Naromi Land Trust  
Forever. Sherman.  
                                                           January 2014 
                                                                                               Vol. 5, Issue 1     

Pileated Woodpecker - Photo by John Foley
In This Issue
Eagle trip
Snowshoe
Turkeys!
South Hollow Preservation
Quick Links

Properties
 

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Members, Friends and Neighbors,
Thank you to all who have become members or renewed your Naromi membership.  Every membership dollar counts towards protecting Sherman's natural resources!  If you haven't contributed yet, it is never too late, just visit our membership page for information or to donate online.

We are developing or 2014 calendar now, but this year you can count on a Naromi event every second weekend of the month.  As always, look at naromi.org and our Facebook often for up-to-date calendar information.
The Beavers' Handy-work on Wagon Wheel Road
Second Annual Trip to View Eagles at the Shepaug Dam

Naromi is organizing a field trip to the Shepaug Dam in Southbury to observe Bald Eagles on Saturday, January 11.  This is a wonderful opportunity to view eagles who come to the dam because of the easy access to fish near the dam during the coldest months of the year. Naromi has a group reservation starting at 9:30 AM.  The viewing area is indoors, but there is no heat, so dress warmly.   Some spotting scopes are available, but bring good binoculars if you have them. A naturalist will be on hand to tell us about eagle facts and answer questions.


Please register for this trip by contacting the Naromi office by phone 860-354-0260 or email naromi@sbcglobal.net.  
 
Car pooling from Sherman to Southbury is encouraged. Those who wish to car pool should meet at the Sherman School at 8:30 AM (approximately 40 minutes of driving time).  Those who wish to drive themselves must register and get the reservation number.

Check our website for last minute details/updates.
Hike or Snowhoe - We'll see!  Mark your calendar for February 8/9t

Snowshoeing Hadlow 2/6/11If there is enough snow, we will lead a snowshoe/cross-country skiing trip at the Hadlow Preserve on Cozier Hill Road the weekend of February 8th.  If there is no snow, or not enough, we will still enjoy the views of Hadlow with a hike around the fields and beyond.  Remember to bring your skis or snowshoes if  conditions permit, dress warmly as those fields are very exposed!  

More details later this month at naromi.org or on Facebook.
Turkeys in CT
Turkeys are in decline in Connecticut.  CT Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection monitors changes in CT wild turkey population are monitored through several annual surveys, including brood and hunter surveys.  

Brood surveys are conducted by DEEP staff and volunteers during June, July & August.  Based on 200 wild turkey observations, DEEP sets the brood index at 2.5 poults per hen, but research suggests a productive wild turkey populations should have a brood index of 3.  CT has fallen short of this mark in all years except one since the survey began.  

Hunters rank the turkey population in the area they did the majority of their hunting as increasing, stable, or decreasing.  Since 2007, this index has indicated a downward trend.  Data in the brood and hunter surveys correlate well. For example in 2010 the highest brood index was recorded and in the following spring hunters indicated an increase in population growth.

Why is hunting allowed of a species in decline? In 2012 turkey hunting season, the turkey harvest equated to one turkey per three square miles of land, a rate that is not impacted by hunting.  Research also has shown that spring weather is the most important factor that influences fluctuations in the overall population across the wild turkey's range.  2013 was the wettest June on record.  










All photos are from northern Sherman, by M. Josephson and D. Larkin. 
Preservation of South Hollow
This new acquisition which was the result of the work of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, the Trust for Public Land, US Fish & Wildlife Service, the family of Gerald Blumberg and Friends of the Great Swamp totaled 362 acres and is known as the South Hollow parcel.  This is the second phase of 611 conservation transaction added to the Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area. South Hollow parcel is in blue. The entire area of the map is in Putnam County, New York, just over the line from CT Route 37.
The parcel is located on the south side of Haviland Hollow road and surrounds and protects Haviland Hollow Brook, the only brook trout stream in the Great Swamp.  It connects the Great Swamp, Croton River & reservoirs in the NY highlands that provide drinking water to 3 million New Yorkers.