Author: Kimsmithdesigns

Documentary filmmaker, photographer, landscape designer, author, and illustrator. "Beauty on the Wing: Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly" currently airing on PBS. Current film projects include Piping Plovers, Gloucester's Feast of St. Joseph, and Saint Peter's Fiesta. Visit my websites for more information about film and design projects at kimsmithdesigns.com, monarchbutterflyfilm.com, and pipingploverproject.org. Author/illustrator "Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities! Notes from a Gloucester Garden."

PROGNOSIS NOT LOOKING GOOD

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Erin and Jodi at Cape Ann Wildlife are treating this sweetest juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk for rat poison. The young hawk is yet another patient in their long list of wild creatures that have been poisoned this year by rodenticide. The prognosis is not looking good for this little guy.

All photos of the sickly juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk courtesy Cape Ann Wildlife

The adult Red-shouldered Hawk is a medium sized hawk. They are mostly forest dwellers. I’ve only see one once and it was stunning in flight.

Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk – Image courtesy wiki commons media

FALL YOUTH ACTING WORKSHOP AT THE GLOUCESTER STAGE WITH HEIDIN DALLIN BEGINS NEXT WEEK

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A BANNER YEAR FOR MAINE’S PIPING PLOVERS!

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Piping Plover Fledgling

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD

BY GILLIAN GRAHAM

September 4, 2018

With 128 fledglings this year, Maine is still meeting its conservation targets for gradually restoring the species of tiny beachcombers.

A record number of the endangered shorebirds nested on beaches from Ogunquit to Georgetown and produced a record number of fledglings, according to Maine Audubon. Maine beaches hosted 68 nesting pairs that fledged 128 birds, continuing a decade of steady growth in their population.

“That’s the most we’ve had in Maine since we began monitoring in 1981,” said Laura Minich Zitske, who leads the Maine Coastal Birds project for Maine Audubon.

After winter and spring storms left beaches in southern Maine in rough shape, there was some concern about how it would impact the tiny beachcombers that arrive in Maine in late April to early May to nest in the sand near dunes.

“We lost a lot of prime nesting habitat. Beaches like Ogunquit did look pretty rough at points, but thankfully the birds were adaptable and able to find spots to raise their young,” Zitske said.

Ogunquit Beach ended up seeing the most fledglings, with 24 produced by 11 nesting pairs. There were 15 fledglings each at Wells Beach and at Scarborough‘s Western Beach.

Zitske said the success of the plovers this year is due in large part to partnerships between Maine Audubon, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the landowners, volunteers and municipalities that create safe nesting conditions and educate the public about the endangered birds.

In 2005, just 27 chicks fledged on Maine beaches after nests and birds were wiped out by a combination of stormy weather and increased predation. While the numbers fluctuate year to year, the trend in Maine has shown consistent growth since then. Last year, 64 nesting piping plovers yielded 101 chicks.

The 100-plus fledglings – the stage at which chicks can evade predators or other dangers on their own – means Maine is still meeting its conservation targets for gradually restoring a diminutive species of shorebird that nests on Maine’s relatively few sandy beaches at the height of the summer tourism season.

Roughly 2,000 piping plover pairs nest on beaches from North Carolina to Newfoundland. The tiny birds can be spotted skittering at the ocean’s edge or on mudflats searching for worms, bugs and other invertebrates. When they aren’t foraging, plovers can be found nesting in the transition area between dunes and the sandy beach. Plover chicks are so small they are often described as cotton balls walking on toothpick legs.

Maine Audubon works closely with the state wildlife department and towns from Ogunquit to Georgetown to monitor the beaches for breeding pairs beginning in the spring and then advising the public about the birds’ presence. Nests with eggs are often protected by mesh fencing that allows the birds to skitter in and out of the area while keeping out predators. Volunteers and some paid beach monitors advise beachgoers and dog owners on how to avoid disturbing the sensitive birds.

READ MORE HERE

Piping Plover adult in the foreground, fledgling in the background. Note the lack of headband and should epaulettes on the fledgling, compared with the adult PIPL.

THANK YOU COURTNEY RICHARDSON AND THE CAPE ANN MUSEUM KIDS!

