November 18, 2023 BBC Pelagic Registration

Cost: $100 per person for BBC members/$120 per person for nonmembers

**IMPORTANT: EACH PERSON IN YOUR PARTY MUST SUBMIT THIS REGISTRATION FORM SEPARATELY**

When/where: Saturday, November 18, 2023 (rain date for bad weather Nov 19, 2023) pelagic trip on the Helen H leaves from Hyannis, Massachusetts at 7:00 a.m. We plan to return to Hyannis around 4:00 p.m.

Cancellations: Due to weather conditions, the captain of the Helen H sometimes cancels the trip if the sea conditions are too rough. We have a scheduled rain date of Nov 19, 2023. Please keep your calendar open on both days. We will keep you informed as soon as we know about the status of the trip. The captain will typically make a decision about weather once the marine forecast becomes available – Tuesday/Wednesday before the trip, but it can be cancelled even later than that.

If you can’t make the trip, please let us know. Unless you have cancelled your registration one month before the trip, we will have to charge you. If there is someone on the waiting list who can take your place, we can issue you a refund.

What should I bring: Since the weather varies greatly from trip to trip, bring an assortment of rain and warm clothes; sunglasses, sunscreen, and hat; water and snacks; anti-nausea pills; and cameras and binoculars.

The boat: The Helen H, a 100 foot aluminum deep sea fishing boat powered by a fast 2700 Horsepower engine, is a Coast Guard approved deep sea fishing boat. The cabin has several fixed tables and benches, while the deck and sides have many long benches. Between the bow, deck and sides, there are many places to view birds. There are two toilets on the boat.

The birds: Every trip is different, and November can offer a range of species. Often there are spectacular congregations of sea ducks in Nantucket Sound – tens of thousands are possible. It is a real wildlife spectacle. Winter gulls may be around (Iceland, Glaucous, Lesser Black-backed, Black-legged Kittiwake), as may Northern Gannets and Northern Fulmar. As we get to the Nantucket Shoals, a shallow, sandy-bottomed area southeast of Nantucket, there should be lingering shearwaters (Manx, Great, Cory’s, Sooty) and storm-petrels (Wilson’s and Leach’s) with the possibility of jaegers (Parasitic, Pomerine) or even a skua. Alcids are tough but possible, depending on the year. There are opportunities to see a number of other sea creatures as well – whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles, Mola-mola, Tuna, and Portuguese Mano-war.

November 18, 2023 BBC Pelagic Registration2024-02-14T18:50:32-05:00

Bonanza of Book Fund Donations

The BBC Conservation and Education Committee is pleased to announce an extraordinary run of six Book Fund donations, totaling around $4000, to schools and educational programs from around and beyond Massachusetts. The Book Fund, supported entirely by member donations, was instituted to promote bird and nature study in K-12 schools and educational programs. In some years the Fund has received few or no applications, and by April 2023 it had accumulated significant reserves. This surge in donations resulted from more extensive outreach, especially to the Association of Massachusetts Bird Clubs, and a revision of guidelines to allow up to $750 for a single donation, include optics as educational materials; and expand to include pre-K programs.

Several recent donations are especially noteworthy. Historically, all donations had been within Massachusetts, but our guidelines do not specify any geographical restrictions, and with a longtime Massachusetts birder as our contact, we took advantage of a unique opportunity to provide binoculars for what is probably the only school in Kenya with a birding club, the Beverly School of Kenya Young Birders Club. We also supported a library program in Northampton that offered a live-bird presentation for families in conjunction with the purchase of “birding kits” that library patrons can borrow—a growing trend in libraries across the country to make birding more inclusive and accessible. And our first preschool donation, for field guides and children’s binoculars, went to the Boston Outdoor Preschool Network. Other recipients include the Pine Hill Elementary School in Sherborn, the Village School in Royalston, and Cambridge Community Education at Mass Audubon in Cambridge. Thanks go to our generous members and the hard work of the Book Fund Subcommittee: John Nelson, Leslie Kramer, and, especially, Dave Williams, who took over the role of subcommittee chair in early 2023.

To donate to the Book Fund, you can designate an amount on the “BBC School Book Fund” line on the back page of the club bulletin when you renew your membership or, especially for life members, at any time you wish to donate. To donate online, click on “Join” at the top of the BBC home page and designate an amount under “optional donation to BBC School Book Fund” when you fill out the membership form. For inquiries or applications to the Book Fund, contact Dave Williams at dave.williams6@gmail.com.

Bonanza of Book Fund Donations2024-02-14T18:50:37-05:00

2023-2024 Federal Duck Stamps On Sale Now!

