Boston Flora

Tag: mass audubon

  • Wednesday, July 25, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon – Nature Hike at Rutland Brook Sanctuary

    There are 4 miles of trails at Mass Audubon’s Rutland Brook Wildlife Sanctuary. On Wednesday, July 25 (foul weather date Thursday, July 26) after a short walk alongside Connor Pond, we’ll hike 3-4 miles of moderate-to-strenuous—depending upon our group–interlinking trails that wind through cathedral-like stands of hemlocks and white pine. Rutland Brook loop trail follows the hemlock-lined brook and is a nice place to cool off in the summer. This is the height of the nesting season for our breeding birds, so we’ll be looking for some not-so-obvious signs of successful nestings. We’ll also take time to enjoy other interesting features such as butterflies, plants, animal sign, etc. Participants may wish to bring cameras, insect repellent, and drinks/lunch. Food and beverages also available at Petersham Country Store before or after the outing. Meet at 9 am at the sanctuary parking area next to Connor Pond, bearing left off Pat Connor Road.  Pat Connor Road is on the east side of Route 32/122 in Petersham, Massachusetts.  For more information email hubbardstonnatureclub@yahoo.com.

  • Saturday, April 5, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm – Amphibians After Dark

    Get excited for the “big night,” an outdoor amphib­ian adventure on Saturday, April 5 at Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 108 North Street in Norfolk, Massachusetts organized by the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Tour the lantern-lit trails with a guided group and encounter costumed characters waiting to teach you about amphibians through their stories and songs. Inside we’ll have live specimens from vernal pools, make crafts, and view a slide show about the animals that live in these “wicked big puddles.”

    Guided groups leave the nature center every fifteen minutes.

    Register online or by phone, 508-528-3140, to secure your time slot.
    Fee: Mass Audubon Member $7; Non-member $9; Children 3 and under free

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  • Saturday, March 8, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Extinction is Forever: What Have We Learned?

    Using the passenger pigeon as an iconic example of what can happen to a super-abundant species in a relatively short span of time, the 22nd annual Mass Audubon Birders Meeting on Saturday, March 8, from 9 – 3, will focus on the extinction phenomenon from a variety of perspectives. Since 1992, birders from around New England have come together every March to attend Mass Audubon’s Annual Birders Meeting. With the help of supportive sponsors, they have successfully brought together engaging speakers from around the country, been joined by top-notch vendors, and drawn enthusiastic participants to these day-long events.

    The meeting will take place at Bentley University in Waltham, and is co-hosted by Mass Audubon, the Museum of Comparative Zoology, and the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Featured speakers are:

    Patrick Comins, Audubon Connecticut – Weather: Its Significance to Birds and Birders

    Keynote Joel Greenberg, Research Associate of both the Chicago Academy of Sciences, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and the Field Museum – A Feathered River Across the Sky: The Passenger Pigeon’s Flight to Extinction

    Matthew Kamm, Ph.D. candidate at Tufts University – Legacy of the Heath Hen

    John Kricher, Professor of Biology at Wheaton College, Norton, Massachusetts – Bird Conservation: Ultimately it’s Personal

    Michael Reed, Professor of Biology at Tufts University – Causes and Consequences of Avian Extinctions

    There will also be a silent auction, proceeds of which will provide financial support to the Bird Conservation programs at Mass Audubon. Register ($60 sponsor members, $65 public) at https://secure2.convio.net/mas/site/Ecommerce;jsessionid=2941D35BFE22BC33B67791314E6F05F1.app271b?store_id=1761.

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  • Saturday, January 25, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Naked Shrubs

    No leaves? No problem! Use a combination of branching patterns, bud and bark characteristics, habitat, persistent fruits, galls and marcescent leaves to identify shrubs in winter. The New England Wild Flower Society program begins with a short session indoors on Saturday, January 25, beginning at 10 am, then we travel to a nearby site for a close look at 15-20 native New England shrubs plus a couple of non-native invasives. Return indoors for a twig or slide quiz and a cup of something hot. This course serves as a good introduction to shrub identification in winter or a good review for those who have taken “Native New England Shrubs.” Bring lunch and a hand lens if you have one, and dress for the weather. Co-sponsored with Mass Audubon, and led by Roland “Boot” Boutwell, the course fee is $20 for members of the sponsoring organizations, and $25 for nonmembers. Register online at www.newfs.org/learn/catalog/fdt1114.

