To subscribe to Forbush Bird Club’s email list for trip notifications, contact Dick Knowlton at pdknowlton@verizon.net.
Sunday, April 3, 2016 -- Bolton Flats WMA and vicinity (morning)
Meet at the parking lot on Route 117 in Lancaster (¼ mile west of the junction of Routes 117 and 110) at 7:00 a.m.
Leader: Kevin Bourinot (978-376-1498) [kevin.bourinot@gmail.com]
Note: Please wear waterproof knee boots.
Friday, April 8, 2016 -- Woodcock Walk (evening)
Meet at the new Mass Wildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road (off North Drive) in Westborough at 6:30 p.m.
Leader: Laura Lane (508-480-8259) [pete.lane@comcast.net]
Friday, April 22, 2016 -- Celebrate Earth Day at Shrewsbury Parks (morning)
Meet at the Shrewsbury Senior Center, 98 Maple Ave., off Main Street in Shrewsbury at 8:00 a.m.
This is a joint walk with the Shrewsbury Trails Committee.
Leader: Mike Bellows (508-845-1651; cell 508-414-9169) [mike.bellows@gmail.com)
Thursday, April 28 -- 85th Annual Dinner and Business Meeting
The Manor, 42 West Boylston Street (Route 12), West Boylston
$35/person. Social hour from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Contact Bart Kamp (bartdk@charter.net) for reservation forms. Dinner reservation deadline is Wednesday, April 13, 2016.
Speaker: Dianne Benson Davis
Program: Eagle One: Raising Bald Eagles, A Wildlife Memoir
Dianne Benson Davis spent four months living alone as the caretaker for eight baby Bald Eagles in the remote Quabbin Reservoir area of Massachusetts as part of an ambitious and successful effort to reintroduce the endangered Bald Eagle to the skies of New England. Her book, Eagle One: Raising Bald Eagles, A Wildlife Memoir, is the record of her time with the eagles, based on her letters and journals.
Saturday, April 30, 2016 – Leicester and Paxton (morning)
Meet in the back of the Worcester Airport, on Mulberry Street, Leicester, at 7:00 a.m. We will bird this area, then proceed to Muir Meadow in Paxton to explore a new site. Please bring waterproof footwear for the trails at Muir Meadow.
Leader: Susan LaBree (508-826-2160) [susan@silverfoxcoach.com]
Sunday, May 1, 2016 -- High Ridge WMA, Westminster/Gardner (morning)
Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the gated end of East Gardner Road, 3 miles north of the Route 2/Route 140 intersection (Exit 25) via Town Farm Road to East Gardner Road, Westminster.
Leader: Tom Pirro (978-874-5212) [tpirro2010@gmail.com] Note: Please be prepared to walk.
Saturday, May 7, 2016 -- Oxford, Dudley, and vicinity (morning)
Meet at MacDonald’s parking lot on Sutton Ave., Exit 4B off Route 395, in Oxford at 7:00 a.m.
Leader: Paul Meleski (508-757-2950) [pmeleski1@msn.com]
Sunday, May 8, 2016 -- Mount Auburn Cemetery (morning, 7-11 a.m.)
Mt. Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St. (Route 16), Cambridge
Meet inside the entrance gate at 7:00 a.m.
Leader: Dan Berard (508-277-1450) [djberard84@gmail.com]
Friday, May 13, 2016, 6 p.m., to Saturday, May 14, 2016, 6 p.m. -- Mass Audubon Bird-A-Thon
For details, contact Sheryl Farnam at 508-753-6087 or sfarnam@massaudubon.org
Saturday, May 14, 2016 -- 5th Annual Mt. Wachusett Walk in Memory of Francis X. McMenemy –
Princeton area (morning)
Meet at the Wachusett Mtn. Ski Area parking lot on Mountain Road in Princeton at 7:00 a.m.
Leaders: Susan LaBree (508-826-2160) [susan@silverfoxcoach.com] and Steve Sulzer [birder56@verizon.net]
Sunday, May 15, 2016 -- Quabbin Reservoir Auto Trip, Gates 35-43 (all day)
Meet at 7:00 a.m. at Gate 35, Old North Dana Road, New Salem.
At 5 miles west of intersection of Routes 32 and 122 in Petersham, turn sharp left on Old North Dana Road; proceed ~1 mile to parking area.
Leader: Tom Pirro (978-874-5212) [tpirro2010@gmail.com]
Note: The number of vehicles permitted within the Quabbin gates is limited. Please contact Trip Leader.