The BBC is again selling the Federal Migratory Bird Conservation and Hunting Stamp. We are doing this in support of the National Wildlife Refuge System and to support conservation of federal lands. Ninety-eight cents of every Stamp dollar goes to land acquisition from willing sellers through purchase or easements. The new Stamp is good from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024.

You can purchase a stamp directly from the BBC: https://brooklinebirdclub.org/programs/duck-stamps/

You can also purchase stamps at any refuge. Get your Stamp now and go visit any one of the 567 National Wildlife Refuges open to the public!

2023-2024 Federal Duck Stamps On Sale Now!2024-02-14T18:50:41-05:00

In Fond Memory of Tom Prince

Long time board member and past president of the Brookline Bird Club Tom Prince passed away May 28, 2023, after a period of declining health.

A longtime birder and butterflier, Tom was a gentle giant, always kind, patient, and full of good humor.  His positive attitude, upbeat demeanor, ready smile and laugh, and love of family and friends were contagious. His wife of 66 years, Joyce, his daughters Lori, Tara and Shelley and his grandchildren shared a joyous and active family life. He was predeceased by his daughter Robin.

He was proud of his life list, exceeding 800 birds in the ABA area. A valued member of the board, he brought his organizational skills to the management of the Brookline Bird Club.

Tom enjoyed the occasional bird chase. He’s shown above with two of his partners-in-crime Bill Drummond and Steve Moore on a chase for the Red-flanked Bluetail in Vancouver, BC in 2013.

In Fond Memory of Tom Prince2024-02-14T18:50:41-05:00

BBC Trip to the Umbagog Region 2-4 June 2023

Day 1, Friday June 2, 2023, after a long drive with very warm weather, everyone reached Gorham NH and began birding the 38-mile Gorham – Errol Road (Route 16). At Gorham’s MacDonalds many of the group met our birding leader, Charlie Nims. There were the boom piers in the Androscoggin River, the huge ski jump, and Milan Bridge with nesting Cliff and Barn Swallows. At Pontook Reservoir we saw our first Bald Eagle, some Ring-necked ducks, and a wonderful marsh. Continuing north there was a Common Loon in the Androscoggin River, and for some a surprise. A young moose raced beside our car, on his side of the fence.

Soon everyone reached Errol, turned right, and found the Errol Motel just past the church. At 5 p.m. there was a Happy Hour in Room 10, then we all went to the church for a wonderful turkey dinner prepared by a team of ladies from the church. After ordering our bag-lunches for the next day, everyone went upstairs for a talk by Dana Duxbury-Fox. Dana has become an expert on the area’s most famous birder, William Brewster, and she talked about his adventures a century ago. Bob Quinn, who has led many trips in the area, gave a short talk about the Umbagog area.

Day 2, Saturday, June 3, 2023, began at 6:15 a.m. with an early cold breakfast at the church so we could reach the high areas on the Dixville Turbine Road by 8 a.m. for the best birding. The elevation is about 3,200 feet; its elevation favors more spruce-loving northern breeding species. Charlie led the four-car caravan first to the road’s end, then we birded back down the road making several stops for special birds. The cool weather was a challenge. Some of the birds seen and heard at the top included Bicknell’s Thrush, Blackpoll Warbler and Fox Sparrow. As we descended our attention also turned to ferns and early flowering plants. We paused beyond the junction for Lincoln’s Sparrow, Philadelphia Vireo and Mourning Warbler.

We ate our lunch at the Dixville Notch State Park, then crossed the road to the beautiful Dixville Flume, a waterfall where Bob gave a short talk on the geology of the Dixville area.

The trip through the Notch was beautiful and soon we left the highway entering the Northern Grasslands, an area of rolling hills, fields, and old farms in some disrepair, Bobolinks and other species.

Soon it was time to return to Errol, our Happy Hour, and a lasagna dinner at the church.

Later some participants headed north on Rt. 16 to look for moose.

At 8:45 p.m. Charlie, Bob, Cliff Cook and Emily Szczypek headed back on the Dixville Notch road for some night birding including getting a picture of a Woodcock and hearing a Whip-poor-will and winnowing Wilson’s Snipe.

Day 3, Sunday, June 4, 2023, began again at 6:15 (early coffee in room 10). We headed west on Rt. 26 to the southern end of Lake Umbagog, the only spot where you can view much of the lake. We then back tracked to Mollidgewock Rd., a dirt road with varying habitats including bogs, eskers and a gravel pit. While we could have stayed here longer, we rushed back for a hot breakfast at 8:00 a.m. We spent a few minutes checking out and packing cars for our trip home.

After breakfast we drove to the Errol Androscoggin Dam on the east side of the river where we had great looks at a Blackburnian Warbler, Spotted Sandpipers, and a family of Canada Geese. Then we returned to Errol and went north for 5 miles on Route 16, to reach a good boreal bog where we saw many bog plants and a Palm Warbler. We paused at the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge eadquarters, and then went still further north to the Dartmouth Second College Grant property and our interests expanded with us checking out plants and ferns as well as seeing a new group of birds.

