Granite State Stuff

Bald Eagle Shot in Millsfield, N.H.

2009-11-07T00:10:00Z

Officials are seeking information to aid an investigation into the shooting of a juvenile bald eagle off the Millsfield Loop Road in Wildlife Management Area B, in Millsfield, northern New Hampshire, on or about October 22, 2009.

Anyone with information should call the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Operation Game Thief 24-hour hotline at: 1-800-344-4262, or report online anytime at http://www.HuntNH.com/OGT. Callers may remain anonymous.

New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s conservation officers and special agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are conducting a joint investigation into the incident. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a reward of up to $2,500 to the person or people who provide information leading to a conviction under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

Local sportsmen discovered the injured bald eagle and notified the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. A licensed wildlife rehabilitator is caring for the eagle. Examination of the eagle revealed it had been shot with a shotgun and sustained a fractured wing and other injuries. A veterinarian expects the wing will heal well enough for the eagle to fly again and for it eventually to be released into the wild. The New Hampshire moose and small game hunting seasons were open at the time the eagle was found.

In addition to the Eagle Act, state laws and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act protect bald eagles. Until 2007, bald eagles were also protected under the Endangered Species Act.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and a trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information about our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov.

New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats. Visit http://www.wildnh.com.

NH Master Chorale's Fall Concert Series

2009-11-03T03:23:00Z

Songs From Around the World and Premiere of Jonathan Santore's “Living with Squirrels”

MEREDITH, NH – The New Hampshire Master Chorale’s (NHMC) upcoming concert series will celebrate songs of harvest and home from around the world - Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Romania, and America. Unveiled at the concerts will be originally set music based on poetry about New Hampshire by Jonathan Santore, the 2010 NH State Council on the Arts Individual Artist Fellow. Concerts will be held on November 20, 21, and 22 in Concord, NH; Norwich, VT; and Plymouth, NH respectively.

Santore has set to music three humorous and poignant poems about New Hampshire written by Liz Ahl, a Plymouth State University professor and nationally acclaimed poet.

“I’m so pleased to premiere these new pieces, setting text by a contemporary New Hampshire poet,” said Santore. “I’d like to thank the National Endowment for the Arts and the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts for the fellowship, and the New Hampshire Master Chorale, whose encouragement, advocacy, and consummate artistry inspired me to create the body of work that won the award.”

Tickets will be sold at each concert for $15 for seniors and students or $20 for all others. The concerts will be held on the following dates and times:

Friday, November 20, 8:00 PM, South Congregational Church, Concord, NH;
Saturday, November 21, at 7:30pm, Norwich Congregational Church, Norwich, VT; and
Sunday, November 22 at 4:00 PM, Plymouth Congregational Church, Plymouth, NH
3:30 PM pre-concert talk with Jonathan Santore and Liz Ahl

Dan Perkins, NHMC Music Director commented, “We welcome five wonderful new singers to the ensemble this season! Our program is one of comfort and warmth, focusing on the things most important and close to us – our families and our passions. We will sing a wide variety of familiar, as well as new works that celebrate these themes.”

The New Hampshire Master Chorale, a nonprofit choir in its seventh season, is dedicated to excellence in the art of choral music performance. Members of the group are singers auditioned from throughout New England who have performed as soloists and in choral ensembles throughout the world. For more information about the New Hampshire Master Chorale or concert tickets, visit http://www.nhmasterchorale.org or 603-536-2367.

Two Hunting-related Shooting Incidents in NH; One Fatal

2009-11-02T22:17:00Z

Two hunting-related shooting incidents occurred in New Hampshire on Saturday, October 31, the opening day of the state’s muzzleloader season for deer. One was fatal.

