INSCRUTABLE GRAMINIODs: 

Field Identification of Grass-like Plants in Late June

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

An Aton Forest workshop led by Bill Moorhead

This plant identification workshop focuses on field identification and ecology of important grasses, sedges, and rushes (collectively, “graminoids”, or grass-like plants) that are commonly encountered in Connecticut during the first part of summer.  We will cover upland grassland bird habitats, wet meadows and other graminoid-dominated wetlands, dry grasslands, and some forested habitats.  We will cover the basic features that distinguish the major graminoid groups, the terminology used in graminoid identification, distinguishing invasive and other non-native species from native species, wetland indicator values and other ecological affinities of various species.

BILL MOORHEAD is an independent consulting field botanist based in western Connecticut.  He has specialized for 29 years in the search for populations of rare plants and their habitats, and the study of plant communities and the factors determining their species composition and distribution.

Location: Topsmead State Forest, Chase Road (first right off Buell Road from the north), Litchfield, CT

Date: Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (NOTE: the workshop will begin promptly at 9:00 AM, so please try to arrive earlier)

Tuition: $85 - we accept check by mail (Aton Forest, Inc., PO Box 509, Norfolk, CT 06058) or card via PayPal (see below)
SIGNUP FOR THIS WORKSHOP HAS PAST

This workshop is limited to 15 participants.  Registration and payment required in advance. Each participant must register seperately. If the workshop is cancelled by us for any reason, any advanced payments will refunded in full or may be used to attend another workshop or may considered a donation to Aton Forest.If a participant cancells without at least one weeks notice prior to the workshop date or does not attend the workshop, any advanced payment will be forfit and may considered a donation to Aton Forest.

For more information, please contact instructor at whmoorhead@optonline.net, (860) 543-1786; or 
Aton Forest at contact@atonforest.org, (860) 542-5125.

Continuing Education Units may be available.  Please contact us in advance for more information.

Things you will need to bring: a brown bag lunch and choice of drink; a good quality hand lens/loupe with at least 10X magnification; a field notebook and writing implement[s]; bags for collecting specimens; choice of sun and insect/tick protection; appropriate footwear for both upland and ankle-deep wetland sites; rain gear (the workshop runs rain or shine).

Lunch is not provided -- participants need to bring their own brown bag lunches and choice of drink.

Willows Demystified Thursday, May 24, 2018 A workshop led by Bill Moorhead We will cover the identification and ecology of the 21 southern New England Salix species and several of the hybrids of this troublesome genus. The workshop will begin with a lab session at Aton Forest, and then we will hit the field, visiting several sites in the vicinity of Aton Forest. This workshop will run, rain or shine.  If the weather is bad enough, we will extend the lab session, using fresh and pressed material. Participants are encouraged to bring specimens. Each participant should bring: a good quality hand lens with at least 10X magnification; fine-pointed forceps that can be carried in the field; hip waders, knee-high rubber boots, or shoes that can get wet; his/her choice of insect repellant, sun protection; field notebook; collecting bags; camera, if desired. Lunch is not provided -- participants need to bring their own brown bag lunches.  Coffee and other beverages and some pastries will be provided in the morning. BILL MOORHEAD is an independent consulting field botanist based in western Connecticut.  He has specialized for 28 years in the search for populations of rare plants and their habitats, and the study of plant communities and the factors determining their species composition and distribution. Location: Aton Forest Headquarters, 270 North Colebrook Rd., Norfolk, CT 06058 Date: Thursday, May 24, 2017 Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (NOTE: the workshop will begin promptly at 9:00 AM, so please try to arrive earlier); we will carpool to the various field locations from Aton Forest Headquarters. Tuition: $85 - we accept check by mail (Aton Forest, Inc., PO Box 509, Norfolk, CT 06058) or card via PayPal (see below); please bring a lunch; beverages will be provided. SIGNUP FOR THIS WORKSHOP HAS PAST Workshops limited to 15 participants.  Registration and payment required in advance. Each participant must register seperately. If the workshop is cancelled by us for any reason, any advanced payments will refunded in full or may be used to attend another workshop or may considered a donation to Aton Forest.If a participant cancells without at least one weeks notice prior to the workshop date or does not attend the workshop, any advanced payment will be forfit and may considered a donation to Aton Forest. For more information, please contact instructor at whmoorhead@optonline.net, (860) 543-1786; or  Aton Forest at contact@atonforest.org, (860) 542-5125. Continuing Education Units are available.  Please contact us for more information.

BIRDING BY EAR - May 6th and 20th, 2018
Join expert birders Bob Barbieri and Fran Zygmont (two separate dates) for a birding adventure through Aton Forest. 

In these workshops you will learn to distinguish a variety of both breeding and migrant bird species by song and call. Though the programs focus on birding by ear, spring is a good time to see birds as well, before trees and shrubs fully leaf-out. Visual characteristics and behavior useful in identification will also be discussed.  A number of habitat types will be visited (old field, shrubland, mature forest, forested wetland, hayfield, and a beaver pond) so as to observe as many birds as possible.

Dates: 
Sat, May 6th with Bob Barbieri
Sat, May 20th with Fran Zygmont
Times: 8:00 am to 10:30 am
Location: AF Hq, 270 North Colebrook Rd, Norfolk CT
To Register: to reserve your place (the programs are limited to 15 participants each day; you may sign up for one or both dates) go to Workshops on the the Aton Forest website: http://afworkshops.blogspot.com/
$15 per person per day to register.
SIGNUP FOR THIS WORKSHOP HAS PAST

For more information, visit out webiste or email us at contact@atonforest.org or call: (860) 542-5125, office, or (860) 248-1053, cell.

Willows Demystified Tuesday, May 23, 2018 A workshop led by Bill Moorhead We will cover the identification and ecology of the 21 southern New England Salix species and several of the hybrids of this troublesome genus.  The workshop will begin with a lab session at Aton Forest, and then we will hit the field, visiting several sites in the vicinity of Aton Forest.  This workshop will run, rain or shine.  If the weather is bad enough, we will extend the lab session, using fresh and pressed collected material.  Participants are encouraged to bring specimens. Each participant should bring: a good quality hand lens with at least 10X magnification; fine-pointed forceps that can be carried in the field; hip waders, knee-high rubber boots, or shoes that can get wet; his/her choice of insect repellant, sun protection; field notebook; collecting bags; camera, if desired. Lunch is not provided -- participants need to bring their own brown bag lunches.  Water will be provided. BILL MOORHEAD is an independent consulting field botanist based in western Connecticut.  He has specialized for 28 years in the search for populations of rare plants and their habitats, and the study of plant communities and the factors determining their species composition and distribution. Location: Aton Forest Headquarters, 270 North Colebrook Rd., Norfolk, CT 06058 Date: Tuesday, May 23, 2017 Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (NOTE: the workshop will begin promptly at 9:00 AM, so please try to arrive by 8:30); we will carpool to the various field locations. Tuition: $75 - we accept check by mail (Aton Forest, Inc., PO Box 509, Norfolk, CT 06058) or card via PayPal (see below); please bring a lunch; beverages will be provided. SIGNUP FOR THIS WORKSHOP HAS PAST Workshops limited to 15 participants per day.  Registration and payment required in advance. For more information, please contact instructor at whmoorhead@optonline.net (860-543-1786) or Aton Forest at contact@atonforest.org (860) 543-5125. Continuing Education Units are available.  Please contact us for more information.