What’s New at Wildlands
Local Lens: Q&A with Wildlife Photographer Peter Yekhtikian
Red fox at The Nook Preserve in Kingston. Photo by Peter Yekhtikian.
By Thomas Patti, Communications Coordinator
Peter Yekhtikian.
Many pursue wildlife photography as a retirement hobby. For Peter Yekhtikian of Kingston, it’s anything but. For starters, Peter is 16 years old, a junior at Rising Tide Charter Public School. Wildlife photography is also more than a hobby for Peter. Already, he has leveraged his keen observation skills and prodigious naturalist knowledge to spotlight and protect his local natural areas—including The Nook Preserve in Kingston, where he volunteers as a Wildlands Trust Adopt-a-Preserve trail monitor. I spoke with Peter about what spurred this passion and why everyone should spend more time on their neighborhood trails.
This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Eastern garter snake at The Nook Preserve in Kingston.
Thomas Patti: How did you get into wildlife observation and photography?
Peter Yekhtikian: I got into wildlife when I was about six. I loved watching Nat Geo documentaries and reading books about different animals.
When I was in fifth grade, we were watching the Bruins and heard screaming outside. We ended up figuring out where it was coming from and finding a fisher cat. It was crazy to see that in our neighborhood. That struck my interest in local wildlife.
Then, I got a camera for my birthday. One day, we had a Ring-necked Pheasant in our yard, and our little dog was chasing it. I was like, ‘Oh, this is really funny and cool. What if I try photography?’ And I just started taking photos of anything flying overhead.
From there, I got into using eBird so I could document some of the stuff I was seeing. I'd go out into our woods and take photos of anything I could find, and then I'd try to identify it and put it on [community science platforms] iNaturalist and eBird. It’s kind of like a game: how many species can I see today?
Ring-necked Pheasant in Rocky Nook, Kingston. Photo by Peter Yekhtikian.
You seem content documenting wildlife in your own backyard—often literally. Why is that?
Kingston is just as important as anywhere else. Because of all the habitats here—freshwater and saltwater marsh, the open bay, forest, wetlands, fields—we get species that other places don’t. I think my record was 73 species observed in one day. That was awesome.
I feel like Kingston is underrepresented in terms of wildlife data. If I can show people how much stuff we have here, it may inspire them to explore local preserves that aren’t appreciated enough. I’ve met people at The Nook who said they had never known about the preserve until they saw an eBird checklist I submitted. It feels really nice to know that what I’m doing is inspiring people to go to these places.
This summer, I interned with the Kingston Conservation Commission as a wildlife monitor. One day, I was checking the marsh in Rocky Nook, and I saw something fly out of the marsh. It was a sparrow, but it didn't fly like a Song Sparrow. It looked totally off. I was like, ‘Huh, what could this be?’ I ended up getting a photo, and I noticed a yellow streak on the eye. I was like, ‘Oh, wow. This is a Saltmarsh Sparrow.’ Mass Audubon’s most recent survey noted that Saltmarsh Sparrows had increased in population everywhere in Massachusetts except the South Shore, where there was no breeding activity at all. So, it was cool to see that they were breeding in our marshes. I don’t think anyone had ever checked, because no one really goes out there.
The Town of Kingston wanted to get a grant for adding more salt marsh hay into the marsh to attract Saltmarsh Sparrows. Now that we have evidence that they’re already breeding here, it’s going to be a lot easier to get that grant.
Saltmarsh Sparrow in Rocky Nook, Kingston. Photo by Peter Yekhtikian.
That is a great example of why communities should know and care about their local environment. What story do you hope to tell with your photos and videos?
The message is just to get outside and explore. Everyone should at least try to go into the woods. Just observe what’s around you. Everything is so fast-paced nowadays. Sometimes it’s nice to just slow down and get somewhere peaceful, where you’re not always on your phone, scrolling on TikTok or something.
White-tailed deer in Rocky Nook, Kingston. Photo by Peter Yekhtikian.
