2003 Wildlife Management Goals and Objectives

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The wildlife team will focus on three goals during the fourth year of this plan to increase biodiversity and environmental awareness on the REWHC Portsmouth campus.

1. Increase the abundance and diversity of wildlife species.
2. Increase environmental awareness at work and in the community.
3. Protect our environment for future generations.

Goal 1: Increase Abundance and Diversity

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We are managing our habitat to support sustainable wildlife populations. Planning activities include the definition and implementation of habitat controls and verification. Controls include modification of natural food supplies, nesting areas, and predation guards. Verifications include visual observation through Reporting. Example Relative Abundance And Relative Diversity Reports are shown for Birds and reflect the latest database entries. For a report representing a given range of dates, use the Report Selection Form to enter a time filter. In support of this goal, the following prescriptions are planned to meet stated objectives:

Objective:

• Re-establish the Eastern Bluebird on Aquidneck Island.
  

Prescriptions:

1. Erect a "bluebird trail" of nestboxes around the campus,
2. Aggressively monitor the boxes weekly to remove non-natives,
   
3. Investigate efficacy of several bluebird-friendly nest box designs.
   

Progress:

• Nest Monitoring Program Established and progress may be viewed on-line.
• Predator guards added to nest box design and implemented for new boxes.

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Objective:

• Provide habitat and cover for nesting birds.

Prescriptions:

1. Reduce or eliminate mowing of meadow fields during nesting season.

Progress:

• Meadow Fields mowing reduced. See pictures of the meadow fields on-line.
• Invasive "bittersweet" vines thinned in selected areas to restor native undergrowth.

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Objective:

• Increase butterfly and hummingbird populations.

Prescriptions:

1. Establish and maintain Butterfly and Hummingbird gardens in front of building 1 (Nimitz), building 2 (Providence), and building 3 (Constitution).
2. Introduce wildflower plantings in the Meadow Fields.
   

Progress:

• Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden planted in front of building 3 (Constutution).

• Wildflower garden planted in the meadow field. A picture of the wildflowers can be viewed on-line.

Goal 2: Increase Environmental Awareness

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Objective:

• Get employees more involved with the environment:

Prescriptions:

1. Provide Trailguides and Scheduled walks.
2. Establish and maintain interpretive trails,
3. Turn Earth Day into Earth Week and create family fun atmosphere in learning about the environment.

Progress:

• Trailguides established including an overall trail-guide and an interpretive trail guide both in pocket form and in ledger form.
• A "Welcome Guide" prepared,
• Trailwalks scheduled and held for employees on Earth Day, during the company picnic, and periodically through the year. Themes currently include the emerging forest, stone walls, site history, and birds.

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Objective:

• Get the community more involved with the environment:

Prescriptions:

1. Invite school groups for guided walks,
2. Host Norman Bird Sanctuary birdwalks at our facility,
3. Invite scout groups for guided walks,
4. Have scouts build nesting boxes,

Progress:

• Boy Scouts built nesting boxes .
• Girl Scouts planted a tree .
• Norman Bird Sanctuary led birdwalks.
• Multiple Brownie groups hosted on trailwalks.
• Brownies Planted a Wildflower Garden.

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Objective:

• Create lasting bonds with local organizations:
  

Prescriptions:

1. Involve local organizations in surveys,
   
2. Involve local organizations in earth day celebrations,
   
3. Consult with local organizations on a regular basis.
   

Progress:

• Norman Bird Sanctuary helped us survey.
• Matt Largess helped us plant trees,
• Dana Filipini helped us plant a memorial garden and butterfly garden.
• Interpretive trailmaking discussion and trailwalk with Norman Bird Sanctuary Education Director and Director of Ballard Park Association
• Several trailbuilding discussions with the Aquidneck Island Land Trust, a local environmental organization, to discuss techniques in building their new "greenway" trail.
• Developed "Create-a-Bird" activity booklet, available for download here, and provided 200 copies to the Norman Bird Sanctuary for use in in-house and classroom bird adaptation piloting program. The create-a-bird activity was also featured during earth day as an environmental craft.

Goal 3: Protect our Environment For the Future

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Objective:

• Protect Lawton Valley
  

Prescriptions:

1. Survey species in the valley.
   
2. Create photodocumentation,
   
3. Involve local organizations and experts such as the Aquidneck Island Land Trust and Tree Steward Matt Largess,
   
4. Meet with corporate management to discuss permanent protection.

Developing a Wildlife Habitat Management Plan

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• Download a sample Wildlife Habitat Management Plan sample here (186kB).
• Download our Wildlife Habitat Management Plan in progress here (457kB).
• Provide comments on the plan in progress for the above revision by navigating to the appropriate subject for the revision under "wildlife planning" here.