Boston Flora

Tag: chickadee

  • Wednesday, September 11, 7:00 pm – The Chickadee’s Guide to Gardening: Why Native Plants Matter to Songbirds and the Food They Eat Webinar

    Residential landscapes and gardening practices can have a positive (or negative) impact on wildlife. In this September 11 Ecological Landscape Alliance webinar, Dr. Desiree Narango will speak about her research studying plant and wildlife interactions. The talk will focus on her recent work comparing the contributions of native and non-native plants to food webs by studying breeding birds in Washington, D.C. suburban yards. In addition, she will talk about the relationships between plants and insects, why insects matter to birds, and steps you can take in your landscape designs or in your own yards to improve habitat for wildlife. Dr. Narango will also share resources to find more information about nature-friendly gardening and participating in community-driven science.

    Dr. Desiree Narango is a Postdoctoral Researcher at City University of New York and a visiting researcher at University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research interests include urban/suburban ecology, plant-animal interactions, and community-driven science (to name a few). Desiree has a PhD in Entomology and Wildlife Ecology from University of Delaware, a M.S. in Natural Resources from The Ohio State University, a B.S. in Environmental Biology from SUNY: ESF and over 15 years’ experience studying wildlife. She’s also an active birder and gardener who really enjoys getting others excited about the natural world in their own yards. Free for ELA members, $10 for nonmembers. Register at www.ecolandcaping.org.

  • Sunday, September 9 – Sunday, October 28, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Beginning Art of Bird Carving

    Award winning wildlife artist Laurie Truehart of Royalston will offer a workshop at the Petersham Art Center to teach the art of bird woodcarving. Participants will work with the artist to create a chickadee, studying the basics of carving techniques, as well as proper use and care of carving tools. This intensive course will start Sunday, September 9, and proceed each Sunday through October 28th.

    Laurie has been perfecting the art of carving for over a decade. Her intricate works are true to nature in every exacting detail, down to the feather count on a bird’s wing, yet capture the vibrant poses and flights of the smallest chickadee to the largest owl, swooping to its prey. She has competed in the prestigious Ward Museum World Championship competition in Maryland and the Canadian Wildfowl Carving Championship. Her work has been on display at numerous galleries, including locally at the Millers River Environmental Center and the Gardner Area League of Artists.

    “I have always had a great appreciation for nature’s beauty. My inspirations come from both wild animals and those that I have had the pleasure of knowing,” says Laurie. “Living in Royalston has given me the opportunity to observe wildlife in their natural habitat and those first hand experiences now motivate my artistic expression. My carving includes a variety of wildlife forms, birds of prey, songbirds, and mammals. I like to capture the wild feeling of living forms by rendering them in motion and at rest.”

    The sessions are each Sunday, from 1-4PM, on September 9, 16, 23, 30 and October 7, 14, 21, and 28.  The cost is $120 for PAC members and $135 for nonmembers. There is a materials fee for a wood bird blank and carving tools.

    Call the Petersham Art Center at 978-724-3415 for more information. The Art Center is located off Rt. 32 near the center of Petersham. The Center is open from Wednesday through Sunday, from 1-4PM, for artists’ exhibitions, goods by local crafters and artisans, handmade jewelry and leather goods, books by local authors, antiques, and other treasures.