Saturday, April 13, 2025 – April at Hodges Village Dam, Oxford (morning, 7 a.m.)
Join us for our early spring walk in Southern Worcester County! Resident birds are adorned in their breeding plumage and early migrants are returning. We will walk 2 to 3 miles on a cart road with relatively flat terrain.
Directions: From Worcester, drive south on I-395 to Exit 7B (Sutton Ave.). Merge onto Sutton Ave., and continue through the traffic light onto Charlton St. In 0.5 mile, turn right on Howarth Rd., and turn right to the entrance of the Dam. Meet at the main parking area, 30 Howarth Rd., Oxford.
Leader: Mary Bayer Caulway (508-612-5130) [onesadiedog@gmail.com]
Saturday, April 19, 2025 – Delaney Wildlife Management Area (morning, 7-10 a.m.)
Delaney WMA in Bolton/Stow is an Important Bird Area with a variety of habitats. There’s a shallow lake, a slow-running stream and a marsh, all bordered by mixed conifer/deciduous forest. The grassland area boasts a Bluebird Trail. Note: There are a couple of areas that require walking up and down slightly steep terrain, for which some will want to bring a walking stick. We will walk 2.5 to 3 miles. There are no restrooms on-site. Meet at the Delaney Project Boat Launch, off Harvard Road in Stow at 7:00 a.m.
Leader: David Ammerman (508-930-0356) [ammsus@comcast.net]
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 – Celebrate Earth Day at Shrewsbury Parks (morning, 8 a.m.)
Celebrate the 55th anniversary of Earth Day with Forbush Bird Club and the Shrewsbury Trails Committee. Meet at the Shrewsbury Senior Center, 98 Maple Ave., off Main St., Shrewsbury.
Leader: Mike Bellows (508-845-1651; cell 508-414-9169) [mike.bellows@gmail.com]
Sunday, April 27, 2025 – High Ridge Wildlife Management Area – East Gardner Rd. Entrance (morning, 7 a.m.)
This large, historic property includes old fields, mature woods, wetlands, and a heron rookery. Late April brings new arrivals such as Blue-headed Vireo, Brown Thrasher, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Palm Warbler.
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 92) via Town Farm Road/North Common Road. Turn left onto East Gardner Road, Westminster. We will walk about 4 miles over paved and unpaved roads.
Leader: Tom Pirro (978-874-5212) [tpirro2010 @gmail.com]
Wednesday, April 30, 2025– Mass Audubon Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary (morning, 7 a.m.)
Welcome Spring at the Sanctuary! Meet at the Broad Meadow Brook Visitors Center, 414 Massasoit Rd., Worcester at 7:00 a.m. Please be prepared to walk.
Leader: John Shea (508-667-1982) [john@beachwells.com]
Thursday, May 1, 2025 – Wayne MacCallum Wildlife Management Area (early morning, 6-8 a.m.)
We’ll hike the north side of Lake Chauncy and check the water. This is the first of three Thursday morning walks in this very productive area. Meet at 6:00 a.m. Directions: Take Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Way (formerly Hospital Road) off Lyman Street in Westborough at the Ball Field Entrance. Park and meet just before the yellow gate at the end of the road near the water.
Leader: Nick Paulson [grendelpgill@yahoo.com] (or leave message at 508-330-4401)
Saturday, May 3, 2025 – Rauscher Farm, Clinton (morning, 7-11 a.m.)
Explore Rauscher Farm's beautiful property! Clamshell Pond, meadows, marsh, and forest attract migrants passing through and an abundance of our native breeding birds.
Please wear footwear appropriate for hiking over rocks and a couple of wet areas. There is a restroom on the property. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the parking area, 29 Clamshell Road in Clinton. [GPS: 42.402529, -71.677860]
Leader: David Ammerman (508-930-0356) [ammsus@comcast.net]
Sunday, May 4, 2025 – Sholan Farms, Leominster (morning, 7 a.m.)