In Rindge, N.H., Timothy Letourneau of Rindge, age 21, was killed when his muzzleloader discharged shortly after he had gotten into his treestand. Letourneau had been hunting with his brother on land off Old Jaffrey Road, where the pair had landowner permission to hunt. The landowner called 911 just before 4 p.m. on Saturday (October 31) to report that a hunter had been shot. New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers, Rindge Police and Rindge Fire and Rescue responded. Letourneau was transported to Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough, where he was pronounced dead from an accidental gunshot wound, according to N.H. Fish and Game Lt. Craig Morrocco.

Also on Saturday afternoon, a deer hunter was injured in Ossipee. Robert LaPointe of Somersworth, age 66, was pulling his muzzleloader up into his treestand about 1:45 p.m. when the gun got stuck on a branch, which pulled the trigger. The gun was fully loaded (with cap) and pointed upwards. It went off and shot LaPointe in the hand at close range, causing serious injury. LaPointe was transported to Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro, then transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland, according to N.H. Fish and Game Conservation Officer Mark Hensel.

“When you bring a firearm up into a treestand, the gun must be unloaded – for muzzleloaders, uncapped – with the safety on. Also, control the direction of the muzzle of your firearm; know exactly where it’s pointing at all times,” said Hensel.

Overall, New Hampshire has a strong record for hunter safety, largely attributable to the state's effective hunter education programs. The average number of hunting-related incidents per year has gone down each decade since mandatory hunter education classes became required in the 1960s. The 1960s saw an average of 21.4 incidents per year in New Hampshire. Fewer incidents have occurred each decade since, with an average of 3.1 incidents per year since 2000. Serious incidents are even rarer – the recent death brings to four the total number of hunting-related fatalities that have occurred in the state in the last 15 years.

Ten Commandments of Hunting Safety:

   1. Treat every firearm with the same respect due a loaded firearm.
   2. Control the direction of your firearm's muzzle.
   3. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
   4. Be sure the barrel and action are clear of obstructions.
   5. Unload firearms when not in use.
   6. Never point a firearm at anything you do not intend to shoot.
   7. Never climb a fence or tree, or jump a ditch or log, with a loaded firearm.
   8. Never shoot a bullet at a flat, hard surface or water.
   9. Store firearms and ammunition separately.
10. Avoid alcoholic beverages or other mood-altering drugs before or while shooting.

“If you’re going to use a treestand, be sure to follow all the manufacturer’s directions, including use of a safety harness to secure yourself to the tree while in the stand,” said Lt. Morrocco. For more information on treestand safety, visit http://www.tmastands.com.

For more information on hunter safety programs in New Hampshire, visit http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/hunter_ed.htm.

Brandi Carlile to play the Colonial Theatre in January

2009-11-02T22:09:00Z

Higher Ground Presents is pleased to welcome Brandi Carlile at the historic Colonial Theatre in Keene, NH on Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 8pm.

Since appearing on Rolling Stone’s 2005 “Top 10 To Watch” list, Brandi Carlile has wooed audiences with her powerful live performances and poppy, alt-country-ish recordings. Her songs are recognizable from Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice. Touring in support of her latest release, Give Up The Ghost, Carlile comes roaring in with “a hurricane of lung power…ripping loose and flailing into the wind, rearranging coastlines, flooding streets.”

“Ms. Carlile…has the kind of voice most Nashville producers would be happy to work with: roomy, dark-hued and bittersweet, with a firmness of purpose and pitch.” – New York Times

“Carlisle's expressive voice is huskier live than on record, at times sounding like a lighter version of Melissa Etheridge -- but when she reaches the top of her range…the effect is stunning…” - Variety

Doors for this all-ages event open at 7:30pm, with the show beginning promptly at 8:00pm. Advance tickets are $41 for Gold Circle seating and $31 for regular seating (plus applicable fees). Day of show tickets are $43 for Gold Circle, $33 for regular (plus applicable fees).

Tickets are available beginning Friday, November 6 at noon. They may be purchased online at http://www.thecolonial.org/, charged by phone at 603.532.2033, or in person at Colonial Theatre box office, 95 Main Street, Keene, NH 03431.

