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Spring Bird Walk with Lesley Farlow and Steve Winn
Marian Street Entrance to FLCA 88 Marian Street, Northampton, MA, United StatesLesley Farlow and Steve Winn, experienced birders and members of the Hampshire Bird Club, will lead a bird walk along Boggy Meadow Rd. to the Fitzgerald Lake dam. We will look for breeding migrants and resident birds as we pass through a number of different habitats. We should be able to see and hear some
Shrubland Habitat and Native Plants (Work Event)
Several years ago, we established three 'islands' of native shrubs in Cooke's Pasture to provide food and habitat for shrubland birds and small mammals. We return every year to prune the shrubs, cut back competing undergrowth, and replace plants that have not survived the winter. Tools will be provided, though additional clippers are always welcome.
Wildlife Habitats at FLCA with Brad Timm
Cooke Avenue Entrance to FLCA (former Moose Lodge) 196 Cooke Avenue, northampton, MA, United StatesFitzgerald Lake Conservation Area has a wide diversity of habitats which are used by the hundreds of wildlife species present at FLCA. Wetlands of a variety of types, forests, and early-successional patches are just some examples, and wildlife habitat can even be defined at a much finer-scale such as decaying logs on the forest floor
Annual Cleanup at the North Farms Road Entrance (Work Event)
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesEach year we devote one day in the spring to cleaning up the North Farms Road entrance to the FLCA including clearing winter debris from the path to the bridge and boardwalk, picking up trash in the parking lot, and removing by hand invasive plants such as garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed and multiflora rose in
Shrubs, Lichens, and Plants of the Forest Floor with Molly Hale
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesCome learn about the plants we see at eye level and at our feet. We’ll see hazelnuts, musclewood, hop hornbeam, trilliums, clubmosses, wild sarsaparilla, enchanter’s nightshade and lots more! Plus we’ll peek into the world of lichens, which are found growing on trees, soil, and rocks. This will be a slow 2- hour walk starting
Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake (Work Event)
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesSix years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called “pull early, pull often.” In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2022 the yield was down to 140 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist
Learn Your Ferns with Randy Stone
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesEver wonder if you might be susceptible to fernophilia? Join Randy Stone of the Pioneer Valley Fern Society for a walk through the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area, finding common ferns and club mosses of our area. Learn the key features for easy identification of our “top 10” native ferns and maybe some uncommon ones too.
Removal of Invasives on Boggy Meadow Road (Work Event)
Cooke Avenue Entrance to FLCA (former Moose Lodge) 196 Cooke Avenue, northampton, MA, United StatesThe margins of roads provide excellent habitat for the growth of invasive plants. We have located many patches of invasives along Boggy Meadow Road, which connects the former Moose Lodge parking lot at the end of Cooke Avenue with the Fitzgerald Lake dam. We will work our way along the road, removing invasive plants such
Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake (Work Event)
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesSix years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called “pull early, pull often.” In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2022 the yield was down to 140 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist
Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake (Work Event)
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesSix years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called “pull early, pull often.” In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2022 the yield was down to 140 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist
Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake (Work Event)
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesSix years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called “pull early, pull often.” In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2022 the yield was down to 140 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist
Mushrooms in the Woodland Ecosystem with Peter Russell
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesMushrooms are an essential component of our Woodland ecosystems, yet much of their taxonomy and diversity remains undescribed even in sites such as Fitzgerald Lake. A lot of such recording is nowadays performed by citizen scientists and amateurs. Take a walk in the woods to learn about this diversity, how to recognize some of the major
Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake (Work Event)
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesSix years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called “pull early, pull often.” In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2022 the yield was down to 140 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist
Insect Tracks and Signs with Charley Eiseman
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesInsects are extremely specialized in their habits, and because of this it is often possible to learn which ones are around us just by noticing the characteristic patterns and objects they create as they go about their lives. Participants will search for signs such as egg cases, cocoons, webs, burrows, droppings, galls, leaf mines, and the
Beavers at Sundown with Brad Timm
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesDiscover the natural history of beavers, how they alter the landscape and provide habitat for other wildlife on this walk at Fitzgerald Lake. Evening is the ideal time to observe beavers, and if we’re lucky, we’ll see them. We’ll meet at the North Farms Road entrance and walk about 3/4 mile searching for signs of
BBC Annual Meeting 2023
Florence Civic Center 90 Park Street, Florence, MA, United StatesMembers and friends are cordially invited to attend the Broad Brook Coalition’s annual meeting on Sunday, November 12. Please join us to celebrate BBC’s 35th anniversary! This year’s meeting will be presented in hybrid format: you may attend in-person at the Florence Civic Center or at home via Zoom. Information about how to attend virtually
Those Amazing Lichens!