You also serve as an Adopt-a-Preserve trail monitor. Why do you volunteer with Wildlands?
My dad is a member of Wildlands Trust. Last year, he got an email from Wildlands asking for volunteers at certain preserves, and one of them was The Nook. And it just kind of struck me that I already go there so much. Why not help out more officially with the organization?
I also went to Wildlands’ birdhouse building workshop at the Stewardship Training Center last spring. I really enjoyed it. Afterwards, my Uncle Ken and I wanted to build more birdhouses for Kingston. So, we met with the Town of Kingston’s Conservation Agent, Matt Penella, to decide where we should put them. That meeting led to my summer internship with the Town. So, Wildlands Trust is very connected to my conservation story.
Bald Eagle in Rocky Nook, Kingston. Photo by Peter Yekhtikian.
Any other memorable wildlife experiences?
Last year, I was walking in the marshes, and I saw something that caught my eye. It was a fox running around the marshes. He was pretty far away, but then he kept getting closer and closer. I think he got within three feet of me, which was really, really, really cool to see. And he was almost playful with me. He was rolling around near me. It was just this wild animal, right next to me.
What’s next for you? Do you see a future in the conservation field?
I definitely want to do something revolving around conservation—either preserving nature or helping people work with it. I’m interested in going to college for environmental engineering.
In addition to photography, Peter captures video footage of Kingston wildlife using motion-activated trail cameras. Watch the video below for a compilation of Peter’s breathtaking work. View more on Peter’s YouTube channel, “Rocky Nook Trail Cameras.”
A VolunTuesday to Remember at Clark’s Island
By Marilynn Atterbury, Wildlands Trust board member & Key Volunteer
As a Wildlands Trust volunteer for over 11 years, I have seen many Wildlands preserves, many times over. So, you can imagine my excitement when I found out that on a special VolunTuesday in May, we would be venturing to a brand-new location, one that our fleet of pickup trucks couldn’t reach. On May 27, about 20 Wildlands staff and volunteers voyaged across Duxbury Bay to help the Duxbury Rural & Historical Society (DRHS) maintain its beautiful property on Clark’s Island.
Picture this: a beautiful Grady-White Boat with 300-horsepower twin engines flying across Duxbury Bay on a perfect May morning. The VolunTuesday crew was beyond excited for our adventure.
After wading through knee-deep water with chainsaws, loppers, and lunch in our arms, we proceeded to our mission for the day: removing invasive plant species from the meadow around Pulpit Rock, or what some consider the true Plymouth Rock!
DRHS owns 17 acres of land on Clark’s Island, which today is part of Plymouth. (Wildlands helps care for DRHS properties through our Community Stewardship Program.) In 1620, Mayflower passengers, led by first mate John Clark, made landfall on the island before they reached the Plymouth mainland. There, they found an enormous boulder and held their first worship service ashore.
The VolunTuesday crew at Pulpit Rock on Clark’s Island.
It’s important to acknowledge the darker side of history on Clark’s Island. During King Philip’s War (1675-1676), Plymouth Colony used the island as an internment camp to detain over 1,000 Indigenous people, many of whom starved to death. You can read a more detailed account of Clark’s Island history, along with a land acknowledgment, on the DRHS website.
Back to the present. It was a long, arduous VolunTuesday, interrupted only by a fantastic lunch on the lawn facing the Bay. We accomplished so much and learned so much about the history of Clark’s Island. Spirits were high as we motored back home. Everyone agreed it was one of the finest volunteer programs we had ever participated in.
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Want to explore new places, join a fun-loving community, and give back to local nature? Explore upcoming VolunTuesday projects here!
Adopt A Preserve: Help Us Help Your Favorite Conservation Lands!
Halfway Pond Conservation Area in Plymouth. Photo by Jerry Monkman.
