Other Habitats:
The Partners
for Fish and Wildlife program is very unique in that the possibilities
for providing private landowners assistance with various projects is
nearly endless. Although restoration is the primary purpose of the program,
other projects are also developed to protect and enhance fish, wildlife
and plants and their associated habitats. Some of the more recent
projects are listed below with a brief description.
Beaver
Problems?
If you
are experiencing some of the problems associated with beaver, maybe the
Partners program can assist you. In general, people like this very unique
animal. But sometimes "nuisance" beaver can cause a lot of trouble. Such
is the case when plugged culverts cause flooding of unwanted areas. The
Partners program has a number of devices that can reduce or eliminate
potential flooding problems.
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"Beaver
Deceivers" and other devices are
constructed to deter beaver from obstructing
flows through culverts.
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Osprey Nesting Platforms:
In 2000, biologists partnered with the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation
and the Great Swamp Conservancy to erect three osprey nesting platforms
near wetlands that were previously restored under the Partners for
Fish and Wildlife program. The Niagara Mohawk workers were so enthusiastic
about the project that they want to construct more platforms around
New York. It is hoped that the platforms will be used by osprey or
Bald eagles. |
Niagara Mohawk Crew assembling osprey nesting platform.
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Erecting osprey nesting structure. |
A devoted crew, Niagara Mohawk crew,
Partners biologist and Michael Patane
(Director, Great Swamp Conservancy). |
Presentations:
As time
permits, Partners biologists conduct presentations to various groups,
clubs, organizations and schools. Presentation topics vary, but in general
pertain to the program's restoration activities, and how citizens can
play an active part in wildlife and habitat conservation. Under current
staffing limitations, these programs are conducted on a limited basis.
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Partners
biologist conducting demonstration
for school group. |
Restoration
of Threatened and Endangered Species Habitat
Indiana
Bat
In the
Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, a cooperative effort resulted
in the protection of one of the most important wintering areas for six
species of bats, including the endangered Indiana bat and a species
of special concern, the small-footed bat. This wintering area,
known as a hibernaculum, contained approximately 120,000 bats. Unauthorized
use of the area was creating a disturbance that could put the bats in
severe jeopardy. In June 1996, ten bat gates were installed to
secure the entrance into the hibernaculum. Indeed, a true partnership
was created for this project. The partners that contributed to the construction
of the bat gates included The Nature Conservancy's Adirondack Chapter,
International Paper, Bat Conservation International, British Trust For
Conservation Volunteers, New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish
and Wildlife and endangered species programs.
Click
on photos to enlarge. |
Endangered Indiana bat colony. |
Construction of bat gate. |
Karner
Blue Butterfly
The
New York Field Office's Partners for Fish and Wildlife program assisted
in the creation of endangered Karner blue butterfly habitat on lands
managed at Camp Saratoga by Twin Rivers Council, Inc., Boy Scouts of
America. The Partners program worked with property manager Larry
Gordon to reclaim unsuitable habitat for the Karner blue in Saratoga
County, New York. Approximately 13 acres were restored by cutting
white pine trees, removing the stumps and other unwanted vegetation
and planting the area with wild blue lupine. Lupine is essential
in the life cycle of Karner blues. After removal of unwanted vegetation
that reduced the competition, the wild blue lupine has had a 95% survival
rate! Observations have verified that Karner blues are now utilizing
the restoration site. The Partners program erected a high tensile
wire fence to protect the planted areas from human intrusion.
Prepared site for planting wild blue lupine.
Wild blue lupine (above and right). |
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Bog
turtle
Currently, biologists
from the Partners program are developing restoration plans to restore
critical habitat for the Bog turtle. At the present time, Bog turtles
are federally listed as threatened.
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