2006 Wildlife Management Goals and Objectives

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The wildlife team will focus on three goals during the seventh 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 and in participating in REWHC activities:

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.
4. Participate in welcome activities for new hires, coop students and summer interns.
5. Participate in employee involvement activities such as “Our People” week.
6. Participate in “Bring Your Child to Work Day”, Engineer’s Week and similar employee involvement activities.
7. Invite employee participation in trail cleanups, offering incentive of credit for community service.
8. Partner with new neighbors, Bazarsky campus of Father Flanagan’s Girls and Boys Town .

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.
• Participation in “Bring Your Child to Work Day” since 2004(?) and Engineer’s Week (2006).
• Work with existing employee groups to foster involvement in environmental activities (summer interns, Young Engineers and Scientists, Women’s Initiative, diversity groups).
• Trail work parties have become our routine mechanism for effecting trail maintenance and improvement since the summer of 2005.
• Offer volunteer opportunities with community partners (particularly Save The Bay, Norman Bird Sanctuary) for habitat restoration projects as well as fund-raising events. Company requires community service as one component of performance evaluation, and these events can be used for such credit.

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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,5.
5. Participate in planning for use of site campground by Scouts and other youth groups.

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.
• A campground has been set up and procedures in place to involve REWHC in all camping activities.
• Worked with Melville Campground Association and Mont Hope Farm in their trail planning efforts.
• Continue to partner with Aquidneck Land Trust on Sakonnet Greenway and other open-space initiatives.

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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.
• Partnered with Sierra Club and Appalachian Mountain Club to conduct cooperative cleanup in Lawton Valley – Earth Day, 2004.
• Became a member of the Environment Council of Rhode Island (2005) • New partnerships with Melville Campground Association and Mount Hope Farm.
• Hosted “Ocean State Habitat Partnership” meeting in September 2004
• Partnered with Fidelity Investments to assist them in developing their Wildlife at Work program and certification.
• Increased efforts to partner with Aquidneck Land Trust in efforts to preserve habitat in Lawton Valley.
• Participating in SmartGrowth planning for Sakonnet Greenway (bike path and open space access).
• Continue to work with RI DEM and Audubon Society of Rhode Island in planning for installation of a nesting platform for Ospreys and meadow nest box for American Kestrel.
• Consulted with Michael Tucker, Director of the Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s Caratunk Refuge, on meadow management techniques in planning for changes to habitat management in the meadow fields.
• Have hosted invasive beetle investigation by RI Division of Agriculture for three years.

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.
   
   

Progress:

Met with the Aquidneck Island Land Trust and Raytheon Management,
Prepared information document: "Lawton’s Valley: A Natural and Historic Treasure in Rhode Island",
Information document provided to Bay View Apartments, a Lawton Valley abutting property owner,