Join the Berkshire Museum at Herman Melville's Arrowhead for some fun educational activities!
Join Berkshire Museum, BNRC, and Berkshire Bird Observatory at Arrowhead on Thursday, June 26 for some avian-themed fun! We will be providing hands-on activities for all ages to enjoy while The Bird Observatory conducts bird banding and talks to guests about the different kinds of birds one can find on the trails at Arrowhead (as well as throughout the Berkshires). Visitors may also take the opportunity to purchase tickets for tours of the Melville house between 10am and 3pm. If you know a lot about birds, want to know more about them, or just want to come out for some fun and learning, we look forward to seeing you! Perfect ForAll Ages.
Dates: June 26, 2025
Times: 8:00am - 10:30 for bird banding, other events end at 2 pm
Location: Herman Melville's Arrowhead
Register here: Tickets
Other pop-up banding dates at Arrowhead: June 5, 12, 26, July 3, 10, 24, 31 (Thursdays, 8 to 10 AM)
Something exciting is happening at Ooms this summer! CLC has teamed up with Berkshire Bird Observatory to host a MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) site this year at the property.
As part of this research project, Berkshire Bird Observatory will band birds to collect valuable data on how the fields support grassland birds and participate in an international scientific collaboration. During these sessions, participants will have the opportunity to see the banding process up close and learn more about the research and birds being studied. There will be several opportunities to attend throughout the summer. The sessions will occur on Saturdays throughout the summer and will cover the adult and young subperiods of the breeding season.
These pop-up workshops are extremely weather-dependent and will be scheduled on short notice. To be notified about each session as they are scheduled, please sign up for the special email list below! The notification email will contain specifics about what to expect, what to bring, and what birds you might see.
All banding, marking, and sampling are conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the USGS BBL.
Dates: June 14, 21, July 5, 12, 26, August 2 (Saturdays).
Times: Arrive any time from 7 am until 9 am
Location: Ooms
480 Rock City Road
Chatham, NY 12037 United States + Google Map
Where:
When:
Week 1: Tuesday June 3, at 8:30 a.m. and Friday, June 6, at 8:30 a.m.
Week 2: Monday, June 9, at 8:30 a.m. and Friday, June 13, at 8:30 a.m.
Week 3: Monday, June 16, at 8:30 a.m. and Friday, June 20, at 8:30 a.m.
There is spectacular biodiversity all around us — though often it is hidden in plain sight. Perhaps no taxonomic group has captivated the human imagination quite like birds. They fascinate us with their flight, dazzle us with their beauty, and serenade us with song. This summer, Ben Nickley, director of Berkshire Bird Observatory, will lead bi-weekly bird walks at the Berkshire Botanical Gardens. During these leisurely walks through our leafy grounds, Ben will help you learn how to find and identify dozens of dazzling birds that summer in the Berkshires. Come commune with nature! Few other outdoor pursuits offer physical, intellectual, and spiritual benefits that come naturally with learning to notice, identify, and watch birds. Join us in our pursuit of connection with the natural world through the gateway of bird watching.
Join Ben Nickley and his seasonal interns at Berkshire Bird Observatory's (BBO) field station to witness the miracle of spring migration!
Every spring, dozens of brilliantly colored tropical birds move through our region. As part of BBO's conservation research, we capture, band, and safely release dozens of wild birds each day in May.
Join us to see miraculous migratory birds in the hand!
Berkshire Bird Observatory is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that depends on donor support to do our conservation work and connect people with the birds we study. Please consider joining us as a member by making a tax-deductible donation.
Donations are encouraged, and registration is required.
Register below:
Join BBO on Mother's Day for our Workshop Experience Weekend at Taconic Ridge Farm.
Learn all about birds of the Northeast and how to identify many of the amazing birds that inhabit the forests, fields and ponds around us. Join Ben Nickley of Berkshire Bird Observatory for an informed presentation followed by a walk on the grounds to gain a greater connection and appreciation for the natural world through the gateway of bird watching.
Cost: $25
When: Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11th 2025 from 1:00 to 3:30 PM
Where: Taconic Ridge Farm, Hillsdale, NY
Register: HERE
Join us for a special night--with drinks, bites, and nocturnal flights! Witness the sky dance of the inimitable American Woodcock. We will have a lightly catered social hour before the main act.
This is a fundraiser and donor appreciation event for BBO in collaboration with BNRC. Donations encouraged.
When: April 29th at 7 PM
Where: Thomas and Palmer Brook Reserve
Price: Donate what you can
Register: HERE
Ben leads a weekly bird walk right in the town of Great Barrington, in collaboration with The Great Barrington Land Conservancy.
