2009 Central Mass Birding Calendar
This calendar lists upcoming events such as bird trips, meetings, and special events such as breeding bird surveys, Christmas counts, etc. To contribute a listing, you can email to rsquimby@wpi.edu or call Rick Quimby at (508) 835-6567 and leave a message. This is not intended as a discussion forum for birding-related topics (MASSBIRD serves this function well), so please confine your submissions to the listing of events that will be of interest to Worcester County birders.
The previous year's listings are archived here.
Here are the current birding events listings in chronological order:
On-line now at WICN (90.5FM): In this program we talk about the life of Roger Tory Peterson. He wrote and designed one of the most important books in American natural history and was an important player in conservation movements around the world. Yet some people described him as a "monomaniac", hopelessly single minded, and this led to his family life being far from perfect. Inquiry speaks with writer and biographer ELIZABETH J. ROSENTHAL about her interesting and complex new biography of the man who changed forever the way we look at the natural world: BIRDWATCHER: THE LIFE OF ROGER TORY PETERSON. To listen to this interview on-line or to download to your PC or I-Pod, go to: wicn.org/audio/inquiry(submitted by Mark Lynch).
6/14/09 -- WICN radio interview with Bernd Heinrich
The Hawk Migration Association of North America, (HMANA) has developed a
new, free tool to help people identify hawks in flight. "Identification of
Raptors of the Northeast" is a PowerPoint presentation that combines
photographs of flying raptors, silhouettes, and in-flight identification
tips to help you improve your hawk watching skills.
Covering 19 species of hawks and vultures, including some of the rarer
species, the presentation first focuses on how to identify the major raptor
families so you can narrow down identification. Using graphics and animation
it then zeroes in on the field marks and flight patterns that will identify
each species as they look in flight.
This unique guide can be downloaded free at www.hmana.org for those with
high-speed internet access, although we hope you will also choose to make a
donation to HMANA when you download it. A CD of the presentation can also be
ordered at www.hmana.org for $12. As a special, limited-time offer, the CD
and a new membership in HMANA are both available for the combined cost of
$25, the price of the regular annual membership dues.
The presentation features photographs from some of our best raptor
photographers, as well as photos in the less-than-ideal-lighting conditions
that can make identifications more challenging. The show runs about 30
minutes and can be used both for non-commercial presentation at bird clubs
or by individuals looking to enhance their own identification skills. The
program works best as an uninterrupted slide show, and some slides include
additional notes.
This fun and informative learning tool will help you raise your hawk
identification skill to a new level. A new, two-page silhouette ³Guide to
Hawks Seen in the Northeast² can also be downloaded free of charge at
www.hmana.org or you can order professionally printed and laminated copies
of the guide on the site.
(submitted by Paul Roberts).
Do creatures other than humans use a complex language? What does this say
about animal intelligence and consciousness? Can we have a dialog with
another species? Tonight on Inquiry we talk with DR. IRENE M. PEPPERBERG,
Associate Research Professor at Brandeis University about her years long
research attempting to communicate with an African Gray Parrot named Alex.
Her research is considered very controversial, but tune in and decide for
yourself. Dr. Pepperberg's popular account of her research is titled ALEX
AND ME: HOW A SCIENTIST AND A PARROT UNCOVERED A HIDDEN WORLD OF ANIMAL
INTELLIGENCE AND FORMED A DEEP BOND IN THE PROCESS.
To access this interview now to listen on-line or download to your PC or
I-Pod, go to:
http://wicn.org/audio/inquiry-dr-irene-pepperberg
(submitted by Mark Lynch).
Mass Audubon's 17th Annual Birders Meeting
Saturday, March 7, 2009
8:30 am to 4:45 pm
Worcester Technical High School, Worcester, MA
This year's Birders Meeting offers anyone with an interest in birds the
opportunity to learn more about the rich resources that comprise the
National Wildlife Refuge System, along with some of the challenges and
opportunities constantly facing resource managers.
Also, in recognition of the 100-year anniversary of the birth of Roger Tory
Peterson - "America's greatest naturalist" - this year's Birders Meeting
will feature reflections by Lee Allen Peterson, son of the late Roger Tory
Peterson. In addition, a presentation by internationally known birder and
author, Kenn Kaufman, will make this an event not to be missed.
Afternoon breakout sessions will feature breakout sessions on birds and
climate change, avian research on MA National Wildlife Refuges, invasive
plants and birds, where and how birds sleep, Worcester County changes in
breeding birds, and more.
Vendor tables will include optics, bird books and nature gift items, natural
history travel, bird photographers, and information on local bird clubs.
Co-sponsored by Mass Audubon and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with
support from Houghton Mifflin Company and Birds & Beans Coffee
For more information, to view the program schedule or to register, visit
http://massaudubon.org/birdersmeeting
or call Linda Cocca at 781-259-2150
On line at www.wicn.org now:
Inquiry speaks with noted children's book author MELISSA STEWART about her
latest book A PLACE FOR BIRDS, a companion volume to her A PLACE FOR
BUTTERFLIES. Ms Stewart specializes in writing books about the natural
sciences for young readers. In A PLACE FOR BIRDS, Melissa describes how
children and adults have helped a number of endangered or threatended
species survive. Tonight Melissa Stewart talks about how the Westover Air
Reserve Base put aside a large parcel of grasslands so the diminutive
Grasshopper Sparrow could breed. In Florida, school children helped save
some of the breeding habitat of the local Florida Scrub Jay. While in
Hawaii, local residents are controlling the introduced pig population to
help the stunning Crested Honeycreeper. Melissa Stewart's message is that in
each case there was something simple that people could do to create a "place
for birds".
