August 1
The pond has begun its first turn toward fall. The Fowler Toads and Bull Frogs seem quieter at night, replaced with the soft calls of Canada Geese across the dark waters, their flocks increasing nightly with every dusk. Other migrants will return this month and the alewife fry will yearn to begin their own migration out to sea. There will be work ahead for us to make that possible.
August is the month for pond related meetings: The Cape Cod Ponds Network's annual meeting is August 8th (*see 8/11 below), The Brewster Ponds Coalition's annual meeting is August 10th, and The Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod is on August 25th. (Check their websites under our Resources page.) Can we expect an Alewife Committee meeting? It is time. Agenda items could include the introduction of the two alternate wardens, one of whom will replace the retired warden, the introduction of the new liaison for the Select Board, an update on the bidding process for the restoration at the fish ladder, plans for fall maintenance on the fish ways, a cyanobacteria update, an update on the pond study, an assessment of the '24 herring season, and other business!
Meanwhile, along the restful shore, Plymouth Gentian and Sweet Pepperbush blossom, and dragonflies and damselflies, Eastern Amberwing and Bluets, take their rest where they can. We have had a milestone on the iNaturalist biodiversity page we began a year ago with 100 observations on Slough Pond. One of these days I hope to take a photo of the Fisher Cats, Least Weasels, Opossums, Raccoons, and Eagles we have observed.
The pond has begun its first turn toward fall. The Fowler Toads and Bull Frogs seem quieter at night, replaced with the soft calls of Canada Geese across the dark waters, their flocks increasing nightly with every dusk. Other migrants will return this month and the alewife fry will yearn to begin their own migration out to sea. There will be work ahead for us to make that possible.
August is the month for pond related meetings: The Cape Cod Ponds Network's annual meeting is August 8th (*see 8/11 below), The Brewster Ponds Coalition's annual meeting is August 10th, and The Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod is on August 25th. (Check their websites under our Resources page.) Can we expect an Alewife Committee meeting? It is time. Agenda items could include the introduction of the two alternate wardens, one of whom will replace the retired warden, the introduction of the new liaison for the Select Board, an update on the bidding process for the restoration at the fish ladder, plans for fall maintenance on the fish ways, a cyanobacteria update, an update on the pond study, an assessment of the '24 herring season, and other business!
Meanwhile, along the restful shore, Plymouth Gentian and Sweet Pepperbush blossom, and dragonflies and damselflies, Eastern Amberwing and Bluets, take their rest where they can. We have had a milestone on the iNaturalist biodiversity page we began a year ago with 100 observations on Slough Pond. One of these days I hope to take a photo of the Fisher Cats, Least Weasels, Opossums, Raccoons, and Eagles we have observed.
August 11
The fall migration has stepped up on the pond. It has become impossible to count the Canada Geese arriving at dusk. We have watched one particular family for six years, with one female bearing her third offspring this year, a sole gosling. Yesterday a family of four Mute Swans flew over the pond, west to east, perhaps returning to their home on Walker's Pond, the two cygnets now fully grown and airborne. An American Coot visited yesterday and we have had daily visits from one particular Least Tern, in from his ocean haunts. Freshwater fowl depend on ponds for their very existence and support a wide diversity of species in this unique habitat. Not everyone embraces the arrival of the fall migrants as they consider their presence degrades the water quality for human recreation (NIMP- not in my pond). In my view, they have an inherent right to be here and their needs and purpose are more essential. Migrations are by nature transitory events, whether for those that depart the area or those that stay, they are not permanent residencies. (Of note- the cyanobacteria advisory is still in effect for the two Mill Ponds and this in not related to the presence of waterfowl.)
The sound of the geese calling out to one another across a twilit sky as they arrive, the chevron arrow-head pattern of each family flock, one after another, the thunderous splash of their landing on the pond surface, their murmurings through the night, as some rest and some guard, is a privilege to observe. And, as well, our other migrants, the alewives, still circling in their natal pond, gathering strength and size for their fall departure
The fall migration has stepped up on the pond. It has become impossible to count the Canada Geese arriving at dusk. We have watched one particular family for six years, with one female bearing her third offspring this year, a sole gosling. Yesterday a family of four Mute Swans flew over the pond, west to east, perhaps returning to their home on Walker's Pond, the two cygnets now fully grown and airborne. An American Coot visited yesterday and we have had daily visits from one particular Least Tern, in from his ocean haunts. Freshwater fowl depend on ponds for their very existence and support a wide diversity of species in this unique habitat. Not everyone embraces the arrival of the fall migrants as they consider their presence degrades the water quality for human recreation (NIMP- not in my pond). In my view, they have an inherent right to be here and their needs and purpose are more essential. Migrations are by nature transitory events, whether for those that depart the area or those that stay, they are not permanent residencies. (Of note- the cyanobacteria advisory is still in effect for the two Mill Ponds and this in not related to the presence of waterfowl.)