By Zoë Smiarowski, Stewardship Programs Manager
Once a hiking trail is established, many may consider the job done. But few realize the consistent care required to keep a preserve beautiful and safe for people and wildlife. The Adopt-a-Preserve (AAP) program is one of the key ways that Wildlands can manage to maintain 14,000 acres of conservation land across the region with a stewardship staff of just three!
Volunteer trail monitoring through AAP peaked during COVID, as people sought ways to get outside and give back to the community during a time of uncertainty and isolation. Since then, the AAP volunteer base has steadily declined. But the benefits of adopting a preserve—for you and for local conservation lands—have never been greater!
What is AAP?
Adopt-a-Preserve is Wildlands’ flagship volunteer program, established to connect outdoor recreationists who may already be out walking our trails with a meaningful way to give back to their favorite (or even a newly discovered) preserve!
Here’s how it works:
Interested volunteers pick a preserve typically within a 15-minute drive of their home or work (or anywhere else they spend their time!). A Wildlands staff member or seasoned volunteer will meet you on site to go over the basics of monitoring and discuss a range of ways AAP volunteers can help with passive or active trail maintenance. Then, volunteers commit to sending in at least one report per month detailing what they observed and if they did any work on the trail. Afterwards, Wildlands staff reviews the report, assessing any pictures of downed trees, vandalism, or anything else that may have come up at the visit. The report enters the Wildlands database in the Landscape software to document observations on the property over time. Finally, if there are any issues to follow up on, Wildlands staff will plan a site visit to address them!
Cortelli II Preserve in Plymouth. Photo by Jerry Monkman.
Do AAP volunteers really make a difference?
Yes! Our stewardship staff is small, so your monthly visits can go a long way toward ensuring our preserves stay in good shape year-round. Even reports that let us know the preserve is in good shape help provide us with a frame of reference if problems do come up and can also help us prioritize tending to properties that haven’t had eyes on them as recently.
AAP participation might have declined since COVID, but the program still made a significant impact on our stewardship capacity in 2024: 57 AAP volunteers filed 272 reports, providing coverage for 8,300 acres of conservation land!
Okay, I’m in! How can I help?
You can make a difference at any preserve, but the following preserves are in particular need of volunteers’ watchful eyes:
Tucker Preserve/Indian Head River Trail (Pembroke)
Hoyt-Hall Preserve (Marshfield)
Great Neck Conservation Area (Wareham)
Willow Brook Farm (Pembroke)
The Nook (Kingston)
Phillips Farm (Marshfield)
Wyman North Fork Conservation Area (Bridgewater)
Crystal Spring Preserve (Plainville)
South Triangle Conservation Area (Plymouth)
Halfway Pond Conservation Area (Plymouth)
Emery Preserve (Plymouth)
Thank you for your consideration! To learn more, visit wildlandstrust.org/volunteer or contact Stewardship Programs Manager Zoë Smiarowski at volunteer@wildlandstrust.org.
Meet Wildlands' Volunteer Hike Leaders
If you’ve ever joined Wildlands for a guided hike, chances are you were met with the smiling face of a volunteer. Wildlands relies on friendly, knowledgeable, and trained volunteers in the communities we serve to connect new audiences with the lands we protect.
After a successful volunteer hike leader training series last winter, there are several new guides you might encounter on your next Wildlands hike. Read on to get to know all of our volunteer hike leaders. Thank you, volunteers, for the time and passion you lend to our mission!
If you would like to support Wildlands programming, please email events@wildlandstrust.org.
Janine Anderson
(She/her)
Home: Pembroke
Programs I lead: Guided hikes (mostly sweeping), Adopt-a-Preserve (Willow Brook Farm; Pudding Hill Reservation; Tucker Preserve, including Rocky Run, Ludden’s, etc.), anything involving trail building/maintaining.
Outdoor interests & hobbies: Trail building (have worked on/maintained Cross Vermont Trail for past 6 years on vacations), camping, getting young people outdoors via Girl Scouts, certified Kripalu Mindful Outdoor guide and ANFT Forest Therapy Guide, certified to use a chainsaw (it's a thing!), and Pembroke Farmers Market. I love being outdoors. I also have a full-time job in the financial services world.
