
January 2021
Winter Birds at TurnPark
TurnPark Art Space and Mass Audubon collaborate for an evening of birds and their lovely evening chorus. A Mass Audubon Guide will take you through the art space learning about the many birds that spend the chilly winter among the statues. Space is limited to 10 participants; registration is required with no 'walk-in' participants allowed. $15 suggested donation.
Find out more »Tracking Workshop: Cats and Canines
Search for tracks, scat, and other signs of our elusive wild cats and dogs that roam the fields and forests at Canoe Meadows. Focusing on long-legged creatures, we will dig deep into how they stealthily walk, lope, and gallop across the landscape and what we can learn from clues they leave behind. Reservations required.
Find out more »Wildlife Tracking by Moonlight at TurnPark
Enjoy a moonlit stroll at TurnPark with a Mass Audubon naturalist. On a short walk through the outdoor sculpture park, we'll listen and watch with the lens of wildlife tracking, searching for clues of elusive wild mammals (e.g. mice, squirrels, rabbits, fox and bobcats), while taking in the taking in the surreal landscape and art at TurnPark. Dress warmly; traction assistive footwear recommended.
Find out more »Winter Ecology: Snow and Ice
Are all snowflakes truly unique? What happens to snow throughout the winter? How does snow transform and change from the moment it falls to earth to when it finally melts away? Together we'll explore the beauty and physical properties of snow and ice, and how the plants and animals survive New England winters.
Find out more »February 2021
Birding Workshop: How to Get Started Birding
Winter is a perfect time to start birdwatching. Birds often come close to our feeders and hardy winter birds can become familiar friends. We'll explore how to use shape, size, color, and sounds to learn different groups and species of birds. These tools, combined with behavior and habitat clues, will help you get to know our beautiful avian neighbors in no time at all. We'll spend time moving to different locations by car to see how and where different birds…
Find out more »Full Moon Forest Walk
Enjoy a moonlit evening, walking and listening to the sounds of the night. We will take a gentle walk learning about what goes on in the forest at night with just the light of the moon to guide us. Registration required.
Find out more »Starlight Owl and Wildlife Prowl
Enjoy a starlit evening listening and watching for owls and other nocturnal wildlife. We'll explore fields, forests, and wetlands, learning about animal adaptations for night hunting. This program will enjoy a gentle walk over sometimes uneven terrain but with plenty of stopping and listening. Registration required.
Find out more »Birding Workshop: Winter Raptors
Dive into the world of avian predators and how they spend the winter. From the daytime hawks perched on tree tops to the secretive evening owls, there are many birds of prey that winter in the Berkshires. We will learn about raptor movements, behavior, and where to find them. Beginning at Lime Kiln Farm, we will travel to multiple locations searching for diurnal raptors and continue on after dark when the owls begin to hunt. Dress for the weather and…
Find out more »Tracking Workshop: Weasels and Rodents
Hoppers and bounders, such as squirrels and weasels, leave behind fascinating tracking mysteries that reveal their secretive habits and survival strategies. Explore the trails at Pleasant Valley in search of tracks, scat, chews, and other evidence of rabbits, squirrels, mink, fisher, and weasels and we'll unravel the mysteries we discover. Registration required.
Find out more »Winter Ecology: Beavers and other Mammals
Beavers are some of our hardiest mammals, remaining active under the ice all winter long. We will search for the signs of what these thick-furred creatures are doing in the coldest days of the year. Along the way we will search for signs of other active winter mammals of Pleasant Valley like porcupine, fisher, fox, and deer. Registration required.
Find out more »March 2021
Sky Dance of the American Woodcock
When the sun sets in early spring, woodcock love is in the air. Wet meadows and fields are transformed into a "runway" for their beautiful aerial courtship display. Visit our meadows to listen and watch for the woodcock's performance on their breeding grounds. Viewing the woodcock's sky dance is a natural spectacle that should not be missed. Registration required.
Find out more »Starlight Owl and Wildlife Prowl
Enjoy a starlit evening listening and watching for owls and other nocturnal wildlife. We'll explore fields, forests, and wetlands, learning about animal adaptations for night hunting. This program will enjoy a gentle walk over sometimes uneven terrain, but with plenty of stopping and listening. Registration required.
Find out more »Sky Dance of the American Woodcock
When the sun sets in early spring, woodcock love is in the air. Wet meadows and fields are transformed into a "runway" for their beautiful aerial courtship display. Visit our meadows to listen and watch for the woodcock's performance on their breeding grounds. Viewing the woodcock's sky dance is a natural spectacle that should not be missed. Registration required.
Find out more »Birding Workshop: Winter Finches
Open your ears to the intricate and often tricky search for winter finches. The winter of 2021 may be the best opportunity to discover and experience the several beautiful finches that may only visit every few years. We will begin at Canoe Meadows and travel to multiple locations listening hard for the chip and songs of finches who are working hard to find enough seed to survive the winter. Registration required.
Find out more »Sky Dance of the American Woodcock
When the sun sets in early spring, woodcock love is in the air. Wet meadows and fields are transformed into a "runway" for their beautiful aerial courtship display. Visit our meadows to listen and watch for the woodcock's performance on their breeding grounds. Viewing the woodcock's sky dance is a natural spectacle that should not be missed. Registration required.
Find out more »Sky Dance of the American Woodcock
When the sun sets in early spring, woodcock love is in the air. Wet meadows and fields are transformed into a "runway" for their beautiful aerial courtship display. Visit our meadows to listen and watch for the woodcock's performance on their breeding grounds. Viewing the woodcock's sky dance is a natural spectacle that should not be missed. Registration required.
Find out more »Winter Ecology: Twigs, Buds, and Emerging Plants
No leaves? No problem! You can still learn to recognize oaks, maples, cherries, beech, birches, and other woodland trees in winter. We'll look at tree samples, practice using field guides, and take a hike to test our observation and identification skills. Tree ID guides available for purchase at Visitor Center Gift Shop, BYO guide, or sample guides available for loan. Registration required.
Find out more »