Isabel Bronson, a Land Stewardship Coordinator serving with the Trustees of Reservations, is seeking volunteers to participate in a grassland bird monitoring community science program at Chestnut Hill Farm, The Fruitlands, Old Town Hill, Appleton Farms, Ward Reservation, Moose Hill Farm, Worlds End, or Powisset Farm. Since 2010, the Trustees have been conducting volunteer grassland bird monitoring at their reservations with significant grassland habitat. This monitoring enables the Trustees to assess grassland bird populations on their properties and aids in informing management decisions within their pastures, fields, etc. This year, the Trustees are excited to be expanding the program and, as so, are looking to add monitors to their volunteer roster. The Trustees have found that in addition to this being a fantastic opportunity to enhance birding skills, volunteers participating in the program have developed a strong connection to both the property and birds they monitor and feel empowered about their role protecting local biodiversity.

The monitoring season runs from May 1st through July and each volunteer is assigned a monitoring property. The Trustees ask that monitors visit this property at least once a month during the season and conduct point count surveys for grassland birds, with special attention being given to identifying bobolinks. Before the season starts, monitors are provided with onboarding materials such as monitoring maps and detailed instructions on how to conduct bird surveys and submit results.

If anyone in the BBC is interested in this opportunity, please let Isabel Bronson know via email to ibronson@thetrustees.org. Isabel would love to schedule a Teams meeting to say hello and talk more about the program. Additionally, please feel free to check out the Trustees’ volunteer website which lists all their monitoring opportunities across the state: https://volunteer.thetrustees.org/ecology.

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Upcoming Field Trips

Quabbin Reservoir

Quabbin Reservoir - Gate 10 235 Daniel Shays Hwy, Pelham, MA, United States

Join 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.

The Quiet Beauty of Birding at Winthrop Beach

Winthrop - DCR Winthrop Beach Reservation - Sturgis St 59 Winthrop Shore Drive, Winthrop, MA, United States

Join DCR park staff for a leisurely walk across sandy stretches and areas of loose rocks at this Massachusetts State Reservation, a well-known hot spot for birdwatching. We'll be on the lookout for shorebirds, waterbirds, and gulls. Binoculars are recommended. Suitable for adults and children ages 8 and up (with an accompanying adult). Sponsored by [...]

Fruitlands Museum, Harvard

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

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 sections. Heavy rain cancels [...]

Birch Hill WMA

Royalston - Birch Hill WMA Royalston, MA, United States

Includes three to five miles of walking relatively flat terrain. Might include some bushwacking. Driving on hard packed dirt roads. Co-sponsored with the Athol Bird & Nature Club.

Southwick WMA

Southwick WMA - Suffield WMA entrance Point Grove Road, Suffield, CT, United States

We will hike the fields focusing on grassland breeders, particularly Eastern Meadowlark and Grasshopper Sparrow.

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