BBC Massachusetts Big Day Count Follow Up

BBC members birded every county and every corner of the state this year, recording a total of 193 species. (See the eBird trip report.)Essex County led the way over Plymouth, but only by a single species. Suffolk was third, helped by a couple of county Big Day efforts. The first birds of the day were reported from Savery Pond in Plymouth County (Whip-poor-will, Eastern Screech Owl and Great Horned Owl), with an American Woodcock at Marconi Station on Cape Cod the last to be added to our list.

Here is the count by county:

1. Essex – 136 Species
2. Plymouth – 135 Species
3. Suffolk – 126 Species
4. Middlesex – 122 Species
5. Barnstable – 99 Species
6. Bristol – 84 Species
7. Berkshire – 84 Species
8. Worcester – 74 Species
9. Norfolk – 74 Species
10. Nantucket – 62 Species
11. Hampshire – 57 Species
12. Hampden – 30 Species
13. Dukes – 9 Species

Highlights include

• Summer Tanager (Mt Auburn Cemetery)
• American Golden-Plover (Scituate)
• Razorbill (Stellwagen whale watch)
• Wilson’s Phalarope (Plum Island)
• White-faced Ibis (Scotland Road, Newbury)
• Little Blue Heron (Nantucket)
• Sandhill Crane (Burrage Pond)
• Prothonatory Warbler (Wompatuck)

Top 10 reported species by number of checklists:

• 1st -American Robin
• 2nd -Song Sparrow
• 3rd – Gray Catbird
• 4th – Red-winged Blackbird
• 5th – Northern Cardinal
• 6th/7th – Blue Jay, American Goldfinch (tie)
• 8th – Common Grackle
• 9th – Baltimore Oriole
• 10th – Mourning Dove

Species appearing on a single checklist or at a single location:

• Black-billed Cuckoo
• Whimbrel
• American Woodcock
• Wilson’s Snipe
• Purple Sandpiper
• Manx Shearwater
• American Bittern
• Least Bittern
• Black Vulture
• Eastern Screech-Owl
• Winter Wren
• Pine Siskin
• Lincoln’s Sparrow
• Worm-eating Warbler
• Canada Warbler
• Cerulean Warbler

What did we miss? Not much, but Broad-winged Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Hooded Merganser, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Sora, Horned Lark and Blue-winged Teal would have taken us to 200 for the day. Saltmarsh Sparrow and Eastern Wood-Pewee reached the state in decent numbers just a day or two later.

Book Fund Award to Ruth Batson Academy in Boston

The Brookline Bird Club Book Fund committee has made a donation of $750 to support a school library program of bird and nature study at the Ruth Batson Academy in Dorchester, MA. The effort has been organized by librarian Isabel DePina. The Ruth Batson Academy provide education for for middle and high school students with autism and intellectual disabilities.

Lessons will incorporate field trips to Boston Harbor and neighborhood locations, books, games, and educational resources from the BBC and from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s Celebrate Urban Birds program.

Thanks to committee chair Dave Williams and members Leslie Kramer, Carol Molander, and John Nelson.

BBC Massachusetts Big Day – May 9, 2026

On May 18, 1974 Bob Stymiest led the BBC trip with the all time largest species count for the club – 162 birds seen during 20 hours across Essex County. We share this bit of club lore with you to introduce our second annual BBC Massachusetts Big Day.

Last May during our first club Big Day members recorded 186 species across the state. There were many highlights, but also surprising misses. Will Essex County be top again? Can we find 100 species in Suffolk County? Can we reach 200 in Massachusetts in 2026?

Our plan is simple. Rather than a personal competition, we ask that you go birding on Global Big Day on May 9 then send us your list. Whether you spend a full day seeking birds in multiple locations, or simply birding your local patch or back yard, have fun! Take a friend with you, and tell us what you see.