Just south of the Dartmouth College grant road found us checking a field with bird houses everywhere where we saw an Eastern Bluebird. By noon we were having a picnic lunch in the church and off for the long drive home.

Our trips on Saturday and Sunday were greatly enhanced using walkie talkies that each high clearance vehicle in our caravan had. These were donated to Dana by a participant from last year, Moe Molander.

Thanks to Charlie for his great birding leader skills and keeping the eBird lists. As a group, from Gorham, we saw a total of 84 species including 18 species of warblers. The link to Charlie’s eBird trip list summary from Gorham is included below. Also, so is the link to Groups 1’s Google photos. Please add yours. They bring back some wonderful memories. I just want to note that the two combined trip lists saw a grand total 127 species. Amazing that each had do many different species.

This was our fifth June trip to the Umbagog area, and we found it amazingly cold, damp and troublingly devoid of bird song. Let’s hope it was just the weather. Please refer to my “Areas We May Bird” for descriptions of where we birded and maps of the areas. You were all great sports and lots of fun to be with. May our paths cross again soon.

Dana and Bob

The e-Bird Trip Report details for June 2-4: https://ebird.org/tripreport/136765?welcome=true

Everything you’d ever want to know about eBird trip reports: https://support.ebird.org/en/support/solutions/articles/48001201565-ebirdtrip-reports

Google Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/kvGFNA8eZsEAcEQ38

BBC Trip to the Umbagog Region 2-4 June 20232024-02-14T18:50:42-05:00

Exploring with the BBC and Outside Mind

On May 20 John Nelson and teen birder Johnny Owens led a Brookline Bird Club walk at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary co-sponsored by Outside Mind, a nonprofit founded to provide outdoor access and opportunity for BIPOC communities on the North Shore.

This was a new kind of experience for many of the 17 participants, including four children, and the group had fun finding birds, turtles, and frogs and feeding the birds out of their hands. John asked one little girl if she liked walking in the woods, and she answered, “I love it!” Thanks to Outside Mind’s dynamic founder Jireh Ishaazi, photographer Thomas Townsend, and Mass Audubon’s Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary.

Exploring with the BBC and Outside Mind2024-02-14T18:50:43-05:00

In Fond Memory of Joe Paluzzi

Joseph (Joe) A Paluzzi, a long-time Brookline Bird Club member, trip leader, Board member and Past President, and good friend to many in the birding community, passed away on April 25, 2023. Joe was known to many as Bank Swallow, the handle he chose when the BBC was using CB radios to communicate in the field, as well as his email address. The origination/connection of this is unknown.

Joe enjoyed birding in comfort, always sporting a big, long, and usually fast car both at home and on   out- of-state birding trips. His pride and joy was his most recent Mercedes SUV. Joe loved a good chase and often volunteered to be the ‘uber’ for said chases!!

Besides birding, Joe had many other interests and accomplishments. He was a champion scrabble player, crackerjack poker player with his pals at the Swampscott senior center, reveled in a daily wordle group he participated in, and always had a police radio going at home (there were no local secrets from Joe!). As well Joe was an avid Boston sports fan along with his love for NCAA basketball. He organized and orchestrated a March Madness pool for many years, providing an entertaining commentary after every round of play. He was warmly known as ‘The Commish’ in this role.

His wife Helen was the love of his life, though his granddaughter Hannah was the apple of his eye!

His easy-going personality, generous spirit and wonderful smile will be missed.

In Fond Memory of Joe Paluzzi2024-02-14T18:50:47-05:00

Camp Edwards Grassland Bird Tours

The Massachusetts Army National Guard’s Natural Resource Program is hosting grassland bird tours in May and June on Camp Edwards. This is an unusual opportunity for avid birders, naturalists and photographers to walk through the Camp Edwards grasslands on a guide-led tour.

There are several hundred acres of grassland managed on Camp Edwards at Joint Base Cape Cod. This thriving habitat, a rarity in the rest of Massachusetts, is home to a variety of grassland bird species including four state-listed species: Upland Sandpiper, Northern Harrier, Grasshopper Sparrow and the Eastern Meadowlark.

Other bird species you may encounter are the Clay Colored Sparrow, Prairie Warbler, and Brown Thrasher along with other shrubland/grassland species. Additional information on the grassland habitat is available at www.massnationalguard.org/ERC/natural_habitat.htm. For a look at fascinating research on Joint Base Cape Cod grassland bird migration please visit: https://vtecostudies.org/projects/grasslands/grasslandbird-migration-project/

Each tour will cover approximately 150 acres of this rare and endangered habitat and will last around two hours. Attendees should bring sunscreen, tick protection, and water. Don’t forget your binoculars and camera. Photography is encouraged.

