Forest Society Blog - News & Features

The Les Clark Nature Trail behind our Conservation Center in Concord is open again! After several weeks of upgrades, the quarter-mile path now meets federal accessibility standards with a smoother surface, new benches overlooking Mill Brook and the Merrimack River, and a small turnaround near the river kiosk.

The Forest Society has expanded the conserved landscape in the Belknap Range to 1,050 acres. The newly protected ridgeline and headwater forests—made possible with support from state and local conservation partners—will safeguard wildlife habitat, views, and local drinking water.

Northern saw-whet owls are among New Hampshire’s tiniest — and most elusive — forest residents, but a recent visit to the Black Mountain Banding Station offered a rare chance to see these pint-sized nocturnal raptors up close. Through Project Owlnet, banders are helping uncover the mysteries of saw-whet migration, biology, and behavior, one adorable owl at a time.

Extreme birder Gino Ellison joined Something Wild to share how his 2023 Big Year led him across 78,000 miles and to an incredible 802 bird species. He reflects on what drives dedicated “listers” and why anyone can try their own Big Year—right in their backyard.

The Forest Society is proud to receive the 2025 Employer Leadership Award from the Society of American Foresters, recognizing our longstanding support for professional development and leadership in sustainable forestry. 

The Something Wild team visited Black Mountain Forest to see northern saw-whet owls up close. On a record night at the banding station, 15 owls were banded and released, helping researchers track these tiny, elusive nocturnal hunters.

To close out this year’s Five Hikes Challenge, participants enjoyed a beautiful fall day exploring the Dottie Bean Forest in Farmington — a landscape of family legacy, open blueberry ledges, and mountain views.

With insights from Haunted Hikes of New Hampshire author Marianne O’Connor, this piece explores eerie legends at places like Madame Sherri Forest and Monson Center — and reminds us that even the spookiest trails have deep roots in history and conservation.