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Newton Biodiversity Days 2002

Newton Biodiversity Day - Sunday, June 2, 2002

Where the Wild Things Are at Cold Spring Park

Newton will be participating in this year's third annual statewide Biodiversity Days and you are invited. A series of free nature events sponsored by the Newton Conservators, are being held this coming Sunday, June 2nd, for the purpose of involving citizen naturalists in tabulating what species of living things inhabit Newton. and educating citizens as to the variety of life around them. This year our Newton Biodiversity Day will be on Sunday, June 2nd with the focus on the natural environment of Cold Spring Park. This 67 acre "central park" of Newton contains a number of diverse habitats including upland, open, wetland, and brushy areas, and even some vernal pools.

At 8:30 AM, a Bird Walk through the park will be held looking for the sights and sounds of late migrants and nesting species such as Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, and Carolina Wren. Bring binoculars if you have them and wear a comfortable pair of shoes as we traverse the natural areas of the park. Cold Spring Park local Cris Criscitiello (617-244-6397), who has been birding the park since 1965, will be leading this opening walk for Newton Biodiversity Day.

At 10:00 AM will be a reprise of last year's very popular "Creatures of the Forest Floor" with Dan Perlman. We will explore the diversity of creatures that inhabit the leaf litter that covers the forest floor. Using coarse-meshed shaker bags and boxes, we will search for millipedes, centipedes, sow bugs, snails, springtails, worms, nematodes, ants, beetles, and other creatures. If we are lucky, we will find glowing firefly larvae and the tiny but fierce pseudo-scorpions. Be prepared to sit on the ground; you may want to bring a plastic bag if the ground is damp. You may also want to bring a field notebook for your notes or drawings. The leader will provide magnifying glasses and other equipment. Trip leader Dan Perlman (617-969-3047) of the Brandeis University Biology Department, taught conservation biology at Harvard for nine years, has created "Conserving Earth's Biodiversity," a CD-ROM with Prof. E.O. Wilson of Harvard, and has lead hands-on science programs in elementary schools.

At 11:30 AM, we will have an "All Species Hunt" where citizen volunteers will be focusing on all fungi, ferns, trees, shrubs, wildflowers, bugs (including butterflies and dragonflies), amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. While numbers will not be counted, evidence for the presence of species will be checked. Bring your favorite field guides along with bug boxes, magnifiers, nets, and notebooks. This information will provide a glimpse of just what we have here in Newton and may be used by the state to map out ranges for both rare and common life forms in Massachusetts.

Experience is not necessary. It is hoped that a new generation of naturalists may be encouraged. Many children today know far more about dinosaurs than the wonders that can be found in their own backyard. Newtonians may also send species reports (time and location) from their own neighborhood over the period May 31-June3, especially any unusual mammals, birds, butterflies, or other creatures (email to dolanpond@aol.com). All events are free and no preregistration is necessary. We will meet near the Duncklee Street entrance to Cold Spring Park. Going south on Walnut Street from Beacon Street (Bread and Circus), Duncklee is the fourth right. Follow Duncklee to its end within Cold Spring Park. Look for the Newton Conservators table a short distance beyond. If you wish further information, please contact Newton's Biodiversity Days coordinator, Ted Kuklinski of the Newton Conservators (617- 969-6222, dolanpond@aol.com) or visit the Newton Biodiversity Days web page at www.newtonconservators.org/biodiversity.htm.

Cold Spring Park

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Calling all Naturalists: Newton Biodiversity Days - 2002
May 31-June 3

Newton will be participating in this year's third annual statewide Biodiversity Days and you are invited to participate! A diverse series of walks, sponsored by the Newton Conservators, are being held for the purpose of tabulating what species of living things inhabit Newton and educating citizens as to the variety of life around them. Volunteers will be focusing on all fungi, ferns, trees, shrubs, wildflowers, invertebrates (including butterflies and dragonflies), fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. While numbers will not be counted, evidence for the presence of species will be checked.

A series of walks will be held on the Sunday (June 2) of the weekend for the purpose of tabulating what species of living things inhabit Newton. This year we will be focusing on Cold Spring Park. We will be looking for birds, animals, reptiles, flowers, trees, mushrooms, insects, and more. If there are any school groups or amateur or professional naturalists out there who would like to lead a walk in a particular open space in Newton during this period, we would like to hear from you. Walks can be specialized in a particular branch such as birds or could be all species inclusive. Those who participated in previous year's Biodiversity Days walks had a great time. If you wish to volunteer or participate, please contact Newton's Biodiversity Days coordinator, Ted Kuklinski of the Newton Conservators, by mail at 24 Henshaw Terrace, West Newton, MA 02465, phone at (617) 969-6222, or email at DolanPond@aol.com.

This is part of an effort to get more citizens involved in learning about our local biodiversity, meeting local specialists, and learning more about the protected areas in Newton. "Newton is surprisingly diverse for such an urban area," according to Martha Horn, Environmental Planner for the City of Newton. "We have many different species and plant types within Newton that are unusual and even rare. We look forward to receiving and archiving the species inventory results from Biodiversity Days. This collective information will prove very valuable in the future to our teachers covering environmental subject matters and in tracking the health of our open spaces."

All events are free and no preregistration is necessary for any of the walks. If you wish further information, please contact Newton's Biodiversity Days coordinator, Ted Kuklinski of the Newton Conservators, by mail at 24 Henshaw Terrace, West Newton, MA 02465, phone at (617) 969-6222, or email at DolanPond@aol.com. Please check the Newton Biodiversity Days web page at "www.newtonconservators.org" for the most up to date schedule. Citizens of Newton may also send in species reports from their own backyards or neighborhood over the period May31-June3, 2002 if they wish.