News Release

Park Community News, August 11, 2008

Date: August 11, 2008

Night Sky Program Materials Touring Camping Islands

A new Astroscan Telescope has been available on Lovells and Bumpkin to view the night sky, along with a "how to" session for island staff. On August 16, I will transport the telescope to Grape Island where it will be available through Labor Day weekend. – Val Wilcox is a long-time Boston Harbor Islands NPS seasonal ranger

Grape Pepperweed

We stood in a circle: National Park Service rangers, Department of Conservation & Recreation rangers, Island Ambassadors, and a large sample of public volunteers. But the different uniforms and the varying amount experience and knowledge of invasive species didn’t really matter to Grape Island. The beautiful island sitting in Hingham Bay is ready to be refurbished. After having a good portion of phragmites removed from its little coastal wetland last summer, native species are starting to make a return. So why would the island want to stop there and give up the opportunity to let more grow?

Perennial pepperweed encroaches on the native species, glossy buckhorns take space away from red maple trees, and tempting honeysuckle berries force their way through the heavy brush that lines the well-groomed paths of Grape. The fates decided to help us and cleared the now way-too-frequent thunderstorms from the sky and let the sun warm the backs of the enthused group.

During lunch, the Island Ambassadors gave the volunteers background information on the invasive species they were helping to remove, and their stage was set perfectly under the shade of a handsome willow tree while I enjoyed a wonderful tomato and cheddar sandwich. Then it was time to carry on with our eradication which brought us along the shores of the island. Grape’s shoreline, if you have good eyes and the tide is right, gives you an opportunity to see a little group of American Oystercatchers trot along the rocks.

By the end of the day, the peppery, horseradishy smell of pepperweed hung in our nostrils and after singing “Happy Birthday” to a volunteer who spent his special day with us, we all Island Ambassador Brian Byron removes invasive pepperweed August 11, 2008 In Issue One z Night Sky Program z Grape Pepperweed z Active Research z Snipping Sumac z Intertidal Bioblitz z Consultation Past Issues (PDFs) Community Links eBird (registered users) happily admitted that we were glad to get outside, meet fantastic, new people, and do some good for our environment. – Abbey Steffens is a 2008 Boston Harbor Islands NPS seasonal ranger

Active Research on the Boston Harbor Islands

The following lists scientific research being conducted on the islands. Some results of current research will be presented at the Boston Harbor Islands Science Symposium, scheduled for Friday, October 3rd at UMASS Boston. – Sheila Colwell is Sr. Natural Resource Program Manager for the NPS Northeast Region

Snipping Sumac

I never thought I was a person with destructive tendencies. I am someone who thinks schoolyard squabbles are childish and wars are pointless, offensive, revenge ploys. I even would list “destruction of the rainforest” as one of my leading concerns, environmentally and otherwise. So, I was surprised and a little taken aback by the joy in my heart as I ruthlessly snipped through the branch of a defenseless (but ubiquitous!) Staghorn Sumac. Granted, it was trail maintenance as a part of a volunteer group on Lovells Island under the supervision of two DCR (Department of Conservation and Recreation) rangers.

I went with the group never having thought something that involved the word “maintenance” could ever be a fun activity, but I clearly have been proven wrong. I joined in with a group from JSI (John Snow, Inc.) on a quest to clear the island’s pathways in order to make them safer and more accessible for potential island-goers. Though the group was on one of those corporate, “team-building” exercises, they worked hard and together managed to do a number on some invasive plant species (bittersweet mostly).

In fact, this corporate group signed up for this gig because “it’s like cleaning up their own backyard.” And even though this volunteering is on a small scale, it is nevertheless beneficial to the park. One volunteer, the one who had organized the event for her coworkers, touched on how she felt it was important for everyone to take a look behind them and notice the great islands that are just sitting out there.

I agreed with her.

Before we even started maintenance work, the DCR rangers took us up Fort Standish, a fort built during World War I. The views from the top of it that overlook the bay and the harbor are something to write home about.

Everyone shared one similar opinion: volunteering is important and worth the time. Plus, you may even learn a little, like that bittersweet is an invasive species or that raspberry bushes will fight back with thorns if you’re careless when cutting them back. You may also be surprised by how satisfying volunteer work can be; especially if you get to work with garden shears. I’m serious about those raspberry bushes though. – Abbey Steffens is a 2008 Boston Harbor Islands NPS seasonal ranger

Intertidal Bioblitz - Monday, August 18

Help spread the word: we are looking for scientists, professional and amateur naturalists, and interested individuals to join us for an Intertidal Bioblitz on Monday, August 18. We need your help to compare species diversity in different intertidal habitats including permanent rocky outcrops, cobble beaches, salt marshes, and mudflats on several of the islands. We picked a day with two low tides falling within daylight hours. Scientists and professional naturalists will explore the selected islands during the morning tide, and the public is invited to join as we explore. – Mary Raczko is NPS Partnership Liaison for Boston Harbor Islands

Native American Consultation Begins

We have begun an new round of consultation with Native American groups that have an affiliation with Boston Harbor Islands. On behalf of the Partnership, I have met with leaders of the Eastern Pequot Nation, Nipmuc Nation (Hassanamisco Band), and Schaghticoke Indian Tribe. Many more meetings are planned for coming months. – Bruce Jacobson is NPS Superintendent for Boston Harbor Islands