Jim winter hike text

Spring Hike – Mammals and Birds of the Salisbury Municipal Forest

Date: Saturday, March 5, 2011
Time: 9:00 to 12:00 noon
Where to meet: The Salisbury Town Forest, Upper Plains Road in Salisbury, across from the town landfill
Parking: On the east side of the road, north of the landfill entrance
Organized by: The Salisbury Conservation Commission
Free and open to all, no registration required

The Salisbury Conservation Commission was asked by our town Planning Commission to provide a list of the wildlife species that use our Municipal Forest.  We managed to come up with a list of 48 vertebrate (fish, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and birds) species that we have seen there over the last few years.  However, our list is far from complete.  Some of the common species that are missing from our list are: Fisher, Opossum, and Brown creeper. 

This field trip is one of two Saturday field trips that are an effort to locate additional species.  Local naturalist Jim Andrews will lead our quest to determine what mammals and birds are using the Municipal Forest in the late winter; however, he will also discuss any other aspects of the natural history of the site that we stumble across or that are of interest to participants.  This hike could be strenuous at times due to snow and a couple steep hillsides.  There is a good chance of seeing a variety of tracks and hopefully a few birds.  If there are over 6 inches of snow on the ground you should bring snowshoes.  Snowshoes can be rented in advance from the Salisbury Elementary School during school hours if you do not have any.

Call Heidi Willis (352-4327) or Jim Andrews (352-4734) if you have questions.  No registration is required.  You can leave whenever you wish.