Field Notes
by Peter B Brace

SPEED BIRDING In 10 days, those who live to watch birds will fan out over the island to identify as many bird species as they can in 24 hours in the Maria Mitchell Association's 5th Annual Birdathon.

From 5 p.m. on May 13 to 5 p.m. on May 14, birding demigods ornithologist Edith Andrews, Dr. Bob Kennedy, Maria Mitchell's Director of Natural Sciences, Ken Blackshaw, Diane Lang, Jeff Carlson and Marcia Aguiar will count as many bird species as they can for money.

If you know any of these birders, you are encouraged to pledge money toward what they will find. Pledges can be for a fixed amount or for a set number of species.

The money is going toward state-of-the-art cabinetry to store the Edith Andrews' Collection of birds. The cabinets are made with watertight seals, are insect proof and are not treated with harmful paints or resins.

For details on sponsoring your favorite birder, call Kennedy at 228-1782.

TAX BREAKS FOR CONSERVATION Aware that more

than 40 acres is developed every day in Massachusetts, the Trustees of Reservations is asking for Bay Staters' support of House Bill 4218, the Conservation Incentives Act, which offers a state income tax credit to taxpayers willing to donate land for conservation. Warning that the state House of Representatives must take action on H4218 before the current legislative session ends on July 31, the Trustees needs help in urging the House to approve this bill.

Property owners of land that protects drinking water supplies, unfragmented wildlife habitat, archeological and historical resources, scenic vistas and recreational resources could qualify for this tax break. If you are eligible, you can get an income tax credit worth 50 percent of the assessed value of your land, but no more than $50,000 or your annual state income taxes and it can be carried forward for ten years.

If you want to help support this effort, call your state representative today and tomorrow by calling 617-722-2000 and ask them to release the bill for a floor vote. Nantucket Representative Eric Turkington can be reached at his statehouse office at 617-722-2015 and at his Falmouth office at 508540-4854.

GETTING BEACH LEGAL Although the Trustees of Reservations' beach driving permits are good April 1 through March 31, because the Trustees does not start selling its new stickers until May 25, your current sticker - brown for the 2005/2006 season - is good until that day. The 2006/2007 Trustees of Reservations beach driving permits cost $100 for island-registered vehicles $125 for off-island registered trucks.

Also, the Trustees of Reservations do not allow dogs on its property April 1 to Sept. 15. However, after Sept. 15, dogs are permitted on the Trustees' properties and the Nantucket Conservation Foundation's properties, but they must be leashed. Its no-dog policy went into effect April 1, 2005 because the Trustees and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which owns a 20-acre swath of Great Point, rewrote a memorandum of understanding originally conceived in the late 1980s. This new agreement allows the Trustees to enforce Fish & Wildlife's laws for protecting endangered shorebirds.

This year's town beach driving permits, which are valid Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, are also on sale at the police station. Before June 1, the town's beach driving stickers are $50 for island-registered vehicles and $100 after that. Permits for vehicles registered off island are $100 all the time.

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