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  • Thursday, January 16, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (Snow Date January 17) – Managing Large-Scale Landscapes Sustainably

    Join the Ecological Landscaping Association (ELA ) and Wellesley College on Thursday, January 16, from 8:30 – 4:30 at the Wellesley College Science Center for a symposium on the development and maintenance of large-scale landscapes that utilize fewer inputs, are designed and maintained with the environment in mind, and become more sustainable over time. Experts who work daily in successful, sustainable large-scale landscapes will lead four panel discussions. If you are interested in sustainable landscapes for colleges, parks departments, public agencies, cemeteries, golf courses, forests, land trusts, public gardens, or other large landscapes, this event is for you.

    Maintaining Large-Scale Landscapes
    Landscapes Over Time, Soil Compaction, Invasive Plants, Recycling Organic Matter, and Sourcing Quality Compost

    Panelists: Dennis Collins, Mount Auburn Cemetery, John Forti, Strawbery Banke Museum, and Stuart Shillaber, Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy.  Please note that both Dennis Collins and John Forti are past Garden Club of the Back Bay presenters.

    Large Lawns: Ecological Approaches
    Mowing Frequency, Inputs, Pests, Disease, and Alternative Energy Mowers

    Panelists: Richard Luff, Sagamore Golf, Fred Newcombe, PJC Ecological, and Anthony Ruggiero, Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy

    Runoff as Resource: Large Scale Stormwater Solutions
    Erosion to Irrigation, Collection Options, Dealing with Large Rain Events, Water Quality, Minimizing Demands of Potable Water

    Panelists: Tom Benjamin, LA/Sustainable Designer, Brad Buscher, Groundwork Lawrence, Eden Dutcher, GroundView, and Kate Venturini, University of Rhode Island

    Managing Semi-Wild Landscapes

    Designating “Semi-Wild” areas, Identifying Invasive Plant Threats, Setting Management Priorities, Tackling What is Feasible (and Leaving the Rest)

    Panelists: Tobias Wolf, Wolf Lighthall, Heidi Kost-Gross, G/S Associates, and Sandy Vorce, Mass Audubon

    Registrations are limited – Use This Link to Register Online Now

    For more information: ela.info@comcast.net

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  • Saturday, October 26, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm – Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood Educators: Growing Up Wild and Project Learning Tree

    Growing Up WILD and Project Learning Tree’s Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood build on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invite them to explore the natural world around them. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, these new curricula provide an early foundation for developing positive impressions about the natural world and lifelong social and academic skills. Educators taking this professional development workshop on Saturday, October 26 from 9 – 3:30 will receive award winning curriculum guides for educators of young children. The activity guides feature over 150 experiences that engage children in outdoor play and exploration. Join instructors Patti Steinman, Education Coordinator, Connecticut River Valley Sanctuaries and Kim Noyes, Northfield Mountain’s Education Coordinator, for a fun-filled day of interactive, hands-on, activities. Gain experience and skills helpful for taking children outside to explore the natural world. This professional development workshop is great for teachers, camp counselors, child care providers, home school parents and other educators. Both curricula are correlated to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards and the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework. Fee is $40, which includes two activity guides. The event will take place at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton, and is co-sponsored with Massachusetts Audubon Society. To register call 413-584-3009 or online through Mass Audubon.

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  • Sunday, September 15, 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm – Fungi in the Fall

    Can you distinguish a bolete from a gilled mushroom? What is a mushroom anyway? While fall is considered fungi season in the Northeast, fungi are seasonally cyclical and different species and types can be found almost any time except deep winter. Join New England Wild Flower Society and Massachusetts Audubon Society Drumlin Farm for a walk around the Drumlin Farm Nature Center sanctuary in Lincoln, Massachusetts to discover as many fungi as we can. Learn about the crucial and sometimes astonishing roles these fascinating life forms play in the ecosystem and some methods for identifying mushrooms and other fungi in the field. $25 for members of either sponsoring organization, $29 for nonmembers.  Photo from www.deviantart.net. Register online at https://46858.blackbaudhosting.com/46858/fw13-fdt1079-Fungi-in-the-Fall.

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  • Wednesday, July 24, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Wetland Plant and Community ID

    The Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary will sponsor a Wetland Plant and Community ID session on Wednesday, July 24 beginning at 9 am at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary at 87 Perkins Row in Topsfield, led by Director Carol Decker. Wetlands are areas that are dominated by water and water-tolerant plants. The most common method of identifying these areas is by the unique plant communities that grow in them. Spend the day exploring the wetland communities of the sanctuary, from the shrub swamps to the wet meadows and marshes. Plant identification will be emphasized. This workshop is ideal for anyone interested in learning more about wetland plant communities as well as conservation commissioners. Meet on the back porch of the Visitor Center. Bring a lunch, beverage, and drinking water. Registration (IRWS members $32, nonmembers $41) is required. Register online at https://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Ipswich_River/index.php or call 978-887-9264 to register by phone.

