Joseph (Joe) A Paluzzi, a long-time Brookline Bird Club member, trip leader, Board member and Past President, and good friend to many in the birding community, passed away on April 25, 2023. Joe was known to many as Bank Swallow, the handle he chose when the BBC was using CB radios to communicate in the field, as well as his email address. The origination/connection of this is unknown.

Joe enjoyed birding in comfort, always sporting a big, long, and usually fast car both at home and on   out- of-state birding trips. His pride and joy was his most recent Mercedes SUV. Joe loved a good chase and often volunteered to be the ‘uber’ for said chases!!

Besides birding, Joe had many other interests and accomplishments. He was a champion scrabble player, crackerjack poker player with his pals at the Swampscott senior center, reveled in a daily wordle group he participated in, and always had a police radio going at home (there were no local secrets from Joe!). As well Joe was an avid Boston sports fan along with his love for NCAA basketball. He organized and orchestrated a March Madness pool for many years, providing an entertaining commentary after every round of play. He was warmly known as ‘The Commish’ in this role.

His wife Helen was the love of his life, though his granddaughter Hannah was the apple of his eye!

His easy-going personality, generous spirit and wonderful smile will be missed.

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Upcoming Field Trips

  • Fruitlands Museum, Harvard

    Harvard - Fruitlands Museum 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard, MA, United States

    Cosponsored with Boxborough Birders. We will look for local avian non-migratory species and early migrant arrivals. Expect to walk about two miles on trails through meadows and woods, with some steep sections. Prepare for ticks. We will bird at the meeting location for about 30 minutes so any latecomers can catch up.

  • Westborough WMA in Two Parts

    Northborough - Watson Park, Bartlett Pond 35A Lyman St, Northborough, MA, United States

    Part 1: 7 AM -10 AM / Part 2: 10:30 AM -1:00 PM. We will hike at a slow pace through mild moderate trails in search of sparrows and other migrants. For the first part we will hike the Eastern trails between Lake Chauncy and Little Chauncy(about 3 miles). Then we will again meet at

  • Belle Isle Marsh and Vicinity

    East Boston - Belle Isle Parking Lot 1399 Bennington Street, Boston, MA, United States

    Led by DCR staff. We will search on foot up to one mile on flat, easy terrain, for migrating or resident songbirds, raptors, shorebirds, and marsh birds at this birding hotspot and state park. This is a traveling program by car or bike. Prepare for ticks and mosquitoes. Ages: Adults and kids 8 years+ with

  • Millennium Park

    Boston - Millennium Park Canoe Launch 300 Gardner Street, Boston, MA, United States

    Join us to observe resident birds and spring migrants in a unique urban habitat that is a favorite for many bird species, including uncommon and rare flycatchers, swallows & warblers. Birders of all levels welcome. The trails are generally flat and easy to walk, with some rough patches. A water bottle, sunblock, insect repellent, waterproof

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