Report completed by: Jenny L. Feick, PhD, ER Warden for Mount Sabine Ecological Reserve Report completion date: September 4, 2023

Seee the PDF of this report Mt Sabine Ecological Reserve Warden Report for 2023 final

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2 Ecological Reserve Warden Trip Report Summary …………………………………………………………………………… 3 ER Name:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Trip Date: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3

Field Trip Participant Names:……………………………………………………………………………………………………..3 Number of volunteer hours logged: …………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Extent of the ecological reserve visited, or tour route ………………………………………………………………….. 3 Purpose and Objectives for This Site Visit …………………………………………………………………………………… 5

Purpose: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5 Objectives: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5 Background for Objective #1 …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5

Plant and Animal Species Observed …………………………………………………………………………………………… 7 Forest Composition:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7

Shrub Layer: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8 Ground Cover:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………9 Animal Species Observed or Evidence of Wildlife …………………………………………………………………… 11

Public Access Issues ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13 Signage Issues ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 14 Maintenance Issues ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15 Visitor Activities …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 16 Warden Activities……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………16 Wardens’ Conclusions, Proposals and Suggestions …………………………………………………………………….. 17

Conclusions ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 17 Follow-up on Suggestions Made in 2022 – Items Completed and/or Underway………………………….18 Follow-up on Suggestions Made in 2022 –Tasks Remaining …………………………………………………….. 19 New Suggestions in 2023 …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 20

Appendix A: Tracking Biodiversity – Toward a Species List for Mount Sabine Ecological Reserve …….. 23 Animals…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 23 Arthropods ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 23 Birds …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 23 Mammals ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 23

Lichens …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 23 1

Fungi…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 23 Plants……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 24 Appendix B: Correspondence re: Ecological Reserves and Drones ……………………………………………….. 25

Email from Wayne Stetski ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 25 Email From: Jenny Feick……………………………………………………………………………………………………….25 Email from Steven Bercek ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 26 EMail from Chris Price…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 26