Tour Dates and Registration Information

Each tour is limited to 20 people and spots will be filled on a first come, first served basis. All tours are from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. Tour dates are:

  • Saturday, May 20; registration deadline is Friday, May 12
  • Wednesday, May 24; registration deadline is Wednesday, May 17
  • Friday, May 26; registration deadline is Friday, May 19
  • Saturday, May 27; registration deadline is Friday, May 19
  • Wednesday, May 31; registration deadline is Wednesday, May 24
  • Monday, June 5; registration deadline is Friday, May 26

Children over 10 years of age are welcome on the tour.

To register for a tour, please send an email to: emily.d.kelly2.nfg@army.mil, with your name, telephone number, and which tour date you would like. A confirmation email will be sent with further information including directions, base access, meeting place and parking.

Accessing Camp Edwards on Joint Base Cape Cod

Please remember, Camp Edwards is a restricted access facility and attendees must be registered to access the base. All attendees will be asked to provide their full names, driver’s license number and date of birth to complete the registration process.

Camp Edwards Grassland Bird Tours2024-02-14T18:51:33-05:00

Congratulations to Our 2023 Teen Scholarship Recipients

The BBC is pleased and proud to announce that our two annual Bill Drummond Young Birder Scholarships have been awarded to Samuel Harris of Dorchester and William Buswell of Wakefield. These scholarships, instituted to nurture interest in bird study and conservation among young birders, cover the full cost ($1690) of the Coastal Maine Bird Studies for Teens program at National Audubon’s Hog Island camp on June 18-23, 2023. The Scholarship Evaluation Committee was impressed by the quality of the applications we received, and we thank all the applicants for their interest. Our thirteen previous scholarship recipients all had tremendous and transformative adventures at Hog Island. Congratulations to Samuel and William!

Samuel Harris

Sam has co-led bird walks for the Boston Nature Center and monitored nests at the BNC as part of Cornell’s Nestwatch project. He is active in Mass Audubon’s Teen Birders Group at Drumlin Farm and aspires to become an ornithologist. “Bird watching,” he says, “is everything to me!”

William Buswell

William discovered his passion for the wonders of the natural world at age six. He is fascinated by how taxonomy reflects the interconnectedness of life, and as a student member of Wakefield’s sustainability committee, he has worked to protect prime bird habitat. “Thanks to birds,” he says, “I am engaging with my community and environment like never before.”

Scholarships are supported through the generous donations of club members. To donate, you can designate an amount on the “BBC Young Birder Scholarship” line on the back page of the club bulletin when you renew your membership or, especially for life members, at any other time you might wish to donate. You can donate online by clicking the Donate link on the BBC home page and entering an amount in the box for “Young Birder Scholarship.”

Congratulations to Our 2023 Teen Scholarship Recipients2024-02-14T18:51:43-05:00

BBC offers two scholarships to National Audubon’s Hog Island camp for June 2023

The BBC is pleased to announce that two teen birders have been selected to receive Bill Drummond Young Birder’s Scholarships that nurture interest in bird study and conservation among young birders. The 2023 scholarships cover the full cost ($1690) of the Coastal Maine Bird Studies for Teens program at National Audubon’s Hog Island camp from June 18-23, 2023, including housing, boat travel, and all meals. We’ll be announcing this year’s scholarship recipients soon!

“I thoroughly enjoyed my week on Hog Island, from learning about tracking bird migration, to landing on Eastern Egg Rock and seeing the large colony of nesting seabirds, to meeting the researchers who work on Eastern Egg Rock. It was so amazing to have the chance to meet highly influential researchers and conservationists, and to see the successfully restored puffin colony on Eastern Egg Rock up close. I loved spending time with birders my own age with whom I could relate. . . I am immensely thankful for this incredible opportunity.”

Johnny Owens, 2022 recipient

All completed applications and references must be received by the BBC scholarship committee by Wednesday, February 15, 2023. Selection and notification of recipients will be completed by March 10, 2023. You can click on these links to read the application instructions and download an application form:

Scholarships are supported through the generous donations of BBC members. To donate, you can designate an amount on the “BBC Young Birder’s Scholarship” line on the back page of the club bulletin when you renew your membership or, especially for life members, at any other time you might wish to donate. You can donate online by clicking the Join link on the BBC home page and entering an amount in the box for “Additional Donation to the Bill Drummond Young Birder’s Scholarship.” The BBC thanks members in advance for their donations.

BBC offers two scholarships to National Audubon’s Hog Island camp for June 20232024-02-14T18:51:43-05:00
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