2014 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) 853-5021 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:
Inquiry talks with ERROL FULLER, artist, writer and world authority on bird and animal extinction. His new book is titled LOST ANIMALS: EXTINCTION AND THE PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD and is a collection of amazing and poignant photographs of extinct mammals and birds. Tune in and listen to the stories of the people who took these photographs of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers, Pink-headed Ducks, Carolina Parakeets and Thylacines, the unique marsupial carnivore. To listen to this interview, go to: http://www.wicn.org/podcasts/audio/errol-fuller-lost-animals(submitted by Mark Lynch).
For birders who'd like a bit more guidance, or for anyone who is willing to collect additional information that will be highly valuable to our efforts, there is an optional Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz protocol document. This document details how to record and report field observations and indicates the "extras" that birders can do to help our effort (take photos, record information about local habitat, etc). Additional information on Rusty Blackbirds and the Migration Blitz can be found through this link. The target dates for the count in Massachusetts are between March 15-April. Please pass this along to anyone you think is interested and post information on social media outlets. There have been a lot of reports already generated from the southern states, and let's get Massachusetts well represented on the map in reporting migrating Rusty Blackbirds. I am the Migration Blitz state coordinator for Massachusetts, so please feel free to get in touch with me if you have questions related to the survey. Happy birding! Drew
Andrew Vitz State Ornithologist Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife 100 Hartwell Street, Suite 230 West Boylston, MA 01583 Tel: 508-389-6394; Fax:508-389-7890 andrew.vitz@state.ma.us
Inquiry welcomes back EDWARD H. BURTT JR, Cincinnati Conference Professor of Zoology at Ohio Wesleyan University. He is the author, along with William E Davis Jr, of the book ALEXANDER WILSON: THE SCOT WHO FOUNDED AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. Tonight Jed talks about the plans for celebration of the 200th year anniversary of the publication of Alexander Wilson's American Ornithology, one of the first great scientific volumes written in America. There will be a one-day symposium on all things Wilson on April 23, 2014 at Ohio Wesleyan University. If you would like to attend this once in a life time celebration of Wilson and his art, go to: http://wilson200.owu.edu/ .Also discussed in this interview, Wilson?s legendary meeting with John James Audubon and whether Audubon copied some of Wilson?s artwork. To listen to this interview, go to: http://www.wicn.org/podcasts/audio/edward-h-burtt-jr-alexander-wilson-celebration Ornithology since the time of Charles Darwin has made some exciting discoveries that have been important to all the natural sciences. Some of these include finding out that that birds are dinosaurs, discovering that feathers existed before they were used for flight, learning how to use certain DNA techniques to better understand evolution, and developing advanced digital technology to track birds in flight. There have also been some legendary characters in the science of ornithology and some very heated arguments. Tune in tonight when we talk with BOB MONTGOMERIE, Professor of Biology at Queen?s University in Ontario. Together with Tim Birkhead and Jo Wimpenny, they have written one of the great and entertaining histories of science: TEN THOUSAND BIRDS: ORNITHOLOGY SINCE DARWIN. To listen to this interview, go to: http://www.wicn.org/podcasts/audio/bob-montgomerie-ten-thousand-birds(submitted by Mark Lynch).
Writer LYANDA LYNN HAUPT returns to Inquiry to talk about her book CROW PLANET: ESSENTIAL WISDOM FROM THE URBAN WILDERNESS. Crows are all around us even in cities and Lyanda writes they are the single most often encountered native wild animals we are likely to see. And everyone has a crow story because they are very intelligent and display elements of reasoning and even imagination. Crows have interesting and complex behavior. Crows also allow us to enter the world of wild nature that is right outside our door. Forget Hitchcock?s The Birds, tune in and learn just how fascinating these birds really are. To listen to this interview now, go to: http://www.wicn.org/podcasts/audio/lyanda-lynn-haupt-crow-planet(submitted by Mark Lynch).
Why are some species of birds increasing in numbers while other species numbers are declining? What are the factors that influence a bird's population? Tonight on Inquiry we talk with IAN NEWTON, ornithologist, applied scientist and a leading expert on bird ecology and biogeography. His new book BIRD POPULATIONS describes what we know scientifically about the avian population dynamics. Tonight we talk about how global climate change will affect bird distribution and migration and how severe winters, like the one we just experienced here in New England, affects bird numbers. To listen to this interview now, go to: http://www.wicn.org/podcasts/audio/ian-newton-bird-populations(submitted by Mark Lynch).
