The Active Part of Caring
Landscape Software: A New
Tool in our Conservation Toolkit
Cycling Through the
Estuaries of My Youth
Calendar of Events
Mahoosuc Region:
Escape or Place to Act in a
Peopled-Landscape?
Spring 2024 Newsletter
Mahoosuc Land Trust
If you are at all like me, there are many moments
when thoughts of the planetary effects of our runaway
consumerist culture vanish. The splendor of late winter
powder in the trees on the flanks of Rumford Whitecap,
listening to woodcock “peenting” at dusk amidst shrinking
snow patches in the backyard, or driving through Grafton
Notch with the moon setting behind Old Speck–the
extraordinary beauty of our surroundings creates the
perfect escape, both physically and mentally. Thoughts of
sprawling suburbs and cities decimating the habitats of our
non-human fellow beings–not far down the turnpike–seem
distant.
It makes me wonder: How can we in the Mahoosuc Region
be bioregional leaders to demonstrate how we can co-exist
and flourish with the rest of our environment in a “peopled
landscape?” Many supporters of land conservation have
been motivated by the idea of “setting aside” and protecting
the environment as something apart from the human-
influenced realm. While our growing number of “forever
wild” places with a minimal human role are essential, if
we are to set the shining example, it is no longer enough
simply to say “no” to an extractive paradigm; we must lead
by showing how and where we and all species can thrive in
balance across the region.
Our landscape is in some ways intact and in other ways
degraded. Our Northern Appalachian/Acadian Forest is
the largest intact temperate forest in North America. Yet,
for example, our native wild brook trout streams still suffer
from habitat degradation caused by log-driving in the late
1800s and early 1900s. MLT conservation partners in the
region are restoring these streams by rebuilding pools, and
deepening channels, and replacing undersized culverts
to reconnect miles of critical upstream habitat. MLT, too,
prioritizes conservation projects that protect wild brook trout
habitat, for the intrinsic value of the irreplaceable species
as well as the benefits they provide to residents and
visitors.
Embracing nature within the human-built environment is
also at the heart of our Habitat for All (HFA) program, where
we can make the most of our backyards, schoolyards,
porches, and every scrap of land to provide refuges for
wildlife and humans. As HFA Director Barb Murphy writes,
“Gardening is conservation. It is a proactive response to the
biodiversity crisis. Within the realm of cultivating, nurturing,
and keenly observing plants in our backyards, porches, or
neighborhoods, there lies a potent solution to reconnecting
with nature, understanding our food sources, and
harmonizing with seasonal rhythms. Simultaneously, these
efforts create sanctuaries where not only humans thrive but
where birds, bees, butterflies and other vital components of
biodiversity find a home.”
Complementing the collective impact of these myriad
backyard solutions, we also recognize the human role in
the broader landscape as we address forest fragmentation
with partners from Sebago Lake to the Mahoosuc Range
in New Hampshire. This means, for example, championing
forestry practices that provide needed woods products and
economic benefits while ensuring the future of forests to
store carbon, conserve biodiversity, recreate–and escape.
Ah, yes, escape. All these thoughts can get a bit heavy.
New Englanders have a Calvinist streak that can allow guilt
to stifle enjoyment. “Yankeedom” also epitomizes the non-
indigenous penchant to rush to analyze and “fix” problems,
in contrast to those non-western cultures which take a more
holistic approach, looking at the interconnectedness of the
web of life, its sacredness and vitality, and the human place
in it.
MLT’s current key strand of thought is that the power of
our collective actions makes a difference in this world.
“Escaping” from technology and our busy schedules to
enjoy moments of beauty and solitude puts us a step closer
to understanding our interdependence with all life, and
adds meaning to our actions. See you on the trail!
Mahoosuc Region: Escape or Place to Act in
a Peopled Landscape?
-Kirk Siegel, Executive Director
Photo: Andy Gagne
The Active Part of Caring
For many of us, the return of songbirds is the true harbinger
of spring.Throughout the year, we spend countless
dollars attracting them to our yards with food, water, and
landscape plantings. We then spend moments or hours
noticing feathers changing colors, parents gathering
materials for nests, and listening to newly hatched chicks
shouting, “I want food!” Yet, despite our interest and care,
we are losing them. Since 1970, in less than one lifetime,
we have lost nearly 3 billion songbirds in North America.
