Chris Martin
Host, Something WildChris Martin has worked for New Hampshire Audubon for close to 35 years as a Conservation Biologist, specializing in birds of prey like Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Northern Harriers.
Prior to that he climbed to eagle nests in Alaska's Katmai National Park, counted seabirds near the Aleutian Islands, coordinated Peregrine Falcon restoration at Lake Superior’s Isle Royale, and studied how a southern Indiana forest responded after a devastating tornado.
Since moving from the Midwest to New Hampshire in 1990, Martin has worked with colleagues at New Hampshire Fish and Game, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and other agencies to recruit and train volunteer wildlife observers. He has advised electric utilities on how to provide safe nest sites for Ospreys, partnered with rock climbers to collect Peregrine Falcon eggs to monitor contaminants, and studied New Hampshire's only breeding population of American Pipits above treeline on Mt. Washington.
Martin received an Environmental Merit Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Boston in 2006 for outstanding efforts in preserving New England's environment. “I love motivating folks to document what's happening with birds in the Granite State, and helping them hone their wildlife-watching skills. That's one of the reasons why contributing to Something Wild is so much fun.”
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Take solace in the fact that annoying black flies are a harbinger of clean water and abundant wildlife. -
How well do you know the nests of our feathered friends? -
Cottonwoods, along with related big-toothed and trembling aspens, are poplars — some of New England’s fastest-growing tree pioneers. -
Have you noticed the bright colors in the twigs and stems of early spring? It's subtle, but the wash of color on hillsides shows some trees are getting a jump-start on photosynthesis. -
The soil in which maple trees grow makes a difference in how much maple syrup can be produced and even how it tastes. -
The health of the forest ecosystem depends on a balance of life and death. -
Blue jays are common around the U.S. but not always popular at bird feeders. -
The elusive yet bold spruce grouse is a little-known N.H. inhabitant that relies on forests that are specifically adapted to colder temperatures. -
Turkeys depend on backyard bird feeders in winter, so it's a good place to start counting flocks to figure out how many wild turkeys are wandering the state. -
It may not seem like it, but the days are slowly lengthening, and there are other bright spots in a cold and windy landscape.