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  • Saturdays, April 13 and April 20, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon – Creative Digital Photoshopping

    Award winning photographer, Gail Hansche-Godin, will visit the Petersham Art Center for a two-part program on using creative digital photoshopping techniques. The classes will be held on Saturday, April 13, and Saturday, April 20, from 9 AM-12 Noon. The Photoshop Elements program will be the basis of the instruction, but the ideas reviewed would be useful for anyone. Beginning to experienced photographers will benefit from the class to learn how to create any imaginable work, from funny and whimsical to the classically beautiful.

    Gail will begin the first part of the program by demonstrating image enhancement by adjusting lighting, color and clarity. She will discuss the use of proper work flow and how to use short cuts to speed up the work. Function of tools, using layers, burning (darkening) and dodging (lightening) areas of a photo, removing unwanted areas of a photo, cloning from one image to another (adding images), filters, and converting to black and white will be some of the discussion points. For the second day of the program, participants come back to the class with questions from practicing assignments from the first program.

    The classes will be tailored to the level and needs of each individual participant.

    Gail is a well-regarded teacher and artist who has won numerous awards in international photography competitions. She has had her photographs published in National Wildlife, Massachusetts Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy and Massachusetts Audubon Connections magazines. She is especially passionate about advocating for preservation of our wildlife treasures and natural heritage through photographic art.

    The two-part class is $30 for Petersham Craft Center members and $45 for nonmembers. There are no computers provided but the instructor will demonstrate on her own computer, or participants may bring their own computers. Call the Petersham Art Center at 978-724-3415 to register or for more information. The Art Center is located at 8 North St, just off Rt. 32, near the Petersham Common.

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  • Saturday, March 23, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Making a Farmstead

    Spend a day on Saturday, March 23 at Berkshire Botanical Garden considering the possibilities of adding a backyard chicken coop, a flock of sheep, a milking goat or cow or a flock of fowl.  Join educator Meg Taylor and farmer Dominic Palumbo for one or more lectures on keeping farm animals in the backyard. Learn about the advantages of taking control of your food supply (milk, eggs and meat) managing your own manure pile and adding a four-legged lawn mower. Each program will cover topics including nutrition, shelter/coops, health, egg/meat/wool production, breeds, predators, regulations, general care and helpful resources. Attend one or more lecture and join the backyard farming movement.

    9:30 am – Chickens in the Backyard – Meg Taylor

    Calling all gardeners to join the backyard chicken movement! This beginners’ workshop will inspire you and give you the skills to start a backyard flock of your own.

    11 am – The Family Flock of Sheep – Meg Taylor

    Tired of spending your weekend morning mowing the back acre? There is a quieter and more attractive solution—sheep! Sheep are low maintenance, live on grass, can be surprisingly hardy and produce meat, milk and fiber. We’ll discuss important considerations before acquiring sheep, such as basic care, best breeds for the small farm, predator control, seasonal tasks, uses for wool and pasture management.

    12:30 pm – Fowl A Field: Turkeys, Ducks and Geese – Dominic Palumbo

    Consider a range of fowl that can be successfully raised in a backyard setting. Used for their eggs, meat or simply for insect control, these entertaining creatures add a lively atmosphere to the backyard farmstead.

    2 pm – The Milking Family Cow or Goat – Dominic Palumbo

    Possibly the most rewarding farm animal is the dairy animal (cow or goat). These animals provide organic, pasture-grown dairy for your family in addition to meat, great manure and some pasture control. This talk will introduce you to the basic information needed to consider one of these four-legged friends on the farm.

    Meg Taylor is the Founder and Co-Director of The Farm Education Collaborative, an organization that designs and delivers farm-based education programs for all ages in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. Meg has worked in the fields of environmental and agricultural education since 1994 and has worked as a farm educator for Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm and at Shelburne Farms in Vermont. Meg and her family garden and raise fancy chickens, Shetland sheep and dairy goats at their home, North Wind Farm, in Williamsburg, MA.

    Dominic Palumbo is a farmer and owner of Moon In The Pond, a small farm in Sheffield, MA. Moon In The Pond maintains a strong focus on the elegant integration of history (raising heritage breed livestock and heirloom vegetables, using select traditional farming methods) and contemporary ‘technology.’

    $75 for BBG members, $90 for non members. Bring a bag lunch. Sign up at www.berkshirebotanical.org.