By May 15 please share your list with the eBird account BBCBigDay (note that there are no spaces). Using the eBird website:

• Create and open a checklist.
• Select the Checklist Tools button.
• Select “Share with others in your party”.
• Enter “BBCBigDay” in the window on the left, scroll down and select Share Checklist.

Club Statistician David Scott will do the rest and produce a single list of all the species spotted by every participating member. (If you don’t have an eBird account, it’s very easy to set one up.)

Further details to follow, including how to share your day with the club’s social media accounts.

Thanks to our leaders, the BBC has scheduled several trips to help build our shared list. We hope to add more, so check the Blue Book and website for those:

• Mt. Auburn Cemetery, 6:15 – 8:45 AM
• Big Day Kickoff at Parker River, 6:30 AM
• Big Day Kickoff at Drumlin Farm, 7:00 AM
• Big Day Walks: Roslindale Wetlands Urban Park plus Peters Hill at Arnold Arboretum, 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM
• Global Big Day Kickoff: Pine Hill Grasslands, 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM
• Rock Meadow & Beaver Brook North, 7:00 – 9:00 AM
• Pawtucket Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 7:00 – 10:00 AM
• Pine Banks Park, 7:30 AM
• Gore Place, Waltham, 8:00 – 10:00 AM
• Weston Station Pond and nearby Mass Central Rail Trail, 9:00 – 11:00 AM
• Mount Auburn Cemetery, 9:00 – 11:00 AM
• Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 4:00 PM

Global Big Day is a worldwide event sponsored by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. We want to give our members a friendly, low pressure opportunity to participate in Global Big Day. Please join the fun!

BBC Big Day 2025 Checklist Locations

County Totals for 2025:

May 5 Webinar Open to All with Heather Packard, Mass Audubon – Rescue Wildlife from Rodenticides

Please join the BBC on the evening of Tuesday, May 5 from 7PM to 8:30PM for a webinar with Heather Packard from the Massachusetts Audubon Society entitled Rescue Wildlife from Rodenticides.

Raptors, coyotes, and other predators balance Massachusetts’ ecosystems. But shocking numbers of these iconic creatures have been sickened and killed after eating poisoned rodents. Mass Audubon’s Rescue Raptors program supports groups in communities across Massachusetts to reduce the use of these poisons, and wildlife advocates in many communities have been advocating to ban the use of these harmful poisons. 

Join us to learn how rodent poisons harm wildlife and plans to reduce rodent poison use. Please register in advance for this webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. This event is sponsored by the Brookline Bird Club. Wildlife advocates from across the state are welcome!

About the Presenter

Heather Packard is the Community Organizer with Mass Audubon’s Policy & Advocacy team. She mobilizes Mass Audubon stakeholders to advance policies and funding for nature-based climate solutions and conservation. Heather manages the grassroots advocacy volunteer program, Climate and Nature Champions, with over 15,000 volunteers. Heather also oversees Mass Audubon’s Rescue Raptors campaign to end the use of anticoagulant rodenticides that are harming wildlife and pets. She contributes 25+ years of experience in nonprofit management, including previous climate and democracy advocacy.

To Register

This webinar will presented through Zoom. You may register here:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mHwhura2Sze0FKnT4iA8pg

For More Information

For more information contact info@brooklinebirdclub.org.

Photo by Jennifer Johnston.

April 28 Webinar with Bill Gette – Wood-Warblers of New England

Please join the BBC on the evening of April 28 from 7PM to 8:30PM for a members-only webinar with Bill Gette entitled Wood-Warblers of New England.

Wood-warblers, the Gems of the Forest, are one of the most exciting groups of birds. Living in New England, we are blessed by the many warbler species that move into our area in the spring to nest. We also get to see the warblers that pass through our area in the spring and fall in route to and from their northern breeding ranges.

During his richly illustrated PowerPoint presentation, Bill Gette will show you images of 30 wood-warbler species and review their taxonomy and nomenclature, discuss key aids to field identification, explain their feeding ecology and migration strategies, and review other interesting information. Bill will include migration charts for many species and discuss areas where you can find warblers.

