Moving the East Barn

The East Barn on the former Preston-Lefreniere property in Bolton was recently moved 60 feet north from where it sat on Duxbury Road. The property, which includes the Preston-Lefreniere house and two additional barns, is owned by the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR), and part of Camels Hump State Park.

The East Barn is estimated to have been built in the early 1800s in the style of 19^thcentury English barns, and is featured on the Bolton town seal.  Five generations of the Preston family lived and worked on the farm, beginning in the 1790s. 

It is believed that its close proximity to the road, coupled with age, led to the barn’s deterioration. On October 29th, the building was moved onto a new foundation, rotten beams were repaired, and new sills were added. FPR decided to move the barn in order to stabilize and preserve the historical structure for future use. Stabilization efforts will continue through November.

According to Mike Fraysier, FPR’s Director of State Lands Administration, “...The Department recognizes the historic significance of this barn and its importance to the Town of Bolton and felt it was important to undertake some stabilization measures now so that the barn is not lost.” 

Owls in Winter

Owls are everywhere in Vermont this winter! Snowy owls have migrated south from the arctic in search of prey, making this winter an irruption year. Snowy owls sightings have been reported statewide and across the northeast. But snowy owls aren’t the only raptors taking residence in Vermont this winter. The barred owl, Vermont’s most common, doesn’t migrate and populates the state’s forests all year long.

Barred owls are grayish-brown with white stripes on their wings, back, and vertically across their belly. Unlike other owls in Vermont, they have brown eyes. If you haven't seen a barred owl, there is a good chance that you’ve heard one. They have many vocalizations including hoots, grunts, squeaks, and gurgles. Their most recognizable call sounds like, “Who-cooks-for-you? Who-cooks-for-you-all?” Female and male owls communicate during mating season in late winter by calling and responding to each other or vocalizing in unison. Owl pairs mate for life and raise their young together. Barred owls are curious, gentle, and friendly animals that are known to approach humans when they imitate their calls in the forest.  

Barred owls eat mice, rabbits, and fish, reptiles and sometimes birds; their diets are flexible, and they will eat what’s available. They swallow their prey whole, digesting what they can, and regurgitating pellets of fur and bones later. They are largely nocturnal and hunt at night, but are sometimes seen during the day, especially in winter.

The habitats of barred owls vary, but they favor mature deciduous forests near water. They sometimes inhabit spruce-fir forests and mixed-conifer deciduous forests. The largest population of barred owls lives in Vermont’s Green Mountains. During the winter, they are often found nesting in lower canopy of trees, using the thicker vegetation to block the wind.

The population of barred owls in the state is relatively secure. Their lowest populations were reported during the 19^th century when much of Vermont was deforested for farming. Today, they are most vulnerable to loss of habitat through the development of the forests where they live.  

If you find yourself trying to spot a snowy owl this winter, remember to keep your eyes (and ears) open for a barred owl, too!

Karalyn Mark: A Natural Photographer

Karalyn Mark spent the past summer as a Vermont State Parks Photography Intern.
She grew up in Southeastern PA before traveling to Ithaca, NY, where she is currently pursuing a B.S. in Still Photography at Ithaca College.

At the age of 10, Karalyn began experimenting with disposable cameras given to her by her parents and fell in love with the art. Her passion for photography has continued to expand, and she enjoys photographing in both digital and film mediums. This past fall, Karalyn self-published a bookSouthbound, consisting of 35mm color photographs.

As my internship with the Vermont State Parks comes to a close, I can say that living in Vermont has been an incredible experience. I was raised in the suburbs of Southeastern Pennsylvania, and am currently a senior majoring in Still Photography at Ithaca College. I was intent on spending a summer in a new environment and exploring the outdoors. I found an apartment, and moved to Warren, VT this past May to begin working as a Photography Intern.

This summer provided me with an opportunity to focus on my photographic work, both for the parks and personal projects. I expanded my photography portfolio with images of Vermont’s wildlife, flora, and landscapes. I have also been working on my Photography Workshop project (senior thesis), which consists of a body of film photographs. My work acts as an exploration of my immersion in these new surroundings, while documenting the still forests and habitats within Vermont.

This internship has allowed me to explore all that the Vermont State Parks have to offer. I often revisited parks, as I would find something new to capture during each outing. I’ve photographed numerous parks, and have met many welcoming individuals along the way.

While expanding my portfolio, I was able to enjoy outdoor activities at the parks, such as swimming in the lakes and hiking. The Groton State Forests and its parks became one of my favorite places in the state. The pond trails at Seyon Lodge, New Discovery, and Kettle Pond allow for relaxing, meditative walks. My camera became a tool for me to record these experiences, and my photographs of the parks act as a journal of my time spent here.

After a beautiful summer in the Mad River Valley, I’m feeling thankful for this experience. I hope that my photographs from this summer will provide others with a glimpse of Vermont’s beauty. While I’m missing Vermont already, I look forward to returning soon and making more photographs.
-Karalyn

See more of Karalyn's work on her website: www.karalynmark.com.
To see photos from her Photography Internship, visit: http://bit.ly/1mRG5SS

Hiking During Hiking Season

With a fresh snowfall blanketing Vermont, it's a beautiful time to go outside, look for animal tracks in the snow, and take notice of the changing season. Before you head into the woods during this time of year, keep in mind that hunting season may be in progress. Hunting is an annual tradition for Vermonters and an important part of the state’s cultural heritage. Many people view hunting as a way to source their meat locally and build a relationship with the land. Hunting is allowed on all state lands, including State Parks, during the off-season.

Though hunting season may be in full swing, the parks are still available for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, or skiing.  Please come and visit the parks, but remember to be cautious in the woods. Dress in blaze orange (dogs, too) and make yourself heard.

You may be less likely to run into hunters at State Parks like Niquette Bay, Underhill, Knight Point, and Mt. Philo. When planning your hike, please note that hunters are required to stay back at least 500 feet of park facilities and structures on state lands, so walking on park roads is a good option.

For more information on hunting in Vermont, view Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s Hunting and Trapping Calendar. For more information on trails, view the Vermont State Parks Hiking page.