Bay State anglers can look forward to over 579,900 feisty brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout being stocked this spring according to figures released by MassWildlife. Weather and water conditions permitting, MassWildlife stocking trucks will be making their spring trout stocking runs beginning with selected lakes and ponds in the eastern areas of the state by mid-March. Other waterbodies in the state, still covered with snow will be stocked when weather, snow, water and mud conditions permit.

Volunteers from high schools, sporting clubs, civic groups, colleges and individuals with a passion for rivers, fish or fishing are needed to assist MassWildlife in stocking 1.5 million salmon fry (juvenile fish) as part of the Atlantic salmon restoration program. According to Dr. Caleb Slater, MassWildlife's Anadromous Fish Project Leader, at least 20 stocking dates are planned in April and early May to release salmon fry into dozens of Connecticut River tributaries. The fry will come from MassWildlife's Roger Reed Hatchery in Palmer and the White River National Fish Hatchery in Bethel, Vermont. Fry will be trucked to meeting sites where volunteers will gather and caravan to release sites. The tiny fish will then be moved from truck to water by bucket using volunteer man and woman power.

MassWildlife and MassAudubon would like to remind anyone with an interest in birds that there is still time to sign up for a statewide bird conference to be held on Saturday, March 15 at Bentley College in Waltham! This is MassAudubon’s 16th year organizing this meeting and this year, for the first time MassWildlife is co-sponsoring the conference. The conference, "Massachusetts Birds: Our Common Wealth and Natural Heritage" is packed with workshops and lectures on research findings, waterfowl identification, youth bird clubs, conservation stamps, bird calls, habitat management techniques for birds in decline and many other topics of interest. Presentations will be offered by a variety of professionals from state agencies and conservation organizations.

By MICHAEL McAULIFFE

WEST SPRINGFIELD - When it comes to fishing, size certainly seems to make a difference in Massachusetts.

While the popularity of hunting and fishing appears to be diminishing overall in America, the number of anglers is on the increase in the Bay State, perhaps as a result of the variety of venues and relatively cozy confines.

The month of March is crammed with a number of environmental conferences in which MassWildlife staff will be participating. Conservation minded citizens may want to take a look at the offerings below and sign up soon!

The 2008 Becoming An Outdoorswoman schedule of workshops is posted in the Education area of the MassWildlife website at http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/education/bow/bow_calendar.htm.

Novice and experienced adult outdoorswomen are invited to sign up for workshops in which they can learn a new outdoor skill, meet like-minded women and have fun at the same time! All workshops are designed for beginners and are taught by experienced and friendly instructors.

The Massachusetts Chapter of The Nature Conservancy presented its 2007 Conservationist of the Year award to Henry Woolsey, Program Manager of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP). The Conservancy selected Mr. Woolsey to receive the award in recognition of his 20 years of leadership and vision in support of land and water conservation. “Every day, the Heritage Program identifies and mitigates impacts on truly critical lands before it is too late,” said Loring Schwarz, acting state director of The Nature Conservancy’s Massachusetts Chapter. “Over the years, Henry’s program has developed new and innovative ways to measure, map and protect our natural areas. The Massachusetts landscape and the animals and plants it harbors would have a different quality if not for his persistent leadership.” Schwarz noted that Woolsey conceived and oversaw the development of the BioMap and Living Waters maps that have driven many conservation initiatives and decisions over the past several years. She also noted that recently these maps served as integral elements in the Massachusetts’s Wildlife Action Plan, a planning tool recognized as one of the best in the nation, in part due to the quality and quantity of Natural Heritage Program data and input.

In January, biologists from MassWildlife’s offices fanned out across the state to sites where people feed waterfowl. The biologists were participating in the 2008 Waterfowl Feeding Survey. This survey has been conducted by the agency every 5 years since 1973. Feeding site reports from the public were also gathered. Because most of the waterfowl associated with these sites are mallards, this survey has been dubbed the “Park Mallard Survey”. This year, 12,681 mallards, 422 black ducks, and 1,768 Canada geese were counted on 160 sites, down from 15,244 mallards, 1,583 black ducks, and 3,361 Canada geese on 193 sites counted in 2003. This is well below the 20,659 mallards, 2,504 black ducks and 5,110 Canada geese counted at 224 sites in 1993.

MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) was removed from the state's operating budget in 2004. Since then the NHESP has been funded by project-specific bond monies, fees, federal grants, and voluntary contributions.

Anglers who reeled in the biggest fish of 2007 from Massachusetts lakes, ponds, and streams were recently honored by state fish and wildlife officials at the Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition in Worcester. On February 9, Massachusetts Fish and Game Commissioner Mary Griffin joined with Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Director Wayne MacCallum to present the annual Freshwater Sportfishing Awards. Among the dozens of fish enthusiasts to be honored was Roy Leyva of Plymouth, who was named MassWildlife’s Angler of the Year – an award that recognizes the sportsman or woman who weighs in the largest number of species that qualify under the Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program. Leyva landed 13 different species throughout eastern and central Massachusetts, from Hoxie Pond in Sandwich and the North River in Pembroke to Plugs Pond in Haverhill and the Wachusett Reservoir.

It is with great pleasure and excitement that I have the opportunity to present the inaugural issue of MARLIN WORLD.

LINK TO MAGAZINE: http://viewer.zmags.com/showmag.php?mid=pgptf

1. Click anywhere on the screen to ZOOM in and read.

The idea for Outdoorsman Exchange came about in an instant, but in a way it was sometime in the making – we just didn’t realize it at the time.

For years my husband, Paul, has wanted to go on an elk hunt. I’ve encouraged him many times. He and his brothers talk how they should all go elk hunting out west with their Dad before age took its toll on him. Pursuit of that dream sounded good but there was always the financial reality check that held my husband back. He couldn’t justify spending money on a guided hunting trip and felt a guided trip was the only way to go for a successful hunt. This voice inside kept telling him - we need to save money for more sensible things like kids braces, college funds, etc. Most everyone can relate to these thoughts, unless you’re an heir to a fortune.

Despite an inclement weather postponement, a concentrated eagle count for the Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey finally took place on January 16, 2008. The preliminary statewide reports from this effort by MassWildlife staff and volunteer observers resulted in 72 American Bald Eagles sighted. This event was part of a two week nationwide Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey conducted annually in January. Eagle sightings from observers and other interested citizens are still trickling in to the Westboro office. Sighting reports will be compiled and analyzed at a later date. Anyone who spotted eagles in the Bay State from between January 1 and January 16, 2008 is encouraged to report their observations to MassWildlife by email at mass.wildlife@state.ma.us or by postal service to "Eagle Survey", MassWildlife, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581. Be sure to provide date, time, location and town of eagle sightings, number of birds, juvenile or adult, and observer contact information.