It’s Only Natural
You’ve Removed That Invasive Plant: Now What? By Bill Ticineto Over the past two years the Norfolk Conservation Commission (NCC) ran a series of ads in Norfolk Now highlighting the threat of invasive plants. The ads had attention-grabbing headlines, such as “WANTED For Destroying Forests.” The response was great, and mounds of invasive debris began […]
It’s Only Natural
Bioblitz Planned at GMF on June 7 Aton Forest and Great Mountain Forest invite volunteers of all ages and experience levels to join a Norfolk Conservation Coalition event on Saturday, June 7, from 8 to 11 a.m., at Yale Camp in GMF.The event, planned in conjunction with Connecticut Trails Day 2025, involves a moderate hike through GMF, paired with […]
Wings Over Norfolk: A Look at Small-Town Bird Life
By Jude Mead Bird watching may seem like an old-fashioned pastime, but in recent years it has soared in popularity because it offers a peaceful way to reconnect with nature, requires minimal equipment, has zero cost of entry and is enjoyable. Whether it’s a robin hopping across a backyard or a hawk circling high above […]
It’s Only Natural
David Torrey installs a bluebird nest box at the Norfolk Transfer Station. Photo by Shelley Harms Build It and the Bluebirds Will Come By Shelley Harms The Connecticut Breeding Bird Atlas aims to map all bird species found in the state. When volunteers helping to update the atlas surveyed the birds nesting in Norfolk, they noticed a lack of suitable nest […]
The Hidden Life in Trees
Text by Susannah WoodPhoto by Wiley Wood The first butterfly drifting through our woods in spring is the mourning cloak, its red-brown wings dabbed with pale blue, edged in cream. It survived the long winter in a semi-dormant state filled, most likely sheltering in a hollow tree or log. If you’re lucky, you may see […]
Rooting Out Invasives
Early summer is still a great time to go after many of the invasive species that are crowding out native plants and reducing food sources for birds and pollinators. Japanese barberry fruits have yet to ripen and garlic mustard seed pods are drying out but have not yet popped open. (Barberry can take over the […]
Invasion of the Aquatics
By Doug McDevitt No, it’s not a B-grade horror movie with actors strutting in cheesy costumes, but if we’re not careful it could be a horror. As spring approaches and many of us look forward to taking up water sports again, not least for the social distancing and healthy outdoor exercise they provide, we need […]
Reading Forest Signs: Bear’s Nests
Text and Photos by Wiley Wood The first dusting of snow in the forest shows us what we know anyway—the woods are full of animals, we just don’t see them. A day after the snowfall, you might come across the print of a foraging mouse traveling from the base of a windthrown tree to a […]
Identifying Invasive Plants in Norfolk’s Village Center
Conservation Commission to lead inventory walk By Martha KleinPhoto by Bruce Frisch November is a perfect time of year to identify and remove invasive plants in Norfolk, because the fall color changes make some of these plants very visible. For example, the plant Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus) is an invasive shrub seen along roadsides near woods, and […]
It’s Spring! Animals Awake From Hibernation
By Jude Mead Spring is the time to celebrate more sunshine and warmer days. Spring is also the time when many animals awaken from a long winter’s nap. After spending a season sleeping, they emerge hungry and ready to roam. Making it to spring, however, is not an easy task for some of these animals. […]