All dates, acts, and ticket prices subject to change without notice.

Public Invited to Jazz Workshops

2009-11-01T21:50:00Z

The Concord Community Music School’s Jazz Department invites the public to take part in its annual workshop series on jazz technique and performance, November 16 -18. All sessions are free, open to the public, and designed to reach all ages and levels. Workshops take place at the Concord Community Music School at 23 Wall Street in downtown Concord.

The workshops cover Jazz Vocals, Percussion, and Acoustic Guitar, and include a three-day Beatles Orchestra experience, open to all instrumentalists – no matter your instrument or genre. This year, the Beatles Orchestra will focus on recreating and adding to the Beatles hit “I Want You” and concludes on day three with a recording session. Other workshops include a Rhythm Slam and Build a Band. All sessions are led by jazz department faculty. The Jazz Vocal Workshop is led by Peggo Horstmann Hodes of the Music School’s voice faculty with Tom Robinson, on piano.

Workshop Weeks, free and open to the public, are held throughout the year by the Music School’s faculty. Piano Department Workshops take place the week of December 7^th. Woodwind Department Workshops are scheduled for the week of January 18, 2010 and the String Department will hold its workshop series the week of April 19, 2010. Call the Music School for more information, 603-228-1196, or visit the website http://www.ccmusicschool.org.

Hunt for the Hungry: N.H. Food Bank Seeks Meat Donations from Hunters

2009-11-01T00:10:00Z

New Hampshire hunters can share their fall harvest with the needy through the “Hunt for the Hungry” program at the New Hampshire Food Bank. The food bank is collecting donations of whole or processed game animals for distribution to more than 350 food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and group homes statewide.

Last year (2008), the Hunt for the Hungry program took in 2,555 pounds of donated deer, bear, moose, duck and other game meat, a little below the record total of 3,288 pounds of meat donated by hunters in 2007.

The program offers packaging instructions and can pick up your meat donation. To donate game, call Food Bank Operations Manager Michele Garron at (603) 669-9725.

If you’re donating a whole deer, you can bring it to Lemay & Sons Beef in Goffstown, N.H. (603-622-0022), and they will process it for the food bank at no charge.

“We are counting on continued strong support from hunters this year,” said Garron, explaining that the recession and rising unemployment have left the food bank’s warehouse inventory levels critically low. “Donations of protein foods are especially hard to come by. That’s a big need that the Hunt for the Hungry program helps fill.”

A hunter herself, Garron hopes to be successful in the field this season so she can contribute some venison to the program.

“The Hunt for the Hungry program is a great way for hunters to share their harvest and help needy families get through the winter," said Glenn Normandeau, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. “Wild game is a local renewable resource that is high in protein, low in fat and all natural – not to mention delicious.”

For more information on donating to the New Hampshire Food Bank, visit http://www.nhfoodbank.org.

For information on hunting seasons in New Hampshire or to purchase a hunting license, visit http://www.HuntNH.com.

Nominations Sought for Fish & Wildlife Conservation Awards

2009-11-01T00:08:00Z

Do you know someone who has made a difference in conserving New Hampshire’s wildlife, fisheries, open land and wild places? Honor them and inspire others by nominating them for a New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission Award of Excellence. Each year, the Commission recognizes deserving individuals and organizations for outstanding achievements in furthering the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s mission.

TO NOMINATE a person or organization for these awards, download the nomination form at http://www.wildnh.com/Inside_FandG/Awards_of_Excellence_Form.pdf.
Forms are also available at Fish and Game offices, or call (603) 271-3511 to request a form. Mail your nomination package, postmarked no later than December 31, 2009, to: Commission Awards Program, N.H. Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301. No electronic submissions are accepted. Posthumous nominations are allowed.

There are seven award categories:

   1. ELLIS R. HATCH JR. COMMISSION AWARD OF EXCELLENCE -- Recognizing an individual, group, organization, club, foundation or agency that has excelled in efforts to promote, enhance or benefit fish, wildlife or marine resources or the Department’s mission.

