Outdoor Opportunities in March and April

Dear Reader, I have been remiss. There are a number of conservation lands and other open space areas that I intend to explore and write about for this column, this year, but I’ve let the snow and ice impede my progress. I am hopeful that as the days grow longer and warmer, I will be able to dedicate more time to this task.

In the meantime, I have surveyed local conservation-minded organizations to see what they’re offering for outdoor fun in the next two months. Here’s a sampler. Plenty of opportunities to get outside!

Friday Morning Bird Walk – March 8 (and every Friday) 8:15-11:45.Join Mass Audubon’s David Ludlow at the North River Wildlife Sanctuary in Marshfield and spend the morning in search of birds in a variety of habitats. For adult birdwatchers of all levels. Pre-registration is not required. $12 for members/$15 non-members. For details, call 781-837-9400, or visit www.massaudubon.org.

Trailblazers – Saturday, March 9, 10am-1pm.Join the Wildlands Trust of Southeastern Massachusetts (WTSM) at the Stewart Preserve in Kingston. Learn about stewardship, meet new friends, and enjoy the outdoors while helping to clear trails. Training, tools, and snacks are provided on-site. For details, call 781-934-9018 or visit www.wildlandstrust.org.

Little Naturalists – Tuesday, March 12, 9:30-10:30am (also April 9).For children ages 3-5 at the North River Wildlife Sanctuary in Marshfield. Mass Audubon offers this monthly program to teach children about nature through outdoor walks, stories, songs and crafts. $5 for members/$7 non-members. Registration required. For details, call 781-837-9400, or visit www.massaudubon.org.

Let’s Go – Saturday, March 23, 8-10am.The Marshfield Recreation Department offers this monthly outing for adults and families. Sign up in advance and meet at the Recreation Center at 900 Ferry Street. The cost is $5 per family, couple or single. In March, the plan is to explore Webster’s Wilderness, a town-owned conservation parcel off Webster Street. For details, call 781-834-5543.

South Shore Duck Run – Saturday, March 23, 12-4pm.The South Shore is a haven for waterfowl in the winter. Adults are invited to join Mass Audubon for an expedition that will start in the south and work north, from Manomet Point in Plymouth to the Glades in Scituate. The hope is to see loons, grebes, brant, scoters, long-tailed ducks, goldeneyes, harlequins and more. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars! $18 members/$24 non-members. For details, call 781-837-9400, or visit www.massaudubon.org.

Gardening Green Expo – March 23 & 24, 10am-4pm. The North and South Rivers Watershed Association’s Greenscapes program is co-sponsoring this event with Kennedy’s Garden Center in Scituate. Featuring all things organic and natural for your yard, the expo will includelectures, demonstrations, workshops, vendors, and Ask the Experts sessions. For details, call 781-659-8168 or visit www.nsrwa.org.

Woodcock Walk – Thursday, March 28, 7-8:15pm (also on April 4). The woodcock – also known as “timberdoodle” and “Labrador Twister” – has a rather odd courtship behavior. The male calls out from the ground, flies up into the sky and then comes spiraling down, landing in his chosen displaying field area, repeating the process on and on into the early evening. Join Mass Audubon at the Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary in Marshfield, and see it for yourself. Registration required. $8 members/$10 non-members. For details, call 781-837-9400, or visit www.massaudubon.org.

Timberdoodles and Tapas – Saturday, April 6, 6:30-8:30pm. Woodcocks and more! Mass Audubon expands its offerings for this fancy Saturday evening birding event. Begin by sharing marinated olives, grilled mushrooms, feta and artichoke flatbread, and more in the caretakers’ cottage. Then, as the sun begins to set, walk out to the grassland of the North River Wildlife Sanctuary to witness the courtship display of the male American woodcock, as he dives from the sky to impress potential mates.Registration required. $20 members/$25 non-members. For details, call 781-837-9400, or visit www.massaudubon.org.

Have You Thanked a Plant Today? – Saturday, April 13, 1-3pm. Join Mass Audubon at its North River Wildlife Sanctuary in Marshfield for International Plant Appreciation Day, to learn more about the amazing lives of plants and all they provide to our daily lives. Bring an old shoe for a special plant craft. Wear sturdy shoes for a hike through the woods in search of early spring growth. For details, or to sign up, call 781-837-9400, or visit www.massaudubon.org.

Sharing the Outdoors – Wednesday, April 24, 9:30-11:30am.Build fond memories with your children or grandchildren. In this session, “Nesting Boxes and Feeding Stations,” you will build a nesting box and simple bird feeder as a first step in designing your own backyard habitat. Learn helpful tips and resources on attracting different birds and insects, as well as projects to do with youngsters. At the North River Wildlife Sanctuary in Marshfield. For details, or to sign up, call 781-837-9400, or visit www.massaudubon.org.

NSRWA’s 26th Annual River Clean Up Day – Saturday, April 27, 9am-12noon.Sponsored by Whole Foods Market and Covanta Energy, with a celebratory cookout at Scituate’s Driftway Conservation Area at noon. Travel by foot, by truck or by boat and lend a hand to remove trash and debris from the rivers and marshes. No hands are too small for this important annual event. For details call the North and South Rivers Watershed Association at 781-659-8168 or visit www.nsrwa.org.

Let’s Go – Saturday, April 27, 8-10am.The Marshfield Recreation Department offers this monthly outing for adults and families. Sign up in advance and meet at the Recreation Center at 900 Ferry Street. The cost is $5 per family, couple or single. Walk location TBA. For details, call 781-834-5543.

Greening Your Garden – Sunday, April 28, 9:00am-3:00pm. Join Mass Audubon at the Garretson Cranberry Bogs in Marshfield for a hands-on workshop on reducing energy, water usage and labor to help sustain your vegetable and herb gardens. Learn how to install drip irrigation and reduce weed growth. Find out how to build cold frames, inexpensive hoop houses, and caterpillar tunnels to extend your growing season. Plus, info on companion planting and attracting pollinators. For details, or to sign up, call 781-837-9400, or visit www.massaudubon.org.

Fly Fishing for the American Shad – Sunday, April 28, 10am.Join Joe Danubio at Luddam’s Ford Park in Hanover for the NSRWA-sponsored event. Learn about the spawning cycle, where to fish, and how to catch American shad, and find out why conservation of the rivers is so important for the health of the fish. Participants should bring their own equipment. Some rods and materials will be available. For details or to sign up, call 781-659-8168 or visit www.nsrwa.org.

by Kezia Bacon

March 2013