Making Our Mark In The Christmas Bird Count
Conte staff surveyed winter birds within the Nulhegan Basin Division as part of the annual Island Pond Christmas Bird Count. Bird activity on the refuge seemed subdued this year. The windy conditions may have kept many of them hiding under cover. Ten species were recorded including black-capped and boreal chickadees, gray jays, various woodpeckers, ravens, grosbeaks, siskins, ruffed grouse and nuthatches. Efforts were made to locate the three- toed woodpecker that was documented by a birder weeks before the count, but it did not present itself. A non-birding highlight was the sighting of two otters eating fish on the ice of the Black Branch.

For more information contact: Rachel_Cliche@fws.gov

On The Lookout For Birds At The Big Sit
The Big Sit! is a free, annual, international birding event open to anyone, anywhere in the world. The Friends of Pondicherry sponsored the annual event at Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge. It was a big hit for eight volunteers who recorded 36 different species of birds at Cherry Pond in New Hampshire. The team of Big Sit birders greeted more than 100 visitors who made the mile and a half hike to get to the viewing platform. With fall foliage at its peak, the birding and colorful views made for a fun weekend.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Conservation Partnership In The Mascoma River Watershed
The Mascoma River watershed is a Conservation Focus Area for the Conte Refuge. Refuge staff are actively collaborating with conservation partners Bear Hill Conservancy, Wild Landscapes, Redstart Consulting, and Moosewood Ecological, to collect biological, ecological and infrastructure data on and off refuge lands in the watershed. The Mascoma River Division conservation easement is a unique opportunity to leverage federal and private funding opportunities to improve and conserve diverse habitats in northern New England.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Headquarters Realty Chief Visits Mascoma Division Of Conte Refuge
Eric Alvarez, Chief of Realty for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, visited the Conte Refuge this month, traveling to the Nulhegan Basin (VT) and Pondicherry (NH) Divisions (both approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission), the Mascoma River Division (NH), Dead Branch Division (MA), and Fannie Stebbins Unit (MA). During his visit, Eric met with Refuge Staff at Nulhegan Basin, David Govatski, who is the President of the Friends of Pondicherry, and a landowner, David Roby, at the Mascoma River Division. Eric and Mark Maghini, Regional Chief of Realty, looked at a 2,470 acre parcel in the Mascoma River Division for potential inclusion in the FY23 Migratory Bird Conservation Plan, and the potential purchase of an easement in FY23 using Migratory Bird Conservation Funds. Also attending the meeting were other leaders and decision makers in conservation work, including: Dan Bergeron, Chief, Wildlife Division for the NH Fish and Game; Markelle Smith, Director of Friends of Conte and Conservation Partnerships Director with Mass Audubon; Jim O’Brien, NH-TNC Director of External Affairs; and Tom Geser, Senior Realty Specialist, USFWS

For more information contact: Andrew_French@fws.gov

Infrastructure Assessment At Mascoma Division
Conte Refuge staff are collaborating with Bear Hill Conservancy, Wild Landscapes, and Redstart Consulting to draft a management plan for the division in New Hampshire. In October, Conte Refuge staff collected infrastructure data that will be compiled as part of the baseline report for the property. This is an ongoing project that requires an extensive assessment of the property.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Improving Fish Passage In Vermont
Conte Staff worked with the Fish and Aquatic Connectivity program this month to replace two perched and undersized culverts with more resilient and suitable steel bridges. The project took place on private land and improved aquatic connectivity on two tributaries to the Nulhegan River which runs through Nulhegan Division of the Conte refuge.

For more information contact: David_Sagan@fws.gov

Keeping Roads Cleared
With over 40 miles of publicly accessible gravel roads, annual road maintenance is a perpetual project at the Nulhegan Basin Division. During the month of October, the Refuge’s tractor and boom mower were used to cut the roadside shoulders at the Nulhegan Basin Division. This ongoing preventative maintenance reduces the amount of woody growth that accumulates along the roadsides.

For more information contact: Jeremy_Goetz@fws.gov

Jessup’s Milkvetch Restoration
Jessup’s milkvetch is a federally listed species that is endemic to the Upper Connecticut River watershed. Jessup's milkvetch seedlings were planted in the spring of 2022 to augment current populations at various sites along the Connecticut River. Volunteers watered these seedlings and tracked their survival throughout the summer. Due to their efforts, there was a high survival rate across all sites, including 75 percent survival on refuge lands.

For more information contact: Rachel_Cliche@fws.gov

Weather Station Maintenance
The Nulhegan Basin Division is home to a Remote Automatic Weather Station. This is one of more than 2,200 such stations strategically placed around the US. These stations monitor the weather and provide weather data that assists land management agencies with a variety of projects such as monitoring air quality, rating fire danger, and providing information for research applications. To accurately measure particular weather variables, the station's surrounding must be free of tall vegetation. In September, Refuge staff cleared the area around the station to more easily maintain vegetation growth into the future.

