Events update
Dave Small
Athol Bird & Nature Club
Field Trips & Meetings 2013
Unless otherwise noted, programs meet at
the Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main Street, Athol.
If weather is questionable on a field trip day,
please call the trip leader at least an hour before the scheduled meeting time.
Scroll down for more special events around the region
Well we have finally got our website upgraded and is now live www.atholbirdclub.org is our new address our old address at millersriver.net will auto direct you to the new site for now but you should update your browser to point to the new address. Please let us know what you think. There are a few edits needed as we moved the entire old site to our new server. Not everything is yet visible but our archives section has many interesting pages from the last couple decades…. We are hoping the new format will allow speedy updates, Facebook interface, and options for more member input and sharing of images. Many thanks to Gwen Pearson who did the heavy lifting and your entire board for spending the time to make this work. We will be eternally grateful to Bruce (Pan) Wilson for many years of managing our web presence. His support plus technical and artistic talent has been invaluable.
Saturday, March16, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bark: Get to Know Your Trees - on the trails of Northfield Mountain Recreation Center
A tree’s leaves, twigs, and buds are often hard to see or seasonally absent. Join author Michael Wojtech outdoors on the trails of Northfield Mountain Recreation Center (99 Millers Falls Rd., Northfield) for an exploration of bark, a year-long trait. Learn how to distinguish species by their bark and why bark is so varied. Wojtech’s book, Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast, will be available for purchase. For ages 12 and older and naturalists at all levels of experience. Info: www.knowyourtrees.com. Fee: $10; free for ABNC members. Pre-registration required: 800-859-2960. Co-sponsored by ABNC and Northfield Mountain.
Sunday, March 24, 7 a.m. South Shore Land and Water
Meet Ernie LeBlanc here at the Center to carpool to the South Shore. Itinerary will depend on local intelligence and includes the Cumberland Farms area, lakes and land around the South Shore, and coastal areas. We should get a good number of waterfowl, some leftover winter birds, and some early migrants. Info: Ernie at 978-249-4064 or lebr...@aol.com.
Sunday, April 7, 7 a.m. “Early Bird” Birding with Jeff
Join Jeff here at the Center before heading out to explore the North Quabbin area for spring migrant birds. Come for as long as your schedule allows. Severe weather cancels. Info: Jeff Johnstone, 978-249-9052.
Tuesday, April 9, 8-10 a.m. Accessible Birding with Joe
Join Joe Superchi on the second Tuesday of the month in a search for birds at local sites. Open to birders of all abilities. Meet at the Center. Call ahead for wheelchair van access, 978-248-9491.
<<>>Wednesday, April 10, 7 p.m. Naturally Curious
Join us here at the Center for our regular meeting, when naturalist/photographer Mary Holland will share her passion for the flora, fauna, and landscapes of New England with a presentation and display of her natural artifacts collection. Holland is the author of Naturally Curious: A Photographic Field Guide and Month-by-Month Journey through the Fields, Woods, and Marshes of New England, copies of which will be available for purchase.
Sunday, April 14, 7 a.m. “Early Bird” Birding with Jeff
Join Jeff here at the Center before heading out to explore the North Quabbin area for spring migrant birds. Come for as long as your schedule allows. Severe weather cancels. Info: Jeff Johnstone, 978-249-9052.
Monday, April 15. 6 p.m. Potluck & Skydance
We will join our MREC partners, the North Quabbin Trails Association, for their monthly pot luck supper here at the Center followed by a visit to Cass Meadow at sunset to witness the mating ritual of the woodcock. Bring a dish to share and your own drink. Info: Bob Curley, atph...@yahoo.com.
Sunday, April 21, 7 a.m. “Early Bird” Birding with Jeff
Join Jeff here at the Center before heading out to explore the North Quabbin area for spring migrant birds. Come for as long as your schedule allows. Severe weather cancels. Info: Jeff Johnstone, 978-249-9052.
Saturday, April 27, 6 a.m. Warblers at Mount Auburn
Visit this beautiful historic cemetery, a famous spring hotspot for migrating songbirds. Meet at the Center for carpooling at 6 a.m. or let us know if you wish to meet us at the gate of the cemetery at 7:30 a.m. If time allows, we’ll also visit the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Bring snacks or a lunch, and water. Info: Joan or Larry Duprey, 978-249-4964.
Sunday, April 28, 7 a.m. “Early Bird” Birding with Jeff
Join Jeff here at the Center before heading out to explore the North Quabbin area for spring migrant birds. Come for as long as your schedule allows. Severe weather cancels. Info: Jeff
Tuesday March 26 at 7:30 pm, “Beavers and the Law”
the Warwick Conservation Commission is sponsoring this talk at the Warwick Town Hall.