Why Wildlands? When going through my divorce, I joined several Wildlands hikes, especially the "Hike & Hops." I mentioned that Tucker didn't feel safe as a single woman walking alone (it wasn't marked well at the time) and was told that I could volunteer to help "blaze" it for better navigation. I became a member, attended volunteer trail work parties (love!), and got hooked. That property is now on my regular rotation, so it is a safe place for others. My next goal is to lead more hikes for young people and families so we can all get back to nature and slow down a little—at least briefly. Wildlands is an amazing, inclusive, supportive organization that truly cares for outdoor spaces.
Mike Arsenault (he/him)
Home: Marshfield
Programs I lead: Over the years I have led/swept many hikes at Hoyt-Hall Preserve and the other Marshfield properties. I also volunteer for the Marshfield Recreational Trail Committee.
Outdoor interests & hobbies: Being outdoors is what I enjoy: hiking, fishing, photography, sports, and just plain sitting.
Why Wildlands? Hoyt-Hall Preserve is my base; this is where my involvement with Wildlands began, helping to create and maintain it.
Ann Chadwick-Dias (she/her)
Home: Originally from West Bridgewater but have lived in Carver for over 34 years
Programs I lead: Guided hikes (mostly sweeping), Adopt-a-Preserve (Halfway Pond Conservation Area), anything Wildlands asks me to do!
Outdoor interests & hobbies: Hiking, biking, paddling, birds, and overall conversation and protection of wetlands. I sit on the Carver Conservation Commission.
Why Wildlands? Steve and I used to hike at Halfway Pond and noticed the Wildlands Trust signs. We were first met by Wildlands team members Erik and Marilynn to "Adopt a Preserve." We became members, and then we started doing hikes with Malcolm MacGregor, who we miss and remember every time we step onto any trail in Plymouth. Then, we just started doing volunteer work events and other engaging programs at Wildlands Trust. We've been volunteering for 3-4+ years now and we love everything Wildlands does. It's an awesome way to contribute to the community and volunteer for an organization that is growing rapidly, overseeing conservation properties in 57 (and counting) South Shore communities.
Justin Cifello
(He/him)
Home: Grew up in Middleborough and Wareham, and now live in Bourne.
Programs I lead: Walks about plants and natural history, as well as invasive species removal and trail-building projects.
Outdoor interests & hobbies: I'm interested in all things nature, especially native plants, insects, and their intersection with human history and culture. I'm also an organic farmer.
Why Wildlands? I was first introduced to Wildlands through my workplace at Bay End Farm, which has land in conservation through the Trust. Wildlands is appealing to me because they serve the whole of Southeastern Massachusetts and have a diverse array of properties, programs, and personnel. As an avid hiker always on the hunt for a new place, Wildlands is a great local resource.
Stephen Dias
(He/him)
Home: Originally from West Bridgewater. Live in East Bridgewater. But, I love hiking and the history in Plymouth.
Programs I lead: Guided hikes (Halfway Pond Conservation Area, Indian Head River Trail, Tucker Preserve, and others), Adopt-a-Preserve (Great River Preserve and Striar Conservancy), and will be adding more this year.
Outdoor interests & hobbies: Hiking, running, biking, birds, and conservation. History of all things, particularly military and geopolitical History. I pick up trash twice a week along a very busy road. Overall interested in environmental protection.
Why Wildlands? When I stopped working full-time as a UPS driver, I really wanted to stay active and physically fit. I started hiking Wildlands properties, “adopted” a few preserves, and then started doing work projects. Volunteering with Wildlands Trust is just a win/win: being outside in nature, contributing to my community, and working with an awesome team of people.
Betsy Hall
(Any and all pronouns)
Home: Plymouth
Programs I lead: Mindful Meditation, Full Moon Hikes, trail hikes. I am also an Adopt-a-Preserve monitor for Halfway Pond Conservation Area.