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We had a super fun morning at the Cape Ann Museum Kids program. Courtney Richardson and her helpers Sarah and Nick set up a long table in the auditorium where the caterpillars, art supplies, plants, and pods were arranged. The kids were wonderfully curious, as were the adults. Many thanks to Jan Crandall for supplying the caterpillars. Thank you to Courtney and to the Museum for the opportunity to share about Cape Ann Monarchs!

 

Cape Ann Symphony Opens Expanded Season with Bernstein and Prokofiev in TWO Venues

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CAPE ANN SYMPHONY

THE 67th  SEASON

Yoichi Udagawa, Music Director

CAPE ANN SYMPHONY LAUNCHES EXPANDED CONCERT SEASON WITHTHE MUSIC OF

BERNSTEIN & PROKOFIEV:

THE AGONY AND ECSTASY OF LOVE

Cape Ann Symphony opens the orchestra’s 67th Concert Season on Saturday, September 22 at 7:30 pm at the Manchester-Essex High School Auditorium on 36 Lincoln Street in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA and on  Sunday, September 23 at 2 pm at the Dolan Performing Arts Center at Ipswich High School on 134 High Street, Ipswich, MA with Bernstein and Prokofiev: The Agony and Ecstasy of Love, a romance filled program featuring a celebration of revered American composer Leonard Bernstein’s Centennial with his Candide Overture and Symphonic Dances from West Side Story as well as European composer Prokofiev’s soaring romantic interpretation of Romeo and Juliet with his Romeo and Juliet Suite. The season opening concert with performances in two venues marks the non-profit orchestra’s first major expansion in the organization’s history. The orchestra will now present a full season of concerts including a Youth Initiativeconcert in February at both the Manchester and Ipswich performance venues. The 67th concert season also introduces the CAS’s inaugural Conducting Fellow Ipswich’s Michael Coelho who will lead Pre-Concert Lectures 30 minutes prior to the start of each concert during the season. According to Cape Ann Symphony Board President Fran White, “Our 67th expanded season is very exciting.  We have added a new pre-concert lecture which we hope is another way to offer more to our audiences. Our newly implemented conducting fellow, Michael Coehlo brings another dimension to the planned season! We know this season will prove to be very special!”

CAS Conductor and Music Director Yoichi Udagawa shares his thoughts on the upcoming concert, “We are opening the 67th Season of the Cape Ann Symphony with a program of incredibly romantic music by the Massachusetts born Leonard Bernstein who was born 100 years ago on August 25th, 1918, and the great Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, The pieces share the common theme of love, and the musical selections are all incredibly romantic and gorgeous. The orchestra and I are really looking forward to rehearsing and performing this music for our fabulous audiences. “

Leonard Bernstein was a Massachusetts boy. Born in 1918 in Lawrence, he spent summers in Sharon, and attended Boston Latin before completing his BA at Harvard University. Though he later moved to Philadelphia (to attend the Curtis Institute) and then to New York, he remained connected to the area – studying conducting at Tanglewood and frequently leading the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He holds the distinction of being the first American Music Director of a major orchestra – the NY Philharmonic. Musically, he was a jack of all trades: a brilliant pianist, much sought-after conductor, a critic and lecturer on the arts, and of course, a prolific composer of music in many styles.

 

Once West Side Story opened in 1957 it not only became an instant classic (732 performances on Broadway, a highly successful tour, and an award-winning film version) but this classically orchestrated “opera” with leitmotifs and mambos defined musical theater as a uniquely American genre where popular and classical music could combine to tell all sorts of stories and explore thorny personal and societal problems. Jerome Robbins’ choreography was as groundbreaking as Bernstein’s music or Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics. It was very athletically demanding, with movement that crossed ballet, modern dance, and body-mime, highly choreographed fight scenes, and–of course–lots of Latin dancing.With a much richer orchestration than a Broadway pit can allow for, Symphonic Dances fromWest Side Story includes some of these spectacular dance moments and follows the dramatic arc of the musical. “The Symphonic Dances from West Side Story is composed of music from nine sections of the famous Broadway musical arranged in a symphonic fashion,” points out CAS Conductor and Music Director Udagawa, “In other words, the music is not necessarily in order of the plot of the story, but arranged so that it has a musical logic. Some of the most popular numbers in the piece are the Mambo,Somewhere and the Rumble. The  piece captures the full glory of Bernstein’s West Side Story and is a real tour-de-force for the orchestra!”.