As the graph below shows, the loss is not equal. Some
species like raptors and turkeys have actually made
population gains over this time period. However, what is
evident and heartbreaking are the losses in the common
birds we know and love - the sparrows, warblers, finches,
and many others.
The causes of this population decline are complex.
Everything from habitat loss to pesticides, and pollution
contributes to songbird demise. However, there is one
significant source of bird loss that we can take action to
prevent. Did you know that between 100,000 and 1 million
birds are killed in window strikes each year in the United
States? Many ornithologists suggest that the estimated
number of bird deaths due to windows is too low; many go
unnoticed or unreported. Also, when a bird flies away after
hitting a window, it is still likely to die from the trauma. This
is a hard truth to accept, especially when we know that
these deaths are not inevitable.
In the spirit of Earth Day and spring bird migration, let’s all
pledge to take action, to do our part to end this needless
suffering and death. There are reasonable, data-supported
actions we can adopt to allow birds to live among us. If
we enjoy bringing birds into our built landscapes, it is
incumbent upon us to also take action to keep them safe.
The MLT office is nestled between a stream and woods
and has many lovely windows and sliding glass doors. It
is a wonderful and inspiring place to work. A few years
back, six birds (including a probable red winged hawk)
were killed flying into our building in one summer. This
was devastating, but it spurred action to learn how to
prevent such needless deaths. A quick Google search on
“preventing bird window strikes” found Cornell’s All About
Birds website. There, you can learn about many options
to minimize window strikes, from moving feeders closer
to or further from windows to a number of treatments for
windows. We settled on installing Bird Friendly’s window
dots—an inexpensive, easy to install option—on the glass
at the office. I am happy to say that, since installation, we
are not aware of a bird hitting any windows. Also, the dots
do not obscure views of the landscape. When looking at a
distant landscape or bird, our eyes don’t focus on the glass
(and therefore the dots). Instead they look “between the
dots” into a clear view shed.
Being part of the MLT team requires much of us - our time,
talent, and treasure. Now, the dramatic decline in songbird
population requires a fourth category - action. Order your
window treatment now and never again hear the dreaded
thump of a warbler being needlessly killed by your window.
Why Do Birds Hit Window?
Birds behave as though glass
windows are invisible. This can
happen anytime and in any
season. During the day, birds
see reflected vegetation or
sky (or a bright potted plant),
and fly into what appears to
be an appropriate landscape.
Night-time lighting can cause
night migrating birds to veer off
course, leaving them vulnerable
to exhaustion, window strikes, or
other threats like cats.
Why Do
Birds Hit
Windows?
-Barbara Murphy, Habitat For All Director
Decline of the North American Avifauna, K. Rosenberg et al.
I grew up along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico where
most days felt like a scene from a surreal painting. Picture-
perfect white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters,
and breathtaking sunsets. To get to the beach, I rode my
bike to the barrier island across the intercoastal waterway.
That ride is etched in my mind like a series of vivid
vignettes.
Before reaching the bridge, I’d pedal along a narrow two-
lane road, passing through mangrove estuaries. I’d marvel
at the sight of Roseate spoonbills, elegantly scooping up
small crustaceans and tiny fish with their bills. Even back
then, the scene filled me with awe. Above, fluffy white
clouds dotted the expansive blue sky while the twisted
roots of mangroves cradled colonies of pink birds wading
in brackish water teeming with marine life.
Fast forward. A four-lane highway now divides the former
estuary into subdivisions of condominiums with neon green
sod and giant palm trees. I witnessed the destruction of this
place in what felt like days not years. Big machinery moved
in and transformed a healthy ecosystem into a manicured
scene retrofitted with giant lights, sprinkler systems, and
pink plastic flamingos. Needless to say, the spoonbills
didn’t stick around.
That experience profoundly influenced me. I began delving
into organizations like Greenpeace, Sierra Club, and Earth
First. My friends and I took action by tying ourselves to
trees to protest the construction of new parking lots at
local beaches while singing Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow
Taxi.” It was experiences like this that spawned the
environmentalist in me.
As I championed environmental causes, my mailbox started
to fill with leaflets seeking donations for various initiatives.
While I didn’t have a lot of money to spare, I found
that even the smallest contribution made me feel more
Cycling Through the Estuaries of my Youth
empowered to speak out about the issues that were
closest to my heart because I was actively supporting the
cause.
