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March 31, 2020  NOTICE RE: COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS & UPCOMING EVENTS
We recognize the seriousness of this situation and are following reports and recommendations as they unfold. 
All programs and field trips are suspended through at least April 30th.
Please take all recommended precautions and stay healthy!

​​VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP:
APRIL SCAVENGER HUNT CHALLENGE

 
 
WHEN: From 7 a.m. Wednesday, April 1st through 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 8th
WHO: Individuals, twosomes, or trios maintaining recommended social distance.
HOW: Take your camera or mobile device with camera on outdoor walks anywhere in central MA—your backyard, neighborhood side streets, back roads, and parking lot edges; private or public hiking trails that are open to the public; cemeteries, etc. FIND AND PHOTOGRAPH AS MANY ITEMS ON THE LIST AS YOU CAN IN THE DESIGNATED WEEK. Make sure the time/date settings are recorded. The goal is to get as many points as possible. Maximum for this list: 68 points. Reduce the size of your photos (< 1 MB each) and send to warerivernatureclub@yahoo.com by midnight on Saturday, April 11th.
Top three scorers will be announced Wednesday, April 15th. For prizes, top scorers will be able to choose one book from among a variety of recently-acquired natural history titles.
 
GENERAL RULES:
 1) Don’t include people in your photos. 
2) Respect private property.
3) Note the town in which each photo is taken.                                               
4) Practice healthy social distancing habits.
5) Tread lightly on the earth. Take only pictures, leave only footprints.                    
6) Do not disturb wildlife.
7)     HAVE FUN!
 
                                                                                                                                                             # OF POINTS
  • Eastern skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) flower spadix                                             2                      
               With pollinating insect                                                                                                           10
  • Tree trunk showing Pileated Woodpecker excavation                                                             1                                       Pileated Woodpecker                                                                                                                6
  • Wood frog                                                                                                                                                   4                   
​                   Wood frog egg mass                                                                                                                  6
  • Coyote scat (Include something in photo to show relative size.)                                        2    
  • Common greenshield lichen (Flavoparmelia caperata)                                                             1    
  • Red squirrel                                                                                                                                       3   
                             Cone debris pile (midden) created by red squirrel
                                                                      Small (one to few cones)                                                   5  
                                                                      Large (accumulated over months)                                 9  
  • Mole hill                                                                                                                                              3    
  • Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata ) bark                                                                                           1    
  • Early season native pollinating insect                                                                                           3          
                                   This insect identified                                                                                          10  
  • Red-tailed Hawk                                                                                                                               4         
  • Spotted wintergreen/ spotted pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata)                                       3  
  • Mourning Cloak butterfly                                                                                                               5

FOSTER PARROTS SANCTUARY--
NO CAGE IS BIG ENOUGH
with
Rachel DeFronzo & Isaiah Duarte
Wednesday. May 27th 7 p.m.
Rutland Public Library 280 Main Street (Route 122A) Rutland


Parrots are wild animals that have long suffered the consequences of pet trade exploitation and public misinformation. In this presentation, Rachel and Isaiah look into how parrots end up in captivity, why they are surrendered to the organization, and how Foster Parrots manages a sanctuary housing over 400 parrots. They'll discuss the challenges of keeping these wild animals in a captive setting as well as the organization's offsite conservation efforts for wild parrots in South America. Come learn why Foster Parrots believes that No Cage is Big Enough!
​Rachel DeFronzo started her career in animal care as a zoo educator and bird trainer 5 years ago. It was in her position at the zoo that she learned about the plight of parrots in captivity and wanted to make a difference in the lives of abandoned and displaced parrots. Rachel has been working at Foster Parrots since 2017 as the Director of Adoptions and Education. Parrot rescue is her passion and working with Foster Parrots has been the most rewarding endeavor of her life. It has also led to the adoption of her own beloved birds, Max and Chuckie!
 
Isaiah Duarte is an Animal Care Specialist at Foster Parrots Ltd. and the New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary, where he works hands-on to help care for parrots and other exotic wildlife that have been abused, abandoned, neglected, and mistreated. From a young age, he has worked with all kinds of wildlife; from fish to reptiles to mammals and currently, parrots. His love for animals and wildlife has always been a strong passion that eventually bloomed into a career in rescue and conservation.