This webinar is a perennial favorite!

About the Presenter

Bill Gette is the Founding Director of Massachusetts Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport.

To Register

To register you must be a BBC member. Please log in to your member account and heard over to the Member Resources page under the MEMBERS menu.

Not a member but want to listen in? Please join us! You will get access to a range of member benefits and support the local birding community.

For More Information

For more information contact info@brooklinebirdclub.org.

April 24 Annual Members Meeting & Lecture – All Welcome

Please join us on April 24 for our Annual Members Meeting. The evening begins with a social hour at 6:30. The program starts at 7:30 with the BBC’s annual business meeting and the election of new officers and board members. (See the election slate.) Once we have concluded with club business and announcements we will go the evening’s speaker.

This meeting is open to all and held at the Harvard Geological Lecture Hall at 24 Oxford Street in Cambridge. (This is next door to the Museum of Comparative Zoology.)

Concerned about parking? Don’t Be!! Starting at 5:30 PM there will be free parking for all at the Harvard Oxford Street Garage entered off Oxford Street across from Everett Street. Just tell the attendant that you will be going to the BBC meeting.

While we hope that you will be able to join us in person there will also be a Zoom link for those who cannot make it into Cambridge.

Introducing the BBC’s 2026 Species of Concern – The Bobolink

At the meeting we will kick off a new BBC initiative, our annual Species of Concern. Each year we will designate a bird that is facing challenges in Massachusetts.

For 2026 our Species of Concern will be the Bobolink, a grassland bird that faces challenges across the state. You will learn about the Bobolink during the evening’s lecture – see more below – and you will hear about field trips and other activities to learn about and support the Bobolink.

Lecture: Bobolinks on the Brink: What do Bobolinks Tell Us about Our Relationship with the Land, and How Can We Protect Them?

Hyla Howe, Grassland Bird Biologist at Mass Audubon and Program Manager for the Bobolink Project will join the Brookline Bird Club to discuss our first endangered species spotlight: the Bobolink!

Mass Audubon’s Grassland Bird Biologist will join the Brookline Bird Club to discuss our first endangered species spotlight: the Bobolink! Bobolink populations are closely intertwined with shifting land use patterns and agricultural practices, and conservation solutions to protect them are complex. Hyla will share observations from the field, insights from conversations with farmers and landowners, takeaways from efforts to improve and scale the Bobolink Project, and results from a regional land use change analysis to describe where bobolink conservation stands today, and what you can do to help.

About the Speaker

Hyla Howe is Mass Audubon’s Grassland Bird Biologist and the Program Manager for the Bobolink Project. Hyla received her M.S. from the University of Vermont, where she studied grassland birds and hayfield management in New York’s Champlain Valley. She is still based in Vermont, where she works closely with farmers, landowners, and regional partners to scale bird-friendly hayfield management efforts across five states. In her free time, she enjoys biking, skiing, paddling, and making pottery.

The Details Including Zoom Link

When: April 24, social hour staring at 6:30 PM, program starting at 7:30 PM

Where: Harvard Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford Street, Cambridge

Parking: Harvard Oxford Street Garage entered opposite Everett Street at Oxford Street

Zoom Registration Link (advance registration strongly suggested): https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a32jwL2NQLqc8g1dl_Z1vw

4/19 Tawny-Throated Dotterel Webinar & Donation

Upcoming Webinar

Please join the BBC on April 19 at 7PM for a webinar open to all with Manomet Conservation Sciences staff and collaborators – Actions to Promote the Conservation of the Tawny-throated Dotterel (Oreopholus ruficollis) on the Central Coast of Peru. (Note time change from 3PM.)

The presentation will address aspects of the natural history and key research priorities of the Tawny-throated Dotterel (Oreopholus ruficollis). It will also present the progress achieved in the project “Abundance and Seasonality of the Tawny-throated Dotterel in the Lachay National Reserve, Peru: Advancing Toward a Monitoring Program and Potential Recognition as a Site of Importance for Shorebirds”.  This project is funded by the Manomet Small Grants for the Conservation of Neotropical Shorebirds.

