Boston Flora

Tag: Athol Bird & Nature Club

  • Tuesday, March 9, 7:00 pm – Magical Drive to Work: Pelham Dome to Jurassic Valley, Online

    Join the Athol Bird & Nature Club Geology Division and guest speaker Harry Sharbaugh on March 9 at 7 pm for this webinar entitled Magical Drive to Work: Pelham Dome to Jurassic Valley. Join Harry as we (virtually) visit a series of sites from Erving to Deerfield and examine rock specimens representing a cross-section of the Pelham Dome and Jurassic Rift Valley at Route -2 level. Register in advance for this webinar:
    https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Pj67hjRcQAaEI80_etay6A 
    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

  • Wednesday, October 14, 7:00 pm – Seabirds 101: Mariners Superb: Webinar

    Seabirds are among the world’s most remarkable birds.  Possessing an amazing array of specialized adaptations for extended marine existence, as well as manifesting a remarkable variety of breeding and migratory strategies, seabirds have long been a favorite with both birders and research ornithologists.  Some seabirds, such as the great albatrosses, may live for more than half a century and are capable of spending as much as eight or more years at sea without ever touching land.  Other species like the tiny Wilson’s Storm-Petrel virtually travel from one end of the world to the other twice a year.  With a keen olfactory ability, unique adaptations for removing salt from seawater, and a seemingly innate sense for navigating over trackless oceans, seabirds are truly extraordinary mariners.  In this Athol Bird & Nature Club online presentation, Wayne Petersen will discuss seabird classification, feeding, breeding, and migratory strategies, and seabird adaptations. His comments will also focus on the significance of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to seabirds off the Massachusetts coast and some of the important conservation issues facing seabird populations locally and beyond. 

    Wayne Petersen is Mass Audubon’s Director of the Massachusetts Important Bird Areas (IBA) program. Wayne has led tours, lectured, and conducted birding workshops across North America for more than 40 years. His tour-leading experiences have taken him from the Arctic to Antarctica, including destinations in the Caribbean, and Central and South America, and also Iceland, Svalbard, 5 African countries, Madagascar, the Seychelles, Australia, and New Zealand.

    The webinar will take place October 14 beginning at 7 pm Eastern Time. Register in advance: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xG6hKgigTc-ixGQZAe2cUQ After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

  • Wednesday, November 13, 6:00 pm – Voyager, Visitors, and Home

    Join Dale Monette on November 13 as he debuts his newest book of wildlife images, Voyagers, Visitors and Home. This book focuses on birds that visit New England just for a stopover during migration, birds that spend months here, or birds and mammals that live here and call New England home. The project was five years in the making and many miles traveled, not to mention the gallons of blood lost to mosquitoes in ponds and swamps! Here are the images and the stories behind them. Also included is a section on the successful bald eagle introduction as a nesting species to Massachusetts that took place at The Quabbin Reservoir during the 1980’s by MassWildlife. From great gray owls to red-backed voles come by and see what, where and who I found in my travels around New England.. This is also the annual dinner meeting of the Athol Bird & Nature Club, which will be held again at the Athol American Legion.

    Reservations are required for the dinner and must be received by Tuesday, November 6. There will be two dinner options available for a $15.00 donation, stuffed chicken or vegetarian lasagna, please indicate your preference when making the reservation. To reserve your meal call and pay in advance by credit card: Online Reservation  Pay at the door (cash or check to ABNC). Call Cindy Hartwell at 978-828-7665,  or email cindyhartwell56@gmail.com She will call or email you back with a confirmation of your reservation. No reservations are necessary for the program. The event will also feature our always popular tin can auction; participants are encouraged to bring not more than 3 (or items that can be bundled to three items) to donate.

  • Wednesday, September 11, 7:00 pm – Conservation of North Pacific Albatrosses

    Dr. Paul Sievert, U. S. Geological Survey, Massachusetts Cooperative Fisheries & Wildlife research Unit, Short-tailed Albatross Recovery, will speak on September 11 at 7:00 pm at the Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main Street in Athol. As a founding member of the Short-tailed Albatross Recovery Team, Dr. Paul Sievert has been applauded for his leadership and involvement in albatross recovery efforts. Dr. Sievert has been the eyes, ears, and scientific expert for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on recovery initiatives for the species in Japan and the United States. He has been cited for his “incredible positive attitude, coupled with indisputable expertise in albatross biology and mastery of field techniques.” He has traveled to Torishima Island and engaged in satellite-tagging the birds. Dr. Sievert’s skills enabled the recovery team to model different scenarios, ultimately generating a consensus on measurable and defensible draft and final recovery criteria. Since he began his work, the global population of the short-tailed albatross has increased at a remarkable 7 percent per year! Free. For more information visit http://atholbirdclub.org

  • Wednesday, May 8, 7:00 pm – Pollination Networks and Ecosystem Restoration

    For almost two decades, pollinators have been declining in abundance, species richness, and geographic distribution at an unprecedented rate worldwide. These declines pose a significant threat to global biodiversity due to the keystone role that pollinators play in terrestrial ecosystems – more pollinator species means more plant species, and more plant species means more food, shelter, and nest sites for wildlife at other trophic levels. Yet, we presently lack the information on pollinator-plant connections or ‘networks’ at the species level needed to fully assess the impact of human activities on ecosystem health. Please join Dr. Robert J. Gegear for a discussion on how the concept of pollination networks can be used to develop effective ecosystem restoration strategies at different spatial scales. The May 8 program of the Athol Bird and Nature Club will begin at 7 pm at The Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main Street, Athol. The program is free and open to the public. For more information visit http://atholbirdclub.org.