The overture to Bernstein’s comic operetta Candide is one of his most popular and widely performed orchestral works. According to CAS Conductor and Music Director Udagawa, “The melodies are bright and clear and the whole piece is marked by energy and lightness. For those people who remember the Dick Cavett show on PBS,” adds Udagawa, “the music from the coda of this piece was the opening music for this popular show.

Prokofiev’s music for Romeo and Juliet was originally written in 1935 to accompany a ballet production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.  Prokofiev created three orchestral suites and CAS will perform selections from two of the suites including: Suite No. 1: Masks; Balcony Scene and Love Dance; and Death of Tybalt and Suite No. 2: The Montagues and Capulets; and Juliet. Udgawa explains “Prokofiev really outdid himself in this music. It is one of his most often performed pieces and is full of color, passion, humor, love and loss.”

Founded in Gloucester in 1951, the Cape Ann Symphony is a professional orchestra of over 70 players from throughout the New England area. They perform a subscription season of four concerts per year plus several Pops and youth concerts. The Symphony Board of Directors named Yoichi Udagawa the Music Director and Conductor of the Cape Ann Symphony in the summer of 2000 after a yearlong search. In addition to his leadership of Cape Ann Symphony, he is Music Director and Conductor of the Melrose Symphony Orchestra, and the Quincy Symphony Orchestra and a cover conductor at the Boston Pops Orchestra. Maestro Udagawa is on the faculty of the Boston Conservatory where he teaches conducting. Frequently invited to guest conduct, Maestro Udagawa has worked with many different orchestras including the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Nobeoka Philharmonic Orchestra, the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston, the University of Texas Symphony Orchestra, the Indian Hill Symphony, the Garden State Philharmonic, the Brown University Orchestra, the Syracuse Society for New Music, the Boston Conservatory Orchestra, the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra, the Newton Symphony, the Austin Civic Orchestra, and the Mid-Texas Symphony. Maestro Udagawa is at home in popular and contemporary music as well as the standard symphonic repertoire. He is known for his relaxed manner and ability to speak from the podium which has helped new audiences as well as enthusiasts gain a greater appreciation for symphonic music. His programs often include premieres of new works – some specially commissioned for the orchestra — as well as great orchestral works across the symphonic repertoire and lively Pops programs. He is also an integral part of the Cape Ann Symphony Youth Initiative.

Yoichi Udagawa, the son of a nuclear physicist father and singer/artist mother, was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. His family immigrated to the United States soon thereafter. He began playing the violin at age four and made his conducting debut at age fifteen. After receiving a music degree from the University of Texas at Austin, he continued advanced studies in conducting with Gunther Schuller, Seiji Ozawa, Morihiro Okabe, and Henry Charles Smith. A fan of many different styles of music, Mr. Udagawa also enjoys performing gospel music in addition to his conducting activities. He is also an accomplished violinist and an avid fan of exercise and yoga.

The Cape Ann Symphony’s Bernstein and Prokofiev: The Agony and Ecstasy of Love, is Saturday, September 22 at 7:30 pm at the Manchester-Essex High School Auditorium on 36 Lincoln Street in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA and on  Sunday, September 23 at 2 pm at the Dolan Performing Arts Center at Ipswich High School on 134 High Street, Ipswich, MA. Pre-Concert Lectures begin 30 minutes prior to the start of each concert. Single ticket prices are $43 for adults, $38 for senior citizens, $15 for students of any age; $5 for youth 12 years old and under. For information, call 978-281-0543 or visit www.capeannsymphony.org

MONARCH MADNESS!

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Four Monarchs eclosing and nineteen caterpillars becoming chrysalises, all in a day! And we have a new batch of caterpillars, just in time for my program tomorrow morning at the Cape Ann Museum. I hope to see you there!

Many thanks to my friend Jan Crandall for the caterpillars. She has a gorgeous butterfly garden and this morning there were dozens and dozens of caterpillars on her Common Milkweed plants.

Velvet wings drying in the morning sun.