To listen now on-line or download, go to:
http://wicn.org/audio/inquiry-melissa-stewart
(submitted by Mark Lynch).
Learn All About Birds Open House and Bird a Thon Kick-Off
Bird identification, bird feeding and more-
Birding for Everyone - Beginners Welcome!
Sat. May 2nd 1- 4 pm
Rain or Shine
* Guided Bird Walks
* Larry Keating - Live Birds of Prey
* Barry Van Dusen - Artwork Demonstration
* Wood carving display & activities for children- soap carving
The Bird Store and more - birdfeeders, optics display and much more
What's That Bird? Book Signing with authors Joseph Choiniere and Claire
Golding
Program Fee: $5 Members, $7 Non-members
$2.50 Children Members, $3.50 Children Non-members
Family maximum: $15 Members, $21 Non-members
At Mass Audubon's Wachusett
Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary in Princeton
113 Goodnow Road, Princeton, MA 01541
(1/2 mile west off Rte 62);
For more information call (978.464.2712) or wachusett@massaudubon.org
(submitted by Deb Cary).
Two important interviews about art, widlife and books are on-line NOW at
www.wicn.org
1. In 1992 a tiny and virtually unheard of publishing firm began on of the
most ambitious projects in natural history: to publish a series of 16 high
quality volumes that would illustrate and describe in detail every bird on
the face of the planet! Nothing on this international scope had ever been
attempted before. Today, the end of the landmark series THE HANDBOOK OF THE
BIRDS OF THE WORLD is in sight, and Lynx Edicions is launching another
equally ambitious and mind-blowing project: THE HANDBOOK OF THE MAMMALS OF
THE WORLD. Tonight on Inquiry we talk with JOSEP DEL HOYO, Series Editor of
the Handbooks, co-founder of Lynx Edicions and member of the Global Council
of Birdlife International. Josep discusses how Lynx became such a force in
conservation and environmental education around the world and what it takes
to produce a truly state of the art natural history book. To visit Lynx, go
to: http://www.hbw.com/
To access this interview, go to:
http://www.wicn.org/audio/inquiry-josep-del-hoyo
2. Inquiry welcomes back internationally recognized artist and watercolorist
BARRY VAN DUSEN. Barry has just returned from an exciting, eye-opening and
productive trip painting the birds, flowers and landscapes of Israel's rich
Hula Valley as part of an Artists For Nature Foundation project. Tune in and
learn about what migration is like in the Middle East, the unique ecology of
Isreal and how nature and politics co-exist there. To see some of Barry's
work go to:
http://www.barryvandusen.com/
To access this interview, go to:
http://wicn.org/audio/inquiry-barry-van-dusen-israel
(submitted by Mark Lynch).
On-line now on WICN (90.5FM):
Inquiry welcomes back DONALD KROODSMA, who has been called "the reigning
authority on the biology of avian vocal behavior." Tonight Don talks about
just a few of the discoveries found in his latest book BIRDSONG BY THE
SEASONS: A YEAR OF LISTENING TO BIRDS. This thoroughly enjoyable book takes
the reader out into the field from January through December, from Costa Rica
to the Connecticut River Valley, as Dr. Kroodsma unravels some of the
mysteries of why birds sing. Whether it's a nighttime vigil in January at a
noisy roost of many thousands of robins or pondering why waxwings seem to
have no song at all, Dr. Kroodsma's investigations will inspire you to
listen more closely to even the common birds all around you. Join us tonight
for an always-fascinating conversation with one of the world?s leading
researchers in ethology and natural history.
To listen on-line, or download, go to:
http://www.wicn.org/audio/inquiry-donald-kroodsma
(submitted by Mark Lynch).
This SUNDAY, JUNE 14 starting at 9PM on WICN (90.5FM), two interviews with
notable natural historians:
World-renowned author and Professor Emeritus at the University of Vermont,
BERND HEINRICH returns to Inquiry to talk about his new book SUMMER WORLD: A
SEASON OF BOUNTY. Summer is "the most intense time of the year" in the
natural world, and tonight Professor Heinrich talks about such varied
subjects as the fabulous "sky dance" of the American Woodcock; the benefits
of cannibalism in Wood Frogs, and the hidden relationship between a
woodpecker and a hummingbird. If you enjoy the out of doors and are
fascinated by the complexity of the natural world, don?t miss tonight's
show!!
To listen to this show now on your PC, or download to your I-Pod, go to:
http://www.wicn.org/audio/inquiry-bernd-heinrich-summer-world-a-season-of-bo
unty
Also this Sunday, Inquiry speaks with one of the great natural historians of New
England. Have you ever wondered how one develops a serious interest in the
natural world? Is it due to your schooling? Your parents and family? Or,
perhaps, a book you happened to read? Natural historian, teacher and noted
photographer JOHN GREEN drops by Inquiry to speak about his long and
passionate career in observing the plants and creatures of Massachusetts
(and elsewhere). John talks about his complex and extraordinary life and how
he developed into such an incisive and discriminating observer of our
natural environment. Along the way, you'll learn about Skunk Cabbage, False
Hellebore, and John?s continuing passion for photographing the ever-changing
patterns of ice in streams, rivers and waterfalls.
To listen to this show now on your PC, or download to your I-Pod, go to:
http://wicn.org/audio/inquiry-john-green
(submitted by Mark Lynch).