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• Field Trip: Hadley Dikes and Connecticut River Shoreline

  • When
    Fri, October 31, 2025
  •  
    8:30 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    Alexandra Dawson Conservation Area, Hadley, MA
  • Spaces left
    0

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  This is a monthly 12-part series. Join Bill Randolph for a year-long exploration of the birding “hot spots” located along the Connecticut River shoreline and farmlands in Hadley and Northampton. Participate in one or all of the birding trips and witness how the ecology and bird community changes throughout the year. This is an exciting transitional time for the local ecosystem. The once productive agricultural fields begin to go fallow, cold winds blow from the north and the songbird migration is slowing down. Fall flocks of mixed blackbirds congregate around the corn stubble, early waterfowl follow the river, raptors of every sort occupy the skies, while shore birds, mixed sparrows and a few warbler species can be spotted along our 2-mile dike walk. Be prepared to be challenged with different plumages from nonbreeding adults, immatures, and everything in between. Depending on recent sightings, we may walk the whole dike (2 miles) or drive to nearby areas in search of the best birds. Plan on walking a total of 2 miles on mostly level, uneven ground with potentially windy conditions. Wear sturdy boots if the trails are muddy. Meet at the Alexandra Dawson Conservation Area dirt parking lot (next to the Connecticut River dike on North Lane between West St. and 47 in Hadley). Please note there are no facilities or rest areas at this location. Questions? Email Bill at warandolph@comcast.net. Limited to 12 participants. (E) 

  Field Trip designations:
  (E) – Easy conditions, fairly accessible for most, usually flat terrain on improved trails or roads. 
  (M) – Moderately difficult, more challenging trail conditions, short steep sections, longer hikes. 
  (S) – Strenuous conditions, muddy or rocky trails, steep sections, difficult footing in part.
  

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• Field Trip: Donut Run to the Berkshire Lakes

  • When
    Sun, November 02, 2025
  •  
    6:00 AM - 3:30 PM
  • Location
    Cheshire, Richmond, Pittsfield Area, MA
  • Spaces left
    0

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  Join Scott Surner for a day-long trip to the Berkshire Lakes in search of migratory ducks and other waterfowl, as well as nonmigratory apple cider donuts. Possible stops include Cheshire Reservoir, Pontoosuc Lake, Onota Lake, and Richmond Pond, and we’ll also stop at Moran Wildlife Management Area in Windsor to look for Northern Shrikes. Most of our birding will be done from the roadside or a short distance from our vehicles. Not much walking will be required on this trip. Bring a scope if you have one. We will meet at 6:00 am in the Stop & Shop parking lot at 228 King St in Northampton, then split into vehicles to carpool. We will return by 3:30 pm. Dress warmly and pack lunch. There will be at least two restroom breaks. Questions? Email Scott at ssurner@aol.com. Limited to 15 participants. (E) 

  Field Trip designations:
  (E) – Easy conditions, fairly accessible for most, usually flat terrain on improved trails or roads. 
  (M) – Moderately difficult, more challenging trail conditions, short steep sections, longer hikes. 
  (S) – Strenuous conditions, muddy or rocky trails, steep sections, difficult footing in part.
  

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• Field Trip: Short Walk and Birding in Place at Silvio O. Conte NWR–Fort River Division

  • When
    Sat, November 08, 2025
  •  
    10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    69 Moody Bridge Road, Hadley, MA
  • Spaces left
    0

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  Join Janice Jorgensen for an accessible outing and explore the different habitats at the Conte Refuge, including forests, streams, and grasslands. Relax, listen, and find birds/wildlife in the cattails, woods, and surrounding fields. We will be looking for common birds staying in this area for the winter, including woodpeckers, American Crow, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Golden-crowned Kinglet, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco, sparrows, Common Grackle, Northern Cardinal.

  We will begin with a short walk from the kiosk in the parking lot to the small gazebo sitting area, then continue with short trips on the boardwalk trail with multiple lookout area stops with benches. Total distance is about .5 miles round trip on the flat, fully accessible boardwalk trail.

  What to bring: Multiple layers (it might be chilly!), water, mobility aids, sun protection/hat, smartphone if you want to use Merlin or eBird, binoculars if you have them. 

  This is an all-abilities and all-ages outing. Come if you have no birding experience or a lot; either way, you have something to teach us. Amenities include benches along the wheelchair/walker accessible trail. Binoculars will be provided if needed. The large gravel parking lot includes a Handicap parking space with no lines, plus a Handicap accessible porta-potty. This location has cell service available. No public transportation. This is usually a quiet spot, with planes sometimes flying over. Trip will take place rain or shine.

