A chilly start to Spring. The slow awakening begins
Da...@dhsmall.net
Athol Bird & Nature Club
Field Trips & Meetings 2025
http://www.atholbirdclub.org
The first Robert B. Coyle Scholarships have been awarded by the ABNC Board. Allison Sumner and William Hickey will attend the Eagle Hill Institute in Maine to learn about the Life History and identification of Native Bees. We appreciate the outstanding response by our membership of donations to the Robert B. Coyle Scholarship fund.
Click here to donate to the Scholarship Fund
Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust.
Wednesday, April 16th, from 5:30–7:30 PM! Pollinator Pub Science at the Red Apple Farm Brew Barn 
Birds, Bees, & Brews: Planting Native & Drinking Local 
Join us for Pollinator Pub Science at the Red Apple Farm Brew Barn in Phillipston on
Enjoy craft brews from @moonhillbrewingco while Mount Grace staff members Matt DiBona and Dave Small share how you can plant with native species to make useful habitat for pollinators, as well as introduce you to some of our native flowers and the pollinators who rely on them.
Plus, enter our raffles to support Mount Grace & kick off our Give Back to the Land Day fundraiser on April 22!
#redapplefarm #givebacktothelandday #pubscience #pollinators
Thursday April 17 @ 7 pm North Quabbin Garden Club at MREC (100 Main Street Athol). All are invited to share 
pizza at 6 - just send a message that you would like to come - gratis! In the big room preceding the program. Call or email Debbie Kent 978-895-9529 or dti...@live.com Please join us for a discussion about soil health and best practices to be followed by a presentation on the Worcester Mammoth Horticultural Bean we will dive into soils, including feeling, smelling, and observing different soils as we discuss how to maintain a healthy soil and soil food web. Then we will move on to the moving story of how a popular pole bean from the 1890s fell into disuse, only to be resurrected by one of Worcester's own growers who tracked it down at an Iowa seed savers exchange in 2021. Jen Burt will share the story of how they have brought the bean back from the past and is now sharing the story of the bean and its seeds.
The Northfield Bird Club is co-sponsoring two programs this month:
Thursday, April 17 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. All About Otters with David Brown
Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center
99 Millers Falls Road, Northfield, MA
Tuesday, April 29 5:30 p.m. Providing Nesting Opportunities for Swallows:
A Two Part Program with Mara Silver Dickinson Library Shelburne Ma. Go to the Programs page of the website for more information.
Fridays April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23 @ 7:00 am Early Bird Birding with Jeff
Join Jeff Johnstone here at the Center (100 Main Street Athol) before heading out to explore the North Quabbin area for spring migrant birds. These are great events for the novice birder to learn from one of our best field naturalists. Come for as long as your schedule allows. Severe weather cancels. Info: Jeff Johnstone, 978-249-9052. The April 18th trip will be co-hosted with the Brookline Bird Club with Leslie Kramer co-leading.
April 18 from 9:30 to 11:30am The North Central Mass. Nature Journal collaborative is planning a trip to a vernal pool with aquatic biologist Cathy Szal on April 18 from 9:30 to 11:30am. All are welcome, but if you plan to come please let Katrina Walton know so that she can notify you of any last minute changes in plan due to the weather and provide you with directions to the location in a week or two. Please email Trina at thewa...@gardnerale.com with any questions. Here is our website, https://www.northcentralnaturejournal.com/
Friday, April 25th 1:00-3:00 p.m. Vernal Pool Exploration
South Athol Conservation Area at LeBlanc Entrance – 3801 S. Athol Road
Mount Grace Conservation Director (and ABNC president) Dave Small and retired entomologist Cathy Cszal will guide us in discovering critters and learning about the unique life found in vernal pools. Bring waterproof boots, a snack, drinking water, and a sense of adventure. This spring vacation event is geared to families.
To find the South Athol Conservation Area entrance: travel south on South Athol Road from Athol Center. The entrance will be on the right 1.1 miles south of the Route 2 overpass, between the intersections of Riceville Road and Conant Road. A Conservation Area sign at the driveway will point you down the dirt roadway to a small parking area on the right before the gate (private residence). Free and open to all
Sunday 1:00 pm April 27, 2025, in-person+ zoom Dale Monette – Steve Destefano "Moose in Massachusetts: Life on the 
Edge", the "edge" could be related to (1) living in cold and deep winter conditions, (2) the southern edge of their range in southern New England, and (3) the current situation with climate change, winter tick, etc. throughout much of their range. In person @ at the Center (100 Main Street Athol) To register for this zoom event: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kLdo58D0S5KwWHyuwmLR_g
2025 ABNC Calendar Error
An error was identified on two pages of the 2025 ABNC calendar. The starting day for August was shown as occurring on Saturday when it should have been Friday. The starting day for September was shown as occurring on Tuesday when it should have been Monday. There are several options for correcting this mistake:
- Request corrected sheets with an adhesive back peel-off cover for each of the two months. Order your peel and stick replacement pages. Complete the form, including your mailing address and the number of calendars you are amending. The sheets will be sent to your address free of charge.
- You may download and print the PDF files yourself and attach them to your calendar Download the August sheet, Download the September sheet We regret this error and appreciate your continued support when purchasing this unique calendar.
Dave Small
978-413-1772
Athol Bird and Nature Club
Millers River Environmental Center
100 Main Street, Athol Ma 01331
The Environmental Center is now open by appointment and available for use by our partners
