Dr. James Killarney will share his insights and expertise on how water quality monitoring and research have incorporated new technologies to expand our knowledge of the health of Maine’s lakes and ponds. Along with his colleagues in the Center for Wildlife Studies and with the support of foundations and NASA grants, he has incorporated the use of drones into the research methods for assessing the water quality and lake sedimentation of Lake Winnecook in Unity. Maine. He will share the successes, challenges and stories of how this and other new technologies are being added to the scientist’s tool bag.
This presentation will be offered at our Annual Gathering Friday, December 4th at 3pm. The event will be held virtually. We hope you will join us for this fascinating presentation and our annual gathering!
Register here (this event is free).
Well right now we are looking at our yards and thinking about how messy they look, from leaves everywhere to dead stems in the gardens. But turn your thinking around for a moment to the idea that this mess is vital to many of the creatures we love, such as songbirds, and those we don’t see but keep our yard healthy and resilient. It’s much better to leave fallen leaves, branches, stems, and seedheads where they are rather than blowing, shredding, or raking them away. That organic matter is essential forage and cover for butterflies, moths, bees, salamanders, birds, and other creatures. It also insulates plant roots through the cold winter months and then decomposes to build up living soil that’s so important to a healthy ecosystem.
It’s nearly the middle of October, and though it seems like most plants are dying or becoming dormant, if you look closely at fields and roadsides you’ll see bees of all sizes as busy as summer on the many flowers still blooming. I don’t know about you, but I love to look at the natural beauty of Maine roadsides in the fall, with perfect patches of deep purple, white and pink asters, black-eyed susans and goldenrods. We have native fall wildflowers that are even sold for gardens since they are so striking, such as the purple New England Aster (in photo above). Even goldenrods (which contrary to what you hear don’t cause seasonal allergies), which many think of as weedy have beautiful species and cultivars that look lovely in the garden. All of these plants provide absolutely essential late season food for bees, butterflies and other insect pollinators. Long grasses, shrubs, and unmowed pasture and crop field edges all help to provide what pollinators and other beneficial insects need.
Download the materials for the National Association of Conservation Districts 2020 Theme on pollinators here. The District has a limited supply of printed copies, so please