More Bird Habitat Protected at Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge

Nature Conservancy helps U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protect an additional 309 acres of important bird habitat.

Jefferson, NH—January 31, 2005—The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy announced today the addition of 309 acres to the Pondicherry Division of the Silvio Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson and Whitefield.

The newly acquired land in Jefferson is between Airport Road and Cherry Pond and is adjacent to a 615-acre parcel that was added to the refuge in September. It is part of the complex of habitat that make Pondicherry one of the state’s most important bird areas.

Arrangements to purchase this property were made by the New Hampshire chapter of The Nature Conservancy. TNC secured a purchase and sales contract allowing the property to be transferred directly from the seller, Robert Stiles of Whitefield, to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"This is a good thing to have happen," Stiles said. "The refuge is where this land belongs." Stiles has known the land for more than 50 years and has admired its abundant wildlife from both the ground and the air.

Some of the most diverse bird habitat in New Hampshire is found here at Pondicherry
Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson and Whitefield, New Hampshire. Now more of this habitat
is protected, thanks to a deal completed with help from The Nature Conservancy.
This view of Cherry Mountain was taken from 309 acres that was recently
added to the refuge.
© Dave Govatski

Funding for the purchase comes from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, which was created by Congress to protect important land and water. Funding for this account comes from proceeds generated from products or privileges involving public lands.

"The New Hampshire Chapter of the Nature Conservancy has delivered another critical component of this nationally significant natural resource," said Andrew French, project leader of the Silvio Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. "Without The Nature Conservancy's assistance and the support of the New Hampshire Congressional delegation, Friends of the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge, Audubon Society of New Hampshire, and the town of Jefferson, the Pondicherry Division of this Refuge would not be what is today. This is an outstanding investment for plants, fish, wildlife, and people."

“The Stiles tract acquisition protects over 300 acres of boreal and northern hardwood forest near Airport Road in Jefferson,” said Dave Govatski, chair of the Jefferson Conservation Commission. “This regenerating forest is well known for chestnut-sided, mourning, and Tennessee warblers. The northern saw-whet owl is often heard in this tract at night and moose are frequently seen here. This important acquisition will benefit visitors and wildlife forever by protecting an important wildlife corridor along a stream that flows into Cherry Pond. We are grateful to The Nature Conservancy, Senator Judd Gregg and all the partners that made this happen.”

With the new addition, the Pondicherry Division now totals 4,635 acres. The refuge is a division of the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses six other refuges and critical habitats in the Connecticut River watershed.

Pondicherry has been declared a National Natural Landmark by the U.S. Interior Department and was recently designated as New Hampshire's first Important Bird Area.

The area consists of a high quality complex of bogs, streams, ponds and a variety of northern forest wetlands surrounded by a spruce and fir boreal forest. Among the birds that nest in the area are the black-backed woodpecker, common loons, hooded mergansers, American black ducks, mallards, green-winged teal, ring-necked ducks and wood ducks. Other breeding birds in the area include northern harrier, broad-winged hawk, merlin, kestrel, and sharp-shinned hawk. Approximately 230 bird species use the area during the year, of which 125 species have been confirmed as breeding.