For more information contact: Jeremy_Goetz@fws.gov

Pondicherry Aquatic Plant Inventory
Local field ecologists inventoried aquatic species within Pondicherry Division’s Cherry, Little Cherry, and Mud Ponds, and within the Nulhegan Basin Division’s Lewis Pond. This inventory will provide baseline data including species composition and abundance, as well as locations of common, rare and invasive aquatic species. The ecologists are finishing up their field work, but an exciting find was rediscovering northern arrowhead, a state endangered species that was first discovered 115 years ago!

For more information contact: Rachel_Cliche@fws.gov

Great American Outdoor Act Deferred Maintenance Project
A four-person Great American Outdoor Act Deferred Maintenance Strike Team spent two weeks working on the exterior of the Nulhegan Basin Office/ Visitor Center. The maintenance crew rebuilt the cupolas, replaced most of the trim along the roof line/windows, replaced rotten clapboards and re-flashed areas that required attention. A big thank you to the New Hampshire crew for their support of the Conte Refuge.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Woodcock Habitat Management
Refuge staff have been mowing woodcock roosting ‘fields’ in the three early successional demonstration management areas in advance of the upcoming deployment of satellite transmitters on woodcock. The research is part of a regional woodcock migration and habitat utilization project that is based out of the University of Maine. This is the third year that the refuge is partnering with the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, Vermont Audubon, Vermont Nature Conservancy and the Wildlife Management Institute on the project.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Post Treatment Sampling of Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change Research Project
This summer, the Northwoods Youth Conservation Corps worked on numerous projects, making needed improvement throughout the Refuge. Accomplishments included trail improvements in both New Hampshire and Vermont, which entailed removing downed trees, clearing brush, and replacing sections of a rotten bog bridge. A notable project they completed was constructing a public bike service station along the Presidential Rail Trail at the Pondicherry Division.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Post Treatment Sampling of Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change Research Project
Field technicians from the University of Vermont have begun post-treatment sampling within the Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change study occurring on the Nulhegan Basin of the Conte Refuge. Sampling efforts include vegetation measurements in treated areas, including baseline measurements for each of more than 10,000 seedlings that were planted post-harvest. This allows researchers to track tree seedling growth and mortality over time. Technicians continue to characterize the bird community within the study site; a second year of species occurrence data has been gathered to evaluate treatment impacts.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Media Interest In The Adaptive Silviculture For Climate Change Research
There continues to be a considerable amount of public interest and media attention regarding the Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change research project at the Nulhegan Basin Division. In June, reporters from local and statewide newspapers reported on the climate change research project. WCAX (CBS affiliate) aired a piece on their evening news about the project. Additionally, National Public Radio had a segment about the project on the nationally syndicated ‘All Things Considered’.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Bee Survey In Vermont
Ecologists from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies conducted a bee survey within conifer and bog habitats of the Nulhegan Basin Division. This effort is part of the Vermont Wild Bee Survey. The main objectives of this regional effort is to document bee species in Vermont, assess conservation status of species and identify habitats of statewide and regional importance. Approximately 40 species were documented in a one-day survey of the refuge including parasitic bees, bumble bees and miner bees. Another survey will be conducted mid-summer to document additional bee species.

For more information contact: Rachel_Cliche@fws.gov

Vermont USFWS Managers Meeting with VT Congressional Staff
In May, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service supervisors from across the state of Vermont met with Vermont Congressional staff at the Missisquoi NWR to discuss ongoing and upcoming projects throughout the state. The annual event is a collaborative opportunity to highlight biological, restoration and partnership projects that are taking place in aquatic and terrestrial habitats in Vermont. This was the first in person meeting held since the spring of 2019.

For more information contact Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Stream Assessment For Future Culvert Replacement
USFWS staff from Hadley, MA (hydraulic engineer and fish passage biologist) conducted a site assessment of a failing road crossing on the Eagles Nest Road at the Nulhegan Basin. The structural integrity of the existing culvert (former RxR tanker car) has been compromised and new road crossing structure is being designed for the site. The site assessment included gathering topographic data of the road and stream corridor to aid in the design of a structure that is appropriate for aquatic organism passage.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Mascoma Division Infrastructure Inventory

In collaboration with Bear Hill Conservancy, WildLandscapes, and Redstart Consulting, efforts are underway to collect baseline biological, ecological, and infrastructure data for the Mascoma Division. Conte Refuge staff visited the division in April to survey infrastructure on the property. Numerous stone foundations, cellar holes, and stone walls are scattered across the property.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Nulhegan Basin Division Tree Planting

A tenet of both restoration ecology and forest management for climate adaptation holds that ecosystems with a greater diversity of species are more resistant to change and have better resilience in the face of change. The Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change research project at the Nulhegan Basin Division of the Conte Refuge has begun enrichment planting of four tree species within artificially created gaps. These species are thought to have occurred in these areas historically, but their abundance has severely declined due to past management practices. In total, more than 12,000 seedlings will be planted throughout the experiment. Seedling survivability, growth, browse pressure, and other attributes will be monitored for the length of the experiment.

For more information contact: Steve_Aguis@fws.gov