This hike has become a treasured Sherman birding tradition.  The hike will be led by Angela Dimmitt, an expert birder, who often can call in the shy species.   She will tell us what species we are hearing and where to look to see it.We have seen and/or heard more that 30 different species. 

 

Meet at 8 am at the Wimisink Preserve - park in the new parking area near the Wimisink Boardwalk (along the west side of Route 39 just south of the intersection with Route 55).

 

We will spend time on the Boardwalk overlooking the Wimisink swamp for the beavers, ducks and birds of the wetlands.  Then car pool to a woodland preserve such as the nearby Herrick or Strauss Preserves and find the birds which like the upland open fields and woods. Birds are most vocal in the Spring and more easily seen before the trees are fully leafed out. Almost every year we see the lovely Indigo Bunting at the Strauss preserve.

 

The walking will be slow and easy, so anyone can join.   Bring binoculars if you have them and a bird book if you wish.

We are pleased to announce that Great Hollow Management, Inc., a Connecticut Not-For-Profit Corporation has purchased the property known as Great Hollow from the YMCA of Northwestern Connecticut.  The property is located just east of the New York - Connecticut border near the intersection of Haviland Hollow Road and CT Route 37 in the Towns of New Fairfield and Sherman, Connecticut. Great Hollow is typical of temperate forests in the northeast United States comprising approximately 825 acres of mixed woodlands, meadows and wetlands.  The property is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species.  The property is bordered on the west side by the Michael Ciaiola Conservation Area and Walter G. Merritt County Park in New York and on the east side by the Pootatuck Connecticut State Forest.  Taken together, these three properties create approximately 2,800 acres of contiguous protected land.

Great Hollow Management intends to restore the original structures on the property and clear and mark the existing hiking trails for public use.  Great Hollow will then function as a permanent nature preserve and educational center for studying the plant and animal habitats existing in that location.

Great Hollow Management's Founder and President Gary F. Goldring stated
"We are very fortunate to have had the opportunity to acquire and permanently preserve such an important and beautiful piece of property.  To be able to establish such a large conservation area within an hour of New York City is truly remarkable.  This achievement was only possible because of the efforts of the YMCA and the Towns of Sherman and New Fairfield and the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut."

Thank you to everyone who came out to bear witness to the early spring activity of

Spotted Salamanders - Photo by John Foley

Spotted Salamanders and Wood Frogs on Towner Hill.  The groups saw several salamanders and many wood frogs. The night air was filled with the chorus of wood frogs and peepers. 

Many thanks also to Ray Crawford, the Sherman Conservation Commission and the Sherman Library for the wonderful program on bees and Colony Collapse Disorder.  It was great to see so many people of all ages come to the Library on a Sunday afternoon to learn about bees!

Several weeks ago, during an inspection of an NLT Preserve, our volunteers came across this "porcupine tree" on nearby Appalachian Trail land. 

Porcupines don't hibernate in the winter, they sleep most of the time and eat tree bark near their dens.  They are herbivores and In the summer they eat twigs, berries, roots, etc.