Monarch Conference

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnWjaQjnipZ/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnWkKo9HEz2/

CATERPILLAR CONDO

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Caterpillar Condo

Several readers have written to ask how do I manage to have so many Monarch Butterfly caterpillars and chrysalises. The answer is very simple–because we have planted a wonderful little milkweed patch! We grow both Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) side-by-side. Our milkweed patch is planted near our kitchen. When washing the dishes, I can look out the window and watch all the pollinators and fabulous activity that takes place at the milkweed patch.

Several weeks ago, a Mama Monarch arrived and I watched as she gently floated from leaf to leaf, and bud to bud, ovipositing one golden egg at a time. She went back and forth between the Common and Marsh, depositing eggs on both the tender upper foliage as well as the more sturdy lower leaves. I waited for her to leave, but not too long (because the eggs are quickly eaten by spiders) and collected the sprigs with the eggs. I thought I had scooped up about eight eggs and you can imagine our surprise when 19 caterpillars hatched, all within the same day! Female Monarchs like to deposit eggs around the tiny buds of Marsh Milkweed and many of the eggs were hidden within the buds.

Here’s a video of a Mama depositing eggs on Marsh Milkweed buds. Charlotte was with me that day and we were dancing to the song “There She Goes” as the butterfly was depositing her eggs and it was too perfect not to include in the video clip.

Our garden is postage stamp size, but I have managed to fill it with a wide variety of songbird, butterfly, bee, and hummingbird attractants. The great majority of plants are North American native wildflowers and shrubs, and we also include a few nectar-rich, non-native, but non-invasive, flowering plants. Plant, and they will come 🙂

I am super excited to give my children’s program at the Cape Ann Museum on Saturday morning. The program is free and open to the public. I hope to see you there!

RESCUED MINKE WHALE PHOTOS FROM AL BEZANSON AND IMPORTANT MARINE STRANDING MESSAGE FROM NOAA

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Minke Whale Smith’s Cove Gloucester Harbor

Green Dragon Schooner Captain Al Bezanson, who first alerted GMG to the Minke Whale temporarily grounded at Gloucester Harbor, shares his photos and observations. Ainsley Smith, NOAA’s Marine Animal Response Coordinator, shares information on what to do if you see a whale, dolphin, or seal stranded or in distress. With so many whales currently feeding off our shores, as well as the extreme number of seal deaths, we appreciate Ainsley’s advice.

Al writes, “The whale looked to be a juvenile about ten feet long, I thought. Perhaps confused by running aground and kept trying to forge ahead. I did not see the rescue but turning him or her was probably the key to freedom, and moving a rock would provide the space.”
Ainsley writes, “Yesterday morning, a small minke whale got stuck in less than 2 feet of water in Smith Cove, Gloucester. The beaching was reported to us at around 8 a.m., and our Stranding Coordinator immediately left for the scene. The situation was also reported to the harbormaster, the animal control officer, and NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement.

By the time our Stranding Coordinator arrived at 8:30, we are told that a local resident had moved a large boulder that appeared to be preventing the whale from returning to deeper water. Our Stranding Coordinator, along with the harbormaster, Gloucester animal control officer, and NOAA OLE agent, then searched for the whale throughout the harbor, but were unable to find it again, which is good news! We are hoping the whale made it back to deep water safely.

We appreciate the outpouring of concern for this whale, and understand that it is very hard to watch a whale struggle. We feel the same way, which is why we are in this line of work!

This is a good opportunity to remind everyone that, under federal law, specifically the Marine Mammal Protection Act, only authorized responders are allowed to interact with stranded marine mammals. Often, marine mammals strand because they are in distress, and a trained responder will best know how to evaluate and help the animal. Pushing an animal back into the water may delay treatment or response, and also limits our ability to gather important information to be able to best help. For example, an entangled minke whale was reported near Gloucester last week, so it would have been valuable to examine this whale for injuries and see if it may have been the same one.

Whales in distress can also be dangerous, as they are unpredictable and very powerful. People have been seriously injured or killed trying to help, which is another reason we ask that people wait for trained responders.

The best thing you can do to help a marine mammal in distress is call the NOAA hotline (866-755-6622) or your local stranding response partner, and stand by the animal until help arrives.