Presenters

Mariamercedes Antezana Aponte: Biologist from the National Agrarian University La Molina, Peru. Associate researcher at the Center for Ornithology and Biodiversity (CORBIDI). Member of the Birdwatchers Club of Peru – Lima (COAP-Lima). Certified by the North American Banding Council in shorebird banding. She has 8 years of experience leading and participating in projects in the field of ornithology.

Jesus Escobar Aristizábal: Bachelor’s degree in Ecotourism Engineering from the National University Federico Villarreal, Peru. Member of the Birdwatchers Club of Peru – Lima (COAP-Lima). He has experience in wildlife monitoring programs and projects in Peru and Argentina, with a focus on ornithology. He is currently a bird specialist for the ConservAves Program, led by the NGO ECOAN.

To Register

This webinar will be presented through Zoom. You may register here (advance registration strongly suggested):

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VZBRPJT_Rl2zNso85ZLoMQ

BBC Donation to Support Tawny-Throated Dotterel Research

This winter the BBC teamed up with Manomet Conservation Sciences to support research on the Tawny-Throated Dotterel in Peru. A team of scientists there sought optical equipment to support field work on this colorful shorebird. We are glad to report that we met our goal. In late March the research team will receive four pairs of high quality binoculars to aid their field studies.

***On March 21 BBC President Cliff Cook and Manomet ISS Coordinator Lisa Schibley traveled to Lomas de Lachay National Reserve in Peru to deliver the binoculars to Mari and Jesus.

Letter of Thanks from Manomet

Isadora Angarita-Martinez, sent the following letter to BBC members on behalf of Manomet:

Dear Members of the Brookline Bird Club,

I hope this message finds you well. On behalf of the fellows in Peru, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for your generous support in helping provide binoculars for park rangers working in a protected area in Peru. Your contribution is already making a meaningful difference by strengthening field-based conservation and supporting a fellow-led initiative focused on shorebird protection.

As part of a tradition we have at Manomet Conservation Sciences, I am pleased to share with you a handwritten note from the fellows and some photos. These personal messages are our way of connecting supporters directly with the people and places their generosity helps sustain. The note comes on its original version in Spanish and a translation to English on the second page.

My name is Isadora, and I coordinate the Manomet Small Grants for Conservation of Neotropical Shorebirds. Through this program, we work alongside early-career conservation practitioners across Latin America who are generating knowledge and practical solutions to conserve shorebird species and their habitats. Beyond project outcomes, the program helps fellows grow academically, professionally, and personally, creating a strong foundation for long-term conservation leadership.

We would be honored to stay connected with your community. If you wish, we invite you to subscribe to our newsletter, where we share stories and updates about shorebird conservation efforts across the Western Hemisphere. We would also be delighted to keep you informed about the progress of the project in Peru, as well as other fellow-led initiatives taking place throughout Latin America.

Your support reflects the power of a global birding community coming together around a shared purpose. Should any of your members ever wish to further support the Small Grants Program and help fellows working in other regions, opportunities to contribute are available through using this link https://donorbox.org/whsrn. Make sure to select the “Small Grants Fund” option under Designation.

Thank you again for your generosity, your trust, and your commitment to birds and the people working to protect them. We are truly grateful to have you as part of this collective effort.

For More Information

For more information contact info@brooklinebirdclub.org.

More about the Project and Research Team

Mariamercedes Antezana Aponte, a biologist from Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, and Jesús Juan Escobar Aristizábal, a Bachelor of Ecotourism Engineering from Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal, are investigating the population dynamics of the Tawny-throated Dotterel (Oreopholus ruficollis) in Lachay National Reserve. This area has lacked long-term studies on this species in Peru. 

