The Perch - A View from Allens Pond
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Upcoming Events

There's a lot happening at both Allens Pond & Great Neck - from Summer Eco Explorers & Discovery Days to lectures, yoga and a wellness retreat at Stone Barn...check out the complete lineup of programs and join us.

There's a free Beach Ramble this Saturday and we invite you to get out and enjoy a leisurely guided walk on our Beach Loop trail. Meet at the field station at 10 am.

Mass Audubon Allens Pond Duck Derby Logo

Mark your calendars to run, walk or stroll the Ducky Dash 5k - it's Saturday, August 8 at 8 am.

Your $20 registration fee includes one duck entry to the Duck Derby, where you can win dinner for 2, anywhere in the world with round-trip airfare and 2 nights' lodging! Register today!

Fund for Nature Spring

Make your gift today

Donated Pickup Truck Wanted

We need your help! Our trusty Dodge pickup truck has served us well and continues to putter throgh the season, but we've been told by our mechanic that it's time to start looking for a suitable replacement.

Have a truck kicking around that you'd like to donate? Ideally, we're looking for a pickup with:

  • 4 doors/crew cab
  • high miles/low age preferred
  • 4WD/automatic
  • Inspectable
  • Hitchable

If you have a vehicle you'd consider donating to the sacntuary, please email a photo of the vehicle with all pertinent information and details to Gina Purtell.

Group Volunteers Welcome

Did you know that we welcome school, corporate, and community service groups?

We can help you craft a meaningful day of service on one of our properties for your group. To learn more about our group volunteer activities please contact Jennifer Costa or call the sanctuary 508-636-2437.

 

Summer 2015

Dear Friends,

Osprey with her dinner by Heather Fone.jpg
 © Heather Fone

Summer is upon us and we're in full swing at Allens Pond!

We have our team of wonderful summer interns with us who are working on important ecological projects, coastal waterbird work, diamondback terrapin research and an osprey fellow. What's really great is that two of these individuals, Kourtnie & Amanda, are past intern alums and we are so grateful they wanted to return to further their work and professional development with us!

Speaking of osprey, please join us at the Stone Barn this Friday at noon for a casual brown bag lunch presentation featuring one of our 2015 summer interns, Emily Busam who has been working with Alan Poole to learn more about what osprey are feeding their young and how that relates to their success. Alan Poole will introduce her topic and provide a historical context for the trends of osprey populations in our region. This will launch a series of similar presentations by other interns and local naturalists. It’s a great chance to discuss the presented topic and catch up with others at our Stone Barn facility, 786 East Horseneck Road, South Dartmouth.

Hope to see you soon,

~The Allens Pond Team~


It's a Big Year for Piping Plovers at Allens Pond!

Piping Plover Chicks
Plover chicks working on their flight skills

This year we have the largest number of piping plovers with 18 total pairs compared to last year with 12 pairs.

As of June 21 we have 25 chicks of all ages and the oldest 2 will be fledging (flying on their own) by next weekend. There is one American Oystercatcher pair with their second attempt to nest. There are about six pairs of Least Terns within the colony on Little Beach.

This huge success is possible with all of the high quality management that the Allens Pond Team has been doing since early April. Management work includes putting up the symbolic fencing, outreach and education, bird point counts, predator tracking and much more.

Education is a key component in wildlife conservation and we have had several successful events where the Coastal Waterbird Program has been the main topic. Inlcuding, an outreach table set up at the Westport River Watershed Alliance River Day festival and our wildlife interns went to Get Outdoors Day in New Bedford, MA. Along with educating people at these major events, we take part in less formal educational opportunities by talking to beach goers and sanctuary visitors.

We hope that this years success will continue for many seasons!


Duck Derby is Going on 12 Years This Summer!

Yes, it's the 12th Anniversary of our fabulous fundraiser! Adopt your ducks for the 2015 Duck Derby today!

Not familiar with the Duck Derby? It's our largest fundraiser and the Grand Prize is a dinner for two, anywhere in the world, with round trip airfare, two nights' lodging and dinner on us. That's the best $10 lottery around and all proceeds go back to the work we do here at Allens Pond. Adopt away! Last year's winners enjoyed a vacation in Hawaii. Where would you go?

Be sure to mark your calendars for this year's Duck Derby weekend...August 15 & 16. On Saturday, the ducks will race the channel and on Sunday, we'll kick off the Duck Derby Festival with good food, music, friends and auctions. Following the festival we will announce the winner(s) of the Duck Derby race.

Allens Pond Duck Derby


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1280 Horseneck Rd Westport, MA 02790
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