The BBC, through our Conservation and Education Committee, has made a conservation donation in honor of Mark Blazis to the Auburn Birdbanding Research Station, which Mark directed until he passed away in November 2021. A former BBC trip leader and supporter of our scholarship program, Mark was a dedicated educator, committed conservationist, and accomplished nature writer. A longtime resident of Grafton, Mark co-authored and edited ten field guides to the fauna and flora of Massachusetts, and he was awarded the Richard Cronin Award– the highest honor of the New England Outdoors Writers Association–for his weekly “Outdoors” column for the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. Internationally, Mark led many field trips to Africa, Amazonia, the Galapagos, India, the Arctic and Antarctica. He and his wife Helen were honored by an American Red Cross Hometown Hero Award for their work in bringing medical care to the Kichwa tribe in the rainforest of Ecuador, where he also assisted residents in banding birds (see photo) and forming their own bird-guiding company. In addition to numerous awards for conservation education and research from organizations such as Massachusetts Audubon and the Garden Club of America, Mark was personally selected by the late Roger Tory Peterson as North America’s Nature Educator of the Year.
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Upcoming Field Trips
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Belle Isle Marsh and Vicinity
East Boston - Belle Isle Parking Lot 1399 Bennington Street, Boston, MA, United StatesLed by DCR staff. We will search on foot up to one mile, on flat, easy terrain for snowy owls and other raptors, native sparrows, finches, waterfowl, and other birds. This is a traveling program by car or bike. Prepare for ticks. Ages: Adults and kids 8 years+ with adult chaperone. Binoculars recommended. ADA/Reasonable Accommodations [...]
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CANCELLED – Early Birders @ Chestnut Hill Reservoir, Boston
Chestnut Hill Reservoir 2420 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, United StatesThis walk is CANCELLED due to a schedule conflict.
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Race Point Beach
Provincetown - Race Point BeachLet’s start the year with some awesome birds! We will bird from the beach close to the parking lot. We may walk the beach depending on participants interest. Several species of alcids are possible as well as gannets, Iceland and Glaucous Gulls and three loon species. Dress for cold windy weather. We may try other [...]
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New Year’s Day Birding — Newburyport and Vicinity
Newburyport - Cashman Park 68 Sally Snyder Way, Newburyport, MA, United StatesJoin us on our annual New Year’s Day birding trip! We may also venture on to Cape Ann. In case of inclement weather check with leader night before trip. Note that an entrance fee or pass is required to visit Parker River NWR.
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Belle Isle Marsh and Vicinity
East Boston - Belle Isle Parking Lot 1399 Bennington Street, Boston, MA, United StatesLed by DCR staff. We will search on foot up to one mile, on flat, easy terrain for snowy owls and other raptors, native sparrows, finches, waterfowl, and other birds. This is a traveling program by car or bike. Prepare for ticks. Ages: Adults and kids 8 years+ with adult chaperone. Binoculars recommended. ADA/Reasonable Accommodations [...]






