The BBC is engaged in ongoing conservation advocacy on its own initiative and in alliance with the other eighteen member clubs of the Association of Massachusetts Bird Clubs. In June 2019 the BBC supported a Citizens Climate Lobby campaign to pass a state bill intended to reduce carbon emissions. In July we joined the Association in sending a letter to Historic New England urging HNE to help protect Eastern Meadowlarks by re-evaluating its haying practices and management of grasslands at Cogswell’s Grant in Essex and its other properties.
At a July meeting of the Association, club representatives agreed to urge their members across the state to report sightings of birds on the state Endangered Species list. State ornithologist Drew Vitz reported that the Eastern Meadowlark will likely soon be a state-listed species. Through the efforts of Zack Weber, the BBC has taken a lead on this issue by offering annual field trips focused on finding and reporting state-listed species.
The July Association meeting included a discussion of “plirding”—picking up trash while birding—an idea being promoted by a group led by Ray Brown of the Talkin’ Birds radio show. Stay tuned for further “plirding” developments. The Association will meet next at 10:00 on Sunday, November 17 at the Mass Fish and Wildlife offices at Westborough WMA. Any individual member of any member club is welcome to attend Association meetings and join the Association’s Google Group. If you’re interested, contact John Nelson, chair of the BBC Conservation and Education Committee and acting Association chair: jnelson@northshore.edu.
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Upcoming Field Trips
Great Meadows NWR, Concord
Concord - Great Meadows Concord Unit, Entrance Rd, Concord, MA, United StatesWe will walk easy trails looking for shorebirds, ducks, wading birds, rails, and nesting songbirds. This is also a great time to look for butterflies and other interesting insects. Note that entrance fee or pass is required. Loaner binoculars available; please email trip leader to reserve a pair!
Whale and Seabird watching trip out of Gloucester
Gloucester - 7 Seas Whale Watch 63 Rogers Street, 7 Seas Wharf, Gloucester, MA, United StatesThe BBC is partnering with the 7 Seas Whale Watching Tour Company to travel to Stellwagen Bank - primary feeding grounds for the Humpback Whale, the endangered Right Whale, and other marine wildlife, including seabirds. With the help of onboard naturalists, we will search for seabirds - storm petrals, shearwaters, gulls and terns, gannets, and [...]
An Oasis for Birds at Belle Isle Marsh
East Boston - Belle Isle Parking Lot 1399 Bennington Street, Boston, MA, United StatesJoin DCR park staff for a relaxed, one-mile bird walk through flat, easy terrain at this Massachusetts State Reservation and birding hot spot. In July, At Belle Isle and at additional nearby locations—we’ll search for osprey, flocks of egrets, piping plover, migrating shorebirds, meadow and grassland nesting birds. Participants are responsible for their own transportation [...]
Charles River Path in Waltham
Waltham - Charles River Shaws Supermarket 130 River Street, Waltham, MA, United StatesStroll along an easy to walk paved path. Possible sightings include Wood Ducks, Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, and Great Blue Heron. Cosponsored with Waltham :Land Trust and Menotomy Bird Club.
Birding Sketch Crawl – Summer Series
Leader's ChoiceCome and bird/sketch favorite patches around Essex and Middlesex Counties.