Naromi Land Trust
December 2011 - Vol 2, Issue 10
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| Dear Friend of Naromi, | |
Thank you so much to all who have contributed as volunteers and as members to Naromi this year. Here are some of Naromi's plans for 2012:
- continue our popular monthly hikes and other outdoor excursions to our preserves and neighboring conservation properties;
- work with volunteers to expand our trail system, cut new trails, and re-routing problem sections of trails;
- reach out to our community, and to our members in particular, for ways that Naromi can improve its programs and services;
- develop a parking area at the Towner Hill Preserve;
- print new trail map booklets showing trail in and near Sherman
- continue collaboration with both private and public partners to preserve notable tracts of open space and farmland in Sherman.
All of these plans need the support of volunteer hours and membership dollars. Please consider renewing your membership or becoming a new member. Or if you have already given this year, consider a second, year-end gift to Naromi so we can continue our work to protect the rural character of Sherman. Remember that donations of money, by check/credit card, matching, from your IRA account, or gifts of stock are tax-deductible.
Naromiyocknowhusunkatankshunk!
Most Gratefully,
Marge Josephson
President
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| Winter Hike Scheduled |
 | Snowshoeing at Hadlow
in January 2011. |
Mark your calendar for a winter hike on Sunday, January 15th at 1:30 pm. The exact timing and location are weather dependent - if there is snow on the ground we will be snowshoeing at Hadlow fields, but with a frozen ground and no snow, we could go almost anywhere. Watch for last minute details via email or on our website as the date approaches.
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| Hike on December 4th |
 More than thirty folks came out to explore the Strauss Preserve on Sunday afternoon, December 4. The weather was lovely for an early December afternoon with temperatures in the mid-50s.
The Strauss Preserve features a gentle trail begins at the end of Edmonds Road (up the gravel access road) and connects the Strauss Preserve to the Giddings Preserve on Rt. 39 North. The trail passes through several actively managed old fields and along the upper hayfields of the former Rhodes farm. After passing through the open fields, the trail follows the rocky ridge, crosses an old wood road and winds down the hill through the Giddings Preserve. |
| Upcoming Bird Events |
 Great Backyard Bird Count will take place on February 17-20, 2012. The results from this North American event provide a snapshot of more than 600 bird species. Anyone can participate and there is no need to register. Just enter your results at www.birdcount.org. The event is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon, and Bird Studies Canada. The results of the count allow researchers can detect patterns in how birds are faring from year to year. In 2011 the Count brought in more than 92,000 checklists from across the US and Canada identifying 596 species with 11.4 million observations. (The Great Backyard Bird Count extends beyond backyards into national, state, and urban parks, and of course nature trails and wildlife sanctuaries like Naromi Preserves.)
The 2012 Midwinter Eagle Survey is scheduled for January 14, 2012 from 7-11AM. This survey is organized by Ct DEEP Wildlife Division. The 2011 Midwinter Eagle Survey yielded 104 bald eagles, 20 sighted along the nearby Housatonic River. Volunteers are still needed for Lake Waramaug, Bantam Lake, Laurel Reservoir, Ball Pond, and Mount Tom Pond. If you are interested in covering any of these areas or another waterbody send an email to dep.ctwildlife@ct.gov.
The Shepaug Bald Eagle Observation Area will be open December 28, 2011 through March 14, 2012. The observation area is run by FirstLight Power Resources. The area is just below a Hydroelectric Dam in Southbury where the water does not freeze because of the turbulence created by the dam and the fish are a ready food source for the eagles. Specialists are on site during observation hours (Wed, Sat, Sun 9AM-1PM) to answer questions and provide high powered telescopes. Advance registration is required, call 1-800-368-8954 Tuesday through Friday 9AM-3PM.
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Please share this Naromi newsletter with your friends by using the forward button below. We welcome comments from you about what you would like to see discussed here and what you think we are doing right, or wrong! We look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
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