Field trips will take place at two EQLT properties: Wendemuth Meadow Preserve, North Brookfield, and Mandell Hill, Hardwick. Following lunch, the afternoon session will be turned over to Dr. Kimberly Peters, Conservation Ecologist; Pete Westover of Conservation Works LLC; State Ornithologist Andrew Vitz; and USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service spokespersons Marianne Piche and Dan Lenthall. In addition to an in-depth look at population trends, environmental threats, and human interaction challenges facing birds such as Eastern Meadowlarks, Bobolinks, American Kestrels, as well as other species, the speakers will present recent research and case studies, and address practical ideas for bird-friendly management of grasslands and hayfields.
This mini-conference touches upon important concerns of landowners, land managers, birders, and other conservation-minded individuals. Space is limited. Send email to hubbardstonnatureclub@yahoo.com for Complete program and registration details.
To Forbush members and friends and Friends of The Oxbow: There has been considerable concern and some misunderstanding about the recent cut and burn activity going on in the Pine Hill area of the Bolton Flats WMA. On Sunday, June 15th from 2:00 to 4:00m p. m., CHRIS BUELOW, Assistant Restoration Ecologist for the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, will present an on-site program at Pine Hill explaining the Grasslands Restoration Project now ongoing in Mass. Pine Hill is one of 3 WMA sites in the State involved in the Restoration Project. Chris will explain just how the project works, what is happening with all the activity, and what the program objectives are for the future of several threatened and endangered species that are dependent on these rare habitats. The program is being co-sponsored by The Forbush Bird Club and the Friends of The Oxbow NWR. Hope to see you all there. Please note that Fish & Wildlife has asked that people planning to attend the Pine Hill Grasslands Restoration program please pre-register. The program is free to all but please call (978) 779-2259. The name of the program is "HOW FORESTRY AND FIRE HELP WILDLIFE, LANCASTER".(submitted by Dick Knowlton).
> Thanks for any help! Drew > > Andrew Vitz, Ph.D. > State Ornithologist > Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife > 100 Hartwell Street, Suite 230 > West Boylston, MA 01583 > Tel: 508-389-6394; Fax:508-389-7890 > andrew.vitz@state.ma.us
This year the Eastern Mass Hawk Watch annual meeting, on Friday September 5th, focuses on one of our smallest and most beautiful raptors. Tom Sayers, who has developed a sophisticated kestrel nesting box program in northeast Connecticut, will talk about "Rebuilding Local Populations of the American Kestrel". Drew Vitz, the Mass State Ornithologist will follow with a short program on The Status and Conservation of the American Kestrel in Massachusetts. They have some incredible photography and insights into what is happening with what was once our most commonly seen falcon. The evening includes a popular raffle on a number of great birding items, such as photographs, birding wear, books and more. The EMHW annual meeting is free and open to the public. The meeting will be held at a new location, the air-conditioned Woburn Elks Lodge, 295 Washington Street, Woburn, MA. A social hour with beverages and snacks starts at 6 pm, followed at 7 pm by a brief business meeting and the Sayers and Vitz presentations. For complete information, including driving directions to the new location in Woburn (plenty of free parking), visit the Eastern Mass Hawk Watch web site at massbird.org/EMHW The new Woburn location is easy to reach, just blocks from Rte. 128 and a short distance off Rte 93.(submitted by Paul Roberts).
Once their miles long flocks darkened the skies for hours. But now they are extinct. Gone forever. Tonight on Inquiry, we welcome back artist, writer and world authority on bird and animal extinction ERROL FULLER. His new book THE PASSENGER PIGEON is not just a history of the extinction of North America's most common bird, but really a celebration and a memorial to a unique species. All of Fuller?s books contain numerous photographs and unique artwork, tune in and find out why this is so important to him. to listen to this interview now, go to: http://www.wicn.org/podcasts/audio/errol-fuller-passenger-pigeon(submitted by Mark Lynch).