Kevin Job (CT-DEEP) said, "we're seeing them all around now--you guys should see them any day now." Paul and I decided to try going out at night, on the theory that if the Whitford Brook numbers are low, they might be even more wary of swimming up the gauntlet of osprey, loon, gulls, and cormorants during the day. We grabbed our flashlight and started staring at the white boards. After about five minutes, we saw a shadow swoosh (about that fast) upstream. Was that one?? Could it be?? a couple of minutes later, another one. Another four minutes, and two. We shouted Welcome Hooooome, Seeqanamâhs!! Our hearts were pounding the whole time. And now, every time.
We've since seen two during the day, looking exactly like the pictures. They swim like they are on a mission, with no wandering around. They are remarkably fast (swoosh), so don't look away. They are alone or in pairs in single file, not in schools. We need to keep counting during the day! The science will be skewed if we don't. But if you haven't seen any yet and you are getting discouraged, try going out after dark for inspiration to keep going during the day. Wear reflective clothing if you can, and use your flashlight when crossing the street. Don't forget to sign up so that YOU can be counted, too! Don't forget to enter your data! Even if it's zero, this is important! Come join us on May 18 (see below) when we celebrate all of you and the Alewife, too!!
TWO MORE ALEWIFE HEROES CROWNED
This week we are celebrating Laura and Grace Moore, whose persistence has brought them to Whitford Brook 15 times, even though "it always seems to be raining" and they haven't seen one yet. Sometimes science is "boring," but oh, so necessary! "It feels good to keep watch for the alewife survivors," says Laura.
YOU CAN BE ALL IN FOR ALEWIFE EVEN IF YOU CAN'T GET TO WHITFORD BROOK!
Their populations are in sharp decline, but the Alliance is growing and showing up for them. Many thanks to the dozen or so Alliance allies who showed up to be counted and to speak on their behalf. The NE Fisheries Management Council says that, with about 80 people present, April 17 was the biggest turnout and the widest range of stakeholders for a community-input meeting that they have ever seen. Half a dozen Allies spoke, including Zoe Wu, a high school student, and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Elder Mike Thomas. It's tough for high school students like Zoe to make it out on a week night, but there were more sitting in the back. Everybody got to sign in and get counted, no matter their age, be it 6 or 90.
You can attend a webinar tonight! Register here
You can write to the NEFMC in support of River Herring Rebound! For information you can use, see our Alewife River Herring page.
The Alliance for the Mystic River Watershed launched at last year's Earth Day Expo in Groton, so we were thrilled to get a table this year, too, as we approach our First Birthday! Our youngest Director Zoe Wu designed an activity for kids to show how everyone in our ecosystems needs each other...which seems fitting, since working together is how the Alliance rolls!
What is Collaborative Civic Action?? Working together builds hope! Are you sick of the drama and yearning for collaboration? Do you like the sound of combining learning adventures with civic change? Last week, the Alliance for the Mystic River Watershed held a conversation about its own philosophy about supporting change by helping out and advancing the concept of becoming intersecting Learning and Planning Communities--check out the slideshow here, and let us know if you would like to help shape our policy (how we enact our priorities) and how we encourage participation!
