2018: Events
HCT’s January & February Winter Talks are held at the Harwich Community Center (#100 Oak St., Harwich, MA 02645) in the multi-purpose room.
The “Eyes on Owls” Live Owl event on Saturday, March 3rd with up to seven different species and the “Meet Your Local Farmers” event on Saturday, March 24th with more than 40 exhibitors are both held in the Community Center’s gymnasium.
January
Cuba photo courtesy of Herb Raffaele
• Saturday, January 6th, 2:00 p.m.
(suggested donation: $5.00 pp)
Cuba: Beyond the Tourist Experience
Presentation by Herbert A. Raffaele, Ph.D.: Author of the field guides Birds of the West Indies and Wildlife of the Caribbean, and retired Chief of the Division of International Conservation for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
We all know of Cuba’s classic cars, fine cigars, and pulsating music but… were you aware that Cuba possesses the only crocodile known to hunt in packs? That formerly, slaves were punished for insulting a bird that represented the king of Spain? How about the relationship of Cuba’s traditional food, bacalao, to the cultural history of Cape Cod? Cuba, the largest island of the Caribbean, has such a fascinating story. This virtual tour will touch upon the island’s food, language, history, and, of course, its natural wonders in a depth few actual tourists have the opportunity to experience.
Dune shack photo courtesy of Mark McGrath
• Saturday, January 13th, 2:00 p.m.
(suggested donation: $5.00 pp)
Hiking Adventures on the Outer Cape
Presentation by Mark McGrath: Avid hiker & outdoor enthusiast
What’s on your Cape Cod hiking bucket list?
Bring your ideas to share after seeing Mark McGrath’s Outer Cape adventures, including:
- Hiking around the perimeter of Cape Cod
(walk the beaches, swim the rivers) - Sleep on an island in a bivvy bag
- Hike to the highest Atlantic Ocean beach cliff in North America
- Hike to the highest Atlantic coast sunset beach cliff in the United States
- Have a full moon beach party (in February)
- Stay in a dune shack and lighthouse
- Walk/swim to the islands in Pleasant Bay
- Cross-country ski and hike in the Provincetown dunes
- Walk the Cape Cod bay flats
- Walk across Pleasant Bay
Bluebird photo courtesy of Janet DiMattia
• Saturday, January 27th, 2:00 p.m.
(suggested donation: $5.00 pp)
Sharing Nature with Kids
Presentation by Peter Trull: Naturalist, author & Lighthouse Charter School Science Teacher
Close the laptop and put the i-phone away! Let’s go outside and observe, collect, and discover the world around us. Students use phones to record Nature, but touching, hearing, smelling, and even tasting in the great outdoors create a more lasting impression. Peter Trull has been introducing young people to Nature study, bird study, field research, and just plain outside fun for decades. Kids thinking outside….without the box! Peter’s students have grown to become writers, biologists, film makers, and teachers. Join Peter to celebrate young Naturalists in a colorful and fun presentation of what students can accomplish, discovering wildness in the fields, woods, and wetlands around the Cape.
February
Coast Guard Beach boathouse flooded by the Blizzard of ’78. Photo courtesy of Don Wilding.
• Saturday, February 3rd, 2:00 p.m.
(suggested donation: $5.00 pp)
Digging Deep into the Blizzard of ’78
Presentation by Don Wilding: Author of Henry Beston’s Cape Cod: How the Outermost House Inspired a National Seashore, www.dwcapecod.com
2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the “Blizzard of ’78,” which was one of the most dramatic events in New England weather history. Don Wilding takes a look back at the 1978 northeaster that buried eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island in four feet of snow with 15-foot drifts. On Cape Cod, the Blizzard of ‘78 was a tidal event. Hurricane-force winds combined with the highest new moon tides the area had ever seen to carve out an entirely new landscape on the Outer Beach. This program features interview footage with people who were “there”: Former Cape Cod National Seashore ranger Jack Clarke, Eastham Natural Resources Officer Henry Lind, Eastham historian Noel Beyle, writer Robert Finch, and radio news reporter Bob Seay. Don Wildling will also take us on a tour of the 1987 Chatham Break storm and “The Perfect Storm.”
Chickadee photo courtesy of Janet DiMattia
• Saturday, February 10th, 2:00 p.m.