I left Florida in the 90’s and moved to Maine where there
were and still are plenty of two-lane roads meandering
through the forested landscape. I call this place home—I
raised my kids here. I’m grateful my boys grew up where
they could roam the woods freely, collect tadpoles, fish in
their backyard, learn to ride bikes on backroads, and gain
an appreciation of nature and a slower paced way of life.
As lucky as I feel, I know how fast things can change.
Our past can inform our present and future. I think about
how fortunate I was to have seen the Gulf Coast at a
different time—when spotting spoonbills on the way to
the beach was common. I wonder if my kids’ memories
will be shaped by similar experiences.
Despite frequently promoting hope for the future and
emphasizing the importance of conservation, I must
admit that I worry, too. I often hear many young adults,
primarily Generation Z, passionately expressing their
reluctance to have children. They articulate concerns
about the trajectory of our country and planet, questioning
whether they will reside in a democratic society and have
the freedom to make choices.
As we navigate through the complexities of the present day,
the imperative to support conservation efforts has never
been clearer. Each passing year brings new challenges and
opportunities, but 2024 stands out as a critical juncture in
our collective journey toward a sustainable future.
Biodiversity loss and climate change have reached
unprecedented levels. We find ourselves at a crossroads
where the decisions we make today will profoundly
impact the world we’ll leave for the next generations. By
supporting conservation initiatives, we protect ecosystems
and safeguard the very foundations of our existence.
Conservation is not merely an abstract concept; it is a
tangible commitment to preserving the natural world that
enriches our lives and sustains our planet.
Putting your resources behind conservation efforts and
supporting organizations like MLT is are investments in
our well-being and prosperity. Healthy ecosystems provide
essential services, such as clean air, fresh water, and fertile
soil, upon which we rely for our survival and livelihoods.
When I reminisce about cycling through the vibrant
estuaries of my youth, I can’t help but wish there had been
an equivalent to MLT advocating for their preservation. I
imagine myself donating whatever I could to save those
vivid images of pink birds against a backdrop of blue sky.
-Barbra Barrett, Development Manager
Photo: Barbra Barrett
As Mahoosuc Land Trust grows, it continues to provide
a variety of community benefits including recreational
and volunteer opportunities, educational resources, and
more. Even as more acres are added to the current total
of 25,382 acres, we must still ensure the integrity of
our conserved lands. Mahoosuc Land Trust conserves
land in two basic ways. There are the places MLT owns,
and these may be some of your favorite trails: Valentine
Farm, Rumford Whitecap, McCoy-Chapman Forest and
Shelburne Riverlands. Mahoosuc Land Trust conserves
3,724 acres.
The other 21,658 acres of MLT conservation land are
privately owned by various people, including some
MLT members and supporters, and are conserved
via conservation easements. These easements are
modifications to a property’s deed wherein the majority of
development rights are extinguished.
Each conservation easement is a reflection of an
agreement between the grantor (sometimes not the
current landowner) of the easement and MLT. Sometimes
the landowner may retain certain rights such as motor
vehicle access or timber harvesting. While public access
is permitted on many Conservation Easements held by
MLT, it is rarely a guaranteed right in the easements.
While many owners of conservation easement properties
choose to allow public access, most Conservation
Easements held by MLT do not require that the owner
allow public access.
As more acreage is added, how does one organization
ensure the conservation of these lands, including the
intricacies of each conservation easement? How do we
prevent timber trespass or illegal motorized use? The
answer is good volunteerism. That means dedicated
people, good training, and proper tools.
Landscape software in action
supporting monitoring on the
12,269-acre Crooked River
Headwaters Conservation
Easement. Photopoints are
overlaid on the easement
boundary. MLT Staff and
Volunteers can track multiple
simultaneous monitoring site
visits, reference important
documents in the field, and
create concise reports all in a
single program. A true paradigm
shift after storing everything in
different locations.
Beginning in June 2023 the MLT Stewardship Committee
made the decision to adopt Landscape Conservation
Software (Landscape, for short) to support the Stewardship
of MLT’s conserved lands. Landscape provides MLT staff
and volunteers with a single tool for conducting property
and conservation easement monitoring site visits, capturing
and organizing geo-tagged photos, recording a GPS file of
the route taken, and generating clean templated reports. By
pairing a mobile app with a browser-based dashboard and
database, MLT staff and volunteers can reference important
documents from the field and track many site visits over
multiple years.
