Using Winter Woody Plant Identification to Help Enhance Wildlife Habitat

Wednesday, December 18, 2 - 4 PM​​

Michael Nerrie: michael@distanthill.org

Meet: Distant Hill Gardens, 507 March Hill Rd, Walpole (GPS directions)

Learning to identify trees, shrubs, and other woody plants without leaves is a useful tool to help enhance wildlife habitat on your land. Join Distant Hill's Michael Nerrie and UNH Extension's Matt Tarr in this workshop to boost your ID skills! Registration is required, please register here.

*This event is co-sponsored with Distant Hill Gardens and UNH Extension.

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Christmas Bird Counts

Please consider helping with Christmas Bird Counts, more helpers are always needed! Contact count circle coordinators for dates and other information:

• Keene CBC: Phil Brown, pbrownnature@gmail.com

• Peterborough-Hancock CBC: John Ranta, john.f.ranta@gmail.com

For those that might enjoy travelling:

• Pittsburg CBC: Phil Brown, pbrownnature@gmail.com

• Jeffreys Ledge CBC: Eric Masterson, masterson@harriscenter.org. The date for this count will be selected based on the best weather. Cost to cover boat fees is approximately $100 per person.

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Second Saturdays at the Swanzey Airport

Saturday, January 11, 2025, 8 AM, morning only

Nate Marchessault: nmarchessault@antioch.edu

Meet: Dillant-Hopkins Airport, Swanzey, side of parking lot furthest from main road (GPS directions)

Join us for the kickoff of our recurring monthly walk on the second Saturday of each month at one of the most productive birding locations in the area, the Dillant-Hopkins Airport. This area is abuzz with bird activity no matter the time of year, and we'll spend a few hours poking around the uplands, wetlands, fields, and floodplains to see who is around. This walk will be three miles or less on mostly flat, paved ground.

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Birding on the Farm: Lucky 13 Farm

Saturday, January 25, 2025, 9 - 11 AM

Nate Marchessault, nmarchessault@antioch.edu

Meet: Lucky 13 Farm, Winchester (GPS directions)

Join us for an exciting opportunity to bird on farms throughout our region! Learn new skills and about wildlife conservation on the farm! Registration required, registration link to be added once available.

*This event is co-sponsored with the Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Windham County Natural Resources Conservation District (Windham NRCD), Southeastern Vermont Audubon, and Monadnock Outdoors.

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Second Saturdays at the Swanzey Airport

Saturday, February 8, 2025, 8 AM, morning only

Nate Marchessault: nmarchessault@antioch.edu

Meet: Dillant-Hopkins Airport, Swanzey, side of parking lot furthest from main road (GPS directions)

Join us for our recurring walk at one of the most productive birding locations in the area, the Dillant-Hopkins Airport. This area is abuzz with bird activity no matter the time of year, and we'll spend a few hours poking around the uplands, wetlands, fields, and floodplains to see who is around. This walk will be three miles or less on mostly flat, paved ground.

*This event is co-sponsored with the Harris Center.

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iNaturalist ID Session

Saturday, February 22, 2025, 9 AM - 12 PM

Nate Marchessault, nate@harriscenter.org and Steven Lamonde, slamonde@antioch.edu

Meet: Harris Center Headquarters (GPS directions)

Join avid iNatters Nate Marchessault and Steven Lamonde for a cozy morning of improving iNaturalist data quality by adding identifications and annotations to existing iNaturalist observations. With mugs of warm beverages in our hands and field guides by our sides, we’ll enjoy the outdoors through the eyes of others and contribute to community science in the process. Instruction will be provided, and all experience levels — including total beginners — are welcome! Bring your questions about using the iNaturalist platform, along with a laptop or tablet. Registration is required, please register here.​

*This event is co-sponsored with the Harris Center.

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Birding Plum Island

Sunday, March 9, 2025, 10 AM - 5 PM

Nate Marchessault, nate@harriscenter.org and Kim Snyder

Meet: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Newbury, Massachusetts (exact meeting location provided beforehand)

Join avid birders Kim Snyder and Nate Marchessault to search for seabirds, shorebirds, and maybe even Snowy Owls along the 8-mile barrier beach and adjacent marshes of Plum Island — a prime spot for winter birding. After welcomes and introductions, we’ll carpool between points of interest in the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and vicinity. Bring lunch, and dress for the weather. Registration is required, please register here.

*This event is co-sponsored with the Harris Center.

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