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 Ecosystems Mission Area, with its $307 million annual budget, supports critical biological research on endangered species, climate change, disease, and wildlife conservation. The Office of Management and Budget has directed USGS to gradually shutdown the program, affecting about 1,200 USGS scientists and staff.
The Bird Banding Laboratory and the Breeding Bird Survey are both housed by the Ecosystems Mission Area and are critical to the functions of Federal and State wildlife agencies, Migratory Bird Flyway Councils, and non-governmental organizations.
Scientific societies are rallying behind the Ecosystems Mission Area, weighing in with both the administration and with Members of Congress. Over 70 scientific and conservation organizations have written to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, expressing strong support for the U.S. Geological Survey’s Ecosystems Mission Area and urging the Department to maintain the program area’s funding at the FY25 level in the FY26 federal budget. Information recently obtained by the journal Science indicates that the administration intends to eliminate the entire program area.
The letter highlights the Ecosystems Mission Area program area’s crucial role in providing scientific research and decision-support tools that benefit public safety, environmental health, natural resource management, and public health, and emphasizes that the program’s interdisciplinary science underpins national strategies to respond to environmental and ecological challenges
Save the Date – Members Showcase February 8
We have been tracking the Snow predicted to spread over the Boston area Saturday evening. Right now it appears that snow will not start before 9PM,SO WE ARE GOING AHEAD WITH BBC MEMBERS NIGHT.Please keep [...]
Fri Oct 25 Fall meeting!
The Brookline Bird Club invites you to our Hybrid (Live+Zoom) Fall Meeting on Friday October 25, 2024 from 7pm-9pm, with a social hour beginning at 6:30pm. It will feature a presentation on the dazzling Resplendent Quetzal you [...]
Blue Book Survey
Are you a BBC Member? Do you have 5 minutes? Tell us what you think about the Blue Book! We want to hear your input on our Brookline Bird Club Bulletins, mailed to members each [...]
BBC 7 Seas Whale Watch Trip Report
Brookline Bird Club’s 7 Seas Whale Watch Trip Report, 2024 Photo: Black Guillemot, Johnny Owens On a beautiful Saturday morning July 27, 46 club members and friends boarded the 7 Seas sailing vessel Privateer IV out [...]
BBC 2024 trips to Lake Umbagog, NH
Brookline Bird Club’s 2024 Trips to the Lake Umbagog, NH Region - In early June two groups of BBC members had the opportunity to explore the region near Lake Umbagog in northern New Hampshire. We [...]
Celebrating Black Birders Week!
Celebrate Black Birders Week Sunday May 26 - Saturday June 1, 2024 Black Birders Week is a week-long series of virtual and in-person events to promote equitable access to nature, to highlight Black nature enthusiasts, and to increase [...]
Save the Date – Members Showcase February 8
We have been tracking the Snow predicted to spread over the Boston area Saturday evening. Right now it appears that snow will not start before 9PM,SO WE ARE GOING AHEAD WITH BBC MEMBERS NIGHT.Please keep [...]
Fri Oct 25 Fall meeting!
The Brookline Bird Club invites you to our Hybrid (Live+Zoom) Fall Meeting on Friday October 25, 2024 from 7pm-9pm, with a social hour beginning at 6:30pm. It will feature a presentation on the dazzling Resplendent Quetzal you [...]
Blue Book Survey
Are you a BBC Member? Do you have 5 minutes? Tell us what you think about the Blue Book! We want to hear your input on our Brookline Bird Club Bulletins, mailed to members each [...]
BBC 7 Seas Whale Watch Trip Report
Brookline Bird Club’s 7 Seas Whale Watch Trip Report, 2024 Photo: Black Guillemot, Johnny Owens On a beautiful Saturday morning July 27, 46 club members and friends boarded the 7 Seas sailing vessel Privateer IV out [...]
BBC 2024 trips to Lake Umbagog, NH
Brookline Bird Club’s 2024 Trips to the Lake Umbagog, NH Region - In early June two groups of BBC members had the opportunity to explore the region near Lake Umbagog in northern New Hampshire. We [...]
Celebrating Black Birders Week!
Celebrate Black Birders Week Sunday May 26 - Saturday June 1, 2024 Black Birders Week is a week-long series of virtual and in-person events to promote equitable access to nature, to highlight Black nature enthusiasts, and to increase [...]
Save the Date – Members Showcase February 8
We have been tracking the Snow predicted to spread over the Boston area Saturday evening. Right now it appears that snow will not start before 9PM,SO WE ARE GOING AHEAD WITH BBC MEMBERS NIGHT.Please keep [...]
Fri Oct 25 Fall meeting!
The Brookline Bird Club invites you to our Hybrid (Live+Zoom) Fall Meeting on Friday October 25, 2024 from 7pm-9pm, with a social hour beginning at 6:30pm. It will feature a presentation on the dazzling Resplendent Quetzal you [...]
Blue Book Survey
Are you a BBC Member? Do you have 5 minutes? Tell us what you think about the Blue Book! We want to hear your input on our Brookline Bird Club Bulletins, mailed to members each [...]
BBC 7 Seas Whale Watch Trip Report
Brookline Bird Club’s 7 Seas Whale Watch Trip Report, 2024 Photo: Black Guillemot, Johnny Owens On a beautiful Saturday morning July 27, 46 club members and friends boarded the 7 Seas sailing vessel Privateer IV out [...]
BBC 2024 trips to Lake Umbagog, NH
Brookline Bird Club’s 2024 Trips to the Lake Umbagog, NH Region - In early June two groups of BBC members had the opportunity to explore the region near Lake Umbagog in northern New Hampshire. We [...]
Celebrating Black Birders Week!
Celebrate Black Birders Week Sunday May 26 - Saturday June 1, 2024 Black Birders Week is a week-long series of virtual and in-person events to promote equitable access to nature, to highlight Black nature enthusiasts, and to increase [...]
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Upcoming Field Trips
Members Only Webinar: The Art and Craft of Shorebird Identification
Shorebirds are among the most fascinating and diverse groups of birds, but identifying them can sometimes feel overwhelming. This session will provide practical tips and techniques to sharpen your shorebirding skills. We will also be scheduling a limited participation field trip focused on Shorebirds where you will practice the skills you learned during the webinar. [...]
Forest Beach Conservation Area
Chatham - Forest Beach 375-331 Forest Beach Rd, South Chatham, MA, United StatesCo-sponored with Cape Cod Bird Club. We’ll walk the marsh trail to where it meets Mill Creek and return via the beach, less than a mile round trip. We’ll then head towards the overlook where we’ll likely view herons, egrets, shorebirds, passerines, gulls, osprey and Northern Harrier. This is another area with mixed habitat, a [...]
Whale and Seabird watching trip out of Plymouth
Plymouth - Captain John's Whale Watching Tour Company 10 Town Wharf, Plymouth, MA, United StatesThe BBC is partnering with the Captain John's 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. At Belle Isle and at additional nearby locations— We’ll search for large groups of herons and egrets, and shorebird rarities. Participants are responsible for their own transportation between locations (by car or [...]
Squantum – Quincy
Quincy - Squantum - Moswetuset Hummock Quincy, MA, United StatesWe'll check the marshes and the mudflats in Squantum for shorebirds, starting at Moswetuset Hummock and visiting other spots nearby. At high tide (~6:15 am), we'll try checking the high tide roosts for shorebirds as well. Be prepared for the possibility of biting insects. Cosponsored with South Shore Bird Club.