Additionally, if people see a marine mammal in an unusual place (like a busy harbor or shallow water), please report it to the hotline so it can be monitored and we can alert people in the area to help keep it safe. We heard several reports yesterday after the stranding that a whale had been seen in the harbor earlier the week, but no one had reported it to us.” 

Minke Whale Smith’s Cove Goucester Harbor Al Bezanson Photo

BREAKING: STRANDED MINKE WHALE RESCUED GLOUCESTER HARBOR

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Minke Whale Image 7 Seas Whale Watch

Early this morning Al Bezanson reported that a Minke Whale was caught on a small rock in Smith’s Cove, next to the Studio Restaurant. A kind group of Rocky Neck neighbors removed the rock and the whale swam away instantly. The whale appeared to be recovering from its entanglement and, as Mona Faherty reports, did an arcing dolphin-like move after swimming to the middle of the Cove.

The small rock, about a foot and half, that entangled the whale.

The Minke may possibly be injured. Please keep an eye out and if you see the whale contact the Northeast Marine Mammal hotline at 866-755-6622. Thank you!

NOAA official Ainsley Smith and Animal Control Officer Teagan Dolan looking for the whale.

HUNTING FOR MONARCH BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

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I am super excited to give my children’s program at the Cape Ann Museum on Saturday morning. The program is free and open to the public. I hope to see you there!

 

Does anyone by chance have young caterpillars in the garden at this time? All my current, and very mature caterpillars, are about to pupate at any moment. I’d like to have more than chrysalis’s to share with the kids. Please email me at kimsmithdesigns.com if yes; I would love to stop by before Saturday’s program. Thank you!

GLOUCESTER’S BEAUTIFUL NEW FLOATING DOCK DESIGNED FOR SCHOONERS

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If you had the opportunity to see the schooners docked at Gloucester’s gorgeous new floating dock, located at I4-C2, know that it was constructed by Beacon Marine Basin and installed by Brett Ramsey’s company Ramsey Marine and Dock Construction. The floating dock was created by Gloucester Maritime and the Schooner Festival Committee to provide schooners with a convenient place to moor.

Schooners Bluenose II, Columbia, Tree of Life, Brilliant, and When and If, along with the Tall Ship Lynx

The new dock was well utilized during the three day Schooner Festival event. By late Sunday afternoon, there were a total of five schooners, as well as the Tall Ship Lynx, moored at the floating dock!

The dock will be removed within the next few weeks, to be reinstalled next August for the 35th Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival.

Schooners Columbia and Tyrone moored at the floating dock.

 

SNAPSHOTS FROM THE GLOUCESTER SCHOONER FESTIVAL RECEPTION AND AWARDS CEREMONY

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With 29 schooners participating and a three day stretch of perfect weather, the 34th Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival was a magnificent success. Congratulations to all the schooners, to the captains, crew, festival committee members, and to all the volunteers and organizations who make possible this most stellar of maritime sailing events. 

Captain Amanda Madiera was honored with a trophy to be given annually in her name: The “Amanda Maderia Award for the George Nichols Cup for Women Skippers.”

GLOUCESTER SCHOONER FESTIVAL 2018 RACE RESULTS

Mayor’s Race Large Schooner: Adventure

Columbia Trophy: Columbia

Medium Schooner: Tree of Life

Medium Schooner with a Marconi-rig: Brilliant

Small Schooner: Malibar

Small Schooner with a Marconi-rig: Blackbird

Amanda Maderia Award for the George Nichols Cup for Women Skippers: Hindu

BEAUTIFUL SCHOONER FEST FIREWORKS LIGHT UP THE NIGHT SKY

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Schooner Fest/Labor Day fireworks illuminating Gloucester Harbor and the night sky.

