Editor’s Note: Listings in Trail Mix are free. Email: outdoor@recorder.com. The deadline is Thursday by noon. Questions? Call 413-772-0261, ext. 276. Weather may cancel or force the rescheduling of some of these events.
“The Rock Dam: Fragile Endangered Sturgeon Sanctuary”: Sunday, April 14, 10:30 a.m. in Turners Falls. Join sturgeon expert Dr. Boyd Kynard and journalist Karl Meyer for a short hike to an exceptional and beleaguered aquatic refuge where shortnose sturgeon and other species have spawned for thousands of years. Kynard will recount their biology and findings from decades of sturgeon research at the Rock Dam pool. Meyer will discuss the geology and human and industrial history of this embattled Connecticut River reach. Includes brief steep terrain; not handicapped accessible. Best suited for ages 10 and up. Heavy rain cancels. Free. No advance registration is necessary. Meet at the public lot off G Street in Turners Falls, near the United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) Silvio O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory sign.
Great Falls Discovery Center
Kidleidoscope Fridays: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Fridays. Come each week to learn about our wildlife neighbors who share our home in the Connecticut River Watershed. Kidleidoscope is a free child-friendly, hands-on environmental experience for young children. Each topic includes a story, interactive activities and a craft to introduce you and your child to the natural world. Upcoming topics include frogs on April 12, fish on April 19 and osprey on April 26. For ages 3 to 6. For more information, call 413-863-3221.
“Animals of Spring”: Friday, April 19, 1 to 2 p.m. in the Great Hall. Rae Griffiths of Teaching Creatures brings amphibians, reptiles, and a mammal or two to help everyone celebrate the new season. Griffiths uncovers what animals were doing all winter and what they are up to now that spring has arrived. For all ages. Come early as seating may be limited. Free.
“Park Serve Day: Give a Day, Make a Difference”: Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m. to noon. The Department of Conservation and Recreation invites you to the Great Falls Discovery Center to lend a hand during a day of volunteer service at our state parks. To discuss any special accommodations or needs you may have, call 413-863-3221. To register, visit mass.gov/dcr.
Northfield Mountain
“Warbler Madness”: Tuesday, April 9, 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Join David Brown and the Northfield Bird Club for a timely refresher on Massachusetts’ warblers before their return from southern wintering grounds. Brown is an interpretive naturalist and wildlife videographer who has devoted many hours to studying and taping birds on their territories and during migration. To learn more about him, visit his website: dbwildlife.com. Suitable for adults and teens. No registration is required. Free.
“Woodcocks at Twilight: The Song of the Timberdoodle”: Wednesday, April 17, 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. Woodcocks, also known as Timberdoodles, perform an airborne ritual accompanied by a variety of unique sounds. The program will begin with an indoor introduction, followed by a ½-mile twilight walk on level terrain to experience the courtship flight of the woodcock. Dress warmly in dark clothes, and wear boots. Bring a blanket or portable chair to sit on. Be prepared to sit quietly outdoors for 30 minutes. Appropriate for ages 10 and up. Advance registration is required by calling 800-859-2960.
Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust
“Discover Vernal Pools”: Saturday, April 13, 10 a.m. to noon at the Arthur Iversen Conservation Area, Gale Road in Warwick. Join wildlife ecologist Brad Compton to learn about the importance of vernal pools. Catch a glimpse of the elusive wildlife that inhabits these pools, including frogs, salamanders and other types of small but mighty creatures. Free. Register at bit.ly/2FCFPCW.
Earth Day Celebration in Athol: Friday, April 19, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Skyfields Arboretum, 1461 Old Keene Road, Athol. Activities include trail maintenance, cutting around blueberry bushes, painting sign posts, invasive plant removal, and maintaining and installing bird boxes. Three shifts: 9 a.m. to noon, 12:30 to 3 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. Snacks and lunch will be provided. Email nguyen@mountgrace.org or call 978-248-2055, ext. 14 for more information or to sign up.
Earth Day Celebration in Northfield: Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Alderbrook Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary, Route 63 in Northfield. Activities include trail maintenance, staining benches, invasive plant removal and installing signs. Bring your own picnic lunch. Email nguyen@mountgrace.org or call 978-248-2055, ext. 14 for more information or to sign up.
Connecticut River Conservancy
Skinner Mountain Hike: May 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join CRC River Steward Andrea Donlon for a moderate hike with great river views, and conversation at the Summit House in Hadley. Free, but registration is encouraged. For more information, email slennard@ctriver.org or call 413-772-2020, ext. 211.
Hitchcock Center for the Environment
Salamander Egg Count: Tuesday, April 9, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Join naturalists Ted Watt and Jeff Mazur for the annual count of the eggs laid by female salamanders in the red maple swamp just west of Henry Street. Counting eggs is a more reliable way of estimating the size of the salamander population since they move at various times of night. Participants will slowly wade through the swamp, searching for and calculating any egg masses. Water depths vary from 1 to 4 feet. Training at identifying the egg masses will be provided. Free. Registration is encouraged at bit.ly/2U4r9qw.
“The Arctic on Fire: The Impacts of Climate Change on Tundra Ecosystems”: Thursday, April 25, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Due to climate change, the Arctic is experiencing an increase in wildfires. Natalie Baillargeon and Rhys MacArthur, who participated in an expedition to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta last summer, began a collaborative project investigating the impacts that wildfires have on plant composition and nutrient cycling, and will now share their findings. Free. Registration is encouraged at bit.ly/2uuVJKL.
May Migration Spring Birding Course: April 27 and May 4, 11 and 18, 7 a.m. to noon. Join Dan Ziomek of WRSI’s “Bird Songs” in a variety of local habitats during peak birding migration. $90 to $115. Space is limited. Register at bit.ly/2Ovdp1S.
Second Saturday Family Science Series: 10 to 11 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. Designed for children with their parents, these programs will explore cool topics in nature. Upcoming topics include sounds of spring on April 13 and ladybugs on May 11. Free, but registration is encouraged at bit.ly/2zof6XW. Groups of six or more should call ahead at 413-256-6006.
Homeschool Discovery Days: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on one Tuesday each month. Explore science and nature topics with Katie Koerten and Jeff Mazur, meet science experts and sometimes go on field trips. Upcoming topics include mountains and valleys on May 7 and life in a pond on June 11. Designed as a drop-off program for children ages 6 to 12. Limited to 12 participants per program. Register at bit.ly/2ECwLQF. $45 to $55.
