Pictured above:  UVLT volunteer John Farrell puts up a bluebird house near our food pantry garden at Brookmead Conservation Area

The recent weather may have you second-guessing if spring has really arrived, but our volunteers and UVLT team are happy to report that the birds have confirmed... it's here!

As we step into April, the signs of spring are becoming undeniable in the Upper Valley. The land is waking up, and the birds are leading the way.

This past Sunday at the Richmond lot in Orford, NH, VP of Stewardship, Jason Berard, heard the first song sparrow of the season, its cheerful notes filling the air with a promise of warmer days. The very next day, as Jason drove into work, an American kestrel made an appearance on Schoolhouse Hill Road in North Thetford, a stunning reminder that these colorful raptors are also returning to their springtime haunts.

The signs aren't limited to our feathered friends...

UVLT Vice President of Conservation, Peg Merrens, spotted the delicate flowers of beaked hazelnut at her home, and more people are reporting sightings of bear tracks, reminding us that our large, furry neighbors are emerging from their winter dens. On top of that, the red and silver maple trees are starting to swell with buds, soon to offer some of the earliest flowers for our awakening pollinators.

Despite Smith Pond still being nearly frozen last Friday, two otters were spotted full of energy, popping up from the ice and scampering about in playful excitement. And, at the Up on the Hill Conservation Area, as Jason cleaned out the wood duck nesting boxes and eight bluebird houses numerous pairs of bluebirds flitted through the field. Before leaving, two woodcock were startled from the field edge—an exciting first sighting of the year and a fitting way to celebrate the start of spring.

It’s shaping up to be a rich season in the Upper Valley, where every day brings new signs of nature’s renewal. From songbirds to otters, the creatures of the season are stirring, and it’s clear—spring has arrived!

Help Us Track the Birds at

Zebedee Wetland!

Pictured above: An American Bittern. [📸 by: UVLT Land Steward Alexander van Engelen]

As migrating birds begin to return to the Upper Valley, UVLT is launching a project that relies on them to tell us about the health of the land we care for. Upper Valley birders are invited to volunteer at Zebedee Wetland in Thetford, helping us survey the presence of key bird species.

Zebedee Wetland is a popular birding site, known for its variety of habitats, but invasive plants and the decline of ash trees due to emerald ash borer pose challenges to the ecosystem. Active management, like restoration plantings, may be needed to improve habitat, and this bird survey will help guide those efforts.

From late spring to late summer, volunteers will visit Zebedee weekly or biweekly to observe and record five bird species: Wood Ducks, American Bittern, Wood Thrush, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and White-throated Sparrow. Each survey takes about an hour, and we need volunteers to help gather crucial data for land management decisions.

Whether you’re available for part or all of the survey season, your help is invaluable! Volunteers can learn more and sign up below!

A Land Steward's Day:

A Rare Moment Inside

Pictured above: UVLT Land Steward Alexander van Engelen adjusts a game camera

UVLT Land Stewards are more accustomed to being out in the field than sitting behind a desk. Their days are filled with hands-on work—whether it’s managing trails, restoring habitats, or monitoring wildlife. But every once in a while, you’ll find a Land Steward in the rarest of places: inside, at a computer. It’s a bit of an oxymoron, but sometimes the work requires it.

In a new post, UVLT Land Steward Kevin Brooker takes us through a day in the field, sharing a glimpse of what it’s like to manage and care for the land that’s so central to our mission.

"Checking the calendar confirmed it really was March 25^th, 2025. Last week’s warm temperatures and sunshine combined with a less than horrific mud season (so far) gave the immanent feeling summer was upon the Upper Valley.

Maybe it came too quickly and sped right by. Maybe I really overslept. Maybe its just New England in the springtime. As the sun illuminated the back yard of my Thetford home, what I saw was late November; gray woods and grass sticking up through the mostly solid covering of snow. Green daffodil leaves were the only spots of color and an indication of not experiencing a true to life Rip Van Winkle transformation.

Today was supposed to be relatively simple. Meet Alexander, my fellow land steward, and monitor three UVLT owned properties; Robert Areson Conservation Area, Norwich Gateway (both located in Norwich, VT) before heading north and across the river to the Lyme Hill property."...

Read more by clicking below!



Pictured above: salamander egg clusters in a vernal pool

Join Us for our second annual

Vernal Pools Hike at Brookmead Conservation Area

Saturday, April 12 | 1-4 PM

Peepers, Salamanders, and Wood Frogs, Oh My! Join Upper Valley Land Trust staff and the Norwich Conservation Commission for our 2nd Annual hike through our Brookmead Conservation Area to observe a few vernal pools and identify its current inhabitants. While we hike, we will discuss the importance of vernal pools and why we need to protect them for critters like the local amphibians. 

Please note: the hike out to the vernal pools will be a 1 mile moderate trek, it will take about 45 minutes to arrive at the pools. Please bring appropriate footwear (waterproof hiking boots or mud boots), water and snacks.

Pictured above: a plaque at Starr Hill in honor of Laurel Letter

Let's Celebrate 🌎 Day!

Friday, April 25 | 4-5:30 PM | Starr Hill in Lebanon, NH*

Join the Upper Valley Land Trust and the Lebanon Conservation Commission for a short ‘Wild About Lebanon’ hike on Starr Hill to find some signs of Spring! We’ll look out for early spring wildflowers popping out of the ground, listen to songbirds that are starting to return, and visit the plaque dedicated to Laurel for her hard work to help UVLT buy, conserve, and give the Starr Hill Conservation Area property to the City.

We will meet at the *Wheatley Street Trailhead for the Starr Hill Conservation Area. Total trip will be 1 mile, and include some rough and uneven terrain. No registration is required, but sign up is encouraged to receive notifications about any cancellations or rescheduling due to weather. No dogs, please.

We Know You Love the Upper Valley. We Do Too.

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