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesCome learn about lichens, those fascinating symbiotic organisms that consist of combinations of fungus and algae enmeshed into distinct individual species. You will learn how to tell lichens from mosses, and notice different forms of lichens such as leaf, bush, dust, scale, and crust. We’ll use hand lenses to get a close-up look at the
Spring Nature Walk
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesRich Baker, a conservation biologist and curious naturalist, will lead a walk focused on the plants and animals we see along our way. We'll discuss the ecological relationships around us, share what we know, and wonder about things we don't know. There will be spring wildflowers to identify, trees to marvel at, birds to find
Those Amazing Lichens!
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesCome learn about lichens, those fascinating symbiotic organisms that consist of combinations of fungus and algae enmeshed into distinct individual species. You will learn how to tell lichens from mosses, and notice different forms of lichens such as leaf, bush, dust, scale, and crust. We’ll use hand lenses to get a close-up look at the
Spring Bird Walk
Marian Street Entrance to FLCA 88 Marian Street, Northampton, MA, United StatesSign Up Here: Lesley Farlow and Steve Winn, experienced birders and members of the Hampshire Bird Club, will lead a bird walk STARTING AT THE MARIAN ST. ENTRANCE TO THE FITZGERALD LAKE CONSERVATION AREA. Please note: this walk was originally scheduled to start at the Cooke Ave. entrance, but due to the paving of that lot
Work Day Event: Annual Cleanup at the North Farms Road Entrance
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesThis is the day for cleaning up the North Farms Road entrance to the FLCA. We'll clear winter debris from the path to the bridge and boardwalk, pick up trash in the parking lot, and remove by hand invasive plants such as garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed, and multiflora rose in the adjoining woods. Please help
Work Day Event: Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesSeveral years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called "pull early, pull often." In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2021 the yield was down to 100 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, water chestnut seeds can remain viable
Wild Edibles and Medicinal Plants
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesEver wonder what wild edibles and medicinal plants are growing along the trails of the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area? Join Hannah Jacobson-Hardy, community herbalist and founder of Sweet Birch Herbals for a guided walk on Father's Day weekend. Hannah chose this weekend because she grew up in Florence and her father regularly took her for walks
Work Day Event: Removal of Invasives on Boggy Meadow Road
Cooke Avenue Entrance to FLCA (former Moose Lodge) 196 Cooke Avenue, northampton, MA, United StatesThe margins of roads provide excellent habitat for the growth of invasive plants. There are many patches of invasives along Boggy Meadow Road, which connects the old Moose Lodge parking lot at the end of Cooke Avenue with the Fitzgerald Lake dam. We will work our way along the road pulling, cutting, and digging invasive
Work Day Event: Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesSeveral years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called "pull early, pull often." In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2021 the yield was down to 100 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, water chestnut seeds can remain viable
Work Day Event: Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesSeveral years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called "pull early, pull often." In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2021 the yield was down to 100 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, water chestnut seeds can remain viable
Work Day Event: Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesSeveral years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called "pull early, pull often." In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2021 the yield was down to 100 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, water chestnut seeds can remain viable
Bark: Get to Know Your Trees
Cooke Avenue Entrance to FLCA (former Moose Lodge) 196 Cooke Avenue, northampton, MA, United StatesThe traits typically used to describe trees—leaves, twigs, and buds—are often hard to see or seasonally absent. Join Michael for an exploration of bark, which is always visible in any season. As you hone your perceptive abilities you will learn about a system for identifying tree species by their bark, and discover why such a variety of
The Role of Fungi in the Forest Ecosystem
Join mycologist Peter Russell on a foray to look at the fungi fruiting around Fitzgerald Lake. We will use the fungi we find to consider the roles they play in the ecosystem, especially their succession in space and time both on decomposing wood and as mycorrhizal partners with trees. The main purpose of the foray
Work Day Event: Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesSeveral years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called "pull early, pull often." In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2021 the yield was down to 100 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, water chestnut seeds can remain viable
- North Farms Rd. entrance is off Bridge Rd., N. off Mountain St. or N. Maple St. in Florence.
- Cooke Avenue entrance is off Hatfield St., which runs behind the WalMart/Big Y shopping center, to the end of Cooke Avenue (former Moose Lodge). Park only on the right side.
- Coles Meadow Road entrance is on the eastern end of FLCA, about 0.7 miles from North King Street (Routes 5/10). Park carefully on the street.