SMOKEY HOUSE CENTER

Weather

1.      National Weather Service Cooperative Monitoring Station:  Each morning we forecasters in the Northeast predict the weather for their area. Forecasters can use the weather data to help predict floods, the movement of storms, and relative temperatures. The weather data is also useful for some of the work and research we do at Smokey House Center.  Recently the NWS has installed an automated weather station; part of our weather data collection is to check to see if the automated weather station is recording data accurately. 

Water

1.      To monitor the water quality in the streams which pass through Smokey House Center’s property.  Part of Smokey House Center’s mission is to use the natural resources on its land in a way that protects the environment.  Just as taking a person’s pulse or temperature can tell you about their overall health, taking certain physical, chemical, and biological measurements in the streams on the property will tell us more about the health of the forest and fields on the Smokey House Property.

Plants

1.      Timber inventory:  Smokey House Center is responsible for about 4,000 acres of forest.  We believe in using the trees that grow on this land but we want to be careful to leave plenty of good trees and good habitat for wildlife.  The land is divided into many different compartments for management purposes.  We inventory timber by sampling small plots within each compartment.  We collect information on tree diameter, species, and density.  All of this information contributes to a better overall understanding of our woods, and can help us carry out sustainable logging and firewood production programs.  We also identify and map areas for growing trees, areas that are most important to wildlife, and anthropological features such as stone walls, cellar holes, and old fields.  We will make use of hand-held GPS units, compasses, and computer mapping software to help us in this work.

 Butterflies

1.      Monarch Studies:  These studies involve monitoring the population of larval Monarch butterflies, tagging adult Monarchs, and taking samples of parasites found on adult Monarchs.  Monarch butterflies have a rather unusual life cycle, which includes migrating to Mexico for the winter.  Because of this long migration, they are susceptible to many hazards.  A scientist at the University of Minnesota is interested in learning more about the distribution and density of these amazing butterflies and has asked us to help her by monitoring their population at Smokey House Center.  Another scientist at the University of Kansas is studying their migration and has asked for help tagging adult butterflies so we can learn about their migration patterns.  We also collect and submit samples to a scientist at The University of Georgia to be tested for parasites.

2.      Vermont Butterfly Survey (VBS):  The Vermont Butterfly Survey (VBS) is a five-year (2002-2006) census to document the relative abundance and distribution of butterflies across Vermont. The results will be published and available on the Internet.  The survey will make essential data available to landowners, land-use planners, municipalities, and other organizations making conservation and management decisions. VBS will enhance our knowledge of distribution, relative abundance, flight times and favored nectar sources of Vermont's butterflies at the beginning of this century. (This is the last year of the study but rumor has it that the next step is a similar atlas of dragon and damselflies.)

Info taken from their website http://www.uvm.edu/~vbap/index.html

  Amphibians

1.      Amphibian deformity monitoring:  In the summer of 1996 large numbers of deformed leopard frogs were found in the northern part of Lake Champlain.  Since then deformed frogs have been found in other parts of Vermont.  Scientists are seeking clues to what is causing the deformities.  An important piece of information is where the deformities are and are not happening.  Are deformed frogs only found near Lake Champlain?  Our research will help answer this and other questions about amphibian deformities.

2.      Population studies of various amphibians: We monitor the population of stream, terrestrial, and vernal pool breeding salamanders on the Smokey House property. Many amphibians are considered bioindicators.  This means that they are very sensitive to changes in their environment.  These changes may be include pollution, habitat destruction, or other human activity.  We monitor populations for two reasons:  to help Smokey House Center manage its land well and to watch for declines in populations.  Many experts believe there has been a drastic decline in many amphibian populations in the last two decades, with some species even becoming extinct.  Our research may provide valuable information about changes in amphibian populations in Vermont.

3.      Vermont Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles: The Vermont Atlas was created to establish a baseline of the distribution of Vermont’s reptiles and amphibians on which to base conservation and management decisions.  The VT Atlas is a comprehensive guide to the different species of reptiles and amphibians in all the towns of Vermont.  The goal is to identify and record sightings of amphibians that have not been recorded in any given town.  As we discover amphibians in each town, we document their presence with a photograph or recording of a call and send these records to Jim Andrews at Middlebury College. 

 Mammals

1.      Deer population:  Smokey House Center’s mission includes demonstrating sound natural resource management.  This study allows us to calculate a population index that can be used to compare the size of the deer population from year to year.  Information about deer wintering areas is also noted and used in planning recreational trails, logging operations, and other uses of the resources on the property.

2.       Wildlife Tracking Study:  This study is designed to determine which wildlife species are present on Smokey House Center’s property and which habitats they use.  This information can be used to inform decisions about forestry projects, recreational use, agricultural operations and development on the property.  The study is based on identifying and recording wildlife track and sign along five trails each winter.

3.       Study Skins:  Smokey House Center has a scientific collection permit which allows us to collect and preserve certain types of animals found dead along the road side.  This collection provides samples for comparison with tracks and signs found in field and may provide a useful reference for future naturalist.  Students assist in preparing the study skins and learn a great deal about anatomy and physiology in the process. 

4.      Corridor Mapping:  We may revive this study with MEMS.  IT was initiated by VINS in the 1990’s to identify corridors used by wildlife to move across roadways and other developed areas.  VINS discontinued the project but since then citizens groups have at times asked for information about wildlife corridors.  Essentially the research involves identifying tracks of sensitive species, such as bobcats and black bears, along roadsides and mapping where they are found.

  Birds

1.      Project FeederWatch is a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locales in North America. FeederWatchers periodically count the highest numbers of each species they see at their feeders from November through early April. FeederWatch helps scientists track broad scale movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance.  Project FeederWatch is operated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in partnership with the National Audubon Society, Bird Studies Canada, and Canadian Nature Federation.

Information taken from PFW website.  http://birds.cornell.edu/pfw/

2.      The nesting bird study collects information about nesting birds for the ornithologists at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science.  This information includes what birds are nesting where in Vermont, when they nest, how long the eggs are incubated and how long they are nesting before they fledge.  To do this we find active bird nests and check them regularly as the birds build their nests, lay and incubate the eggs, and care for the young.  The more data VINS has, the more confident they can be in determining Vermont bird characteristics.

3.      eBird is a project developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, which provides a simple way to keep track of the birds seen anywhere in North America.  The cumulative eBird database is used by birdwatchers, scientists, and conservationists who want to know more about the distributions and movement patterns of birds across the continent.[1]  We use eBird to record birds observed on Smokey House Center property and other areas of Vermont where we conduct field studies research.  We would like to know what birds live on our property, whether they are full or part year residents or just migrants on their way through.  This information (what birds utilize our land and where birds are nesting) can be helpful in our land management plans. 

4.      Cleaning Bird boxes:  Over the years many bird boxes of various types have been set up on the Smokey House property.  Some were set out in hopes of helping birds that had been struggling because of a lack of appropriate nesting cavities (i.e. Wood duck boxes) others were setout to help control insect pests around the gardens, and others were set out just because we like to see birds. Regardless of why they were initially set out, all are useful for collecting data for VINS nest card program.  The Winter Bird Box Check has two purposes:

1.      To clean all of the bird boxes so they will be available for use the following spring.  Birds may not use a box if it has an old nest in it.  Also, an old nest can harbor parasites and disease.

2.      To give us more information about which box types, habitat, heights, etc. birds prefer so we can optimize the chances of new boxes being used.