Sudbury

Area Trails Enhanced by Local Scouts

October 6, 2020

Visitors to two local hiking trails can now learn more about the lands they are crossing, thanks to the efforts of Boy Scouts who improved the signage at the trails.

In Sudbury, Jed Howrey of Troop 63 recently added informative signs about eskers and erratics to the trail at SVT's Gray Reservation.

Jed wrote, designed, built, and installed the signs as part of his Eagle Project. Visitors can read about how these two types of glacial features were formed, plus they'll learn some fun facts about well-known eskers and erratics that sit beyond the SVT region.

Overall, the signs make a wonderful complement to the self-guided Glacial Features Walk audio tour at Gray.

In Westford, Michael Cassie of Troop 159 designed and constructed a trail head kiosk for the O'Brien Farm CR. The kiosk greets visitors to this historic farm, which has been owned by succeeding generations of the O’Brien family since 1886. It was protected in 2012 when descendant (and current owner) Charlie McColough sold a conservation restriction to SVT and the Town of Westford at a discounted price.

Michael built the kiosk for his Eagle Project. Charlie collaborated with SVT and others to fill it with information about features of note on the property as well as information about the conservation of the land.

Thank you to Jed, Michael, and all Boy Scouts who have completed their Eagle Projects on local conservation lands.

Wildlife at SVT's Memorial Forest

October 4, 2020

A white-tailed deer at SVT's General Federation of Women's Clubs of Massachusetts Memorial Forest in Sudbury, photographed with an automatically triggered wildlife camera by Craig Smith.

A raccoon at SVT's General Federation of Women's Clubs of Massachusetts Memorial Forest in Sudbury, photographed with an automatically triggered wildlife camera by Craig Smith.

A red fox at SVT's General Federation of Women's Clubs of Massachusetts Memorial Forest in Sudbury, photographed with an automatically triggered wildlife camera by Craig Smith.

Craig Smith used his automatically triggered wildlife camera to photograph white-tailed deer, a raccoon, and a red fox at SVT's General Federation of Women's Clubs of Massachusetts Memorial Forest in Sudbury.

Common Yellowthroat at SVT's Memorial Forest

October 5, 2020

Gail Sartori photographed this common yellowthroat at SVT's General Federation of Women's Clubs of Massachusetts Memorial Forest in Sudbury.

Birds at Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

October 3, 2020

An eastern kingbird at Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury, photographed by Dan Trippe.

A downy woodpecker at Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury, photographed by Dan Trippe.

A palm warbler at Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury, photographed by Dan Trippe.

A yellow-rumped warbler at Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury, photographed by Dan Trippe.

Dan Trippe photographed an eastern kingbird, a downy woodpecker, a yellow palm warbler, and a yellow-rumped warbler at Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury.

Mute Swan at SVT's Memorial Forest

September 21, 2020

Renata Aylward photographed this mute swan, looking a little out of place, at the sand pit in SVT's General Federation of Women's Clubs of Massachusetts Memorial Forest in Sudbury.