Their project, titled “Abundance and Seasonality of the Tawny-throated Dotterel in Lachay National Reserve,” involves biweekly censuses over a year to document abundance and seasonal variations. They will also analyze the impact of environmental variables and threats on the population. This work will provide the foundation for a long-term monitoring program and potentially recognize Lachay as a WHSRN site of regional importance.

The Manomet Small Grants for Conservation of Neotropical Shorebirds scheme was created to support early-career conservationists and researchers in Latin America and the Caribbean who are committed to advancing shorebird conservation. The Small Grants seek to generate tangible benefits for Neotropical shorebird species and populations, with special emphasis on sites within the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) and those that could qualify for this designation. The program also aims to strengthen the technical capacity of young professionals starting their careers in conservation across Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Tawny-throated Dotterel project is one of the projects supported through the Manomet Small Grants. This project is led by Mariamercedes Antezana Aponte, a biologist from Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, and Jesús Juan Escobar Aristizábal, a Bachelor of Ecotourism Engineering from Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal. They are investigating the population dynamics of the Tawny-throated Dotterel (Oreopholus ruficollis) in Lachay National Reserve. This area has lacked long-term studies on this species in Peru.

Their project, titled “Abundance and Seasonality of the Tawny-throated Dotterel in Lachay National Reserve,” involves biweekly censuses over a year to document abundance and seasonal variations. They will also analyze the impact of environmental variables and threats on the population. This work will provide the foundation for a long-term monitoring program and potentially recognize Lachay as a WHSRN site of regional importance.

Learn more about the project in this Instagram post (in Spanish).

Thank you for your support!

Conservation Alert – 2026 Horseshoe Crab Quotas – UPDATE

The public comment period has been extended to March 6 and a second public hearing will take place on March 4 at 6PM. Registration is required to attend the second virtual public hearing on Zoom. The BBC has submitted the comment below, and we encourage our members to comment as well.

The MA Division of Marine Fisheries has proposed an increase to the horseshoe catch. Horseshoe crabs are a public trust resource and keystone species that support migratory shorebirds, fisheries productivity, and coastal ecosystem health. In a cost-benefit analysis, the value of horseshoe crabs for bait is negligible, while their use as bait is wasteful and harmful to many shorebird species. The horseshoe crab is a critical part of the marine ecosystem providing an important food source for shorebirds. While their blood has been used for biomedical testing, companies are now transitioning to a synthetic alternative. Other states such as New York and Connecticut have recognized the critical need to protect this species.

To learn more, including how to draft a comment, read the excerpt from a Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance action alert.

More Information

Watch the February 24 DMF public hearing on YouTube. DMF Director McKiernan’s horseshoe crab presentation begins at 1:10:50. Comments by Sharl Heller, Coordinator, Massachusetts Horseshoe Crab Collaborative, begins at 1:37:42.

Division of Marine Fisheries Public Hearing Notice

Excerpt from Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance action alert

Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance webpage about horseshoe crabs

2026 Boston Globe Article: Massachusetts wants to bleed more horseshoe crabs. What if there was a better way?

BBC Comment to MA Division of Marine Fisheries

I am writing on behalf of the Brookline Bird Club, a 113 year old organization with over 1,400 members, the great majority of whom reside in Massachusetts.

We urge the Division of Marine Fisheries to revise its proposal regarding use of horseshoe crabs and reduce the proposed quote while implementing plans to phase out the catch altogether.

The proposal does not go far enough in restricting the annual bait take for horseshoe crabs, while needlessly increasing the allowed take for biomedical research. We believe that, instead, the DMF should end the use of horseshoe crabs for bait and maintain the existing 200,000 biomedical quota.

The DMF proposal acknowledges that the proposed bait quota exceeds actual bait needs. As for medical uses, the Boston Globe reports that pharmaceutical companies are transitioning to proven, more effective synthetic alternatives to horseshoe crabs for testing medicines.

