Volume VIV ~ November 2018
|
|
Lake Sunapee Protective Association
|
|
Welcome to A Flash of the Beacon!
A quick look at what's happening
here in the harbor,
what's going on outside in nature,
and highlights from last month.
|
|
|
November is often known as the "in between season." Mother Nature begins settling down for the cold months ahead. Here in New Hampshire the outside world is turning brown and gray, yet look closely for the yellow beech and aspen leaves and the green mosses and ferns which provide contrasting shocks of vibrant color. Plants, like milkweed, are bursting open their seed cases and releasing their seeds to the winds. Deer mice are one of the many animals that collect these seeds, sometimes leaving the fluff attached to the seeds, sometimes using it in their nests. As winter approaches trees are converting starch into sugars, and lowering the freezing point of their cells. Migration season is in full swing and yet many hardy stragglers (robins, sparrows, kingfishers) are hanging on. Most of the bird world will quiet down this month, but some flocking species (grosbeaks and finches) are known to be quite noisy. Males of many migrating bird species don't fly as far south as the females, perhaps so they can return north earlier to claim a high quality territory. Healthy bear cubs now weigh at least 75 pounds and will soon follow their mothers into their winter dens. Snowshoe hares are all white by the end of November, and like some of us are praying for a good snow.
|
|
The LSPA buoy is now in its winter
resting place in the harbor.
|
|
Our watershed steward, Geoff Lizotte and DKK (consultant for the watershed grant) will be out this month to surveying the watershed and documenting storm water issues.
|
|
As the final leaves fall from the trees, please be alert to where your leaves end up! Leaves that end up in our water bodies rot and during that process use up oxygen. When too many leaves get blown into a lake or stream they deplete the oxygen levels that is so vital to the many aquatic animals that live there. Leaves that get dumped into the edges of lakes, ponds and streams and can also change the bottom consistency and the water's chemical balance.
|
|
Starting today and for the entire month of November, when you pick up the Hannaford Community Bag
at the Hannaford store located at
220 Washington Street, Claremont NH
, we receive $1! Help support
LSPA
and purchase the Community Bag! Visit
hannaford.bags4mycause.com
for details!
|
|
In October the LSPA educational team went to Mount Sunapee Resort and met 260 5th grade students from the Sunapee area. There, with a team of volunteers, the 5th graders explored and investigated properties of water, macroinvertebrates, water usage, runoff, erosion, and water filtration systems. It was an exceptional day of scientific learning and discovery. Many, many thanks to all our volunteers, Mount Sunapee Resort and a special shout out to the Grant MacKenzie Memorial Fund for supporting this wonder-full event!
|
|
Newbury Library Afterschool Program
Tuesdays and Thursdays in October and November the Newbury Library sponsors an after school program focusing on nature and the out of doors at The Fells. The Fells and LSPA educators meet with students for exciting explorations and investigations of what's happening outside during this time of seasonal change.
To register call:
603-763-5803
|
|
Out and About
PreSchool Program
|
|
"Out and About" PreSchool Program!
Join us in November on
Tuesday
mornings at
10:00 am
.
(note there is no program on November 20th!)
"Out and About" is a weekly educational program designed for pre-school age children and their caregivers, with exploration at two different locations every month. Come to one session or all - each month's programs are organized around an ecological theme and each one is unique. All programs are filled with hands on learning through sensory experiences, guided exploration, creative play, art, and music. Come join the fun! See our
fall calendar here.
|
|
Visual Verse - The Ripple Effects
Bookets of LSPA's Photo Contest winners and the accompanying poetry will be available, $10 for members and $15 for non-members, at LSPA. To find out about the winners of LSPA's 2018 Photo Contest click on this link:
|
|
|
Lake Sunapee Protective Association
63 Main Street
Sunapee, NH 03782
|
|
|
|
|
|
|