Bird Walks, Hawks & More in Western Massachusetts
New England Falconry, Hadley | Photo by Melissa Breor
Look up in the sky! It’s a bird… it’s a plane… no, actually, it's just a bird. And for anyone with avian interests, a bird sighting can be just as exciting in western Massachusetts. Given that spring is the prime season for birding in western Massachusetts, here's a few events and experiences you might not have known about.
Valley Bird Festival
This Saturday the Hampshire Bird Club presents the second annual Valley Bird Festival. With events spread out across two locations all day, there's plenty of bird-loving fun to go around. Featuring guided bird walks, family-friendly activities, and live falcon and owl demonstrations. Schedule by location:
Fort River Refuge: 69 Moody Bridge Road, Hadley
6:30am - Bird Walk led by Friends of the Fort River
8am-10am - Family friendly activities including falconry demonstration, bird banding, American Kestrel and Barn Swallow observation, and the Watershed on Wheels
Mass Audubon Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary: 127 Coombs Road, Easthampton
10:30am-2pm - Guided bird walks, games, information tables, crafts and activities for kids of all ages
11am & 1pm - Live owl demonstration
For more information about birding at Arcadia, visit here.
See other bird-watching programs at the Hitchcock Center for the Environment here.
Birds and Breakfast
At Book & Plow Farm in Amherst, Birds and Breakfast returns for its fifth year of spotting beautiful birds followed by enjoying a bountiful breakfast. Every Sunday in May, join education director Pete McLean for a 2-hour bird walk around the varied habitats of Book & Plow. Once you’ve seen your fair share of bird beauties, retire to the top of Tuttle Hill where a beautiful farm breakfast has been preparedf or you to enjoy while soaking up scenic views of the Pelham Hills.
New England Falconry
For those interested in a more up-close and personal experience, check out New England Falconry. Located in the open meadows of Hadley, New England Falconry provides the extraordinary opportunity to handle and free-fly a trained hawk. Led by Master Falconer Chris Davis, you will experience the ancient art of falconry while learning about the life history of raptors, their role in the environment, and the efforts underway to ensure their survival and conservation.
Spring is also a great time for hawk watching, notably along the ridgeline at Mount Tom in Easthampton.