Saltmarsh Sparrow May Find Itself In Harm’s Way

Global warming could threaten dependency on local coastal habitat

The loss of habitat is a threat to the existence of the saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow, according to a report released by the Connecticut Audubon Society.

Though perhaps not as dramatic as polar bears drowning in rising Arctic seas and melting ice, the perils of a little sparrow that depends on the salt marshes of southeastern Connecticut for nesting could be a local indicator of the effects of global warming. In the Connecticut State of the Birds 2008 report released last week by the Connecticut Audubon Society, the saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow is named among six threatened species that depend on specific types of habitat in Connecticut for their survival.
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Why Norwalk River is threatened (Part 1)

The Norwalk River provides no only recreation but carries everything from sewer plant discharges to runoff from parking lots to failing septic systems to water draining off lawns or other landscaping.—Norwalk River Watershed Association photo

Despite increasing evidence that pollution in the Norwalk River is reaching a near unrecoverable threshhold, there are no comprehensive regulations governing discharges into the river as whole.
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Outdoor activities on downswing

The call of the great outdoors has become a lot harder to hear for much of the nation, with people staying away from parks to play video games and surf the Internet, according to one study, but Connecticut appears to be bucking the trend, with a slight increase in visits to state parks and more and more land set aside as open space despite plummeting hunting and fishing license sales.

The best memories Mary Heffernon of Wallingford can recall revolve around the outdoors. “I just remember as a child the best thing in the world was to be out in the woods,” she said. “The worst thing in the world was to be called in to dinner. I was so very happy there. That’s still the best stress reliever for me – hiking and being outside, even if I can only fit in a 15-minute walk.”
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Preserving habitats for state birds

For such a small state, Connecticut has good birds.

The mix of the state’s landscape — woods, fields, wetlands, rivers, shoreline and estuaries — has made it a hospitable place for nearly 400 species.

It also has a lot of birds — about 850 million birds a year stop by the state, according to the 2008 State of the Bird report issued this week by the Connecticut Audubon Society.
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Epidemic killing bats

Experts call white nose syndrome a grave threat; bug population to increase

Alan Hicks, a wildlife biologist for New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation,…

In the fall, the state’s bats head for caves and mine shafts throughout the Northeast, hibernating in huge colonies until spring comes and the insects start flying.

The bats then disperse from the caves and fly hundreds of miles away to their summer territories.
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Search the Web and Win with Ted Nugent

TED NUGENT USES SEARCH ENGINE TO SPREAD HIS MESSAGE OF GUNS, GAME, AND ROCK ‘N ROLL

(February 13 – Los Angeles) – Prodege LLC, in conjunction with Ted Nugent, announced today a one-of-a-kind sweepstakes for a chance to accompany the iconoclastic rocker on an outdoor hunting trip.
Has there ever been a rock-star more associated with guns and ammo than Ted Nugent? Sure the man can shred on his ‘62 Byrdland electric guitar, but it’s his passion and skill with a rifle that truly set him apart from the rest of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Now, thanks to the folks at searchwithtednugent.com, you can have the opportunity to accompany Ted in the flesh, as he hunts for outdoor delicacies like wild boar, pheasant, venison and even buffalo.
This exciting giveaway is only available to users of searchwithtednugent.com; a search engine portal that functions just like Google except it rewards fans of the hard-rocking Nugent with prizes. Let’s see the Wall Street darlings from Mountain View do that!
Searchwithtednugent.com has become a favorite for Nugent’s legions of fans and admirers. The site is powered by Google and Ask search technology, meaning that users receive the same great search results they are accustomed to. Unlike other search engines, however, this one rewards users with digital dollars called Swag Bucks, which can be redeemed for exclusive artist prizes, including Nugent autographed CDs, DVDs and even copies of Ted’s official cookbook: “Kill It and Grill It.” Every search is a chance to win.
“Ted cares deeply about staying in touch with his fans,” said Prodege VP of Marketing, Ron Leshem. “It’s a surprisingly high-tech solution for someone so associated with the great outdoors. This is the perfect way for fans to connect to Ted, while also earning a chance to win some amazing prizes for themselves.”
Fans can increase their likelihood of earning top prizes by downloading the Ted Nugent toolbar at: www.searchwithtednugent.com. Please visit site for full sweepstakes rules and regulations.
The site is the result of a groundbreaking partnership between Ted Nugent, and Prodege LLC, the Internet’s leading provider of branded search engines. Launched in 2006, Prodege has already compiled an impressive list of search partners from the worlds of music and sports.

For a complete list of Prodege partner sites, please visit www.swagbuck.com.

Press release courtesy of Kate Scheiner with Apex Exposure Inc.

Don’t Give Up On A Good Scrape

Most hunters like to hunt near fresh buck sign, and what could be better than a hot scrape? Unfortunately, hunting a scrape can be a real hit-or-miss proposition. After all, it’s a good possibility that the buck is checking/refreshing its scrapes at night. Rather than spending day after unproductive day on stand or (and more likely) spending one or two days and then giving up and moving somewhere else, get into the buck’s head.

Help the buck make that daylight mistake by juicing up the scrape and staying with it. Sprinkle in some buck urine and some hot doe pee as well. Make him think he’s really missing something throughout the day. Watch the scrape carefully to make sure the buck is still refreshing it. If he’s not, then it’s time to move.

Remington Races forward with NASCAR’s Kasey Kahne

MADISON, N.C., February 8th, 2008 – Remington Arms has extended the company’s long-term marketing agreement with fan-favorite Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series.

Kahne is an avid outdoorsmen and recently took the biggest whitetail of his life using a Remington Model 700? rifle on a deer hunt in Texas. Regarding the parallels between racing and hunting, Kahne said, “I’ve always said that success in hunting is a lot like good racing strategy, you have to relax and wait for your opportunity, and that’s exactly why I was able to harvest that awesome buck in Texas.”
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Wolves play important predatory role in Northwoods

For several years the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife biologists has said that as a result of the extremely mild winters there has not been any winter-kill of deer. Also, as a result of the mild winters, fawn production has been high with a high percentage of the does dropping twin fawns. Twice this past fall I saw a doe with three fawns near Rhinelander High School.
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Choosing the Right Shotgun this Turkey Season

* Make sure the shotgun fits you. There is no sure way to determine gun fit other than seeing a firearms expert. To ensure that your gun fits, pull the gun to your shoulder (with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, of course). Ask yourself the following questions. Does it swing into place without extra movement or effort? Does the weight feel comfortable? Try adjusting the placement of your forward hand. Can you hold the shotgun steady for a given amount of time? Can you comfortably carry the shotgun for long distances? You should be able to answer “yes” to all of these questions. All these variables play a role in determining gun fit for turkey hunting.

Tip courtesy of “The National Wild Turkey Federation”

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