| March 22,2009 -Spring has sprung ( sort of )
It’s March 22nd, and spring has officially arrived. Although this Sunday morning at Notchview, the wind was swirling the light snow flurries over the almost bare fields as a reminder that winter doesn’t always heed the calendar in the Berkshires.
The reservation is changing daily now, though, and it doesn’t take more than casual observation to see some welcome signs of a new season. Red-winged blackbirds and Grackles push their way north in noisy flocks, Robins appear in open fields, Bluebirds start checking out the nest boxes we forgot to clean out last fall, a lone Song Sparrow in the hedgerow starts working on his voice lessons, and, of course, the Woodcock perform their remarkable “sky dance “at twilight at the edge of the wet field. To me, these all serve as a perennial reminder that with vigilance and action, we’ve managed to avoid the “ Silent Spring “ that Rachel Carson so eloquently wrote of in her bringing to light the drastic effects of unbridled pesticide use on our environment.
There will always be new threats, but familiarizing ourselves with the natural world is the first step in giving us an edge for their early detection and a reason to mobilize for positive action. Introducing like minded individuals to the Trustees broadens that base of action and helps keep us all informed about current threats to the quality of our precious open space.
So, when you bid farewell to another winter, don’t forget that this property has a four season appeal. Bring out a field guide and come to Notchview during the other three seasons to learn about the natural history of a truly unique and remarkably diverse Trustees property. Check the calendar for events and I hope to cross paths with you in the field.
Ed Neumuth
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