(suggested donation: $5.00 pp)
Climate Change & the Birds of Massachusetts
Presentation by Mark Faherty: Science Coordinator, MassAudubon/Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
How will climate change affect the breeding birds of Massachusetts? Who will thrive? Who will struggle? Mark will take us on a surprisingly fun romp through Mass Audubon’s landmark State of the Birds report, which is a report card on the status of all of the Commonwealth’s breeding and wintering birds. This latest reworking of the data focuses on the impacts climate change is expected to have on our bird populations, from sea level rise to changing forest communities to changing migration timing and insect populations. The results may surprise you. Mark has been the Science Coordinator at Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary since August 2007 and has led birding trips since 2002.
Photo courtesy of Liz Baldwin
• Saturday, February 24th, 2:00 p.m.
(suggested donation: $5.00 pp)
Biology & Conservation of Bats in New England
Presentation by Liz Baldwin:
Assistant Director, BiodiversityWorks
Bats play a very important role in many ecosystems by controlling insect populations, which is a valuable service to humans. Historically, northern long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis) were one of the most abundant bat species in New England. Tragically, their populations have declined by 95% in the Northeastern U.S. since the arrival of a cold-loving fungus which causes white nose syndrome. While many biologists in the Northeast were reporting dismally low numbers of Northern Long-eared Bats, a glimmer of hope has surfaced on Martha’s Vineyard and in other coastal regions. BiodiversityWorks wildlife biologist Liz Baldwin will present findings from their project on Northern Long-eared Bats as well as share information on New England bat species, their biology, habitat needs, and conservation.
March
Screech owl (red morph), courtesy of Mark Wilson, Eyes on Owls
• Saturday, March 3rd
three shows (10 am, 1pm & 3pm)
12th Annual “Eyes On Owls” – Live Owl Program
Harwich Community Center Gym
Tickets are $5 for ages 5 to 11 and $10 for ages 12 to adult
(Not recommended for under age 5)
Marcia and Mark Wilson return to the Harwich Community Center with their owls to amaze us once again. See great-horned, snowy, barred, screech, and saw-whet owls as well as the spectacled owl from South America and the Eurasian eagle owl, the largest owl species in the world. Reserve early for this inspiring and intriguing live owl show.
Click here to reserve!
Photo courtesy of William Pomeroy Photography
• Saturday, March 24th (Noon – 3:00 p.m.)
9th Annual “Meet Your Local Farmers” Event
Harwich Community Center Gym
Kick-off the 2018 growing season by meeting local farmers from around Cape Cod. Start the spring season by learning more about locally grown products, scenic farm settings, and farm-related activities for all ages. Sponsored by Harwich Conservation Trust and The Cape & Islands Farm Bureau.
Click here to see the growing list of participating farms and supporting organizations.
May
• Sunday, May 6th (5:00 – 8:00 p.m.)
16th Annual Spring Winetasting Dinner
Hosted by The Cape Sea Grille in Harwich Port
Reserve for Harwich Conservation Trust’s (HCT) 16th Annual Spring Winetasting Dinner at The Cape Sea Grille Restaurant in Harwich Port on Sunday, May 6th at 5:00 p.m. The cost of $100 per person includes a multi-course dinner, fine wines, tax and gratuity. Space is limited.
Proceeds benefit the Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) and its mission to preserve land that protects woods, water, wildlife and our shared quality of life in Harwich.
Click here to reserve!
The Cape Sea Grille has received numerous awards including: 2009 Gold Medal Winner for Best Seafood on the Lower Cape, 2008 Editor’s Choice for Fine Dining on the Lower Cape in the Best of the Cape & Islands issue of Cape Cod Life Magazine, and it was rated “Extraordinary to Perfection” by Zagat in 2008 as well as 2009.
October
• Sunday, October 14th (5:00 – 8:00 p.m.)
Fall Winetasting Dinner
Hosted by The Port in Harwich Port
Reserve for Harwich Conservation Trust’s (HCT) Fall Winetasting Dinner at The Port Restaurant in Harwich Port on Sunday, October 14th at 5:00 p.m.
The cost of $100 per person includes hors d’oeuvres, three-course dinner, fine wines, tax, and gratuity. Space is limited.
Selected wines with commentary will be generously provided by Orleans Wine & Spirits.
Proceeds benefit the Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) and its mission to preserve land that protects woods, water, wildlife and our shared quality of life in Harwich.