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The Athol Bird and Nature Club (ABNC) calendar, chock full of nature notes, trivia questions and of course, some amazing photos of local birds, animals and plants is now available. While many people may enjoy a calendar with pictures of exotic nature and scenery, the “Birds and Nature of the North Quabbin” 2027 calendar focuses on the local beauty of this region making this calendar a local treasure. The cover photo, taken by Rick Flematti, is a striking image of a Bald Eagle about to catch a fish.
The calendar, coordinated by Ernie LeBlanc, showcases photos taken in the North Quabbin region mostly by Athol Bird and Nature Club members. In addition, each month features extensive nature notes that provide very specific information such as when certain birds are migrating into or out of the area, when native wildflowers are blooming, when the peak of several meteor showers occur, and even when to listen for coyotes howling. Club members have an extremely broad range of interests, so a very diverse set of nature notes was compiled merely by picking their brains.
Fine-tuned for the climate in this area, the nature notes are what set this calendar apart from other pretty nature calendars. Many people frequently use the calendar as a learning tool with their children by going outside and trying to find what the calendar says to look for. To further enhance the learning value of the calendar, each month features a nature trivia question. How many gallons of sap does it take to make a gallon of maple syrup? Or, how did the shrub Hobblebush get its name? Get the calendar to find out; the answers are on the inside back cover. Interesting facts about each month’s photo are also provided along with the photo credit to the member who took the photo.
In keeping with the local theme, the calendar was printed by Highland Press of Athol, and as in previous years, area businesses have continued their enthusiastic support and paid for advertising in the calendar to help cover the printing costs. Being a high-quality product, people love to give them as gifts; they are great for grandparents and children and are a wonderful reminder of home to family and friends that no longer live in the area.