Dear Acton Conservation Trust Members and Other Friends,
The following news and events may be of interest:
Now – April 2
Walk the New Storybook Trail featuring “The Mitten” by Jan Brett
Open dawn to dusk
Burgess-Brown Land. Street parking and trailhead found at the end of Murray Lane in Harvard, MA The Harvard Conservation Trust invites you to visit the Storybook Trail. This experience is idea for young readers of all levels. An easy half mile hike takes you through an open meadow, meanders into the forest and past a mysterious boulder field. Read the beautiful book “The Mitten,” based on a popular Ukrainian fairytale. It follows one lost mitten and a group of curious forest animals as they prepare for winter.
Thursday, March 24- September 5
New Exhibit: Alive with Birds: William Brewster in Concord
Thursday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 PM, Walk ins welcome!
Concord Museum, 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord, MA
Visit this special exhibition to discover the beauty of birds. William Brewster (1851-1919) was Mass Audubon’s first President He dedicated over thirty years of his life to the study of birds in Concord at his property, which he called October Farm. Drawn to Concord for its natural beauty and abundant bird life, Brewster made October Farm his experimental field laboratory and documented its wildlife for scientific study and public enlightenment. In 2019, Mass Audubon received a 143 acre parcel of land which was once part of October Farm, which has been renamed Brewster’s Woods Wildlife Sanctuary. For more information visit their website.
Members free; Adults $15, Seniors $12, Children (6 to 17) $8
Tuesday, March 29
Acton Town Elections
RJ Grey Jr. High School Gymnasium, 16 Charter Road
Pools open 7 AM to 8 PM
Additional election information can be found on the Elections & Voting Page
Tuesday, March 29
Boxborough Conservation Trust Annual Meeting: Nature’s Best Hope with Doug Tallamy!
7 PM
Zoom
Introduction by President, Rita Gibes Grossman, and an update about the potential to purchase 21 acres of conservation land in town.
Dr. Doug Tallamy, professor of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, will talk about planting natives and regenerating biodiversity at home, one yard at a time. The goal is to create landscapes that enhance local ecosystems in half of the area now in lawn to create vital corridors connecting the few natural areas that remain. This approach to conservation empowers everyone to play a significant role in the future of the natural world. Free and open to the public. For more information click here.
Tuesday, March 29
A Conversation with Ornithologist Scott Edwards
7-8 PM
In-Person and Virtual Forum
Harvard professor and Curator of Ornithology at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Scott Edwards, discusses his research on the processes that have generated biodiversity using birds as models to study patterns of speciation, biogeography , evolution of the genome, and the process of adaptation. Register here. Sponsored by Concord Museum
Wednesday, March 30 and April 6
Make Your Land Available for Farming
12-1 PM
Register for free at landforgood.org/events
Make Your Land Available for Farming is for private landowners and their representatives (real estate agents, etc.) to understand your land’s potential for farming, learn what goes into good farming arrangement, and explore strategies for making any amount of land available to a farmer. When you make land available for farming you help secure a future for farming in your community. Farmers are looking for land, from a small vegetable plot to livestock or crops. Productive, sustainable uses for all or parts of your property can bring many rewards!
Thursday, March 31
Birdwatching Basics: Behaviors
Online – for adults
Offered by Mass Audubon
Once you tackle the basics of behavior, the value of your birdwatching transforms from admiring their beauty to appreciating their complex lives. Read more
Registration is required.
Register now with our secure payment portal. For more information contact Mass Audubon at education@massaudubon.org
Tuesday, April 5
Woodcock Prowl 2022 – sponsored by Acton Conservation Trust
7-8 PM
Acton Conservation Trust member and local birder, Al Sgroi, will help us view the fascinating courtship ritual of the American Woodcock. The males display a series of peents, twitters, and chirps as they prance on the ground, then spiral rapidly upward, circle and drift down, whistling as they go. Since this is a “crepuscular” or twilight-active bird, we will meet at sunset to watch and listen for the incredible sky dance. No pets on this prowl, thank you!
* Please register here and meeting location will be sent to you a few days before the event. The location will be in Acton or Boxborough, depending upon where Woodcocks are active.
**Please read the “What to expect” section for clothing and gear tips.
***For more information or questions, please contact Jody Harris at jharris.actonconservationtrust@jharris
Wednesday, April 6
On belonging in Outdoor spaces: Diversity is more than Color
7 PM
As a cancer survivor, paraclimber, outdoor enthusiast, and a diversity, equity, and inclusion professional, Kareemah Batts pulls from her lived experience and education to co-create a world where diversity is intersectional and accessible. She will walk us through her journey, and demonstrate what happens when the narrative shifts from: “you don’t belong here’ to ”you belong here, you exist, and you matter.” Register for the program here. Sponsored by Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and 5 other non-profits.
Thursday, April 7
Birdwatching Basics: Birding by Ear
7-8 PM
Online for Adults
From a sparrow’s song to a woodpecker’s drumming, our noisy avian neighbors can tell us a lot about the natural world, if we’re open to listening. Read more. Registration is required.