Thursday, May 19, 2016 -- Bolton Flats and Pine Hill WMA, Lancaster (evening)
6:00 p.m. – Meet at Bolton Flats parking lot on Rt. 117 to search for rails, bitterns, and shorebirds;
7:30 p.m. – Meet at Pine Hill WMA parking area, Pine Hill Rd. (off Harvard Rd.) in Lancaster
(1½ miles west of junction of Routes 110 and 117) for Whip-poor-will and American Woodcock.
Leader: Bart Kamp (508-753-7463) [bartdk@charter.net]
Rain date: Friday, May 20
Saturday, May 21, 2016 -- Millbury (morning)
Meet at the Millbury Bike Path parking lot on North Main St., at the intersection of Route 146, in Millbury at 7:00 a.m. We will also visit Brierly Pond Conservation Area. Please be prepared for a moderate hike.
NOTE: The Oakhurst Road field in Sutton where we have birded for several years is now inaccessible.
Leader: Alan Marble (508-865-3209) [akm48@aol.com]
Sunday, May 22, 2016 -- Buck Hill, Spencer (morning)
Meet at the parking lot on McCormick Road in Spencer at 7:00 a.m.
Leader: Susan LaBree (508-826-2160) [susan@silverfoxcoach.com]
Saturday, May 28, 2016 -- Upton State Forest (morning)
Meet at the main entrance to Upton State Forest at the intersection of Westboro Road and Southboro Road in Upton at 7:00 a.m.
Leader: Nick Paulson [grendelpgill@yahoo.com] (or leave message at 508-330-4401)
Sunday, May 29, 2016 -- DCR Kristoff Farm (morning)
Meet at the end of Merrill Road, off Route 140, in Sterling (¼ mile north of the Route 190 intersection)
at 7:00 a.m.
Leaders: Dick and Peg Knowlton (978-632-9639) [pdknowlton@verizon.net)
Saturday, June 4, 2016 -- Barre Falls Dam and Rutland State Park (morning)
Meet at the parking lot above the dam, ½ mile south of Route 62 in Hubbardston, at 7:00 a.m.
Leaders: Dave Grant (508-852-3243) and Donna Schilling (978-263-9434) [dschilling15@verizon.net]
Sunday, June 12, 2016 -- 51st Annual Breeding Bird Census at Mass Audubon Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary (morning)
Meet at the Sanctuary parking lot, Goodnow Road, Princeton, at 7:00 a.m.
Compiler: Dick Knowlton (978-632-9639) [pdknowlton@verizon.net]
Optional: Contact compiler in advance to confirm participation and coordinate your route assignment.
Sunday, June 26, 2016 -- Wachusett Reservoir (morning)
Forbush Bird Club’s annual census of the Wachusett Reservoir Important Bird Area focuses on breeding birds including the Common Loons.
Meet at the intersection of Route 110 and Chace Road (Gate 35), Sterling, at 7:00 a.m.
Leader: Kevin Bourinot (978-376-1498) [kevin.bourinot@gmail.com]
Sunday, July 17, 2016 -- Birds & Butterflies with Massachusetts Butterfly Club (morning)
Meet at the Route 56 overlook to Worcester Airport in Leicester, at 9:00 a.m.
Leader: Dolores Price (508-839-2299) [dolores.price@becker.edu]
To Be Announced (August or September) --
Pelagic Birds and Whales on Capt. John Boats, Plymouth (all day)
Leaders: Dick and Peg Knowlton (978-632-9639) [pdknowlton@verizon.net]
and Dan Berard (508-277-1450) [djberard84@gmail.com]
Advance registration will be required.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016 -- Night Heron Walk (evening)
Meet at the Mausoleum in Notre Dame Cemetery, off Webster Street, Worcester, at 7:00 p.m.
Park on the right side of the building.
Leader: John Shea (508-667-1982) [johnshea.1@verizon.net]
Thursday, August 25, 2016 -- Nighthawk Watch at Worcester Airport (evening)
Meet at the Route 56 overlook to Worcester Airport in Leicester, at 6:00 p.m.
Leader: John Shea (508-667-1982) [johnshea.1@verizon.net]
Saturday, September 3, 2016 -- Wachusett Meadow (morning)
Meet at MAS Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary parking area, Goodnow Road, Princeton, at 7:30 a.m. Leader: Joan Gallagher (508-904-3607) [Joan.snowbird@gmail.com]
Sunday, September 25, 2016 -- Bolton Flats WMA and vicinity (morning)
Meet at the parking lot on Route 117 in Lancaster (¼ mile west of the junction of Routes 117 and 110) at 7:00 a.m.
Leader: Kevin Bourinot (978-376-1498) [kevin.bourinot@gmail.com]
Note: Please wear waterproof knee boots.