Wellesley Conservation Council and Wellesley Free Library present:
Peter Alden
WELLESLEY'S CHANGING WILDLIFE
Peter Alden
WELLESLEY'S CHANGING WILDLIFE
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Main Library Wakelin Room
7:00 PM
How are climate, habitat, hunting, and invasives changing Wellesley birds and mammals? Climate change is upon us and there is a shift of southern species northwards. Invasive alien plants from other continents escaping from horticulture and our gardens are impacting many habitats. Birds from overseas are competing with native species. Learn about these newcomers and how they are affecting our backyards and wild lands. Peter Alden is the author of 15 books including the National Audubon Society Field Guide to New England.
Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Wellesley Conservation Council and the Wellesley Free Library.
Main Library Wakelin Room
7:00 PM
How are climate, habitat, hunting, and invasives changing Wellesley birds and mammals? Climate change is upon us and there is a shift of southern species northwards. Invasive alien plants from other continents escaping from horticulture and our gardens are impacting many habitats. Birds from overseas are competing with native species. Learn about these newcomers and how they are affecting our backyards and wild lands. Peter Alden is the author of 15 books including the National Audubon Society Field Guide to New England.
Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Wellesley Conservation Council and the Wellesley Free Library.
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Additional info: The wildlife in our gardens, woodlands, fields and marshes has changed radically over time. What had been forests with small Indian patches of corn, beans and squashes was transformed in the colonial era. Ninety percent of New England south of the White Mountains was transformed into grazing pastureland for cows, horses and sheep along with orchards, vegetable and grain fields. Timber was used for houses, barns, shops, firewood and railroad ties.
Most men and boys trapped and/or had shotguns and blasted away at all sorts of wildlife as food, vermin or target practice. Birds and flowers from the Midwest and Great Plains flooded into newly open habitats while some larger mammals and birds were wiped out in the 1800’s. Henry Thoreau never saw a White-tailed Deer, Black Bear, Moose, Wild Turkey or Beaver although he did see the last flocks of the Passenger Pigeon.
By the 21st century the mix of species has been profound. We have seen the return of forests and the loss of most manmade grasslands. Most of our state listed rare species are Midwestern species that were not even present here when the Pilgrims arrived. With over a hundred years of hunting and trapping regulations, re-introductions and captive breeding, and habitat restoration many of our larger herbivores and raptors are again common.
Climate change is upon us and there is a shift of southern species northwards already happening. Invasive alien plants from other continents escaping from horticulture and our gardens are impacting many habitats. Birds from overseas are competing with native species. Learn about these newcomers and how they are affecting our backyards and wild lands.
Peter Alden of Concord, Mass. will present this entertaining and colorful power point program. He is the author of 15 books with sales nearing three million copies including the National Audubon Society Field Guide to New England (with 1,000 animals and plants in color). That along with some great little binoculars will be available at the talk. Peter ran the world’s first Biodiversity Days with Dr Edward O. Wilson and 100’s of field biologists recording 2,700 species within 5 miles of Walden Pond. He organized the first government-sponsored Biodiversity Weeks in 300 towns for the Mass. Executive Office of Environmental Affairs.
For 50 years he has led and/or lectured on over 300 land tours, safaris, private jet tours and cruises to over 100 countries on all seven continents and the seven seas. These have been with such groups as the Massachusetts and National Audubon Societies, Harvard Museum of Natural History, Overseas Adventure Travel, Thomson Safaris, Lindblad Travel (a former V.P.), National Geographic, Road Scholar and a dozen cruise lines.
Most men and boys trapped and/or had shotguns and blasted away at all sorts of wildlife as food, vermin or target practice. Birds and flowers from the Midwest and Great Plains flooded into newly open habitats while some larger mammals and birds were wiped out in the 1800’s. Henry Thoreau never saw a White-tailed Deer, Black Bear, Moose, Wild Turkey or Beaver although he did see the last flocks of the Passenger Pigeon.
By the 21st century the mix of species has been profound. We have seen the return of forests and the loss of most manmade grasslands. Most of our state listed rare species are Midwestern species that were not even present here when the Pilgrims arrived. With over a hundred years of hunting and trapping regulations, re-introductions and captive breeding, and habitat restoration many of our larger herbivores and raptors are again common.
Climate change is upon us and there is a shift of southern species northwards already happening. Invasive alien plants from other continents escaping from horticulture and our gardens are impacting many habitats. Birds from overseas are competing with native species. Learn about these newcomers and how they are affecting our backyards and wild lands.
Peter Alden of Concord, Mass. will present this entertaining and colorful power point program. He is the author of 15 books with sales nearing three million copies including the National Audubon Society Field Guide to New England (with 1,000 animals and plants in color). That along with some great little binoculars will be available at the talk. Peter ran the world’s first Biodiversity Days with Dr Edward O. Wilson and 100’s of field biologists recording 2,700 species within 5 miles of Walden Pond. He organized the first government-sponsored Biodiversity Weeks in 300 towns for the Mass. Executive Office of Environmental Affairs.
For 50 years he has led and/or lectured on over 300 land tours, safaris, private jet tours and cruises to over 100 countries on all seven continents and the seven seas. These have been with such groups as the Massachusetts and National Audubon Societies, Harvard Museum of Natural History, Overseas Adventure Travel, Thomson Safaris, Lindblad Travel (a former V.P.), National Geographic, Road Scholar and a dozen cruise lines.
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