Charlotte Conservation Currents
by Bob Hyams
July 15, 2010, pg 17

The 2008 Charlotte Significant Wildlife Habitat Map (interactive version) is now available to the public, or at least to the public that uses PCs (Mac version forthcoming). The map employs cutting-edge, GIS technology. It is really informative, easy (and fun) to use. Landowners, educators, town planners and anyone wanting to learn more about Charlotte’s vast array of natural resources will find it incredibly useful.

Have a look. Visit charlottevt.org for access to the Users’ Guide with links to the download site. For those without computers, we hope to have the map installed on computers at the Library and at the Senior Center. Paper copies are available from the Planning Office at Town Hall.

The 2008 map is the product of more than two years of professional review and assessment, organized by the Conservation Commission with assistance and detailed input from Lewis Creek Association, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and consulting foresters and ecologists from UVM and beyond. Funding was provided by the Selectboard, Conservation and Planning Commissions and a Municipal Planning Grant from the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

Nature Notes (recent nature sightings by members of the Conservation Commmission and Charlotte community): 103 bird species in Costa Rica, including the resplendent Quetzal (VPR tour), cougar sighting in Washington state, baby mergansers, ring billed gull with fishing lure, woodpeckers fighting over suet, ospreys displaying animated acrobatics and ticks on Pease Mountain.

Have any sightings you would like to add? Send yours to cccvt@gmavt.net.