   2. YOUTH CONSERVATIONIST -- Recognizing an individual, 18 years of age or younger, who has excelled in efforts to benefit fish, wildlife or marine resources or the Department’s mission.

   3. COMMUNICATION -- Recognizing an outdoor communicator, writer, or media source (radio, television, magazine, newsletter or periodical) that has written or published articles or materials beneficial to public understanding about fish, wildlife or marine resources as they relate to the Department’s mission. Judged on fairness, accuracy, timeliness, balance and quality of reporting.

   4. CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION -- Recognizing any organization, group, foundation or agency that has excelled in efforts to enhance the welfare of fish, wildlife and marine resources, and supporting achievement of the Department’s mission. Recipients will be judged on their efforts to promote the wise use of natural resources for their recreational or economic value.

   5. VOLUNTEER -- Recognizing an individual who, as a volunteer with the Department, has excelled in efforts to support and achieve Fish and Game’s mission.

   6. HABITAT STEWARDSHIP -- Recognizing an organization, non-governmental entity, individual or corporation that has excelled in the enhancement, conservation or creation of land management practices beneficial to New Hampshire’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and the Department’s mission.

   7. LANDOWNER APPRECIATION -- Recognizing a person who excelled in preserving or enhancing opportunities for public use on private property, furthering Fish and Game’s mission.

For more information on the Commission Awards and find accounts of those honored in recent years, visit http://www.wildnh.com/Inside_FandG/commission_awards.html.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats. Visit http://www.WildNH.com.

Time to Sign Up for Snowmobile Safety Class

2009-11-01T00:07:00Z

The seasons are changing fast, and now is the time to sign up for snowmobile education classes offered across the state. To operate a snowmobile in New Hampshire, any person over the age of 12 must have either a valid Motor Vehicle Driver's License or have successfully completed an approved Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV) Safety Education class taught by volunteer instructors trained by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Additionally, all children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a licensed adult when operating a snowmobile, unless they are on property belonging to their parents, grandparents or guardians.

Most snowmobile safety classes are offered in November and December, with a few in early January, so sign up soon. There is no charge for the classes, which are usually completed in a single day. Parents are encouraged to attend along with their children. For a current class schedule, visit http://www.ride.nh.gov.

"Snowmobiling is a great way for families to have fun exploring the great outdoors, but riders have a responsibility to obey the rules of the trails, to be courteous and -- most of all -- to ride safely," said Major Timothy Acerno, who coordinates Fish and Game’s OHRV Education Program.

Many of the trained volunteer instructors teaching the safety classes are affiliated with one of the more than 100 snowmobile clubs in New Hampshire. “Joining a snowmobile club is a great way to learn about safe riding and help maintain trails for your own and others' enjoyment,” Acerno said, noting that club membership also gives riders a $30 discount on snowmobile registration fees.

The New Hampshire Snowmobile Association (NHSA) and its member clubs have actively promoted safe and responsible riding since 1969. NHSA members work with Fish and Game to manage over 6,800 miles of trails in New Hampshire and provide safety education to more than 2,500 children each year. For more information on how to become involved with a snowmobile club, visit http://www.nhsa.com.

In addition to safety education, this winter Fish and Game Conservation Officers will use innovative enforcement patrols to detect and apprehend impaired snowmobile operators; enhanced speed enforcement and modified exhaust patrols also will be conducted. These ongoing initiatives will help to keep the state's snowmobile trails safe for all outdoor enthusiasts during the upcoming season.

For snowmobile safety class listings and more, visit http://www.ride.nh.gov.

2009 New Hampshire Moose Hunt a Success

2009-10-30T01:28:00Z

New Hampshire’s 2009 moose season was a success. Hunters took 341 moose. With a total of 522 permits issued, this represents a statewide success rate of 65%. About 60% of the harvest was males, according to Kristine Rines, Moose Project Leader for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. The nine-day moose hunt ended on Sunday, October 25. In 2008, hunters did about the same, taking 333 moose, for a statewide success rate of 65%.