When: Every Wednesday at 5:30 PM from April through May 2025
Where: Meet at the Berkshire Food Co-op
Learn to find, identify and more fully appreciate migratory and resident birds on these community birds walks. Bring binoculars if you have them--if not, we can share. Beginners are welcome!
Bird walks last about an hour. We cover ~1.5 miles of ground along the GB Riverfront Trail. The trail is flat, fine gravel, and handicap accessible.
Please register for this free program HERE.
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When: June 7, 2025, 8:00AM
Where: Thousand Acre Swamp (directions below)
Bring: Sturdy shoes, bug protection and binoculars
RSVP: nmlandtrust@gmail.com
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Join Ben Nickley as he guides us through a walk at Thousand Acre Swamp. Learn where to find different species of breeding birds and how to find and observe their nests.
About our guide: Ben Nickley, Founder and Executive Director of the Berkshire Bird Observatory, is a scientist with a passion for birds and the ecosystems they inhabit. Ben has travelled across North America pursuing avian field studies for nonprofits, universities, and state governments. Helping others connect with the natural world through birds is his forte and his mission.
About the Berkshire Bird Observatory (BBO): BBO promotes bird conservation through science, education, and partnerships. One of their major projects is migration monitoring at Jug End State Reservation where they capture, band, and release wild birds during their epic flights. The data the BBO collects shows when species pass through our area and in what numbers, reflecting trends over time and informing conservation efforts. It's also just really, really cool! Check out their instagram page for amazing videos and still shots. Here's a sample:
Directions to Thousand Acre Swamp: from the center of Southfield Village, turn east (uphill) on East Hill Road and proceed two miles to the intersection with Hotchkiss Road. Turn right onto Hotchkiss and follow about a mile to a small parking loop at the Land Trust trailhead, where Hotchkiss Road makes a sharp turn to the right. If coming from the south, take Norfolk Road to the intersection with Hotchkiss Road. Turn right onto Hotchkiss and proceed about one and a half miles to the Land Trust trailhead, on the right, where Hotchkiss makes a sharp turn to the left.
Ben presents The Birds of Laurel Hill as part of the Laurel Hill Association's 2025 annual meeting.
When: Saturday, January 25th at 2:00 PM
Where: Stockbridge Library
Learn about the Laurel Hill Associations properties and the birds they support. Discover new trails and meet new, nature-loving people in the cozy confines of the Stockbridge Library.
Where: Images Theater, Williamstown
When: Tuesday, April 1st 2025 at 6:00 PM
Join us for an opening reception with food from Wild Oats Market at 6:00 PM in the lounge followed by a screening of EVERY LITTLE THING at 7:00 PM with a Q&A lead by special guest Ben Nickley from Berkshire Bird Observatory
BBO partners with Bon Dimanche in Great Barrington to offer this bird box workshop. Come create your very own beautiful--and functional--bird box. All materials provided--no woodworking experience necessary. Expert craftsman, Ben Barrett will provide guidance throughout. Come with a friend or your child--families welcome.
This will be fun for everyone! Do something different, experience a cool new space and build for nature in good company.
Not only will you get hands on experience and build your own box, you will also learn from BBO's director, Ben Nickley, about the different birds you can attract with it.
Cost: $75 per box. Proceeds will go to support BBO's Kestrel Nest Box Project. You're supporting a good cause!
We will have two choices for workshop dates/times:
When: Saturday, March 29 from 2 to 4 pm
OR Sunday, April 6th from 10 to 12 pm
Where: Bon Dimanche, 32 Railroad St, Great Barrington, MA 01230
Register:
Ben leads a weekly bird walk right in the town of Great Barrington, in collaboration with The Great Barrington Land Conservancy.
When: Every Saturday at 10 AM from January 1st through March 31st 2025
Where: Meet at the Berkshire Food Co-op
Learn to find, identify and more fully appreciate our winter resident birds on these community birds walks. Bring binoculars if you have them--if not, we can share. Beginners are welcome!
Bird walks last about an hour. We cover ~1.5 miles of ground along the GB Riverfront Trail. The trail is flat, fine gravel, and handicap accessible.
Please register for this free program HERE.
In collaboration with The Great Barrington Land Conservancy, Ben leads a weekly bird walk right in the town of Great Barrington.
In collaboration with The Great Barrington Land Conservancy, Ben leads a weekly bird walk right in the town of Great Barrington.
Our Spring Bird Walk series will run weekly, April through May. Our group meets at the Great Barrington Food Co-op at 5:30 PM on Thursdays. Come join us—beginners are welcome!
In collaboration with The Great Barrington Land Conservancy, Ben leads a weekly bird walk right in the town of Great Barrington.