The sound of the geese calling out to one another across a twilit sky as they arrive, the chevron arrow-head pattern of each family flock, one after another, the thunderous splash of their landing on the pond surface, their murmurings through the night, as some rest and some guard, is a privilege to observe. And, as well, our other migrants, the alewives, still circling in their natal pond, gathering strength and size for their fall departure
* I attended the annual meeting of the Cape Cod Ponds Network this past week at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. A very information talk was given by Steve Hurley, Aquatic Biologist with Mass Wildlife Division of the MA Dept of Fisheries and Game. The focus was on our (rather haunting) history of fish management. The mission of this department, though sharing a commitment to preserving natural resources, is distinct from the MA Division of Marine Fisheries, more common for issues related to herring management. An important new distinction was shared by a colleague that was of interest to me as an active citizen scientist. Apparently, that term has gone out of favor recently (more for politically correct reasons than any other that stand up to scrutiny, in my opinion). Community or participatory science is coming into use. The word science is sure to be next. I've always thought it was a nice term, respectful of the valuable contributions of ordinary, committed people. As that same colleague once reminded me, Charles Darwin himself was a citizen scientist. I will continue to use the term citizen scientist (link) or citizen naturalist which I prefer, as it does not infer nor require an advanced degree). Discussion (link) here.
August 13
The water level in the pond is so low it cannot even register on the gauge at the landing. Rainfall has been negligible this summer. Last year at this time the water level was high enough, due to frequent rains, for the fry to depart on the intermittent days that enough water, though low, was flowing in the passageway. Not this year. Conditions are as variable as New England weather. Recall that 2022 was much worse as a drought year but conditions vastly improved in 2023.
Typical departure for the young fry begins in mid August and runs through December, so we hope for rain in the weeks ahead. There is also considerable work ahead, in annual herring management/maintenance, digging out sand accumulations and unblocking the stream where the now defunct sandbag weir has imploded. AmeriCorps crews helped out twice last fall alongside an Alewife Committee warden, Natural Resources Department officers, a Mill Sites committee member, the Select Board liaison, and the chair of the Natural Resources Advisory Commission- to great effect.
The water level in the pond is so low it cannot even register on the gauge at the landing. Rainfall has been negligible this summer. Last year at this time the water level was high enough, due to frequent rains, for the fry to depart on the intermittent days that enough water, though low, was flowing in the passageway. Not this year. Conditions are as variable as New England weather. Recall that 2022 was much worse as a drought year but conditions vastly improved in 2023.
Typical departure for the young fry begins in mid August and runs through December, so we hope for rain in the weeks ahead. There is also considerable work ahead, in annual herring management/maintenance, digging out sand accumulations and unblocking the stream where the now defunct sandbag weir has imploded. AmeriCorps crews helped out twice last fall alongside an Alewife Committee warden, Natural Resources Department officers, a Mill Sites committee member, the Select Board liaison, and the chair of the Natural Resources Advisory Commission- to great effect.
Slough Pond herring run fall maintenance crew, 12/4/'23.
August 19
Full moon madness, the Sturgeon Moon could be called the Herring Moon. It is also a super blue moon on this day.
Full moon madness, the Sturgeon Moon could be called the Herring Moon. It is also a super blue moon on this day.
August 31
On the eve of September, swallows have returned to dance above the pond waters, ducks and geese gather, as does the nightly murder of crows, and, beneath the surface, schools of alewife fry circle, awaiting the opening of their passageway to the sea.
On the eve of September, swallows have returned to dance above the pond waters, ducks and geese gather, as does the nightly murder of crows, and, beneath the surface, schools of alewife fry circle, awaiting the opening of their passageway to the sea.
