WELCOME TO MONADNOCK BIRD AND NATURE CLUB
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Welcome to Monadnock Bird and Nature Club!
We are dedicated to exploring and preserving the natural world around us. Our club offers a wide range of activities and events for nature enthusiasts of all ages. From birdwatching to nature walks, we provide opportunities for everyone to connect with the environment and learn about local wildlife. Our mission is to foster a community that values and protects the beauty of nature. Join us in our journey to appreciate and conserve the wonderful natural resources that surround us!
Our vision is to be a primarily trip-based club, giving lots of freedom to our members to hold their own walks and take agency over the club. We aim to build a community of naturalists and to facilitate experiences for people to share some of their favorite aspects of the Monadnock Region, to learn from one another, and, most importantly, to have fun!
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You can get involved either by attending one of our events or by signing up to lead a trip. There are no membership dues, and all our events are free and open to the public unless otherwise stated (learn more). Walks can be just an hour or two (or longer), and the leader doesn't need to be an authority on the subject but rather to know the route and where to park.
History
Nate and Chris met during their first year at Antioch University New England, where they ran the Antioch Bird Club. After leading a city bird walk in Keene in spring of 2024, Nate and Chris decided to continue enjoying the outdoors. Following a short detour to see a McCown’s Longspur, they went for a hike at the Otter Brook Preserve. Here, Nate mentioned that several participants of walks he had co-lead recently asked about opportunities to connect with others interested in nature locally, and that he was thinking of starting a club to provide that kind of community. The rest of their walk consisted of scheming, and on that day formal plans for the creation of Monadnock Bird and Nature Club were born. Over the next several days and weeks, Steven, Megan, and Milton also heard about the idea and were eager to contribute. The five of us worked together to create MBNC with the vision of connecting nature enthusiasts of all interests and expertise levels, and to facilitate shared experiences to appreciate the outdoors.
Who We Are
Nate
Nate (he/him) moved to the Monadnock Region when beginning his graduate studies at Antioch University in 2023 and immediately fell in love with the area. Prior to living in New Hampshire, Nate was president of South Shore Bird Club in southeastern Massachusetts which had the feeling of a huge group of friends that enjoyed spending time in nature together. He hopes that MBNC will create that type of community in the Monadnock Region. Nate has broad interests in nature, spending much of his time looking for plants and listening for birds, and recently has renewed interest in butterflies and moths, including rearing caterpillars.
Chris
Chris (he/him) is a Master's Candidate at Antioch University New England, originally from Worcester County, MA. He is a passionate bird and forestry nerd "A Birder that Measures Basal Area". Chris's background is in holistic silvicultural strategies that support bird habitat, forest health, and climate resilience of New England Forests. His current aim is to highlight the conservation benefits of active forest management in family forests and to develop new tools and resources for foresters to support breeding birds. In his free time, Chris enjoys birding, running, sugaring, and exploring all of what the Monadnock Region has to offer.
Steven
Steven (he/him) grew up in eastern Massachusetts where he developed a deep curiosity for all things wild. After getting his birding start in college, Steven moved to the Monadnock Region for graduate school. Here, his passion for birds and community science intensified, leading to active participation in all manner of conservation projects. Steven now works as an ecologist with Moosewood Ecological and lives in Hancock. While mostly interested in winged creatures, Steven enjoys documenting all biodiversity - from Abies (firs) to Zygoballus (a genus of jumping spiders).
Megan
Megan (she/her) was raised in the Monadnock Region and grew up roaming its trails and forests. A graduate of Antioch University New England and former environmental educator, Megan has a broad range of interests and enjoys learning alongside fellow nature enthusiasts.
Milton
Milton (he/him) began noticing birds when he was a little kid and realized that he could call to cardinals and have the respond to him, and the passion never left him. He moved to Sullivan in 2016 to raise sheep and can’t believe his good fortune getting to work outside year round and see all the plants and creatures around him.
