Brookline Bird Club – America’s most active bird club!

Thank You Bob Mayer!

For more than 20 years Bob Mayer, a lifetime member of the BBC, has led field trips at Arnold Arboretum and nearby locations. Bob let us know that he is going to stop leading walks on a regular basis due to age and not hearing the birds as well. Since he started leading walks in 2004, Bob estimates that he has led around 200 walks, mostly in the Arboretum but also in other locations such as Olmsted Park/Leverett Pond, and the Boston Nature Center.

Bob is so appreciated as a leader in the Arboretum area that when we asked other leaders to offer a field trip there they said “that’s Bob’s place” until we explained that he was retiring as a leader. Some of the people who are leading trips in the area can remember walks led by Bob as among their early birding experiences and that he is in some way a part of how they became birders and birding leaders. (Bob has asked to stay on our field trip leaders email list and, if we are lucky, will surprise us with a spontaneous field trip.)

Here are a photos taken by Stephen Baird showing Bob leading one of his earlier walks. We love to see how everyone is having a good time!

Winter bird trip led by Bob Mayer
Photo by Stephen Baird
Winter bird trip led by Bob Mayer
Photo by Stephen Baird
Winter bird trip led by Bob Mayer
Photo by Stephen Baird

Bob has contributed to birding in many other ways over the years.

He created a blog with some wonderful pages and images of birds.

During Covid, he hosted a virtual walk with the Brookline Greenspace Alliance .

Over the years he has also helped with Christmas Bird Count, the Breeding Bird Atlas, and contributed multiple articles to Bird Observer. He has also helped rescue an injured Great Horned Owl with Andrew Joslin, and worked with Brendan Keegan on the NestWatch program.

Bob has also been a volunteer docent and field guide for elementary school students at the Arboretum for many years. He is retiring from that as well. In recognition and appreciation, his fellow volunteers recently threw a surprise party and gave him a nice photo book celebrating his time at the Arboretum.

We want to thank Bob for his years of trip leadership and support for birds and birding. Inspired by his friends at the Arboretum, we created a pair of picture mugs as a thank you gift. Here he is with these holding the mugs along with recognition from the BBC.

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Today

  • Barretts Mill Farmland

    Concord - Barretts Mill Farmland Barrett's Mill Road, Concord, MA, United States

    This is often a great place for fall sparrows including Savannah, Field, and White-crowned, as well as Pipit and occasional Dickcissel. Loaner binoculars available; please email trip leader to reserve a pair! If the weather doens't look good, contact the leader to check status.

  • Hellcat at Parker River NWR

    Parker River NWR - Lot #4 Newbury, MA, United States

    During the past few years the refuge has opened the dike to hiking during National Wildlife Refuge Week. We will plan to do that hike if the dike is again open this year. Otherwise we hike the boardwalk and normal dike area.

  • Arlington Reservoir

    Lexington - Arlington Reservoir 210 Lowell Street, Arlington, MA, United States

    In the fall water levels are lowered creating good conditions for ducks and shorebirds. We will also visit the adjacent Lexington community farm. Birds are found feasting on the remains of the crops planted there. We will walk about a mile on wide paths and some uneven ground (possibly muddy). Note that the reservoir area [...]

  • Fruitlands Museum, Harvard

    Harvard - Fruitlands Museum 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard, MA, United States

    Cosponsored with Boxborough Birders. We will look for fall migrants and resident birds. Expect to walk about 2 miles on trails through meadow and woods, with some steep sections. Heavy rain cancels the trip.

  • An Oasis for Birds at Belle Isle Marsh

    East Boston - Belle Isle Parking Lot 1399 Bennington Street, Boston, MA, United States

    Join DCR park staff for a relaxed, one-mile bird walk through flat, easy terrain at this Massachusetts State Reservation and birding hot spot. At Belle Isle and at additional nearby locations— We’ll search for raptors, native sparrows, finches, herons, and egrets. Participants are responsible for their own transportation between locations (by car or bike). Binoculars [...]

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