Outdoor interests & hobbies: Wildlife, plants, people
Why volunteer? Because I enjoy hiking with others, introducing people to meditation nature hiking, and encouraging people to support Wildlands Trust.
Jessamyn Kennedy
(She/her)
Home: I live in Onset, MA; originally from Hudson, MA.
Programs I lead: I lead hikes with Wildlands such as the Lady Slipper Stroll, some Hike & Hops, and other general hikes.
Outdoor interests & hobbies: I enjoy studying edible plants and native flora and fauna, plus how ecosystems function and how they all relate.
Why Wildlands? I volunteer with Wildlands because I love the properties. I got involved because I used to run at Great Neck Preserve three times per week and would report trail issues through Instagram before I realized I could volunteer. I love what Wildlands does and believe strongly in the importance of conservation and wild spaces.
Debbie Leavitt
(She/her)
Home: Plymouth; I grew up in Avon.
Programs I lead: Leading and sweeping guided hikes. I also monitor South Triangle Pond Conservation Area as my “adopted” preserve. I am also interested in other volunteer opportunities with the Trust.
Outdoor interests & hobbies: Hiking, biking, kayaking, camping (backwoods and campsites), skiing (downhill and cross-country), snowshoeing, winter hiking, yoga, meditation, and reading.
Why Wildlands? I was nicknamed "the outdoor kid" by my mom growing up. At my job, I was nicknamed "nature girl" because I would go outside in any weather. I have always found such happiness and peace outdoors. When I heard about Wildlands Trust from a friend and looked into all that Wildlands does, I knew that I wanted to get involved. I love all the other programs that Wildlands Trust offers: the lecture about bats, the stargazing during the winter... So many wonderful opportunities to learn. Wildlands Trust is an ever-growing and amazing organization.
Rob MacDonald
(He/him)
Home: Hanson; originally from Randolph
Programs I lead: Guided hikes
Outdoor interests & hobbies: Wildlife, plants, natural history, cultural history, photography
Why Wildlands? I began volunteering with Wildlands Trust around 1999 and saw it as a means of contributing to the protection and care of our local wild spaces.
Dan Murphy
(He/him)
Home: Brockton
Programs I look forward to leading: Night hikes, leaf peeping, family events
Outdoor interests & hobbies: Backyard birds, walks in the woods, geocaching
Why Wildlands? I love being outdoors, enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. Wildlands Trust manages Brockton's Stone Farm Conservation Area adjacent to my home, and I got involved first in the Adopt-a-Preserve program to help out there, and recently jumped into the hike leader program.
Skip Stuck
(He/him)
Home: Sagamore Beach
Programs I lead: Full Moon Hikes, Hike & Hops, kids’ hikes, nature hikes
Outdoor interests & hobbies: Local history
Why Wildlands? I've been volunteering since I retired 9 years ago. I love virtually everything the Trust does, and they encourage me to do virtually everything I want to do.
Paul Vicino (he/him)
Home: Born and raised in Wareham, but I have called Halifax my home since 2018.
Programs I lead: I enjoy talking about the history of places I hike if known, night/full moon hikes, big gathering hikes, and themed hikes, like a Halloween hike—this is my third year leading one at Striar Conservancy. I am also an Adopt-a-Preserve volunteer at several properties and often visit properties where I am not an active steward and do work there. I also help out whenever asked if I am available.
Outdoor interests & hobbies: I enjoy playing outside and do all my cardio outdoors—hiking/walking, backpacking/camping, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, and kayaking. I go to the gym and enjoy reading and watching movies.
Why Wildlands? I became a volunteer about 4.5 years ago because I was already hiking Wildlands’ properties and I wanted to give back. Now hiking and trail work have become my jam. I do trail work as I hike. I arrange trail days with Wildlands and other organizations for my co-workers. My daughters do their community service hours that are required for high school graduation by joining me on my trail work days. I enjoy sharing the trails I love by leading and sweeping on Wildlands hikes. Open space is important for a healthy community, and helping to maintain and expand it is my way of giving back. We are lucky to live in a place with so many great places to hike and explore, and I love to explore.
