Spring 2026 Conservation Alerts
Important conservation issues directly affecting birds and birders are pending in front of the Massachusetts legislature. Please demonstrate your commitment to Massachusetts bird life by taking action now.
Mass Ready Act – Rodenticide Ban
The Mass Ready Act offers an opportunity to ban the use of anticoagulant rodenticides statewide.
Heather Packard from Mass Audubon is asking that supporters call their state representative by May 19. Please ask your rep to request that Chair Aaron Michlewitz and the House Ways & Means Committee strengthen Sections 74 and 75 of the Mass Ready Act by including the language from H5217, which would phase out the use of anticoagulant rodenticides. Mass Audubon hopes to have every state representative receive at least 10 constituent calls on this topic.
This Google Sheet lists includes every state representative, their phone number, and a brief script for the call. Be sure to add an “X” next to you rep’s name after you make the call.
An Act to End the Use of Horseshoe Crabs for Bait
Now is also the time to show our support for Massachusetts House Bill H5266, An Act to End the Use of Horseshoe Crabs for Bait. The original bill has been strengthened and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means for further consideration.
We received a detailed request from the Horseshoe Crab Advocates at the Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance. They ask that we contact the leadership of the MA House Ways and Means Committee. If your rep is a committee member please reach out to them as well. Rather than try to repeat all the information we received please review this PDF. You will find background on the topic, contact info for state reps, important talking points, and a template for a letter.
The Brookline Bird Club has sent a letter supporting H5266 to the House Ways and Means Committee leadership.
Learn more from the Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance.
Sunday Hunting Proposal
We are happy to report that budget amendments repealing the state’s Sunday hunting ban have been tabled for now. If there is a change in status we will let you know.
News Categories
Upcoming Field Trips
Field Trips / Events
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Bring Back Bobolinks: Bobolink Walk at Appleton Farms Ipswich with the Grasslands Survey Team (New!)
Ipswich - Appleton Farms paid parking, free for TTOR members 219 County Road, Ipswich, MA, United StatesNew addition to our Bring Back Bobolinks conservation series. Rani date July 2 - check with leader in case of rain. Join new BBC members and Trustees Grassland Birds Monitoring Project volunteers Andy and Tina Haubert on their regular survey at this well known location for breeding and nesting Bobolinks. We’ll observe field marks, song,
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Quabbin Reservoir
Quabbin Reservoir - Gate 10 235 Daniel Shays Hwy, Pelham, MA, United StatesJoin Glenn on a 5-to-6-mile walk through a very birdy area with species ranging from Broad-winged Hawk to Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Blue-headed Vireo, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, and lots of stuff in between. (Maybe a moose or a bobcat!) Co-sponsored with the South Shore Bird Club.
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Bring Back Boblinks: Bobolinks at Heard Farm, Wayland (New!)
Wayland - Heard Farm Conservation Area 12 Heard Road, Wayland, MA, United StatesNew addition to our Bring Back Bobolinks conservation series. This gem works its way into the rotations of many birders once discovered. It is managed for dog walking (no dogs on this walk please) and bobolinks, which in a good year can number 100 or more. We will be using dirt trails and boardwalks. Trails
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Bring Back Bobolinks: Codman Estate Farm (Was Drumlin Farm) (New!)
Codman Community Farms - Donelan's parking 145 Lincoln Rd, Lincoln, MA, United StatesThis walk was planned for Drumlin Farm but more Bobolinks can be seen at this nearby location so we've moved the walk to Codman Farms. Adding to our Bobolink conservation series. Join Ilija to observe and appreciate Bobolinks in breeding habitat! Bobolinks are migratory grassland birds found across Massachusetts. The Bobolink is listed as a
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Fruitlands Museum, Harvard
Harvard - Fruitlands Museum 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard, MA, United StatesCosponsored with Boxborough Birders. All the nesting birds will still be around, with good views of young out of the nest being fed by parents: Veery, Indigo Bunting, Catbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Tree Swallow, Bobolink, Wood Thrush, Baltimore Oriole, and Warblers. Expect to walk about 2 miles on trails through meadow and woods with some steep