Register now with our secure payment portal. For more information contact Mass Audubon at education@massaudubon.org
Monday, April 11
From Land Acknowledgement to Partnership, The Making of ”Pakachoag: Where the River Bends”
1:30-3 PM via Zoom
“Pakachoag: Where the River Bends” is a documentary produced by faculty, staff, and students at the College of Holy Cross about the transformation of land over the last 400 years, focusing on historical and present-day sites of indigenous community in the area of the Holy Cross campus in Worcester, Massachusetts. Watch the documentary. Q&A will follow the presentation. This event is free. For more information please register by April 10. You will receive the Zoom link when you register. Register here.
Friday, April 22
Earth Day Walk at Pratt’s Brook
10-11:30 AM
Join Acton Conservation Trust as we explore the Pratt’s Brook trails and look for signs of spring. This family friendly walk is about a mile and a half, and has several beautiful stream crossings. Your friendly, well-behaved dogs are welcome to attend as well! Stay for snacks in the park after our walk. Please RSVP by registering here. You will receive an emailed copy for your records and location information prior to the event. For more information or questions, please contact Jody Harris at jharris.actonconservationtrust@gmail.com
VOLUNTEER!
Boston Area Gleaners (BAG) is back to grocery box packing! Join them in their greenhouse on Wednesday, 3/30 to pack more ‘Just Eats’ grocery boxes for local pantries and low-income housing facilities. Sign up to volunteer at https://www.bagetc.org/gleanlist.php
Wednesday, 3/30
9 AM-noon Pack grocery boxes
Acton, MA
1-4 PM Pack grocery boxes
Acton, MA
MISCELLANEOUS:
Town of Littleton Conservation Department
Amphibian Crossing Brigade Handbook 2022
How you can help amphibians on the road – https://www.mass.gov/news/watch-for-amphibians-on-the-road
- Please drive cautiously and carefully.
- Whenever possible over the next 2 months, please consider not driving on rainy nights when air temperatures are 40°F or higher. If you must travel during such conditions, delaying beyond the first 2 hours after sunset is recommended.
- Travel on larger highways rather than small, wooded roads if possible. Plan routes that minimize the number of wetlands or vernal pools passed.
- If observing amphibian migrations, consider arriving at your destination prior to sunset, and then conduct your monitoring on foot.
- If assisting amphibians across roadways or handling them for other reasons, be sure your hands are free of lotions, bug repellent, or other chemicals.
- Report high levels of amphibian activity or mortality to the Linking Landscapes for Massachusetts Wildlife initiative, which compiles data to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions on problem roadways.
- If you encounter any of our state-listed rare amphibian species (eastern spadefoot, blue-spotted salamander, Jefferson salamander, and marbled salamander), please take a clear photograph of the animal, carefully record the location, and submit an observation report to MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.
- Go the extra mile to help preserve amphibian habitat by certifying vernal pools on your property. The data you collect is used to help MassWildlife and local conservation organizations better understand habitat resources for our native amphibians.
Goat Hikes – Good Pickin’ Farm
5 Gould Road, Westford
Goat Hikes. $65/group up to 8 people. Informative nature hike led by an ecologist, focusing on different flora or fauna of the area that is seasonal. Have fun while the goats walk and run along with you and enjoy their silly antics! For more information call 425-306-7203 or email hello@goodpicikinfarm.com
March Through May
Join Central Mass. Goat Rental for a Walk with Goats
48 West Acres Drive, Lunenberg
Take to the trails with friendly farm animals at your side. Anywhere from 6 to 16 goats will go on the hikes. Goats have a natural instinct to follow the leader, which makes them perfect hiking companions. The hike is relatively easy, lasting about an hour. Masks and social distance are required and group size is limited due to Covid-19. Each hike costs $35 per adult, $10 per child (under the age of 15 years old), and children ages 5 years and under are free. To book a hike, visit www.centralmagoatrental.com and choose the date of your hike.
Hiking with Dogs – The Trustees Did you and your family get a pandemic puppy? Are you and your older dog a little tired of the same old walking routes? Let our dog-friendly properties give you a burst of inspiration to get some fresh air for you and your four-footed companion. These 7 places might be just the thing this spring.
Support Acton Conservation Trust while you make purchases on AmazonSmile! ACT will receive a small payment, and these add up! From your desktop or laptop computer, AmazonSmile is available at at smile.amazon.com on your Web browser. Bookmark it for easy use! AmazonSmile is available from your mobile phone as well. To activate AmazonSmile in the Amazon Shopping app, simply tap on “AmazonSmile” within the Programs & Features menu or Settings and follow the on-screen instructions.
Sincerely,
Susan Mitchell-Hardt
President, Acton Conservation Trust
www.ActonConservationTrust.org
P.S. Welcome to new “Events of Interest” subscribers! As a nonprofit organization, we rely upon the support of our members. Visit our ACT website, and click on “Join Us”!
Be sure to tell your friends that “Events of Interest” is also available on our new ACT website www.actonconservationtrust.org