Spring is a special time on Nantucket for those of us who live here year round. The days are getting longer, and there is a bit of light at the end of the winter tunnel – because no matter what happens from here on, January and February are already behind us! Houses and businesses start…
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Happy New Year everyone! New Years is a good time to take a moment to reflect on the year that has just passed and make plans for the future. During these winter months in between field seasons, our year-round Science and Stewardship Department staff get together for several group meetings. We spend valuable time reflecting…
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Last February, we posted about our science department’s efforts to document if the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis), a rare and elusive species of rabbit, is still present on Nantucket (see Searching for a Certain “Some Bunny”). We just recently learned the exciting news that a DNA sample from one of the rabbits that we…
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It’s hard to believe, but the shorebird nesting season on Nantucket is winding down, and we are already starting to see large groups of fall migrating birds stopping by the Foundation’s beaches and marshes to fuel up before pushing their way southward to wintering grounds. All in all, 2013 was a productive year for American…
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The automated radio telemetry station in First Bend on Coatue (the flags on the guy wires are to prevent birds from flying into them). During the past few weeks, we have been getting some phone calls here at the Foundation’s office questioning the purpose of several towers (a.k.a. automated radio telemetry stations) that have been placed…
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When most people think about the types of habitats that are unique and special about Nantucket, forests are probably not on the top of the list. But we have some beautiful and special ones on our little island, and there is no better place to see spring unfolding. Take a walk in the woods along…
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An American Oystercatcher in Flight (photo courtesy of Vernon Laux). In our last blog post, we discussed the many preparations currently underway in our Science and Stewardship Department for the arrival of our seasonal field assistants and the start of the 2013 field season. Although many of our vegetation-related projects do not get underway until…
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This winter, our science department is attempting to document if a rare and elusive species of cottontail rabbit is still present on Nantucket. The New England Cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) is the only cottontail rabbit that is native to the northeastern United States. It prefers dense shrubland habitats where it can effectively hide from predators, and…
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The Nantucket Conservation Foundation unexpectedly but very fortuitously marked the beginning of its 50th anniversary year by completing a complex and lengthy negotiation to purchase the 207 acres Norwood Farm property for $19 million from the Jensen Family’s Norwood Farm Trust. The Nantucket Islands Land Bank Commission is partnering the Foundation on this important transaction.…
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NCF is excited about initiating vegetation management this winter associated with our Wildfire Risk Reduction Program. Since 2011, our NCF’s Board of Trustees and science staff have been developing plans to strategically apply brushcutting, prescribed fire and pine tree removal on our properties, with the concurrent goals of reducing the risk of wildfire and benefiting…
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