This has been an exciting year at the Center. The new 3-stop lift is operational, The Windows on Main art exhibit is on display, New entry doors on the East and West are being installed and the Lawn sign will be sporting new LED lights to illuminate the sign for our fall meetings. Stop by and join us for one of ur exciting fall events
Sunday, September 8, 2019 2:00 PM Get your Geek On
Join Lynn Harper (Mass Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program) and Dave Small as we explore two programs that can help organize your natural history sightings. A brief indoor explanation will be followed by a chance to try it out in the nearby meadow. bring a smartphone, laptop or tablet if you have one. If you already have an Inaturalist or Ebird login make sure you bring it with you.
Fridays 7:30 am September 6, 13, 20, 27, September 4, 11, Early Bird Birding with Jeff Johnstone Meet Jeff at the Center 100 Main Street, Athol
Sundays September 15, 22, Early Bird Birding with Jeff Johnstone Meet Jeff at the Center 100 Main Street, Athol
The Fall Lineup for ABNC monthly meetings
Wednesday, September 11 2019, 7:00 PM “Conservation of North Pacific Albatrosses”, Dr. Paul Sievert, U. S. Geological Survey, Massachusetts Cooperative F&W research Unit, Short-tailed albatross Recovery:
As a founding member of the Short-tailed Albatross Recovery Team, Dr. Paul Sievert has been applauded for his leadership and involvement in albatross recovery efforts. Dr. Sievert has been the eyes, ears, and scientific expert for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on recovery initiatives for the species in Japan and the United States. He has been cited for his “incredible positive attitude, coupled with indisputable expertise in albatross biology and mastery of field techniques.” He has traveled to Torishima Island and engaged in satellite-tagging the birds. Dr. Sievert’s skills enabled the recovery team to model different scenarios, ultimately generating a consensus on measurable and defensible draft and final recovery criteria. Since he began his work, the global population of the short-tailed albatross has increased at a remarkable 7percent per year!
Wednesday, October 9, 2019, 7:00 PM “Native Plants as Insect Habitat” Charley Eiseman
Each native plant species has a suite of host-specific insects that depend on it for food. Even allowing a single “weed” to grow in your garden can significantly increase its habitat value, and choosing to plant native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers will cause your yard to teem with life. Using a number of common New England plants as examples, Charley will introduce us to some of these insects, their natural history, and signs of their presence to look for on their host plants. His close-up photos will provide an unusual perspective on the tiny animals that are going about their lives right under our noses. Charley Eiseman is a freelance naturalist, conducting plant and wildlife surveys for various nonprofits, state agencies, and universities throughout New England. He has co-taught an “Ecology Through Animal Tracking” course in various incarnations since 2004, and since 2018 he has been teaching week-long field seminars on insect tracks and sign at the Eagle Hill Institute in Maine. He holds an MS from the University of Vermont’s Field Naturalist Program and a BS in Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation and Management from the University of Massachusetts. Charley is the lead author of Tracks & Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates (Stackpole Books, 2010) and Leafminers of North America (self-published e-book, 2019), and he has coauthored over 30 scientific papers, including the description of over 60 new insect species. http://charleyeiseman.com/
Saturday November 2, 2019 Quabbin Naturalist tour. Join Club president Dave Small and Jeff Johnstone for this Naturalists exploration of a section of Quabbin Reservoir. Meet at MREC 7:30 am for carpooling pre-registration required as the number of participants is limited. Contact Dave Small Dave@dhsmall.net to reserve your place.
Wednesday, November 11, 2019 Voyager, Visitors and Home with Dale Monette
Join Dale Monette as he debuts his newest book of wildlife images. This is also the annual dinner meeting which will be held again at the Athol American Legion. Stay Tuned for additional details. Voyagers, Visitors, and Home. This book focuses on birds that visit New England just for a stopover during migration, birds that spend months here, or birds and mammals that live here and call New England home. Five years in the making and many miles traveled, not to mention the gallons of blood lost to mosquitos in ponds and swamps! Here are the images and the stories behind them. Also included is a section on the successful bald eagle introduction as a nesting species to Massachusetts that took place at The Quabbin Reservoir during the 1980’s by MassWildlife. From great gray owls to red-backed voles come by and see what, where and who I found in my travels around New England
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 7:00 PM ABNC Members Night bring up to 15 images from some of your favorite adventures to share. Bring in PowerPoint Format or in a file folder on a stick drive to share. Everyone is welcome to participate.
Saturday, December 21st 2019 – Annual Athol Christmas Bird Count – all day – Contact Dave Small to participate Dave@atholbirdclub.org