BREAKING: GLOUCESTER SCHOONER FESTIVAL 2018 RACE RESULTS

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Mayor’s Race Large Schooner: Adventure

Columbia Trophy: Columbia

Medium Schooner: Tree of Life

Medium Schooner with a Marconi-rig: Brilliant

Small Schooner: Malibar

Small Schooner with a Marconi-rig: Blackbird

Amanda Maderia Award for the George Nichols Cup for Women Skippers: Hindu

CAPTAINS AND CREW SCHOONER FESTIVAL BREAKFAST AT THE GLOUCESTER HOUSE

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Captain Heath Ellis and crew of the Schooner Thomas E. Lannon

Hosted by the Schooner Festival Committee and Lenny Linquata of the Gloucester House Restaurant, the schooner fest captains and crew members were treated to a delicious and hardy breakfast this morning. Originally offered for a modest price, a rousing cheer was heard when it was announced breakfast was courtesy of the Schooner Festival Committee!

Thanks to the Schooner Festival Committee and to all the volunteers for all they do to bring this glorious event to Gloucester!
Schooner Lynx Captains Alex and Donald Peacock, Captain Tom Ellis, Mike Costello, and Schooner Committee Chairperson Daisy Nell

Host Lenny Linquata and Captain Tom

SPLENDID SCHOONER FEST FIREWORKS

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Saturday night’s Schooner Fest fireworks display from Stage Fort Park was beautiful. They’ll be time tomorrow to sort through the photos and in the meantime, here is preview. Outstanding!

PARTY SNAPSHOTS FROM MAYOR SEFATIA’S FABULOUS SCHOONER FESTIVAL WELCOME RECEPTION

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The Mayor’s Schooner Festival Welcoming Reception was a fantastic success and wonderful fun. Maritime Gloucester’s dock was overflowing with Schooner Fest friends, well-wishers, and organizers. I think it was the most well attended ever and speaks to the growing success of Gloucester’s Schooner Festival (and to our Mayor’s charisma!).Mayor Sefatia welcomed Governor Baker, Lt. Governor Karen Polito, Schooner Bluenose II Captain Phil Watson and both Representative Ann Margaret Ferrante and State Senator Bruce Tarr were in attendance.

Schooner Bluenose II Captain Watson and Captain Mark Ring of the FV Stanley Thomas

The Schooner Festival Committee is simply amazing. Below are listed the members of the committee. When you see any one of these super heroic volunteers around town, tell them thank you for the tremendous job they are doing in producing annually Gloucester’s uniquely beautiful and spectacular Schooner Festival.

Peter Bent, Daisy Nell, and Captain Stan

Gloucester Schooner Festival Committee:

Daisy Nell, Chair, Tracy Arabian, Peter Bent, Alan Bezanson, Ed Boynton, John Borzerelli, Harold Burnham, Jim Caulkett, Elizabeth Carey, TJ Ciarametaro, Charlie Clark, Stan Collinson, Michael Costello, Jo-Anne Crawford,  Lee Cunningham, Michaell De Koster, Carol Decker, Stefan Edick, Heath Ellis, Tom Ellis, Chad Johnson, Michael Lipton, James Lowell, Laura Lowell, Amanda Madeira, Allie McCarthy, John McCarthy, Judith Nast, Barry Pett, Christopher Ramsden, Brett Ramsey, Courtney Richardson, Ken Riehl, Suzanne Silveira , Russ Smith, Chris Stepler, Mary Kay Taylor, Brenda Treuhaft.

The Gloucester Schooner Festival committee thanks the following organizations for their tremendous support.

Art Harbor, b*true promotions,  Beauport Hospitality Group, Brown’s Yacht Yard, Cape Ann Brewing Company, Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, Cape Ann Museum,  Cape Ann Transportation Authority, Cape Ann YMCA, The Causeway Restaurant, City of Gloucester, MA, The Cricket Press, Cruiseport Gloucester, Eastern Point Yacht Club, Essex Radio & TV , Essex Shipbuilding Museum, First Ipswich Bank, Gaybrook Garage, The Gerondelis Foundation, Gloucester DPW,  The Gloucester Fund, Gloucester Harbormaster, Gloucester Police Department, Gloucester Rental Center, Good Morning Gloucester, Gorton’s of Gloucester , Intershell, Jodrey State Fish Pier, Maritime Gloucester, Market Basket , Mortillaro Lobster,  Donald Mosher Gallery, North Sails, The Pewter Shop, Rose’s Marine , Russell Orchards, Ryan & Wood Distilleries,  Schooner Adventure ,  Schooner Ardelle , Schooner Thomas E. Lannon, Sea Scouts North Shore Ship 5,  Seafood Display Auction, Seaside Graphics, The Shed, TD Bank, Turtle Alley, USCG Cutter Grand Isle, USCG Sector Boston, and USCG Station Gloucester.