  Meet in the Silvio O. Conte parking lot at 69 Moody Bridge Road in Hadley (access via Bay Road). Limited to 7 participants. Register online; also please contact Janice Jorgensen with your access needs – email jjpcpanama@gmail.com. (E, Accessible)

  Learn more about the location.
  

  Field Trip designations:
  

  (E) – Easy conditions, fairly accessible for most, usually flat terrain on improved trails or roads. 
  (M) – Moderately difficult, more challenging trail conditions, short steep sections, longer hikes. 
  (S) – Strenuous conditions, muddy or rocky trails, steep sections, difficult footing in part.

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• HBC's November Meeting - In Defense of Birds: Military Conservation at Camp Edwards and Throughout the Nation, with Jake McCumber!

  • When
    Tue, November 11, 2025
  •  
    7:15 PM - 9:30 PM
  • Location
    Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst MA

  
  

  Our nation's military has a strong and too often unknown conservation mission across tens of millions of acres. Some of the most prominent and successful efforts nationally and at individual installations are focused on birds.  This presentation will discuss the broad efforts and mission nationally and regionally and dive deeper into the birds of Camp Edwards - an Army National Guard training area on Cape Cod - and the extensive avian monitoring, research, and habitat management at the site.
  

  
  

  Jake McCumber is the Natural Resources & Training Lands Manager for the Massachusetts Army National Guard (MAARNG).  He specializes in conservation planning, endangered species management, pine barrens ecology, and landscape scale restoration.  Birds were his spark in college that led to his career path and remain a significant focus.  Jake and his MAARNG conservation team restore and manage healthy pine barrens and sandplain habitats at Camp Edwards using forestry, fire, and extensive research and monitoring to support these unique natural communities, including numerous rare and declining bird species.

  
  

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• Birding for Everyone: Identifying Owls

  • When
    Thu, November 13, 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online

  
  

  Owls are one of the most fascinating, most mysterious group of birds one can encounter. From their unique physical appearance (have you ever seen an owls eyes?) to their remarkable stealth and their evolved hearing and hunting, they are certainly worthy of discussion. During this online session we'll work to demystify this group of birds and give you concrete steps you can use in the field to find and identify owls! The presentation will allow for plenty of time for your questions on this or any birding related topic.

  Zoom meeting link

  
  Meeting ID: 892 4397 3595 (if asked)
  Passcode: 412770

  Learn more about the Birding for Everyone program.

  All Birding for Everyone events are free and open to the public.
  

  
  

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• Field Trip: Birding the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary

  • When
    Fri, November 14, 2025
  •  
    8:30 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    127 Combs Road, Easthampton, MA
  • Spaces left
    11

  Register

  This is a monthly 12-part series. Join Bill Randolph for a yearlong birding exploration of Arcadia’s 734 acre sanctuary consisting of extensive preserved grasslands and farmlands, upland mixed conifer and deciduous forests, along with different types of wetlands including Connecticut River oxbow, a series of ponds, floodplain forest and the confluence of the Mill River. We will search out the best birding spots via short drives and/or hikes in and around the sanctuary. Mid November is an ideal time to find a wide range of migrating songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl. We will hike a short loop around the sanctuary visiting the ponds and wildlife observatory, then take a 1/4 mile drive to the oxbow and adjacent grasslands. In a short span, we can search out a variety of environments for migratory and resident birds. Plan on walking a total of 2 miles on a mix of up and down, uneven trails that can be muddy and/or slippery depending on recent weather. We'll meet in the Arcadia Nature Center parking lot at 127 Combs Road in Easthampton. Restrooms are available in the Nature Center (opens at 9:00 am). There are a few benches along the trails near the nature center if rest stops are needed, but not in the meadows. Questions? Email Bill at warandolph@comcast.net. Limited to 12 participants. (E/M) 

  Field Trip designations:
  (E) – Easy conditions, fairly accessible for most, usually flat terrain on improved trails or roads. 
  (M) – Moderately difficult, more challenging trail conditions, short steep sections, longer hikes. 
  (S) – Strenuous conditions, muddy or rocky trails, steep sections, difficult footing in part.
  

