Essex County Ornithological Club Calendar
Fall and Early Winter 2018-19
Speaker Series/Club Events
Friday, March 1, 7:45 pm
Restoring Palila: Inside the efforts to save an Endangered Hawaiian Honeycreeper
Plus ECOC meeting, 7:30-7:45 pm
Learn about the Palila and other honeycreepers of Hawaii’s dry forest, as well as efforts to restore the population, and what the future may hold for the last of the finch-billed honeycreepers on the main Hawaiian Islands.
Our speaker, wildlife biologist Luanne Johnson, was a field leader in the Palila Restoration Project on Mauna Kea, Hawaii from 1996-2001. She is also the founding director of BiodiversityWorks on Martha’s Vineyard, a non-profit dedicated to wildlife research, monitoring, and mentoring young adults in field biology. Co-sponsored by PEM. (Photo: Female Palila courtesy of Luanne Johnson.)
PEM Connect Building, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem. Free and open to the public.
Friday, April 5, 7:45 pm
Belle Isle Marsh
Plus ECOC meeting, 7:30-7:45 pm
Get to know Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, an ACEC (Area of Critical Environmental Concern). This site, nestled among 3 municipalities, is an important feeding ground for migratory shorebirds and winter raptors. Discover more about this urban refuge from Reservation supervisor Sean Riley, including which breeding birds can be found here. Belle Isle Marsh and the nearby Rumney Marsh are the only large remaining natural saltmarshes and wildlife habitats near Boston, making them excellent locales for exploring local biodiversity. Co-sponsored by PEM.
PEM Connect Building, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem. Free and open to the public.
Sunday, April 28, 9am to 11am
ECOC Clubhouse Event: Cedar Pond Wildlife Sanctuary Walk (plus brown bag lunch)
Walk leaders: Amy Weidensaul (IRWS director|978-887-9264 x7701 | aweidensaul@massaudubon.org) and Robert Buchsbaum (MAS Regional Scientist)
Meeting Place: Mass Audubon’s Cedar Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, Cherry Street, Wenham
Join us for a fun walk at the Cedar Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, former estate of Francis Higginson, who bequeathed his land and houses to Mass Audubon in the 1970s. This 158-acre property has a variety of wetland and woodland habitats and Cedar Pond, a large kettle pond surrounded by Atlantic white cedars. Come explore the property, discuss the history of the site, and look for wildlife and signs. We’ll also check out the 5-acre restoration site that MAS has converted from a field filled with non-natives to a native shrub habitat. Following the walk, we will head over to the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield for a brown bag lunch and to hear about the lesser known MAS sanctuaries on the North Shore.
Monday, May 6th, 5-8 pm
ECOC Supper and Birding at Sissy ffolliott’s Lucky Dog Farm (directions below)
5-6 pm – bird Lucky Dog Farm and adjoining ECGB properties | 6-7:30 – brown bag supper in the farmhouse
Enjoy some spring birding and a BYO sandwich or “take out” with other club members at Sissy’s lovely farm. The traditional bird-shaped cakes plus coffee/teas will be served in loving memory of Dotty Brown and Sarah Robbins who graciously hosted the club each May in Gloucester for over 20 years!
Directions to Lucky Dog Farm (91 Old Right Road, Ipswich, MA):
From Rte. 1 driving N: Turn left onto Old Right Rd., across from First Fabricators (note: road is not well marked). Proceed on Old Right Rd. for about 6/10th of a mile until you see a rail fence, a red barn and white house with an old maple tree. Park along the frontage from the rail fence and past the house along the Norway Spruces to the field gate. Some cars can pull in front of the barn, too.
From the Rte. 1 driving S: Turn right onto Old Right Rd. across from First Fabricators. Proceed as above.
Saturday, May 18, 7am
Ipswich River Canoe Trip and Bird Survey
Event Coordinator: Dave Brewster (brewbird@verizon.net [preferred contact] | cell: 978-317-0230)
Participate in the 113th ECOC birding trip down the Ipswich River! Arguably the oldest uninterrupted bird-count in the world, this event is timed to get the best views of birds before full leaf-out, but late enough in the season to get better weather for paddling. Contact Dave for details.
Wednesday, June 5, 6:15pm to 9 pm
Crane Beach Walk, Ipswich
Walk leader: Jim Berry (978-356-5505 | jim.berry3@verizon.net)
and John Nelson (978-283-6128 | jnelson@northsore.edu)
Meeting Place: Outside the gate to the Crane Beach parking lot at the end of Argilla Road
During this 2-mile walk in the sand we will look for nesting Piping Plovers, Least Terns, and Bank Swallows, as well as evening songsters such as Whip-poor-wills. Prepare for mosquitos.. Co-sponsored by the Brookline Bird Club.
Directions to the Peabody Essex Museum
PEM Connect Building is at 135 Essex Street, next door to PEM’s main entrance (at the corner of Essex and Liberty St. in Salem, MA). Morse Auditorium is in PEM’s main building. Note: if severe weather is forecast, call 978-745-1876 to confirm event.
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Please be advised: ECOC calendars are only sent via email, unless a member requests otherwise. The calendar can always be viewed here on our web site. Hard copies will also be available at programs.
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Notes:
- Please support ECOC programs for 2018 – 2019 by renewing your membership today! Membership/renewal form available here
- ECOC President: Constance Lapite ~ 978-621-8641 | peteorconstance@gmail.com
- ECOC Vice President/Programs Coordinator: Janey Winchell ~ 978-542-1627 | jane_winchell@pem.org
- ECOC Treasurer: Buffy Pennick ~ 508-237-7825 | buffypennick@gmail.com
Essex County Ornithological Club 100th Anniversary Sponsors
Become a member of the Essex County Ornithological Club or renew a current membership.
Stay informed on upcoming ECOC events.
Add your name to our e-mail list.
Club decal featuring
Frank Benson’s art work.
Avail. for $1.00 ea.
