The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

MANCHESTER, VT ¬ – From the smallest neo-tropical songbird on Equinox Mountain to the largest moose roaming between the Green Mountains and the Taconics, the Greater Equinox Ecosystem provides a place to live and thrive for people and a wide range of wildlife.
Find out more about these fascinating connections on Wednesday, March 9, at 6:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Family Home at Hildene when The Nature Conservancy presents its annual Natural History Series. Jon Binhammer, the Conservancy's Director of Land Protection, will show how the northern hardwood forest, the reviving Battenkill River, and even the spring ephemerals tie together to make this one of Vermont’s most superb ecosystems.
Binhammer will also address some of the most serious threats facing this ecosystem, whirling disease and didymo which affect trout populations, white nose syndrome which is devastating cave-dwelling bats and terrestrial invasive species, many of which are commonly used landscaping plants that are now moving up Equinox and disrupting the understory and tree regeneration.
Equinox is in an unusual situation as it is a very important natural area that is flanked by residential areas. Birds feed on landscaping plants such as barberry and burning bush and then spread seed into the native woods. There will be a discussion of beneficial plantings, and how landowners can plant to enhance wildlife, and at the same time help stem the spread of invasive plants.
The talk will be held in the Beckwith Room at Hildene. From the parking lot, enter through the Welcome Center.