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  • Wednesday, April 10, 7:00 pm – Celebrate National Bat Appreciation Day

    To celebrate National Bat Appreciation Day (April 17th), MassWildlife’s Bat Conservation Program Coordinator, Jennifer Longsdorf, will share her knowledge and experience regarding the most underappreciated and misunderstood mammal on Earth. During her seven years with MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Jennifer has been involved with a variety of conservation and restoration projects aiding red-bellied cooters, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, coastal waterbirds, salamanders, and, more recently, bats. Bats are fascinating and unique creatures that play a critical role in many environments around the world. However, dramatic population declines have put bats in the spotlight recently. Come to discover how human activity and White-nose Syndrome have decimated bat populations. Learn the general facts and help dispel common myths and fears about these shy, gentle, and intelligent creatures. Join us for some tips on how to help conserve and protect these ecosystem superheroes. The April 10 program of the Athol Bird and Nature Club will begin at 7 pm at The Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main Street, Athol. The program is free and open to the public. For more information visit http://atholbirdclub.org.

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  • Wednesday, December 12, 7:00 pm – The Fabulous Winter Crow Roost

    On Wednesday, December 12 at the Athol Bird & Nature Club meeting, Bob and Dana Fox (pictured below) will relate their research on the 16.000+ crows roosting in the Lawrence area each winter: where and when they evolved, a discussion of current research demonstrating their intelligence, an overview of their natural history; and a recount of their over 90 nights observing up to 16,000 crows staging and roosting at the Greater Lawrence, MA crow roost last winter. You will want to go out and find your own crow roost when they finish! Programs are free and open to all, meet at 7 pm at The Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main Street, Athol. For more information visit http://atholbirdclub.org.

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  • Wednesday, November 14, 6:00 pm – Athol Rocks! One Billion Years as Seen in Local Rocks and Landscape

    Amazing events have shaped the rocks and landscape of this part of Massachusetts. Attend the Athol Bird and Nature Club Annual Dinner Meeting on Wednesday, November 14 to hear all about it.

    Continents have collided and split. Dinosaurs lived here. Great glaciers have left their mark on the landscape. Learn about these events and see and feel samples of some interesting geologic specimens (such as the rare Jurassic armored mud balls) in this presentation by Professor Richard D. Little. This 60 minute power point program will include handouts and samples. Copies of Professor Little’s books and DVDs will be available for purchase at a discount. Richard D. Little, Professor Emeritus, Greenfield Community College, has presented numerous programs about the region’s amazing geologic heritage and has authored several books and articles, and produced two video programs available on DVD. He leads “Fantastic Landscapes” tours within the United States, Iceland, and Scotland.

    As usual, ABNC will hold its annual dinner meeting at 6 p.m. in Liberty Hall at the Athol Town Hall (584 Main St.), with the program at 7 p.m. Reservations are required for the dinner and must be received by Tuesday, November 3. To reserve, call Cindy Hartwell at 978-828-7665, or email cindyhartwell56@gmail.com. There will be two dinner options available stuffed chicken or vegetarian lasagna  – please indicate your preference when making the reservation. She will call or email you back with a confirmation of your reservation. No reservations are necessary for the program. The event will also feature the always popular tin can auction; participants are encouraged to bring an item to donate.

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  • Saturday, June 9, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Flora of Bearsden Conservation Area

    On Saturday, June 9, join Nancy Goodman, Naturalist and Plant Conservation Volunteer with New England Wild Flower Society for this botanical exploration of the Bearsden Conservation Area. Trees surround us and support us in so many important ways. Though they’re rooted in one place, they are complex, fascinating, and beautiful living things. Plants are also fascinating to look at and identify. We will be looking at a mix of plants and trees to learn what we can. We will also be paying attention to what changes we see when we go from one habitat to another, and how subtle this can be. Plants and trees can tell you a lot about the habitats you might be in. Wear proper foot gear and bring Binoculars, camera, water, LUNCH and a sense of adventure. Meet 10:00 am at the Conservation area parking lot at the end of Bearsden Road in Athol (opposite Athol Hospital on Main Street). This is a moderate 3.5-mile round trip free walk sponsored by the Athol Bird & Nature Club. For more information visit http://atholbirdclub.org or email Dave@atholbirdclub.org.

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  • Sunday, June 3, 10:00 am – Dragonflies at Royalston Eagle Preserve and Priest Brook Valley

    Join Dave Small and Lynn Harper of the Athol Bird & Nature Club on Sunday, June 3 for a search for early season Dragonflies and Damselflies. As good naturalists, we’ll also note interesting birds, butterflies and whatever else we find. Meet 10:00 am at the MDFW Birch Hill WMA parking area (opposite 69 Winchendon Rd Royalston) Bring dragonfly net, camera, shoes or boots to get wet, water, snacks, and a sense of adventure. For more information visit http://atholbirdblub.org or email Dave@atholbirdclub.org.

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