Events update
Dave Small
Join us for a fascinating evening exploring moose in Massachusetts. Dr. Stephen DeStefano, one of the foremost experts on moose in the Northeast, will share highlights from his current research focusing on their habitat use, distribution and movements. Steve will discuss how he and his graduate students tag area moose and use high tech equipment to monitor their movements throughout central and western Massachusetts. The current population estimate is over 1,000 moose in Massachusetts! This is a great opportunity to learn more about the largest mammal of our Massachusetts' forests and how it uses the landscape. This free program is co-sponsored with the Athol Bird and Nature Club.
Stephen DeStefano is Leader of the Massachusetts Cooperative Research Unit and a research professor at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. He directs a program of research, education and service focused on fish and wildlife ecology, as well as human-wildlife interactions and the impact of human activities on wildlife populations. His work has numerous implications for wildlife management, conservation biology, and recovery of endangered species. For ages 12 and older Fee: FREE No Pre-registration required. Location: FirstLight Power's Northfield Mountain Recreation & Environmental, Center 99 Millers Falls Road Northfield, MA 01360
Tuesday, November 10, 8-10 a.m. Accessible Birding with Joe
Join Joe Superchi on the 2nd Tuesday of the month visiting local sites. Open to birders of all abilities. Meet at the Center. Call ahead for wheelchair van access, 978-248-9491.
*From Wikipedia, A Chinese auction is a type of raffle (actually a combination of raffle and auction) that is typically featured at charity, church festival and numerous other events. Other groups have named it penny social, tricky tray or pick-a-prize to avoid any possible racial overtones. The difference between a raffle and a Chinese auction is that in a raffle with multiple prizes, there is one "hat" from which names are drawn, but in a Chinese auction each prize has its own "hat". This allows ticket buyers to choose which prize to focus on, as opposed to having a first, second, third, etc. prize. In a Chinese auction, bidders are not prospective buyers (as in the conventional English auction). Instead, they buy tickets, which are chances to win items. Bidders may buy as many tickets as they like, and bid them on any item(s) they want by placing them in a basket or other container in front of the item(s) they are trying to win. At the conclusion of bidding, the winning ticket is drawn from the tickets bid on each item, and the item is given to the owner of that ticket. A bidder may increase the chance of winning by buying and bidding more tickets on a specific item. Although there is generally no limit to the number of tickets a given individual may bid on a specific item, the chance of winning depends on the total number of tickets bid by all individuals.
v Wednesday, November 11, 7 p.m Tom Wessels, "Reading the Forested Landscape"
It might be called forest forensics-using clues like the shape of trees, scars on their trunks, the pattern of decay in stumps, or the snags in a pond to interpret the history of the forest. That's what Tom Wessels, author of the best-selling book Reading the Forested Landscape: A Natural History of New England, will be demonstrating at the annual meeting of the Athol Bird & Nature Club on Wednesday, November 11
There's something lyrical about a home decorated in natural plant materials for the holidays. Local herbalist Rachel Gonzalez will be showing us how to grow and dry materials and then help us create our own dried flower and herb swags. There is a materials fee of $5. for members, and $10 for non-members. Pre-registration by November 1st is required; sign up at any fall meeting or send in your fee. Meet with us at the Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main Street in Athol, MA at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 19, 2009.
Search for late fall and early winter migrants, then enjoy a warm-up meal and camaraderie at the end of the day. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Center for carpooling or call ahead to meet the group at 9 a.m. at Burger King on Rt.110, Salisbury. Joan or Larry Duprey, 978-249-4964.
v Wednesday, December 10, 7 p.m. Members' Night at the Center
Come to the Center to share your experiences, trips and photographs with other members. Plan for about 10-15 minutes, so we'll have time for everyone!
December 19, all day Christmas Bird Count.
Join this "Citizen Science" project, the longest continuously running bird data in the area. Contact Dave Small for additional information and to participate in this nationwide annual event: 978-413-1772 or da...@dhsmall.net .
Second Annual Massachusetts
Wildlife Trackers Conference
Saturday, November 7, 2009 9:30 AM
to 3:30 PM Doyle Conservation Center, Trustees of Reservations,
Leominster,
MA
9:00
AM doors open, coffee $30 per person (please pre-register: www.masswildlifetrackers.org)
Keynote speaker: Peter G. Mirick of MA Fish and Wildlife
“Wildlife Trends: A Century of Success in Massachusetts Wildlife
Conservation”
And
other featured speakers:
Janet Pesaturo, Measuring Marks of Mammals with a
Mission
Chris Wood, Ecology and Food Habits of American
Mink
George Leoniak, Track and Sign
Certification
Richard Wolniewicz, Field Guide to Skulls and
Bones
Jon Sargent, Tracking Ivory-billed
Woodpeckers
Andy Finton, Connecting and Protecting Land in MA
·
See more details, find directions, and REGISTER at
www.masswildlifetrackers.org.
Space is limited. Sign up now.
·
Come meet old friends. Find out ways trackers have been
applying their tracking skills.
·
BYO lunch. Coffee and bagels at sign-in. Drinks and snacks
are provided.
Contact Information:
Bob Metcalfe 978-361-7569 or on www.newenglanddiscovery.com
Lydia
Rogers 978-371-2905 or lydia...@earthlink.net
Jane
Winn 413-442-6815 or ja...@thebeatnews.org
James Hasselbeck and a colleague to be named later from Waterline Alternative Energies In Seabrook, New Hampshire have offered to come to Athol to help people understand the steps to be taken if you have an interest in solar or wind but not sure how to proceed. He will have a short presentation and lots of time for Q&A. I have scheduled it for Tuesday November 10th at 6:30 P.M.. This will be open to the North Quabbin public so please help spread the word. It can be applied to single wind or solar and wind or solar farms. If you have specific thoughts of areas where such projects may work, please personally invite the landowners
David B.
Ames
Athol
Town
Manager
584 Main
Street
Athol, MA 01331
(978)249-2496
tm...@townofathol.org
