Interested in taking action to protect horseshoe crabs in Massachusetts? Migrating shorebirds depend on their eggs for critical migration fuel and there are multiple ways you can get involved as a concerned citizen:
Take action today!
– Share comments on a current proposal to list the Horseshoe Crab as a Species of Special Concern
Comments are due by April 23rd at 5pm and may be sent via email to susan.sacco@mass.gov to the attention of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board
– Participate in the proposal to close Plymouth, Kingston, and Duxbury Bays to the Horseshoe Crab Take
Contact the Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance (contact: Sharl Heller)
Ways to get involved:
– Massachusetts Horseshoe Crab Collaborative
Visit their website to learn more and join over 2,000 Massachusetts residents who have gone on record as wanting an end to taking horseshoe crabs for bait, even as they come ashore to spawn. Also visit their facebook page or contact Sharl Heller at the Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance.
– Manomet
See their website and examples of their critical work with horseshoe crabs. Volunteer, make a donation, and more.
– Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition
Visit their website to learn more and take action.
Resources to learn more: (curated by the MA Horseshoe Crab Collaborative)
– When the Horseshoe Crabs are Gone, We’ll Be in Trouble. Deborah Cramer, The New York Times.
– Horseshoe crabs have roamed the planet for 450 million years, but they could be running out of time, Renée Loth, Boston Globe.
– The Horseshoe Crab Saved Us. Can We Save the Horseshoe Crab? I am BIO Podcast.
– Connecticut’s 2023 elimination of horseshoe crab commercial harvests and Governor Lamont’s call for neighboring states “to join this growing coalition and enact similar laws to protect the population in their waters.”
– Fishermen capturing spawning horseshoe crabs—Horseshoe Crab Capture: Video by Raymond MacDonald.
Member Webinar and Field Trip: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley
Member Webinar and Field Trip: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley Shorebirds are among the most fascinating and diverse groups of birds, but identifying them can sometimes feel overwhelming. What key [...]
2025 Daytime Pelagic and Marsh Cruise Trip Schedule
2025 Daytime Pelagic and Marsh Cruise Trip Schedule Announced The BBC is happy to announce two daytime whale watching events and a Parker River marsh cruise. For the Thursday August 14th whale watching trip out [...]
Changes Coming to Mt Auburn Cemetery This Spring
Changes Coming to Mt Auburn Cemetery This Spring Mt. Auburn Cemetery has announced changes to birder access starting this spring. In short, the gates will open every day starting at 6:00 AM but the key [...]
Threats to Federal Bird Science Funding
Threats to Federal Bird Science Funding According to the journal Science, the administration has targeted the Ecosystems Mission Area at the U.S. Geological Survey for elimination in its upcoming Fiscal Year 2026 budget request. The [...]
BBC Global Big Day Count – May 10
BBC Global Big Day Count On May 18, 1974 Bob Stymiest led the BBC trip with the all time largest species count for the club - 162 birds seen during 20 hours across Essex County. [...]
Camp Edwards Grassland Bird Tours
The Massachusetts Army National Guard’s Natural Resource Program is hosting grassland bird tours in May on Camp Edwards. This is an unusual opportunity for avid birders, naturalists and photographers to walk through the Camp Edwards [...]
Member Webinar and Field Trip: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley
Member Webinar and Field Trip: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley Shorebirds are among the most fascinating and diverse groups of birds, but identifying them can sometimes feel overwhelming. What key [...]
2025 Daytime Pelagic and Marsh Cruise Trip Schedule
2025 Daytime Pelagic and Marsh Cruise Trip Schedule Announced The BBC is happy to announce two daytime whale watching events and a Parker River marsh cruise. For the Thursday August 14th whale watching trip out [...]
Changes Coming to Mt Auburn Cemetery This Spring
Changes Coming to Mt Auburn Cemetery This Spring Mt. Auburn Cemetery has announced changes to birder access starting this spring. In short, the gates will open every day starting at 6:00 AM but the key [...]