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• Birding for Everyone: Henhawk Trailhead, Williamsburg

  • When
    Sat, November 15, 2025
  •  
    5:45 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Nash Hill Rd, Williamsburg, MA 01096

  
  

  Owls can be tricky to find but, darn it, we're going to give it a shot. Join us for this special Birding for Everyone evening event where we will listen for (and hope to see!) these nocturnal raptors. We will meet at the Henhawk Trailhead, which will put us right in the middle of perfect habitat for multiple species of owls. At most, we will walk half a mile on flat dirt roads. Please bring headlamps or flashlights and dress warmly!

  Map link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/XSKA8E1DNyuQfEidA

  Register: https://bit.ly/2025bfe

  Questions? Email dallard@hampshirebirdclub.org.
  

  Learn more about the Birding for Everyone program.

  All Birding for Everyone events are free and open to the public.

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• Field Trip: Hadley Dikes and Connecticut River Shoreline

  • When
    Fri, November 21, 2025
  •  
    8:30 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    Alexandra Dawson Conservation Area, Hadley, MA
  • Spaces left
    11

  Register

  This is a monthly 12-part series. Join Bill Randolph for a year-long exploration of the birding “hot spots” located along the Connecticut River shoreline and farmlands in Hadley and Northampton. This is a transitional time where the once productive agricultural fields go fallow, cold winds blow from the north and the busy songbird migration is mostly finished. A host of new birds arrive from the north to winter in the fields and forest including snow bunting, juncos, white-throated sparrows, longspurs, and golden-crowned kinglets. We will search along the dikes for waterfowl, herons, and kingfishers, and across the landscape for a variety of raptors. Depending on recent sightings, we may walk the whole dike (2 miles) or drive to nearby areas in search of the best birds. Plan on walking a total of 1–2 miles on mostly level, uneven ground with potentially windy conditions. Wear sturdy boots if the trails are muddy and dress in warm layers. Meet at the Alexandra Dawson Conservation Area dirt parking lot (next to the Connecticut River dike on North Lane between West St. and 47 in Hadley). Please note there are no facilities or rest areas at this location. Questions? Email Bill at warandolph@comcast.net. Limited to 12 participants. (E) 

  Field Trip designations:
  (E) – Easy conditions, fairly accessible for most, usually flat terrain on improved trails or roads. 
  (M) – Moderately difficult, more challenging trail conditions, short steep sections, longer hikes. 
  (S) – Strenuous conditions, muddy or rocky trails, steep sections, difficult footing in part.
  

  Show details
• HBC's Annual Members' Meeting!

  • When
    Tue, December 09, 2025
  •  
    7:15 PM - 9:30 PM
  • Location
    Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst MA

  
  

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• Field Trip: All-Day Trip to the MA Coast

  • When
    Thu, January 01, 2026
  •  
    5:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    East Coast, MA
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  Begin the new year with birding and join Scott Surner on an all-day trip to either Cape Ann or Plum Island, where we will look for alcids, waterfowl, and more. The exact location will be determined based on recent sightings in the eastern part of the state. Much of our birding will be done from the roadside, but depending on our destination, we may end up walking up to 1 mile on level ground or possibly the beach. Bring a scope if you have one. We’ll depart at 5 AM from the Hadley/Amherst area, carpool together to our destination, and return around 5 PM. Bring lunch and be sure to dress for cold, windy, and possibly wet weather. We’ll take several restroom breaks in addition to our lunch break. Questions? Email Scott at ssurner@aol.com. Limited to 12 participants. You will be contacted with further details as the trip date nears. (E/M) 

  Field Trip designations:
  (E) – Easy conditions, fairly accessible for most, usually flat terrain on improved trails or roads. 
  (M) – Moderately difficult, more challenging trail conditions, short steep sections, longer hikes. 
  (S) – Strenuous conditions, muddy or rocky trails, steep sections, difficult footing in part.
  

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• HBC's January Meeting, program TBA

  • When
    Tue, January 13, 2026
  •  
    7:15 PM - 9:30 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  
  

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• HBC's February Meeting, with Rosemary Mosco of "Bird and Moon" comics!

  • When
    Tue, February 10, 2026
  •  
    7:15 PM - 9:30 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  
  

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• HBC's March Meeting: birding in Sri Lanka with Marjorie Melnick!

  • When
    Tue, March 10, 2026
  •  
    7:15 PM - 9:30 PM
  • Location
    Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst MA

  
  

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• HBC's April Meeting, program TBA

  • When
    Tue, April 14, 2026
  •  
    7:15 PM - 9:30 PM
  • Location
    Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst MA

  
  

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• HBC's May Meeting, program TBA

  • When
    Tue, May 12, 2026
  •  
    7:15 PM - 9:30 PM
  • Location
    Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst MA

  
  

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