While the statewide success rate was identical to last year’s, the regional success rates differed. This year, the Connecticut Lakes Region saw a success rate of 84%, up from 80% in 2008. The North Region saw 91% success this year, up from 83% last year. The White Mountain Region’s success rate was identical to last year, at 47%. Success in the Central Region declined slightly, to 62% this year, from 68% in 2008. The Southwest Region maintained a 45% success rate, exactly the same as last year. The Southeast Region increased its success rate to 47%, up from 38% in 2008.

Successful hunters reported a big shift in moose habitat use during the season, according to Rines. During the first two days, moose were seen in the North Country at low elevations, but on the third day, hunters reported having a harder time finding them. Persistent hunters who were willing to hunt higher elevations found moose in clear-cuts there.

A ten-year comparison of regional success rates for the N.H. moose hunt is available at http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/Moose_hunt/moose_hunt_take.htm.

Find out more about moose hunting in New Hampshire, including a link to a gallery of photos from this year’s and past hunts, at http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_moose.htm.

More than 14,500 people entered the 2009 moose hunt lottery, held last spring, for a chance to participate in the New Hampshire moose hunt. Think next year might be your lucky year? Lottery applications for the 2010 moose hunt will be available on the Fish and Game website and from license agents starting in January through May 28, 2010.

Regular Firearms Deer Season Starts November 11

2009-10-30T01:27:00Z

Opening day for New Hampshire’s regular firearms deer season takes place on November 11, 2009, a date anticipated with great enthusiasm by the state’s estimated 60,000 deer hunters. The season runs through December 6 in much of the state, except in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) A in northern New Hampshire, where it closes November 29.

The state’s popular muzzleloader deer season gets underway on Saturday, October 31 (except in WMU A, where it begins on November 2), and runs through November 10.

“For many New Englanders, the firearms deer season is a traditional opportunity to get together with family and friends, enjoy our bountiful resources and put meat in the freezer before winter,” said Kent Gustafson, the deer biologist for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

New Hampshire’s deer herd came through last winter in good shape, according to Gustafson. The state’s archery deer kill through October 18, 2009, totaled 1,561, somewhat below last year’s total at that point in the season, but higher than similar totals experienced from 2001 to 2005, according to preliminary reports. For a comparison by county (where deer were registered), visit http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/deer_hunt_take_October.htm.

Deer hunters can find Wildlife Management Unit and season-specific either-sex day regulations in the 2009-2010 New Hampshire Hunting and Trapping Digest, available online at http://www.huntnh.com and from Fish and Game license agents. In WMU A, an antler point restriction and changes in season length are again in place as part of an effort to improve the age structure of the northern deer herd.

Hunting licenses can be purchased online at http://www.HuntNH.com or from license agents statewide. Licenses are also sold at Fish and Game headquarters in Concord. The basic N.H. hunting license costs $22 for residents and $103 for nonresidents. Hunters under age 16 do not need a license, but must be accompanied by a properly licensed adult at least 18 years of age.

Special permits remain available for taking one additional antlerless deer in Wildlife Management Unit M during the archery, muzzleloader or firearms season by any legal method. Permits are sold on a first-come, first-served basis for $13 each (a limit of one per licensed hunter). They can be purchased online, at Fish and Game headquarters, or by mail. Visit http://www.wildnh.com/Hunting/Special_Unit_M_permits.htm.

Successful hunters can help the less fortunate by sharing their harvest with the “Hunt for the Hungry” program at the New Hampshire Food Bank. For more information on donating game meat, call (603) 669-9725 or visit http://www.nhfoodbank.org.

Find more on deer hunting in New Hampshire at http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_deer.htm.

