BELCHERTOWN — A habitat restoration project at the Herman Covey Wildlife Management Area, overseen by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, is also supporting renewable energy at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.
On Thursday at 4 p.m., the public is invited to participate in a walk at the site, led by habitat specialists, that will show how tree removal is supporting the enhancements, which include restoring open and sunlit environments with sandy and loamy soils. Much of the wood from the treetops and branches is being harvested for the wood boiler at the Northampton hospital.
According to MassWildlife, the open oak woodlands, barrens and grasslands on the site will become ideal for game birds, including the ruffed grouse and wild turkey, other birds like the eastern towhee and prairie warbler, and the rarer eastern whip-poor-will, listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act.
“The re-establishment of open woodland and barrens habitat provides excellent hunting cover as well as the necessary food and cover for native pollinators requiring these special types of habitats,” MassWildlife Connecticut Valley District Manager Joe Rogers said in a statement.
Wagner Wood of Amherst, under the direction of state officials, is thinning the oak and white pine stands. As it does this, the chipwood is processed and then transported to the hospital, where it generates electricity, hot water, heat, and clean steam for sanitizing medical equipment.
Last year, Wagner Wood earned an $885,000 grant from the Baker-Polito Administration to buy equipment to improve its ability to process, handle and store woodchips.
Those who come to the walk should dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes for walking, as well as wear facemasks and keep six feet apart from those not in their household.
To register for the walkthrough, visit MassWildlife’s calendar online at https://www.mass.gov/service-details/masswildlife-calendar.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