Sholan Farms is a 169-acre farm owned by the City of Leominster that includes apple orchards, expansive fields, community gardens, and two reservoirs that are great habitats for migrating warblers, sparrows, and other locally breeding birds. We will walk about 3 miles on grassy and wooded paths with a few up-and-down hills.
Address: 1125 Pleasant St., Leominster
Park in the lot across the street from the farmstand. Porta-potties are available in the parking lot.
Leader: Jon Skinner (978-894-3698) [jon@jonrisk.com]
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 – Mass Audubon Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary (morning, 7 a.m.)
Explore trails through the Sanctuary at the peak of spring migration. Meet at the Visitors Center,
414 Massasoit Road, Worcester at 7:00 a.m. Please be prepared to walk.
Leader: John Shea (508-667-1982) [john@beachwells.com]
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Wayne MacCallum Wildlife Management Area (early morning, 6-8 a.m.)
Join us early on Thursday morning to search for migrant warblers and other songbirds along the north shore of Lake Chauncy. Meet at 6:00 a.m. Directions: Take Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Way (formerly Hospital Road) off Lyman Street in Westborough at the Ball Field Entrance. Park and meet just before the yellow gate at the end of the road near the water.
Leader: Nick Paulson [grendelpgill@yahoo.com] (or leave message at 508-330-4401)
Saturday, May 10, 2025 – Hodges Village Dam, Oxford (morning, 7 a.m.)
Expect an abundance of species, especially newly-arrived warblers, throughout the varied habitats of Hodges Dam and vicinity. While enjoying the birds, we will remember our friend, Paul Meleski, whose early May walks here delighted Forbush birders for three decades.
Meet at the main parking area, 30 Howarth Rd., Oxford.
Leader: Mary Bayer Caulway [onesadiedog@gmail.com] (508-612-5130)
Sunday, May 11, 2025 – Mother’s Day Walk at Mt. Auburn Cemetery (morning, 7 – 11 a.m.)
One of New England’s top birding locations is Mt. Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mt. Auburn St. (Rt. 16), on the Watertown/Cambridge town line. Spring migrants of all species, and especially warblers, are attracted to the mature oaks, beeches, and pines within this historic urban park. Meet inside the entrance gate in front of the Mt. Auburn Visitors Center at 7:00 a.m. We will walk paths throughout the property, stopping often to look and listen. Public restrooms are available.
Leader: Dan Berard [djberard84@gmail.com]
All are welcome! Please RSVP to Dan by 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 10
Monday, May 12, 2025 – Crane Swamp/Cedar Hill, Northborough (morning, 7 a.m.)
We will walk about 2.5 miles on the loop trail. Please note: There is occasional rough footing, and Cedar Hill is moderately steep. Participants may want to bring a walking stick.
Directions: From Route 9 East, take Lyman St. north; drive 2.8 miles and turn right onto Bartlett St. In 0.8 miles, bear right onto Cedar Hill Road, and turn right onto Forest St. to the trailhead parking area. Meet at the Crane Swamp Trailhead, 360 Cedar Hill Street in Marlborough.
Leader: Laura Lane (508-480-8259) [pete.lane@comcast.net]
Thursday, May 15, 2025 – Wayne MacCallum Wildlife Management Area (early morning, 6-8 a.m.)
Spring migration is at its peak! Don’t miss this season’s last early-morning hike on the north side of Lake Chauncy. Meet at 6:00 a.m.
Directions: Take Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Way (formerly Hospital Road) off Lyman Street in Westborough at the Ball Field Entrance. Park and meet just before the yellow gate at the end of the road near the water.
Leader: Nick Paulson [grendelpgill@yahoo.com] (or leave message at 508-330-4401
Sunday, May 18, 2025 – Muddy Brook WMA, Hardwick (morning, 8 a.m.)
