May 21, 2015 at 12:06 pm
Move over Habitat for Humanity, this winter 10 new homes were erected on the Black Brook Flowage Wildlife Management Area in Pierce Pond Township, Somerset County. The new homes are expected to attract nesting wood ducks and hooded mergansers shortly after ice-out in May. Both species require natural cavities to nest and hatch out young. Supplementing a limited number of natural cavities with strategically placed nest boxes has been a hugely successful wildlife management technique for many decades.
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Fish and Wildlife Technician Paul Campbell drills holes for the bird box posts[/caption]
Flowage rights to Black Brook flowage and the original dam site were purchased by MDIFW in 1990 thus creating the Black Brook Flowage Wildlife Management Area. Though having unique and valuable wetland habitat values when purchased, the long-term plan for the property was to replace a non-functioning former log-driving dam in order to increase the percentage of shallow open water within the wetland complex. This would enhance the area for waterfowl, wading birds, and other wildlife. This walk-in WMA is nearly 700 acres large and lies 19 miles east of Bingham. The purchase and subsequent plans to increase water levels were intended to offset some of the wetland impacts associated with the storage and water releases associated with the operation of the hydroelectric dam on Flagstaff Lake. Funding plus a complex permitting process required to erect and operate a new water control structure on BBF WMA have proven difficult to navigate. So, current plans are to recognize that the peat-bog dominated wetland complexes has wildlife value “as-is” even though only about 14% of it has shallow, open water for waterfowl and wading birds. We delayed erecting nest boxes until a water control structure was built, but facing reality, we decided it was time to deploy waterfowl nest boxes where open water occurs and did so this winter.
We have found that placing boxes on steel posts increases both use and maintenance efficiency. Boxes placed on trees require constant vegetation management around the boxes, and sometimes have squirrel issues. Since we replace the shavings each year, make any needed repairs, and monitor use, it is much faster to do maintenance in the winter when you can ride right up to the box on a snowmobile, hauling supplies and tools in tow. Another advantage in putting boxes over water is reduced predator risk as well as allowing young waterfowl to plop out onto water and quickly swim off with mom upon hatching.
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Wildlife Biologist Chuck Hulsey and Technician Paul Campbell install predator guards[/caption]
We like using salvage channel post which is donated to us by the Maine Department of Transportation in Dixfield. As you can see from the pictures, these are easily installed during the winter. Posts had to be 10-12 feet long, or sections added to accommodate a few feet of water and plus many more feet of loose peat bottom substrate. We selected and flagged the post locations the previous fall. Between regional wildlife biologist Bob Cordes and I, Fisheries and Wildlife Technician Paul Campbell, and long-time volunteer Eldon McLean of North Anson, we were able to install 10 boxes this winter. We’ll add more boxes if usage reaches 75%.
If you would like to visit this WMA, take the Long Falls Dam Road from Route 16 in North New Portland. Travel north through Lexington and Highland Townships. In Carrying Place Town Township, look for a dirt road by that name on the right. There will also be a sign for Cobb’s Pierce Pond Camps. There is an intersection a few miles in from the paved road. Turn left onto the North Bowtown Road. Travel less than a mile and look closely for a trail on the right. It is safe to pull over on the far side of the North Bowtown Road and park, but keep in mind that there is often log truck traffic on all those roads. Travel slowly and park well off the road surface. There are no improvements as MDIFW owns only the flowage rights but none of the land around or near the flowage. It is about a one-quarter mile walk into the old dam site where it is easy to launch a kayak or canoe.
FMI: Black Brook Flowage WMA
Fish and Wildlife Technician Paul Campbell drills holes for the bird box posts[/caption]
Flowage rights to Black Brook flowage and the original dam site were purchased by MDIFW in 1990 thus creating the Black Brook Flowage Wildlife Management Area. Though having unique and valuable wetland habitat values when purchased, the long-term plan for the property was to replace a non-functioning former log-driving dam in order to increase the percentage of shallow open water within the wetland complex. This would enhance the area for waterfowl, wading birds, and other wildlife. This walk-in WMA is nearly 700 acres large and lies 19 miles east of Bingham. The purchase and subsequent plans to increase water levels were intended to offset some of the wetland impacts associated with the storage and water releases associated with the operation of the hydroelectric dam on Flagstaff Lake. Funding plus a complex permitting process required to erect and operate a new water control structure on BBF WMA have proven difficult to navigate. So, current plans are to recognize that the peat-bog dominated wetland complexes has wildlife value “as-is” even though only about 14% of it has shallow, open water for waterfowl and wading birds. We delayed erecting nest boxes until a water control structure was built, but facing reality, we decided it was time to deploy waterfowl nest boxes where open water occurs and did so this winter.
We have found that placing boxes on steel posts increases both use and maintenance efficiency. Boxes placed on trees require constant vegetation management around the boxes, and sometimes have squirrel issues. Since we replace the shavings each year, make any needed repairs, and monitor use, it is much faster to do maintenance in the winter when you can ride right up to the box on a snowmobile, hauling supplies and tools in tow. Another advantage in putting boxes over water is reduced predator risk as well as allowing young waterfowl to plop out onto water and quickly swim off with mom upon hatching.
[caption id="attachment_652" align="alignright" width="276"] Wildlife Biologist Chuck Hulsey and Technician Paul Campbell install predator guards[/caption]
We like using salvage channel post which is donated to us by the Maine Department of Transportation in Dixfield. As you can see from the pictures, these are easily installed during the winter. Posts had to be 10-12 feet long, or sections added to accommodate a few feet of water and plus many more feet of loose peat bottom substrate. We selected and flagged the post locations the previous fall. Between regional wildlife biologist Bob Cordes and I, Fisheries and Wildlife Technician Paul Campbell, and long-time volunteer Eldon McLean of North Anson, we were able to install 10 boxes this winter. We’ll add more boxes if usage reaches 75%.
If you would like to visit this WMA, take the Long Falls Dam Road from Route 16 in North New Portland. Travel north through Lexington and Highland Townships. In Carrying Place Town Township, look for a dirt road by that name on the right. There will also be a sign for Cobb’s Pierce Pond Camps. There is an intersection a few miles in from the paved road. Turn left onto the North Bowtown Road. Travel less than a mile and look closely for a trail on the right. It is safe to pull over on the far side of the North Bowtown Road and park, but keep in mind that there is often log truck traffic on all those roads. Travel slowly and park well off the road surface. There are no improvements as MDIFW owns only the flowage rights but none of the land around or near the flowage. It is about a one-quarter mile walk into the old dam site where it is easy to launch a kayak or canoe.
FMI: Black Brook Flowage WMACategories