Steven Tyler presentation to benefit Child and Family Services of NH Marks the 25th anniversary of Concerts for the Cause

2009-10-29T23:04:00Z

Tickets go on sale, Friday, October 30, for DREAM ON, An Intimate Evening with Steven Tyler, Saturday, January 23, 8:00pm, at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, NH. Famed as the front man for the legendary rock band, Aerosmith, who also happens to hail from New Hampshire, Tyler makes this exclusive area appearance for Child and Family Services as the official launch of the agency’s Concerts for the Cause 25th anniversary season.

DREAM ON brings people into the inner circle of a rock icon. The event features a multi-media presentation including video of Aerosmith concert footage, images captured through Tyler’s and the band’s remarkable history, stories of life on the road, discussion of Tyler’s personal journey including his struggles with addiction, a special solo presentation of two renowned songs, and a question-answer period between Tyler and the audience. All proceeds from the event will benefit Child and Family Services’ adolescent substance abuse treatment and child abuse prevention initiatives. Having spent much of his life in New Hampshire, Steven Tyler has become the state’s preeminent living rock legend and success story. “We are thrilled at this opportunity and honored that Steven Tyler will take to the local stage on our behalf,” says Mike Ostrowski, CEO/President of Child and Family Services. “Tyler’s willingness to share such intimate details of his life, from the challenges of the band’s early years of survival to the effects of realizing the rock star dream…and the road to recovery in between, will make for a rare, meaningful and memorable presentation.”

Honored with countless industry awards and hundreds of other accolades, Aerosmith was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was the first rock group recipient of MTV’s Icon Award. In the early ‘70s, the band broke into the international spotlight with releases such as Get Your Wings and Toys in the Attic, while songs "Dream On" and "Walk this Way" became their first national top ten hits. Since then, the band has scored numerous Billboard hits, including "Cryin," "Amazing," and their biggest hit to date, "I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing," which spent four weeks at number one. Chart toppers "Livin’ on the Edge," "Crazy," and "Pink," also earned them several Grammys, along with "Janie’s Got a Gun," which was often associated with the tragedy of child abuse. This song established Aerosmith’s capacity for insightful narrative and sensitivity to hard issues.

For nearly four decades wrought with struggles and stardom, Tyler remains a positive, determined force in life. He has been recognized with an honorary degree from the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Special VIP tickets to DREAM ON: An Intimate Evening with Steven Tyler, are priced at $200 each and include a private meet and greet reception with the artist, priority seats, acknowledgement on the official event webpage, name inclusion in program book and other amenities. For further details and to purchase VIP tickets, visit http://www.cfsnh.org. All other tickets are $75 - $125 and will be available at the Capitol Center for the Arts, http://www.ccanh.com, 603-225-1111.

See Biologists in Action at “Salmon Sunday”

2009-10-28T16:20:00Z

Bring the kids and find out everything you wanted to know about New Hampshire’s freshwater fish and fisheries at New Hampshire Fish and Game's annual event, “Salmon Sunday,” at Pope Dam in Melvin Village on Sunday, November 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. Pope Dam is nine miles north of Wolfeboro on Route 109 in the town of Tuftonboro. For more information on Salmon Sunday, call (603) 744-5470.

"Salmon Sunday is a great chance for everyone to get a close-up look at landlocked salmon from Lake Winnipesaukee in their fall spawning colors," said Don Miller, fisheries biologist for the Lakes Region. "Kids love to see the big salmon, averaging about three pounds each, and watch biologists collecting the eggs."

During the event, fisheries biologists will be busy harvesting, or "stripping," eggs and milt from adult salmon. Standing knee-deep in the cold water of the Melvin River, scientists expertly relieve the colorful adult female salmon of their eggs by stroking their stomachs. Milt from the male fish is obtained in the same way, and mixed with the gold-colored eggs to fertilize them. This activity is all part of the work Fish and Game does to maintain the landlocked salmon population in New Hampshire's big lakes.