Threats to Federal Bird Science Funding
Threats to Federal Bird Science Funding According to the journal Science, the administration has targeted the Ecosystems Mission Area at the U.S. Geological Survey for elimination in its upcoming Fiscal Year 2026 budget request. The [...]
BBC Global Big Day Count – May 10
BBC Global Big Day Count On May 18, 1974 Bob Stymiest led the BBC trip with the all time largest species count for the club - 162 birds seen during 20 hours across Essex County. [...]
Camp Edwards Grassland Bird Tours
The Massachusetts Army National Guard’s Natural Resource Program is hosting grassland bird tours in May on Camp Edwards. This is an unusual opportunity for avid birders, naturalists and photographers to walk through the Camp Edwards [...]
Member Webinar and Field Trip: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley
Member Webinar and Field Trip: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification with Lisa Schibley Shorebirds are among the most fascinating and diverse groups of birds, but identifying them can sometimes feel overwhelming. What key [...]
2025 Daytime Pelagic and Marsh Cruise Trip Schedule
2025 Daytime Pelagic and Marsh Cruise Trip Schedule Announced The BBC is happy to announce two daytime whale watching events and a Parker River marsh cruise. For the Thursday August 14th whale watching trip out [...]
Changes Coming to Mt Auburn Cemetery This Spring
Changes Coming to Mt Auburn Cemetery This Spring Mt. Auburn Cemetery has announced changes to birder access starting this spring. In short, the gates will open every day starting at 6:00 AM but the key [...]
Threats to Federal Bird Science Funding
Threats to Federal Bird Science Funding According to the journal Science, the administration has targeted the Ecosystems Mission Area at the U.S. Geological Survey for elimination in its upcoming Fiscal Year 2026 budget request. The [...]
BBC Global Big Day Count – May 10
BBC Global Big Day Count On May 18, 1974 Bob Stymiest led the BBC trip with the all time largest species count for the club - 162 birds seen during 20 hours across Essex County. [...]
Camp Edwards Grassland Bird Tours
The Massachusetts Army National Guard’s Natural Resource Program is hosting grassland bird tours in May on Camp Edwards. This is an unusual opportunity for avid birders, naturalists and photographers to walk through the Camp Edwards [...]
News Categories
Upcoming Field Trips
Field Trips / Events
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Captain John’s Half-Day Pealgic
Plymouth - Captain John's Whale Watching Tour Company 10 Town Wharf, Plymouth, MA, United StatesThe BBC has chartered a private pelagic trip from Plymouth out to deep waters off Stellwagen Bank and beyond. This trip is cosponsored with the South Shore Bird Club and the Cape Cod Bird Club.
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Bear Creek Sanctuary (on behalf of Soheil Zendeh and WINWaste)
Saugus - Bear Creek Sanctuary (WINWaste) 100 Salem Turnpike, Saugus, MA, United StatesBear Creek is an upland sanctuary built on the WINWaste (formerly Wheelabrator) landfill at the northeast corner of Rumney Marsh in Saugus and Revere. Access information is below. Wear waterproof walking shoes and be prepared to hike 3 – 4 miles. The property is mostly very open, so be prepared for sun, wind and weather. [...]
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Horn Pond
Woburn - Horn Pond - Sturgis St 98 Sturgis St, Woburn, MA, United StatesHorn Pond is always a great place to bird. We’ll explore the main trails and ponds and the adjacent community garden.
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Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge
Mount Auburn Cemetery 536 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA, United StatesLate fall is often a time of year for fall lingerers, early winter arrivals, and a surprise or two. Join us for a 2-mile walk around Mount Auburn over rolling terrain. Restrooms available. Cosponsored with Menotomy Bird club.
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Boston – Franklin Park – Scarboro Pond
Boston - Franklin Park Tennis Courts (Meeting Spot) MA, United StatesHalloween Bird Walk! Costumes welcomed and encouraged. We will look for late fall migrants and new winter arrivals in Franklin Park. Beginners, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled people, kids and families welcomed 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 [...]