Merriam Farm - A Special Wildlife Habitat

MERRIAM FARM – A SPECIAL WILDLIFE HABITAT

By Chris Gallaher – Trail Adopter

What makes Merriam Farm “Special”?

Merriam Farm, consisting of 46 acres of field, woodlands, and prime wetland, is Pelham’s newest Town Forest. It is a very special habitat for wildlife. What makes this area so special? Its’ 16-acre Field Habitat. Field habitats are in decline due to development and natural forest succession. Currently only about 4% of our landscape is grasslands causing a decline in habitat for the many species of birds, mammals and reptiles that need fields and grasslands for their survival. Unless maintained by humans, these habitats will grow back into shrubs and small trees, reverting eventually to forest.

Merriam Farm boasts 2 easy walking trails, the Field Trail is a gently graded .7 mile trail that skirts the edge of the field as it passes by the Bluebird Sanctuary managed by the Pelham Bluebird Society and ends at a viewing bench overlooking Beaver Brook. The Beaver Brook Trail is a .4-mile trail that follows Beaver Brook where you can enjoy watching waterfowl, and the gently flowing brook as this Prime Wetland area winds around the edge of the property. There is also a short path to a fishing spot along the river.

History of Merriam Farm:

The Merriam Farm Conservation Area, once used for agriculture, was purchased by the Pelham Conservation Commission in 2019 and voted as a Town Forest in 2022. The property was then evaluated by UNH Wildlife Biologist and State Specialist Matt Tarr, for recommendations on how best to maximize the unique field/grassland habitat existing on this property and he assisted in the development of the Forest Management Plan.

Merriam Farm was also identified, in the 2022 Natural Resource Inventory, as an area to protect as this area has one of the largest field habitats in Pelham. (Pg. 32).

“Grassland birds such as bobolink, barn swallows, brown thrashers, meadowlarks, and field sparrows are on the decline with the loss of fields. The Conservation Commission is actively working to conserve field habitat. A 16-acre field is currently protected at the Merriam Farm site.”

What is a Field/Grassland Habitat?

Vegetation growing in grassland habitats may be tall (over 4 feet), short (less than 4 inches), or a combination. Vegetation height plays a significant role in determining which wildlife species will use this habitat. A common trait of all grassland habitat is that they contain few (if any) shrubs).

Why was a Timber Harvest Conducted at Merriam Farm?

In 2022 a timber harvest was conducted under the management of our town Forester, Eric Radlof of Full Circle Forestry, to remove unhealthy trees, and encourage the growth of desirable species of trees that will support wildlife. Additional timber harvest objectives included feathered edges, creating an open less abrupt transition between the forest land and open field, and “softening” the edges of the field, creating a shrub zone that will develop between the field and the forest, which will provide more diversity of plants as well as perching places for birds.

How is Merriam Farm Managed?

To maintain the biodiversity of this habitat, one third of the 16-acre field is mowed annually, approximately 5 acres, each year in the fall, after the birds have finished nesting for the season, to avoid destruction of nests and eggs. Mowing later in the fall also allows late-flowering wildflowers such as aster, goldenrod, and milkweed, to provide nectar for migrating butterflies.

This staggered mowing schedule allows a diverse array of grasses and wildflowers as well as young shrubs to flourish that will provide the food, shelter, and nesting areas for many species of wildlife. In addition to birds, many mammals also inhabit these fields such as field mice, foxes, opossums, raccoons, rabbits, deer, groundhogs, squirrels, skunks, moles chipmunks, turkeys, and snakes.

A copy of the Forest Management Plan for this and all other Pelham Town Forests can be found on Pelhamweb.com.

Enjoyment

Many people enjoy this property for dog walking, wildlife photography, and bird watching. Note, dog walkers need to be sure to remove their dog’s waste to avoid causing a disruption to the ecosystem, and keep dogs leashed to avoid disturbing the wildlife that inhabit this special field habitat.

Grab your cameras and binoculars and take a leisurely stroll through the Bluebird Sanctuary, walk by the field and through the wooded trail that follows the meandering Beaver Brook. Rest on a bench and observe the beautiful birds and other wildlife that call Merriam Farm Home.