Visit the Gloucester Schooner Festival website here.

To donate, click here.

 

 

WELCOME SCHOONERS!

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These beautiful baskets are donated by the Schooner Festival Committee and include not only fresh fruit, but freshly baked bread from Virgilios and handmade chocolates from Turtle Alley. The Ramsey’s deliver each basket, via boat, to every participating schooner on Friday afternoon. It’s no wonder schooners from around the globe love to come to Gloucester.

Brett Ramsey readying to deliver schooner welcome baskets (Ellen Ramsey adds this is a 1967 Chevy truck, in case any one was wondering). 

Brett Ramsey Photo

BUTTERFLIES AND BIRD POOH, SAY WHAT?

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Red Admiral Butterfly with wings folded, resembling tree bark.

Birds are an adult butterfly’s number one enemy and over millennia, butterflies have evolved with many different strategies to avoid being eaten.

Monarch Butterfly and Tropical Milkweed

Some butterflies, like Monarchs, taste terrible, because the caterpillar’s food plant milkweed has toxic and foul tasting substances. The Monarch caterpillar has evolved to withstand the poisonous milky sap, but a bird that attempts to eat the caterpillar may become ill, and even die. The vivid black, yellow, and white stripes of the caterpillar, along with the brilliant orange and black wing pattern of the adult butterfly, are forms of aposematic coloring. Their bright colors warn of danger to would be predators.

Great Spangled Fritillary with iridescent spots.

The wings of other butterflies, like the Great Spangled Fritillary and Blue Morpho, are patterned with iridescent scales. The iridescence creates little flashes of light when in flight, which confuses predatory birds.

The friendly Red Admiral employs the strategy of mimicry for protection from birds. When its wings are folded, the butterfly is perfectly camouflaged against the bark of a tree trunk. And if that isn’t protection enough, the outer margins of the wings resemble splodges of bird poop!

 *   *   *

Have you ever had a butterfly land on your arm? It was probably a Red Admiral. The word friendly is often used to describe these beautiful butterflies but, it isn’t really friendship they are wanting. Red Admirals are attracted to the salt in your perspiration and will alight to have a sip of sweat.

 

CAPE ANN ARTS ALIVE REVIEW, WITH DAISY NELL AND STUDENTS PERFORMING “HEARTBEAT FROM THE SEA” AT THE SHALIN LIU

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Thank you to all the generous people and organizations who added so much to the CAAA program this year.

Her Honor, Sefatia Romeo Theken, Mayor wears a stole from the Mayor of Gloucester, England as she greets us in her office at City Hall! We were fortunate to visit when such a special dignitary was in town, and she invited us to visit “the other Gloucester.” As always, Sefatia was a wonderful host.

Morgan Faulds Pike, Sculptor, gave us not only the history of her own Fishermen’s Wives Monument and the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association but also the stories of Anna Hyatt Huntington’s “Joan of Arc,” Leonard Craske’s “Man at the Wheel” and Walker Hancock’s “Triton.”

Maggie Rosa, whose civic passion helped us to save City Hall and its iconic tower, took us up to see the bell which rings the hours in the city. The sight of Gloucester from this vantage is breathtaking. On the way up, Maggie introduced us to the citizen portraits of A. Piatt Andrew, Charles Olson, John Hayes Hammond, and Clarence Birdseye.

Daisy Nell, folk singer/sailor extraordinaire, taught us the song she wrote for all Cape Ann children to know: “A Heartbeat from the Ocean.” Daisy accompanied us in our performance at the Shalin Liu.

Artist and Art Historian, Susan Erony, showed us the beautiful Charles Allen Winter murals at City Hall and gave us the background of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal and the Works Project Administration (WPA) which supported the artists during the post-Depression era.

Sarah Flanagan, Education Coordinator at the Cape Ann Museum, was our guide to the Museum’s holdings regarding maritime Gloucester, with special attention to the late 19th c. diorama, the Fresnel lens, and the Native American artifacts.