After New York passed a law in line with our belief in responsible management of horseshoe crabs, the Governor of New York said, “This law says that we need to take a break and let this species regenerate and get back to a state of good health. I strongly urge our neighboring states to join this growing coalition and enact similar laws to protect the population in their waters.”

Horseshoe crabs are a public trust resource and keystone species that support migratory shorebirds, fisheries productivity, and coastal ecosystem health. In a cost-benefit analysis, the value of horseshoe crabs for bait is negligible, while their use as bait is wasteful and harmful to many shorebird species, such as red knots, that are in decline and rely on horseshoe crab eggs as a food source. Protecting the crabs directly advances Governor Healey’s biodiversity order by safeguarding a species essential to ecosystem resilience.

Our members unequivocally believe that Massachusetts should end the use of horseshoe crabs for bait and limit medicinal use of horseshoe crabs so the species can recover from ongoing decline.

Thank you for your review of these comments. Our organization would be pleased to discuss this or other relevant topics with the Division of Marine Fisheries. My contact information is found below my signature.

Sincerely, Clifford Cook
President
Brookline Bird Club

Donation to Preserve Cliff Swallow Colony in Rowe

The BBC is pleased to announce our donation of $500 to Swallow Conservation, led by Mara Silver, to help fund the installation of a free-standing Cliff Swallow nesting structure near the swallow colony at the Rowe town hall.

Mara has dedicated herself to preserving the Cliff Swallow colonies in Massachusetts, and she is collaborating with the Rowe Park Department on this project. The BBC is proud to be one of Swallow Conservation’s strongest supporters.  

We Need Your Help – Open Board & Volunteer Positions

The BBC holds its annual board elections at the Annual meeting of the club planned for April 24. in April. We are looking for members to join the Board of Directors and have several open or new roles to fill. Board members serve for a two year term, with the exception of corporate officers who serve a one year term.

To apply to the board or any of the roles described her please complete the Board of Directors Interest Form. If there is a specific role that interests you please indicate so. If you are interested in a volunteer role but unsure or uninterested in joining the board at this time please let us know when you fill out the application. Questions? Contact us at president@brooklinebirdclub.org.

Membership Coordinator

Manages the BBC’s membership database, enrolls members, updates memberships, and troubleshoots problems with on line enrollment. As an operational officer we prefer that the Membership Coordinator serves on the board. The Membership Coordinator would be elected to a two year term. Read the job description.

Conservation Roles

The BBC is reorganizing the way we support birdlife through our conservation work. While our future plans have not yet solidified we have identified the following two positions as ones we would like to fill:

Conservation Communications Coordinator: Increase member engagement in BBC conservation efforts by developing and preparing educational and informational materials about our programs to help save birds of concern and their habitats.  Provide information for newsletters, website, blue book, meetings and events.  Work closely with Conservation Workgroup and other directors. 

Conservation Advocacy Coordinator: Communicate important state and local legislative issues to keep members informed about ways they can help influence positive outcomes.  Coordinate with Mass Audubon partners to promote their key programs, such as Rescuing Raptors Rodenticide campaign, by receiving and sharing information on the clubs website, newsletter, and meeting materials.  Also receive requests from local conservation groups to support important initiatives and prepare recommendations to the Conservation Workgroup and President, as well as appropriate letters of response.

Other Roles We Hope to Fill

Educator Scholarship Coordinator: The BBC has a long running and successful teen scholarship program. We want to start up an educator scholarship and need a volunteer to build the program. This position would work with the President, board, and Scholarship Committee to organize this effort.

Volunteer Graphic Designer: BBC communications include web, social media and print as well as bookmarks and other various types of swag. We would like to find a volunteer to help us use visuals more effectively across different media and products.

Newsletter Editor/Writer: The BBC kicked off a member newsletter last year as a way to increase outreach to members. By all accounts, the effort is well received and has taken on a life of its own. We would benefit from another writer/editor to share the workload.

Thanks for volunteering to help your club!