The BBC is pleased to announce its donation of $250 to support the Purple Martin Legacy Project at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. The Friends of the Parker River NWR initiated this worthy project to expand the Purple Martin colonies on the refuge. Decades ago, there were up to a dozen martin colonies down the length of the island. Over the years the colonies dwindled as the wooden bird houses succumbed to time and weather. Through the efforts of BBC member Sue McGrath, who replaced the old, decaying structures with a new system of gourd houses, there are now two martin colonies thriving on the refuge, and another colony located at the north end of the island at the site of the former refuge headquarters. This new project, spearheaded by BBC member Doug Chickering, will start by adding one colony, at a site to be determined, with a goal of restoring the legacy of past years when Purple Martins were a presence the length of the refuge. The Friends plan to recruit volunteers, via their website, to aid in maintaining and documenting the progress of any new colony.
If you wish to support this project individually, you can send a check to Friends of the Parker River NWR, with Purple Martin in the memo line. Mail the check to:
Friends of the Parker River NWR
6 Plum Island Turnpike
Newburyport, Massachusetts 01950.
The Friends, and the Purple Martins, will appreciate any donation, large or small.
News Categories
Upcoming Field Trips
Field Trips / Events
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Members Webinar with Tiffany Kirsten – Birdie Big Year: Elevating Women Birders
DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES THIS WEBINAR HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM MARCH 10 TO MARCH 24. IF YOU PREVIOUSLY SIGNED UP, YOUR REGISTRATION AND ZOOM LINK WILL STILL WORK FOR THE MARCH 24 DATE. Please join the BBC on the evening of March 24 from 7PM to 8:30PM for a member only webinar with Tiffany Kirsten,
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Woodcock Walk, North Easton
North Easton - Edwin A. Keach Park Chestnut Street, Easton, MA, United StatesFrom the playground, we will walk a short distance to an open area where we can observe 2 fields for Woodcock. Sunset is around 6:30 pm so bring a camp chair and relax for the Woodcock flight.
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CANCELLED Pine Hill Road Grasslands (was rescheduled from March 14)
Lancaster - Pine Hill Road Grasslands Pine Hill Road, Lancaster, MA, United StatesWe scheduled this trip too early. It was a mistake in retrospect. We are cancelling this trip. The birding will get better in mid to late April. We have trips in May and June that will be in prime season for this location.
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Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge
Mount Auburn Cemetery 536 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA, United StatesMount Auburn Cemetery is lovely in all seasons. In late March, we may see the very earliest migrants from the south (Red-winged Blackbird, others) as well as the remaining seasonal visitors from the north (e.g. White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco). And our usual year-round resident species will have just started to sing!
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Franklin Park – Scarboro Pond
Boston - Franklin Park Tennis Courts (Meeting Spot) Roxbury, MA, United StatesWe will look for early spring migrants in Franklin Park. Beginners welcome and encouraged. Expect to walk up to 2 miles on paved paths. Loaner binoculars available. Co-sponsored with the Franklin Park Coalition and Franklin Park Tennis Association.