This WMA is being actively managed as part of a large oak-pine restoration effort by Mass Wildlife. Besides passage migrants that may still be moving through the region and common nesting species such as Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Eastern Bluebird, we can expect to find Prairie and Blue-winged warbler, Field Sparrow, and Eastern Towhee. The marsh along the northern section of the brook holds Swamp Sparrows and possibly American Bittern. Ticks are common here.
Directions: Meet at the bridge over Muddy Brook on Patrill Hollow Road in Hardwick. Contact the leader for details.
Leader: Wendy Howes (413-967-4737) [warerivernatureclub@yahoo.com]
Saturday, May 24, 2025 – Upton State Forest (7 a.m. to noon)
We will hike to Dean Pond while searching for late migrants and woodland breeders.
Meet at the old CCC Camp parking lot through the paved gate at the intersection of Westboro Road and Southboro Road.
Please be prepared to hike uneven ground on the forest trails.
Leader: Nick Paulson [grendelpgill@yahoo.com] (or leave message at 508-330-4401)
Sunday, May 25, 2025 – DCR Kristoff Farm, Sterling (morning, 7:30 a.m.)
We’ll walk at least 2 miles on the old farm roads looking for birds of the fields and woodlands. We can expect a diverse mix of resident breeders, returning short-distance and neotropical migrants. Blue-winged Warbler and Indigo Bunting are common here. 50 species for the morning would not be uncommon. Last year, a small group birded until 11:30 AM but attendees are welcome to stay as long or as short as they like.
Meet at the end of Merrill Road, off Route 140, in Sterling (¼ mile north of the Route 190 intersection).
Leaders: Marion Larson and Scott Handler [srhdvm@verizon.net]
Saturday, May 31, 2025 – Goat Hill, Uxbridge (morning, 7:00 a.m.)
We will listen for the sewing-machine trill of Worm-eating Warbler that regularly breeds at Goat Hill, and hope that the Acadian Flycatcher found here last June will return. Even if it doesn't, we will certainly see and hear many other birds typically present in woodland/riparian/sandpit settings.
Be prepared to hike for up to 3 to 4 miles on rocky, rooty trails. Some uphill climbing may be involved. Long pants and sturdy hiking boots are recommended, along with water, a snack, and bug repellent.
Please note: This walk is limited to 10 participants, and pre-registration will be required.
Directions: Park in the large field at 292 Hartford Ave. East, across from Tri-River Family Health Center. If the field is too wet to park, park instead at River Bend Farm on Oak Street and walk over.
Restrooms are available at River Bend Farm.
Leader: Mary Sughrue-Yacino (508-864-8343) [maryesswhy@gmail.com}
Saturday, June 7, 2025 – Barre Falls Dam/Ware River Watershed IBA (morning, 7 a.m. - noon)
We will bird the fields from the parking area to Route 62, hike Brigham Road over the Ware River West Branch crossing, and return along the river via Tracy Lane to the parking area (~2.5-mile loop). Meet at the parking lot above the Dam, 1/2 mile south of Route 62 in Hubbardston.
Restrooms are available at Barre Falls Picnic Area on Coldbrook Road across the Dam.
Leader: David Ammerman (508-930-0356) [ammsus@comcast.net]
Sunday, July 13, 2025 – Birds & Butterflies with Massachusetts Butterfly Club (morning, 9 a.m.)
Meet at the Route 56 overlook to Worcester Airport in Leicester, at 9:00 a.m. We will also walk the wooded trail from Mulberry St. to Kettle Brook/Manville Street. Close-focus binoculars recommended.
Leader: Dolores Price (508-839-2299)
Saturday, August 30, 2025– Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary (morning, 7:30 a.m.)
Our annual Labor Day Weekend Walk celebrates the end of summer and the beginning of fall.
Meet at Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary parking area, Goodnow Road, Princeton, at 7:30 a.m. to look for lingering breeders and the earliest fall migrants.
Leaders: Jay Cormier and Gail Cormier energynurse@hotmail.com
To subscribe to Forbush Bird Club’s email list for trip notifications,
contact Donna Schilling at dschilling15@verizon.net.