Many conservation easements held by MLT include
restrictions or limitations around ‘surface alterations’ made
to the conserved property. Intentionally opened-ended, the
term ‘surface alterations’ serves to limit substantial changes
made to the land and ecosystem. Tracking these changes
and distinguishing natural changes from artificial ones can
be tedious, but they are made easier using Landscape.
Storing photos in a single location available in the field
simplifies this process and avoids the pitfalls of faded ink
and inconvenient file storage.
The software shines in its user-friendly approach and
excellent technical support. Landscape also offers tools
specific to property acquisition, tools MLT staff are using to
track multiple projects and manage communications with
landowners.
The MLT Stewardship Committee and volunteer monitors
succeeded in adopting and implementing this new tool
to complete property and easement monitoring for 2023,
a full 6-months ahead of schedule. Thank you to all our
stewardship volunteers for your efforts engaging with and
learning this new software.
Landscape: A New Tool in our Conservation Tool Kit
-Spenser Williams, Land Steward
Thank you to our Summit Partners:
Bethel Adventure Tours
Good Food Store
Pooh Corner Farm
Mountain Greenery Greenhouse
Winona Camps
True North Adventureware
Akers Ski
Thursday, April 11: Vernal Pools: The Source of Spring in Maine Webinar
Thursday, April 25: Bird Migration Webinar
Saturday, May 11: Bird Walk at Valentine Farm
Saturday May 11: Rumford Whitecap Volunteer Trail Workday
Sunday, June 2: Bird Walk at Buck’s Ledge
Saturday, July 3: International Wine Tasting & Social at GraceNote Inn & Spa
Sunday, July 28: Big Backyard Day at Valentine Farm
Saturday, August 3: Sustain-a-Bowl Fundraiser at Valentine Farm featuring local foods and pottery by
Woody Hughes.
Saturday, August 17: An Evening with Sy Montgomery
Sunday, August 18: Annual Meeting and Monarch Festival—skip the lines by registering online today!
Save the Date: Upcoming Events 2024:
To learn more about these events or to register, visit www.mahoosuc.org/events-calendar
MLT is Hiring!
We are seeking an experienced finance
manager to join our team as soon as possible.
This is a part-time (10-20 hours/week) position
based in Bethel with some hybrid flexibility.
MLT is also hiring a part-time seasonal Land
Steward to assist with Step Falls recreation
management along with other stewardship
duties between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Please spread the word about these
opportunites far and wide.
Support Conservation in the
Mahoosuc Region!
Vista Partners:
Canopy Partners:
Akers Ski
Mountain Greenery
Bethel Adventure Tours
Pooh Corner Farm
Bethel Outdoor Adventure
True North Adventureware
Good Food Store
Winona Camps
When you’re doing business with these partners be sure to thank them
for supporting our efforts to protect wildlife habitats, scenic areas, healthy
ecosystems, and recreational access to over eighty miles of trials for
everyone.
Thank You to Our Business & Organization Partners
Summit Partners:
Graphic Design: Becca Hoskins
Cover Photo: Andy Gagne
Board of Directors
President
Sue Dunn, Bethel
Vice-President
Mia Purcell, Bryant Pond
Secretary
Bonnie Pooley, Gilead
Treasurer
David MacMahon, Poland
Board Members
Amy Halsted, Bethel
Art Marshall, Albany
Bill White, Woodstock
Helen Durkin, Medway, MA
Karen Burns, Bethel
James Reddoch, Medford, MA
Katie Stuart, Shelburne, NH
Larry Ely, Shelburne, NH
Lizz Peacock, Newry
Executive Director
Kirk Siegel, Albany
Development Manager
Barbra Barrett, Bethel
Habitat For All Director
Barbara Murphy, W. Paris
Land Steward
Spenser Williams, Bethel
Membership and Outreach Manager
Becca Hoskins, Bethel
www.mahoosuc.org
If you would like to donate to MLT, please visit our
website or send a check to Mahoosuc Land Trust at
PO Box 981, Bethel, ME 04217.
www.mahoosuc.org
Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
PAID
Howard Printing Inc.
Mahoosuc Land Trust
162 North Road
Bethel, ME 04217
Front cover Photo: Barbra Barrett
Graphic Design: Becca Hoskins