Come learn about the biology and ecology of beavers in Massachusetts. We will also discuss the legal management options for homeowners and towns regarding damage caused by beavers in this state, and hopefully prevent conflicts! The presentation will be by Trina Moruzzi, a wildlife biologist with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. She has a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and an M.S. in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She has spent the last 12 years with the Division assisting on a number of different projects from waterfowl banding to black bear capture and radio telemetry, overseeing the deer hunt for paraplegic sportsmen, as well as providing outreach to communities on wildlife related issues. Please spread the word to people in other towns too! Warwick isn't the only town who has had some beaver issues. The presentation is open to the public. Questions or directions? I can be reached at karro...@gmail.com or call my cell phone at 978-633-9452 (local call) and leave me a message.
Karro Frost, Chair
Warwick Conservation Commission
Archaeology Lecture Series
The newly formed Western Chapter of the Massachusetts Archaeological Society is announcing their first lecture series. The chapter is proud to have Nick Bellantoni, Connecticut State Archaeologist and Professor of Anthropology at UConn give a talk titled: “The Long Journey Home for Albert Afraid of Hawk”. The lecture will be held on March 16th at 2:00. The location will be at the Hall Tavern, Historic Deerfield, 80A Old Main Street Deerfield, Ma 01342. Please join us for this exciting new lecture series as we begin to explore Archaeology in Western Massachusetts and the world. The talk is free and open to the public. We are also looking for new members and welcome all who are interested. Contact Todd Kmetz @ 413-397-3484 for further information.
MassWildlife News
Commonwealth of Massachusetts – Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Wayne F. MacCallum, Director
Phone: (508) 389-6300, Fax: (508) 389-7890, Email: Mass.W...@state.ma.us
Visit our Website! www.mass.gov/masswildlife
NEW SPRING EAGLE COUNT IN EARLY APRIL
Eagle and other wildlife enthusiasts are asked to save April 5, 2013 to participate in a new statewide spring eagle count. This effort will include a concentrated survey of the major rivers, lakes, and reservoirs across the Commonwealth. Organized by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) the survey will be conducted by agency staff and volunteers. Teams will be checking known eagle territories and exploring areas with potential eagle habitat to try to locate “new” eagle nests. If inclement weather prevents the survey on April 5, the backup date is April 12, 2013. Additionally, the Division encourages anyone to submit eagle sightings throughout the year by email to natural....@state.ma.usor by postal service to “Eagle Survey”, MassWildlife, Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, 100 Hartwell Street, Suite 230, West Boylston, MA 01583.
The new spring Bald Eagle Survey will replace the Division’s long-standing Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey. “Although MassWildlife has participated in the winter eagle surveys for over 30 years, the federally administered Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey was designed to monitor the North American population of Bald Eagles,” said Andrew Vitz, State Ornithologist. “Now that Bald Eagle numbers have greatly increased and have been removed from the Federal Endangered Species List, the need to monitor nationwide populations has been reduced. At the same time, as the number of eagles has increased across the Commonwealth and a spring eagle count meets the Division’s need to more closely monitor eagle breeding status and distribution in Massachusetts.”
Programs at the Quabbin Visitor Center
Belchertown - The DCR Quabbin Visitor Center will host several free presentations in the coming months. All ages are welcome. Reservations suggested. Please call (413) 323-7221 for more information.
Sunday, March 17, 2-3pm
My Time With The Bird Of Freedom
For the past seven years author, photographer and nature enthusiast William Dean has been observing and photographing the American Bald Eagle at Quabbin Reservoir. The program will provide a beautiful look at Quabbin’s eagles with a photo and video presentation, interspersed with stories and observations of the presenter. William Dean maintains the website www.cutloosewildlife.com and is glad to share his passion for these remarkable birds with others.
Sunday, March 24, 2-3pm
DCR and Anglers : working together to Protect Quabbin’s Water Supply and Fisheries
In 2010 DCR Quabbin instituted a boat seal program for private boats entering the Quabbin to protect the reservoir against the threat of aquatic invasives. Join DCR Aquatic Biologist Paula Packard as she discusses the outcome of this program, results of pond surveys and the serious threat from Spiny water flea and other new invasives on the horizons.
From our friends at Blue Crow Botanicals
10 Essential Herbs For A Healthy Life
Learn 10 or a few more essential herbs to strengthen, restore and harmonize the body and mind.
April 6 1-4 pm $50 147 Main Road Gill, MA
Call or email for more info or to pre-register 413.768.9253 or bluecrowb...@gmail.com and
With Bonnie Bloom, Clinical Herbalist
Basic 4 Month Herb Study Course
Learn how to identify medicinal plants in the wild and also to grow them and make medicine with them. Study the systems of the body and the pathology that arises and how herbs can help.
Class meets 8 times March 24 – mid July. $775
Call or email for more info or to pre-register 413.768.9253 or bluecrowb...@gmail.com and
With Bonnie Bloom, Clinical Herbalist
Dave Small
Athol Massachusetts