📜 EwA Week Highlights: Pitch Pine, Merlin, and a Frigid Pause

[Mike McGlathery]

EwA Highlights January 11, 2025 Hello everyone,  Thanks for reading the January 11th edition of the EwA highlights. With such frigid weather this past week, many of us opted to stay warm inside, and it showed in our number of observations (about 4 times fewer than last week). There’s always something to talk about or learn in nature, though, so read away!  📸 While EwA’s number of observations on iNat was down significantly, there was still plenty to see. Looking over this week’s observations, I was struck by all of the interesting birds Deana observed in coastal Rhode Island, including this merlin (Falco columbarius), a flock of snow buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis), and a Northern harrier (Circus hudsonius). Merlins aren’t a common sight in New England, as we’re towards the northern end of their winter range.  EwA iNaturalist Record (© Deana Tempest Thomas · Wakefield, RI · Jan. 10, 2025)  Bill observed this pitch pine (Pinus rigida) in the Middlesex Fells this week. This pine, often growing in the gnarled manner depicted here, tends to show up in places with poor soils such as the rocky hilltops found throughout the Fells. Famously, it is the dominant tree of the Atlantic coastal pine barren ecoregion, which covers areas ranging from Cape Cod to southern New Jersey. EwA iNaturalist Record (© Bill MacIndewar · Melrose, MA · Jan. 7, 2025)  EwA’s most-observed species this week was again the bumpy rim-lichen (Lecanora hybocarpa). This lichen can be found growing on tree bark, typically on deciduous trees. EwA iNaturalist Record (© Bill MacIndewar · Melrose, MA · Jan. 7, 2024)  📊 Thanks to everyone for your great biodiversity records this week, totaling 147 observations of 100 distinct species. If you’re curious about the records from this week that have been validated by the iNat community so far, you can find them » here. 🏆 Running tally: To date, we have recorded 222,938 observations of 12,156 distinct species! Check out our EwA umbrella project, see the details per site/observer, and more » here. 📅 EwA Upcoming Public Events Ewa Field Events » Check the EwA Winter [ Event details and registration » ] Don’t miss some great opportunities to follow the rhythm of the season in our local habitats and in the local wildlife! Space is limited for all our field events. Wildlife ethics is important to us and we seek to avoid putting the pressure on natural habitats which large gatherings unavoidably do. We are asking our audience to register-and-commit (or cancel when you know you can’t come) to avoid no-shows. EwA Fieldwork (and Resources) It’s a great time to join our monitoring programs. Check EwA’s Volunteer Program Calendar 📅  to know when things happen. And if a session is of interest to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to get the rendezvous location. 📅 EwA Sites Map | 🌱 Site Protocols and Guides · Field Rosters · Field Notes » All here! | ℹ️ More about EwA’s Citizen Science Program » Here ❓ Do you have any questions? Don’t be shy. Just email me or reply to this thread.  That’s all for this week—hope you have a good one! -Mike