EAGLE REPORTS-- Shooter Sentenced--On February 3, 2005, a Pittsfield man was sentenced in federal court for killing a bald eagle in October of 2003 in Cheshire, Massachusetts.  The U. S. Attorney’s Office and the US Fish and Wildlife Service announced that Joseph Donahue, age 79, was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, $2000 more than originally requested by the prosecutor. US District Judge Michael Ponsor also ordered Donahue lose his privilege to hunt for two years. 

The case was investigated by both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Massachusetts Environmental Police.  The U.S. Attorney’s office also thanked Dr. Tom French of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife for his assistance and for providing information to the Court during the sentencing hearing. For more information, contact Samantha Martin, U.S. Attorney’s Office at 617/748-3139. 

17 Year Old Eagle Fit for Transmitting--The New York Department of Environmental Conservation recently trapped a Massachusetts banded adult bald eagle along the Delaware River as part of an on-going wintering eagle study.  The bands were originally placed on the eagle in 1988, prior to its release from the Quabbin Reservoir hack tower.  The eagle is now 17 years old.  The bird is healthy and was released with a satellite transmitter to track its movements.  The bird is believed to be nesting somewhere in the Delaware River valley.

Turkey Tally--Final fall season figures for the turkey season have been compiled. Hunters harvested 212 turkeys during the 6-day season compared to 111 in 2003. 122 of these birds were toms (males) and 90 were hens (females). Hunters from 5 states (MA, CT, NH, NY, and VT) participated in the fall hunt.  MassWildlife Turkey Project Leader Jim Cardoza noted that fall turkey harvests have varied considerably over the years.  Hunter effort and participation is important, and can vary with participation in other hunting activities. Weather conditions during the fall hunt and the survival success from the previous summer are also important factors in turkey hunter’s success rate.

Conservation Camp for Teens--Enroll a teen in the 2 week Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp. Open to girls and boys from 13-17 years of age, the camp offers a host of outdoor skills sessions relating to fishing, hunting, camping and other recreation, field trips with biologists, a Hunter Safety and Boating Safety course, as well as special guest speakers on natural resources topics. Camp will be held in Chesterfield from August 7-19. Deadline to save a slot is May 1. The Mass. Jr. Conservation Camp is a partnership between MassWildlife, Mass Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, the Mass. Environmental Police and the Gun Owner's Action League. Many sportsmens clubs and conservation groups sponsor area teens. Applications are available at the Camp website at www.juniorconservationcamp.org or by calling MassWildlife at 508/792-7270 or the Gun Owner's Action League 508/393-5333.

Upcoming Meetings—The next meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board is scheduled for February 22 at 11 AM at the MassWildlife Richard Cronin Building off North Drive in Westboro. The next meeting of the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee will be held March 10, 1:30PM - 4:30PM at the Westboro Field Headquarters on North Drive off Rte 135 in Westborough.  These are public meetings. For directions, call 508/792-7270.

Calendar of Events—Check www.mass.gov/masswildlife  for weekly updates to the MassWildlife Calendar

February 24-27 -- MassWildlife at the Springfield Sportsmen's Show, Big E, West Springfield--Stop by the MassWildlife Booth to learn about hunting and fishing opportunities as well as outdoor skills courses and clinics. Support wildlife research, restoration, conservation, habitat protection and management in the Commonwealth with your license purchase! Contribute to a raffle for the Mass. Angler Education Program--win a bass fishing trip to a camp in Maine, a Sage fly rod, and other great prizes. For show information, go to www.osegsportsmens.org

February 24-27 -- MassWildlife at Central Mass. Flower Show, Worcester--MassWildlife is teaming up with MassAudubon and Gardens By Lisa and hosting a display; “Color and Camouflage, Your Wild Neighbors” at the DCU Center (formerly Centrum). The main theme of this year's show is Festival of Color. Learn about some of the wild neighbors that may be in your backyard, learn about techniques to attract wildlife and how wildlife and people can responsibly share habitat in the neighborhood. More information on the Central Mass. Flower Show, call 800/533-0229 or email info@centralmaflowershow.com

March 5 -- Annual Birders Meeting, Waltham--Join fellow birders at the Bentley College LaCava Center for the 13th Massachusetts Birders Meeting, sponsored by Mass Audubon in partnership with the Menotomy Bird Club.  MassWildlife's Dr. Scott Melvin will make a presentation on Massachusetts Coastal Waterbird Conservation Efforts. Agenda also includes: Presentations on Ivory Billed Woodpeckers and Piping Plovers, and more; Workshops on eBirding, Bird Photography, Wind Energy and Birds, and Bird ID.  A silent auction of artwork, optics and more will take place. For more information, contact 781/259-2151 or egarcia@massaudubon.org

March 5 -- MassWildlife at Mass. Association of Conservation Commissions Annual Conference, Worcester--Over 1000 Conservation Commissioners, other local officials, state and federal environmental officials, consultants, attorneys and others enjoy a full day of activities at the Hogan Center at Holy Cross College. Over 40 workshop and training sessions are offered, all taught by recognized experts. Dr. Jon Regosin, MassWildlife’s Senior Environmental Review Leader will present a session on Endangered Species Regulation in Massachusetts.  Over 40 exhibits and displays. Stop by the MassWildlife table! For more info on the conference, call 617/489-3930 or www.maccweb.org/index.html

March 9 -- Upland Habitat Management Talk, Athol—Hosted by the Athol Bird and Nature Club Meeting at 7PM, MassWildlife Forester Jill Liske-Clark will talk about shrubland reclamation programs and update interested meeting attendees on the management plans for Cass Meadow in town. Held at the Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main Street. For more information call MREC at 978/248-9491

March 12-13 -- MassWildlife at the World Flyfishing Expo, Wilmington--Buy your license and talk with MassWildlife staff and Angler Education Instructors about fishing/hunting opportunities as well as outdoor skills courses and clinics. Contribute to a raffle for the Mass. Angler Education Program--win a bass fishing trip to a camp in Maine, a Sage fly rod, an Old Town Kayak and other great prizes. For more information on the show, contact Expo at 1/800-227-2067 or www.sportshows.com

March 19 -- 16th Annual Massachusetts Land Trust Conference, Worcester--Through workshops, discussions and exhibits, the sponsors of the conference (Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition and The Trustees of Reservations’ Putnam Conservation Institute) provide land trust board members, staff and others interested in land conservation with the knowledge and skills needed to be effective. MassWildlife will be an exhibitor at this conference held at the Bancroft School. Pre-registration is required. Call 978/537-4458 x312 or email: landcons.ttor.org