Summer 2015
Dear Friends,
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© Heather Fone |
Summer is upon us and we're in full swing at Allens Pond!
We have our team of wonderful summer interns with us who are working on important ecological projects, coastal waterbird work, diamondback terrapin research and an osprey fellow. What's really great is that two of these individuals, Kourtnie & Amanda, are past intern alums and we are so grateful they wanted to return to further their work and professional development with us!
Speaking of osprey, please join us at the Stone Barn this Friday at noon for a casual brown bag lunch presentation featuring one of our 2015 summer interns, Emily Busam who has been working with Alan Poole to learn more about what osprey are feeding their young and how that relates to their success. Alan Poole will introduce her topic and provide a historical context for the trends of osprey populations in our region. This will launch a series of similar presentations by other interns and local naturalists. It’s a great chance to discuss the presented topic and catch up with others at our Stone Barn facility, 786 East Horseneck Road, South Dartmouth.
Hope to see you soon,
~The Allens Pond Team~
It's a Big Year for Piping Plovers at Allens Pond!
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Plover chicks working on their flight skills |
This year we have the largest number of piping plovers with 18 total pairs compared to last year with 12 pairs.
As of June 21 we have 25 chicks of all ages and the oldest 2 will be fledging (flying on their own) by next weekend. There is one American Oystercatcher pair with their second attempt to nest. There are about six pairs of Least Terns within the colony on Little Beach.
This huge success is possible with all of the high quality management that the Allens Pond Team has been doing since early April. Management work includes putting up the symbolic fencing, outreach and education, bird point counts, predator tracking and much more.
Education is a key component in wildlife conservation and we have had several successful events where the Coastal Waterbird Program has been the main topic. Inlcuding, an outreach table set up at the Westport River Watershed Alliance River Day festival and our wildlife interns went to Get Outdoors Day in New Bedford, MA. Along with educating people at these major events, we take part in less formal educational opportunities by talking to beach goers and sanctuary visitors.
We hope that this years success will continue for many seasons!
Duck Derby is Going on 12 Years This Summer!
Yes, it's the 12th Anniversary of our fabulous fundraiser! Adopt your ducks for the 2015 Duck Derby today!
Not familiar with the Duck Derby? It's
our largest fundraiser and the Grand Prize is a dinner for two, anywhere in
the world, with round trip airfare, two nights' lodging and dinner on us.
That's the best $10 lottery around and all proceeds go back to the work
we do here at Allens Pond. Adopt away! Last year's winners enjoyed a vacation in Hawaii. Where would you go?
Be sure to mark your calendars for this year's Duck Derby weekend...August 15 & 16. On Saturday, the ducks will race the channel and on Sunday, we'll kick off the Duck Derby Festival with good food, music, friends and auctions. Following the festival we will announce the winner(s) of the Duck Derby race.
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