New Hampshire Nature Notes
by Eric Orff
Got Geese? And it's a jungle out there.
Monday 06/19/2006
We will start banding Canada geese this Friday as part of our annual "goose crew" round up. Since about 1992 we have been banding resident geese in order to determine population trends and distribution in NH. Starting this week we will also be collecting Avian Flu samples from about 350 of the 600 or so geese we will band.
The NH Fish and Game Department apparently has taken a national lead in testing for the Avian Flu virus. In May Department staff collected cloacal samples from about 120 turkeys at the check stations on opening day. All of which tested negative. Then 40 tern samples last Friday and now several hundred geese. We are always looking for groups of 20 or more geese to band in late June. Seen any?
As I step out on to my deck each evening it sounds more like I am stepping into a jungle. The tree frogs are in the trees all around my house. They are slowly migrating back into the forest. Fire flies, which we called lightening bugs when I was growing up, dash about the blackened sky. Tonight's hot humid air added to the sense of a jungle.
I can tell you one thing: tree frogs are masters of disguise. It is amazing how quickly they can blend into practically any tree you set them on. Like a chameleon they can change colors to blend into what ever color tree they happen to be on. They are to me about the prettiest frog going. (Yes I consider some frogs pretty)
Next Note
2006-06-28
An inch of rain Monday has put the Suncook River into a low flood condition.