February 2015

♦ Sweet Winter
♦ Calling All Campers 
♦ Where Are We Now?
♦ Saving Snowy Owls

Adventures Await

Got a bad case of cabin fever? We have the cure, from prowling for owls under the stars to finding out who's been leaving behind those tracks.

Bundle up and head out on a winter adventure.

Birders Meeting

The lineup is looking stellar for the 2016 Birders Meeting, which will take place on Sunday, March 13, in Boston. This year's theme is Seabirds: Divers and their Drivers.

Register before February 28 and save $5.

The Mighty Moose

It's not unheard of to see a moose in Massachusetts. Mostly found in the central or western part of the state, these massive mammals are fascinating creatures.

Learn more about moose and share our latest Quick Guide.

The Bobolink Project

Grassland birds like the bobolink are facing hard times. They need tall grass to breed. But farmers need to mow for their livelihood. The solution: The Bobolink Project, which matches donors to farmers, allowing us to “buy” the precious few weeks these birds need to complete their nesting cycle.

Learn more and get involved.

Save the Date!

Mass Audubon's Statewide Volunteer Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 30. This year you can lend a hand helping to spruce up one of 14 wildlife sanctuaries across the state.

Find out which sanctuaries are participating.

Share With Us

Keep up-to-date, share photos and wildlife sightings, "check in" at wildlife sanctuaries, and more!

Make Your Winter Even Sweeter

Maple sugaring—collecting and boiling maple sap to make syrup and other sugary products—is a beloved late-winter activity in Massachusetts.

And the good news: several of our wildlife sanctuaries have trees to tap, sap to boil, and syrup to serve.

Get a taste of the action and dip into the history and science of this sweet treat.

Calling All Campers

Early birds really do get the worm!

Summer camp registration at Mass Audubon's 17 day camps and Wildwood, our overnight camp, is up and running.

Find a nature- and adventure-packed session near you.

Where in Mass Audubon Are We Now?

The last photo featured in Explorations was taken at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield. Of those with correct guesses, Frances C. of Boston was the winner of a pocket guide.

Ready to guess another Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuary?

Mass Audubon's very first wildlife sanctuary, this property was established 100 years ago with just 225 acres. Today, you can explore 25 miles of trails on almost 2,000 acres, enjoy naturalist-led programs, attend camp, and purchase organic veggies via their CSA program.

Email your guess by March 15 and you could win a pocket field guide.

Saving Snowy Owls

On a Saturday morning in January while most of us were sleeping, Norman Smith, Sanctuary Director at Mass Audubon’s Blue Hills Trailside Museum, was at Logan Airport. He wasn’t there to catch a flight, though.

He was there to catch a snowy owl, which he would release the next day at Salisbury Beach State Reservation.

Check out our blog to watch a video of the release and see where "Salisbury the owl" has been.