Brian Vigorito (he/him)
Home: Pembroke
Programs I lead: Mostly birding and naturalist walks. I am also the president of the South Shore Bird Club.
Outdoor interests & hobbies: Birds, mammals, nature photography
Why Wildlands? The Wildlands properties near my home helped spark my interest in nature, and I believe strongly in the importance of conserving land locally.
Twilight Trailmasters Connects Volunteers to Towns in Need
Wildlands staff and volunteers at Bay Farm Conservation Area in Kingston for a Twilight Trailmasters project.
By Thomas Patti, Communications Coordinator
Amid important movements to protect greater percentages of land at the state, federal, and global scales, one truth cannot be overlooked: local nature needs local help. This summer, Wildlands Trust is helping connect conservation lands with some of the only people who can sustain them—generous neighbors.
Massachusetts is a national leader in land protection, with over 1.3 million acres off limits to development. That’s about 27 percent of the state’s area, and almost twice the land mass of Rhode Island.
But protection is only a part of the land conservation equation. To realize our vision of clean air and water, healthy soils and forests, diverse wildlife, and vibrant outdoor recreation, protected areas must also be monitored, managed, and maintained by watchful eyes and helping hands.
As it stands, more land in the state is protected than can be cared for by the people, organizations, and agencies that own it. Wildlands established the Stewardship Training Center in 2022 to help fill that gap. Piloted this year, our Tiered Volunteer Training Series targets those who will have to be a key part of the solution: neighbors who care.
Volunteers built 200 feet of bog boards at Bay Farm Conservation Area in Kingston. Photo by Janine Anderson.
“Many local residents are eager to give back to the nature around them,” said Erik Boyer, Wildlands’ Director of Stewardship. “At the same time, towns and cities need help to maintain their conservation lands. Given municipal staffing constraints, connecting volunteers with their local conservation departments is harder than it seems, but it is a crucial task that Wildlands is well-positioned to take on.”
Enter Twilight Trailmasters, a summer volunteer series that serves two primary purposes: giving Tier 1 participants hands-on experience in the stewardship skills they learned this winter and spring, and fostering relationships between willing volunteers and conservation authorities in their towns. Over five evenings this summer, volunteers are completing stewardship projects in Kingston, Plymouth, Hanover, Marshfield, and Rockland.
On June 24, our first Twilight Trailmasters project gathered six volunteers at Bay Farm Conservation Area, managed jointly by the Towns of Kingston and Duxbury. They built 200 feet of bog boards on portions of the Kingston trail system that overlap with the Bay Circuit Trail. The wood was generously donated by Buz Artiano of BuildX, a Hanover-based building firm.
“It’s fitting that this volunteer series began in such a culturally and ecologically significant place,” said Wildlands President Karen Grey. The Bay Farm field was cleared in 1627, making it one of the oldest in the country. “There are many properties in our region like this, that we don’t own, but need our help. Our commitment to land stewardship goes well beyond our own lands.”
Bay Farm Conservation Area in Kingston and Duxbury. Photo by Janine Anderson.
Last summer, Wildlands hosted a focus group of towns and cities in our region to determine how the Stewardship Training Center can best prepare volunteers to contribute to municipal conservation efforts. In addition to specific skills that were taught through the Tier 1 training, such as first aid and trail maintenance, municipalities voiced a need for volunteer leadership—that is, volunteers to manage other volunteers.
“Identifying and developing those leaders who can rally their communities around the importance of local land conservation goes a long way toward creating sustainable volunteer bases in the towns and cities we serve,” said Erik Boyer. “We are excited to continue this effort this summer and beyond.”
For more information about Twilight Trailmasters and other upcoming volunteer opportunities, join our volunteer email list at wildlandstrust.org/volunteer.