reception runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Harris Center. Exhibit will be on display in the Babbitt Room through October.

September 26 (Sat) - Perley Swett: The Legend Continues. Back by popular demand, the Harris Center and Historical Society of Cheshire County are offering this trip to see the haunts of Perley Swett, the "Hermit of Taylor Pond." Perley Swett (1888-1973) lived his odd life seldom far from his Stoddard home, eventually gaining notoriety as a hermit. Now Swett's granddaughter, Sheila Swett Thompson, has written a book about this remarkable and complex man. "Perley: The True Story of a New Hampshire Hermit," is one of the region's hottest-selling books. Our hike to Taylor Pond in May drew a record-breaking 100-plus participants; Stoddard's Old Home Day hike here drew even more! So here's another chance to join Alan Rumrill of the historical society and Sheila Swett Thompson on this 2.5- to 3-mile walking tour. Hike departs 10 a.m. from Shinbone Shack at the end of Aten Road (off North Shore Road by Granite Lake) in Stoddard. For additional directions, click here. Returns by 2 p.m.

September 27 (Sun) - Hike up Gap Mountain. Going up from the Jaffrey side, we'll see fall wildflowers, great views of Monadnock, and on a clear day, the Green Mountains of Vermont. For this moderately strenuous outing, meet leaders Betsy Marshall and Brian Bishoff at 1 p.m. at the Forest Society parking area off Bullard Rd. in Jaffrey. Ends at 4 p.m. Bring a snack if you'd like. Naturalist on Board.

October 3 (Sat) - Biking the Fitzwilliam Rail Trail at the Peak of Red Maple Colors. The easy route, down to the Mass. state line and back, is mostly level but the gravel surface is soft, so fat tires are required. We'll go along a beautiful brook and scenic wetlands decked out in bright red. Meet leaders Brian Bishoff and Denny Wheeler at the old Fitzwilliam train depot at 9 a.m. Back about 2 p.m. Naturalist on Board.

October 3 (Sat) - Our Green Building Open House. Join us at your convenience for a half-hour guided tour and explanation of the transformed Harris Center's "Green" sustainable building features, including our fully automated BioHeatUSA-provided HS TARM wood pellet boiler and storage silo, efficient triple-pane fiberglass-framed windows, composting toilets, innovations in flooring and other materials, skylights, locally crafted cabinetry and a unique octagonal meeting room with posts and beams harvested from our Tree Farm land. Learn how you can apply these techniques and materials to your home. Sponsored by the N.H. Sustainable Energy Association (www.nhsea.org) with the Harris Center joining some 30 other sites in the state for this event. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

October 4 (Sun) - Three Peaks in Stoddard: Brooks, Melville and Dakin Hills. Join Don and Joyce Healy for this hike to the tops of three cool hills just north of Granite Lake. Fall colors should be in their glory during this moderately strenuous, 3- to 3.5-mile, circuitous hike, mostly following old logging roads. Among the highlights: Dakin Hill, elevation 1,960 feet; Chandler Meadow, a wildlife hot spot; and plenty of history. Meet Don and Joyce at 10 a.m. at Shinbone Shack, near the end of Aten Road (off North Shore Road by Granite Lake) in Stoddard. For additional directions, visit www.harriscenter.org. Back by 12:30. Bring lunch or snack. Rain date: Oct. 10, same time.

October 10 (Sat) - Camaraderie and Colors on Cobb Hill. Join Harris Center volunteer trail chief Jim Orr as we brush and blaze and accomplish a few other trail stewardship tasks on our Cobb Hill Trail. When it's all done, we'll enjoy fall colors against a backdrop of one of the best views of Mount Monadnock. No experience necessary; we supply the tools (and a few jokes). Meet at 9 a.m. at Merrill's Corner, at the junction of Jaquith and Old Dublin roads in Hancock. Done by noon.

October 10 (Sat) -High atop North Pack, with lunch and grand viewing at the south cliffs. This is a moderately strenuous 5-mile round trip going up "Ted's Trail" (1,000 foot elevation gain), descending via "Carolyn's Trail.". Meet leader Ben Haubrich at 9 a.m. at Oak Park (acrossfrom Greenfield State Park) or at 9:15 at the trailhead for "Ted's Trail." Back about 2 p.m.

October 11 (Sun) - Hiking Big Country - some under the gun in New Ipswich. We'll visit Binney Hill, Binney Hill Pond, the Wapack Trail - in the Wapack Wilderness - and then "the Old County Road" and a large tract that has been targeted for intense development. But for now, expect signs of moose and other wildlife. For this moderately easy outing, meet leaders Bob Boynton and Roberta Flashman at 9 a.m. at the parking lot across from the Sharon Arts Center on Route 123 in Sharon. Cosponsored by Northeast Wilderness Trust. Back about 2 p.m.