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

  • “Baby Birders” Baby and Toddler Birding at Horn Pond

    Horn Pond Area in Woburn Woburn, United States

    Join Cassandra for an introductory, baby-friendly bird walk and mini-lesson for parents with young children (0-3 yrs). It's never too early to start learning about and enjoying birds! The first 15-20 minutes will cover introductions and bird facts, followed by a 40-60 minute exploratory walk in sun and shade. Little ones welcome in carriers, strollers, [...]

  • Westboro Wildlife Management Area

    Westborough - Ball Field Hospital Rd, Westborough, MA, United States

    We will hike the north side of Big Chauncy Pond in search of migrant warblers.

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