Salmon for the stripping demonstration are netted from Lake Winnipesaukee during October and early November. They are returned to the lake after their eggs and milt have been collected. The fertilized eggs are taken to Powder Mill Hatchery in New Durham, where they will hatch in three to four months. The salmon are raised in the hatchery for about 18 months, then stocked into Lake Winnipesaukee and other New Hampshire lakes.

Fish and Game staff will be on hand to answer questions about salmon, the egg-stripping process and the stocking program that ensures these beautiful fish continue to be available in the lakes for anglers to catch. Salmon Sunday is a “rain or shine” event. Dress warmly.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources. Visit http://www.fishnh.com.

Rain Dampens Bald Eagle Breeding Success in 2009

2009-10-28T03:15:00Z

Following record breeding success in 2008, New Hampshire bald eagles experienced a far less productive breeding season in 2009. The total number of young eagles raised in nests in the state this summer was down 33% from last year. In spite of this one-year decline, 2009 was still the third best breeding year on record for bald eagles in the state.

“The number of young fledged can vary from year to year,” said Mike Marchand, a biologist with N.H. Fish and Game. “A number of factors can influence breeding success, including weather.” Marchand noted that although the number of young fledged during 2009 was lower than last year, the number of territorial pairs has been consistently increasing in New Hampshire, leading biologists to believe that the New Hampshire population will continue to grow.

The 19 territorial pairs documented in New Hampshire in 2009 represent an increase of more than 25% from the 15 eagle pairs found the state in 2008. “The growing number of breeding territories lays a foundation for more productive breeding seasons to come,” said Chris Martin, a raptor specialist with N.H. Audubon who coordinates monitoring of this state-listed threatened bird of prey. “Over time, more territories lead to more fledged young.”

Biologists and volunteer observers have documented a tripling in the number of bald eagle breeding territories in New Hampshire in the past decade, from just six pairs in 2000 to 19 pairs in 2009. “This is clear evidence of an expanding population,” Martin said.

The N.H. Fish and Game Department’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program and N.H. Audubon’s Conservation Science staff work together to monitor and manage the Granite State’s recovering bald eagle population. With additional support and cooperation from land owners and from other state and federal natural resource agencies, N.H. Audubon recruits, trains, and deploys volunteer observers to document eagle distribution and productivity.

A growing number of bald eagles now call New Hampshire’s Lakes Region their home. Two new pairs were identified around Lake Winnipesaukee in 2009, raising the total number of pairs found throughout the Lakes Region to eight. Further west, on the Connecticut River in Orford, another new pair raised two young in their first try. In addition, after years of waiting, biologists believe that a pair has finally established a breeding territory on Great Bay, the state’s largest tidal estuary.

Although more bald eagle pairs were found in the state this year, rainy weather and other factors limited their reproductive success. A total of 16 bald eagle chicks reached fledging age in the state this summer, down one-third from the 24 young produced in 2008. Incubation behavior was confirmed at 11 nests in 2009, also down slightly from 2008 levels. Nine of the 11 incubating pairs fledged young. Juvenile bald eagles are considered fledged at about 11 weeks old, when they first begin to fly to and from the nest.

“Several eagle pairs built nests but did not incubate eggs, and two more pairs abandoned nests at about the time of hatch,” said Martin. Productivity was also limited by fact that none of the New Hampshire nests produced three fledglings in 2009, compared with three nests with trios in 2008.

Since 1988, when bald eagles first began nesting again in New Hampshire, a total of 123 young eagles have fledged from nests in the state. Nearly 60% of those (73 eaglets) have been raised in the last four years alone.

Martin estimates that over 50% of New Hampshire’s breeding adult eagles wear coded aluminum leg bands placed on them when they were nestlings. These bands provide biologists with opportunities to identify and track movements and longevity of individuals. Included among these banded eagles is New Hampshire’s oldest known eagle, a 17-year-old female hatched in captivity in Massachusetts, placed in a Quabbin Reservoir nest and raised by foster eagle parents. She has been breeding at Nubanusit Lake in Hancock for the past 11 consecutive years.

