Monarch Butterfly. Image by PopcornSusanN from Pixabay.

Monarch Butterfly

The monarch butterfly population in North America has plummeted by over 90% in just the last 20 years. One of the biggest factors in monarch decline is the increasing scarcity of its only caterpillar host plant: milkweed. Without milkweed, monarchs can’t successfully reproduce and the species declines. By planting milkweed in your own garden and throughout your community, you can help reverse the fortune of these beautiful insects.

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Roger Berle

Letter from the President

Diamonds in the Rough

July 2020

As we’ve all come to consider way too many times over this past troubled Spring of 2020, things have been extraordinarily different. And difficult.

Yet, within the Little Diamond Island community, a great accomplishment has still taken place – rough times or no. A major Celebration is now certainly warranted. Unfortunately, however, we will not get to physically experience this success story at what would be our “normal” Annual Meeting time later in July. But as a teaser, we can today capsulize this amazing effort and then hopefully plan on an actual celebratory event in the Fall. Stay tuned...

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Phragmites east of Battery Steele about the same.

Spring Monitoring 2020

AJ Monument overlooking Casco Bay

AJ's Monument overlooking Hussey Sound, Daveis Sanctuary, Peaks Island.

Tom Bergh checks a survey marker in Skillings Woods

Tom Bergh checks a survey marker in Skillings Woods, Peaks Island.

Liz Johnson at Battery Steel north entrance. Pallets for water crossing.

Liz Johnson finds pallets at the north entrance to Battery Steele, Peaks Island.

Being mindful of Covid-19 recommendations, OCT Directors and Stewards walked each property for the annual Spring Monitoring visits. All the properties are visited every year, whether OCT holds a conservation easement on a property or whether it is one which OCT owns in fee. During these visits, we check the boundaries and document and photograph any changes, paying particular attention to issues which are controlled by the easements. We keep records of which species we find, both native, occasional and invasive. This helps our understanding of the various ecosystems and why it is important to conserve them.

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