Blackstone Valley Natural History Day

On Saturday, March 27 Mass Audubon will host Blackstone Valley Natural History Day at the Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary in Worcester. The day will begin at 9:30am and wrap up by 3:00 in the afternoon. Fast paced 15 minute mini-lectures will cover topics related to both the wildlife found on the Sanctuary as well as in the Blackstone River Valley. Early morning topics include spotted turtles, beavers, birds and butterflies. Late morning topics include fire ecology in Worcester, Nighthawks of the Blackstone River Corridor, and "Special Places" in Rhode Island. After lunch, the newly released Massachusetts Living Waters Program that explains the need to protect aquatic diversity will be featured. The final topic of the day will focus on the Fish of the Blackstone River. Admission is free and all interested nature enthusiasts are welcome.

Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary is located 1/2 mile north of Route 20 on Massasoit Rd. in the Southeast section fo the City of Worcester. Broad Meadow Brook consists of 400 acres of forest, marsh, and fields with 5 miles of marked trails. The Sanctuary Conservation and Visitor Center houses a gift shop open year round and offers a broad range of educational programming.

SCHEDULE- Saturday, March 27th

 9:30         Welcome: Deb Cary, Sanctuary Director

  9:45        The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor-
              The Natural History in Context: Mark Lynch

On the Sanctuary
10:15        Avian Trends: John Liller

10:30        The Plight of the Spotted Turtle: Erin Ellis
10:45        Balancing Beavers: Tom Rawinski/Deb Cary

11:00        Harris Checkerspots and more: Dolores Price

11:15        BREAK

Down the Blackstone Valley
11:30        Nighthawks in the Corridor: Mark Lynch

11:45        Fire Ecology in Worcester: Tom Rawinski

12:00        Daniel's Farm of Blackstone, MA: Gail Howe Trenholm

12:15        Special Places in Rhode Island- Powder Mill Ledges and Fort
             Refuge: Jim Gass, Audubon Society of Rhode Island

12:30        LUNCH: Bring a bag lunch or box lunches available for $5.00,
             please RSVP .  Dessert and beverages provided.

  1:15       Living Waters: Protecting Aquatic Diversity: Chloe Stuart

  2:15       Inland Fishes of Massachusetts: Karsten Hartwell
             (Harvard University) and Fish of the Blackstone River 
             Todd Richards  (MA Fish and Wildlife)

                        Closing

For more information and directions please call:

508-753-6087

bmbrook@massaudubon.org
Deb Cary