New Hampshire Audubon, a non-profit membership organization, is dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and habitat throughout the state. For more information about New Hampshire Audubon, visit http://www.nhaudubon.org.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program is the steward for species not hunted, fished or trapped. The program works in cooperation with other New Hampshire agencies and organizations to protect over 400 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, as well as thousands of insects and other invertebrates. For more information, visit http://www.wildnh.com/nongame.

Sandown Woman Killed in Weekend ATV Accident

2009-10-26T21:47:00Z

Bette Brown of Sandown, N.H., age 53, died in a tragic All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) accident in Pawtuckaway State Park about 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, 2009.

Brown was riding on the Round Pond Trail near the Deerfield/Nottingham town line when the incident occurred. In that area, the trail turns sharply before descending a hill. The rider of another ATV in front of Brown had rounded the turn and started downhill when he encountered a mountain biker and a jogger coming up the trail. The operator tried to avoid a collision, but the ATV flipped over onto the bicycle, though no one was injured. As they worked to right the ATV, Brown came around the turn, swerved off the trail to avoid the accident, and crashed. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Brown was wearing a helmet. She was riding with a group that had been granted permission to ride in the park as part of a special event. ATVs are not normally allowed on Pawtuckaway State Park trails.

Deerfield Police and Fire Department personnel responded to the incident on Sunday, along with New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is investigating the incident.

No further information is available at this time.

More Piping Plover Pairs Nest on NH Seacoast, but Few Young Survive

2009-10-23T00:38:00Z

The spring breeding season got off to a promising start for New Hampshire’s state and federally endangered piping plovers, but as the 2009 summer came to a close, just two chicks had fledged.

This year, a total of five pairs of the shorebirds returned to coastal beaches in Seabrook and Hampton, an increase from the three pairs that have nested in New Hampshire in recent years. Spring weather was mild, and each pair of plovers quickly established a territory and a nest. “We started off with three nests in Seabrook and two nests in Hampton,” said Brendan Clifford, a biological technician with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program. Each nest had a full clutch of four eggs, so had all of them survived, they would have produced 20 chicks. Sadly, only two plover chicks survived to the end of summer.

Even sadder, human disturbance was the most likely cause of the season’s low productivity. At Hampton Beach State Park, the first nest established had protective fencing, called an “exclosure,” set up around it to keep predators at bay. Early in the year, a person broke into the fence and stole one of the plover eggs, an incident investigated by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Law Enforcement officers. Although the adult plovers continued to incubate the remaining three eggs after the incident, only one of them hatched.

At Seabrook Beach, beachgoers were frequently observed disregarding signs and walking directly through a roped-off plover breeding area. These intrusions repeatedly scared one pair of piping plovers off of their nest, preventing them from being able to incubate their eggs. Eventually, the pair abandoned the nest altogether.

In all, two of five of New Hampshire’s plover nests were abandoned prior to hatching. Of the three nests that successfully hatched eggs, two produced a single fledgling each, while no chicks survived from the final nest.

Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program biologists and volunteers monitored the plovers on a daily basis during the summer to determine the number of birds present, nest locations, nest success or failure, incubation periods and chick survival.

Since protection efforts began in 1997, a total of 83 piping plover chicks have fledged from New Hampshire's seacoast. New Hampshire's efforts are part of a region-wide protection program; overall, the Atlantic coast population of piping plovers continues to hold steady.

Protection of this endangered species is a cooperative effort of the N.H. Fish and Game Department, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, N.H. Division of Parks and Recreation, the towns of Seabrook and Hampton, volunteers, local residents and beach visitors.

See photos of the New Hampshire plovers and learn more about this endangered species at http://www.wildnh.com/Wildlife/Wildlife_profiles/piping_plover.html.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program protects more than 400 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, plus thousands of insects and other invertebrates. Visit http://www.wildnh.com/nongame.