Small Mammal Inventory and Monitoring

Small mammals (shrews, moles, and rodents) are inventoried throughout the property by incorporating live trapping, as well as examining new techniques that detect rarely observed species. Several small mammal species are associated with critical habitats that sustain a wide variety of critically important wildlife species. Water shrews and southern bog lemmings can be detected by their feces; however these species are rarely seen by most people. Baited tubes have yielded promising data on White Memorial's property in appropriate habitats to determine their presence on the property. Trapping will be conducted in subsequent seasons to assess the population structure and the feasibility of using baited scat tubes as an indicator of rare species presence.

White-tailed Deer Density and Herd Composition Assessment

White-tailed deer density and herd composition will be assessed on the property. Burgeoning white-tailed deer densities have been linked to changes in vegetative communities and increased risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases due to their propensity for serving as a host to adult black-legged tick (a.k.a. deer ticks). White-tailed deer have become more frequently observed throughout the property. Density (number of individuals per square mile) and herd composition (sex/age ratios) information.

Meso-predator Inventory and Monitoring

Medium-sized predators contribute in enormous ways in every food chain by serving as important predators for a variety of small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. We have initiated a program to inventory the species on the property by recruiting members to walk predetermined trails after it snows to observe and record the species they encounter through their tracks. Several important indicator species have been observed on the property during the winter, more observations are needed during the remainder of the year. Tracks and other sign are difficult to observe without the snow, so infrared-triggered cameras will be set up near road-killed deer carcasses and other bait. Photographs will be recorded and the unique pelage patterns will be discriminated to indicate abundance of each species encountered at each station.

Vernal Pool and Herpetofaunal Inventory and Monitoring

Vernal pools are a type of critical habitat with special properties that are important for a variety of animals in this region. Several species of amphibians and reptiles obligate some portion of their life span to vernal pools, whether it is for reproduction or survival. We are conducting a vernal pool inventory on the property so that we can accurately account for this critical habitat for subsequent biological monitoring activities. Members are trained to identify vernal pools and identify the indicator species that are associated with these pools. Reptiles and amphibians are monitored on the property by using permanent study plots that are visited throughout the warmer months.

Breeding Bird Population Monitoring

White Memorial established Breeding Bird Survey Routes and Breeding Bird Census Plots in 1965 and continues these monitoring efforts each subsequent year since. Breeding Bird Survey Routes incorporate roads through and in vicinity of the property. The Breeding Bird Census Plots monitor the number of territorial singing males and nest productivity in 5 plots located on the property. The plots encompass several important habitat types that typify this eco-region; second growth hardwood forest with swamp, young mixed hardwood pole timber, climax hemlock/white pine with transition hardwoods, young mixed conifer/hardwoods with swamp, and shrubby swamp/marsh with sedge hummocks. Several interesting patterns have been observed throughout the years and these plots serve as a source of information delineating seasonal patterns.

Long-term Winter Bird Banding Program

Mr. Gordon Loery established a bird banding station on the property in 1958 with the primary objective of monitoring black-capped chickadee populations. Subsequent observations included observing changes in the bird community when tufted titmouse expanded its geographic distribution into Southern New England and discriminating between juvenile versus adult black capped chickadee survivorship. Winter residents were specifically examined to explore the use of mark and recapture models as tools that aid in estimating population parameters. These contributions can be examined in the literature produced at White Memorial.