2019 Events
HCT’s January & February Winter 2019 Talks are held at the Harwich Community Center (#100 Oak St., Harwich, MA 02645) in the multi-purpose room.
The “Live Owls from Near and Far” event on Saturday, March 9th with up to seven different species and the “Meet Your Local Farmers” event on Saturday, March 23rd with more than 50 exhibitors are both held in the Community Center’s gymnasium.
January
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, photo courtesy of Spencer Kennard (www.capecodphotos.com)
• Presentation:
Saturday, January 5th, 2:00 p.m.
(suggested donation: $5.00 pp)
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge
Presentation by Steve Keenan: President, Friends of Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge is a 7,604-acre federal wildlife refuge, including the barrier beach of South Monomoy Island, located off the southern tip of Chatham. Established in 1944, the refuge has a fascinating history including the historic Monomoy Point Light Station and keeper’s house, established in 1823. The Refuge is the home of a vast variety of plants and wildlife, including 5 federally threatened or endangered species and over 30 state-listed species. It has also been recognized as a globally important shorebird nesting and migration site. This talk will focus on the history of the refuge, the conservation of its unique wildlife and marine life, ongoing scientific research, the constantly-shifting geology, and management challenges.
Juvenile bald eagles, photo courtesy of Jason Zimmer, MassWildlife
• Presentation:
Saturday, January 12th, 2:00 p.m.
(suggested donation: $5.00 pp)
Bald Eagle Biology & Behavior
Presentation by Jason E. Zimmer: District Supervisor, Southeast Wildlife District, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife
Bald eagles have recently been observed in Harwich, Brewster, and other areas on Cape Cod. Learn about bald eagle natural history, the story of their decline, this raptor’s listing with the federal Endangered Species Act, and subsequent recovery as well as monitoring efforts both across the country and in Massachusetts. Jason will also highlight conservation efforts in the Southeast District and talk about current and potential nesting locations.
Juvenile ospreys recovering at WildCare, photo courtesy of Stephanie Ellis
• Presentation:
Saturday, January 26th, 2:00 p.m.
(suggested donation: $5.00 pp)
Living with Your Wild Neighbors
Presentation by Stephanie Ellis: Executive Director, Wild Care, Inc.
“Help! A bird struck my window…,” or “There’s a baby squirrel at my doorstep…” Sometimes our wild neighbors need a healing hand from Wild Care, which serves as the nonprofit wildlife hospital located in Eastham dedicated to the rescue and release of injured and orphaned wildlife on Cape Cod. Wild Care operates a Wildlife Helpline, and rehabilitates over 1,700 animals per year; everything from bald eagles to white-footed mice. Stephanie will cover “what to do” when you find animals in distress, who to call on Cape Cod, and will provide tips for living with our wild neighbors. She will also bring special guests, “Nickerson” an educational Eastern Screech Owl, and turtle #45, Wild Care’s beloved educational Eastern Box Turtle. Stephanie was the Animal Care Coordinator of the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley and served as Exec. Dir. of the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society in California. She has been leading Wild Care’s wildlife rehabilitation work since 2016.
February
Halloween Pennant immature male dragonfly, photo courtesy of Blair Nikula
• Presentation:
Saturday, February 2nd, 2:00 p.m.
(suggested donation: $5.00 pp)
Discovering Dragonflies & Damselflies
Presentation by Blair Nikula: Co-author of the Stokes’ Beginner’s Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies and A Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Massachusetts.
Learn about the natural history of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata), including their life stages, mating, behavior, predation, and migration. Odonata is the taxonomic group of carnivorous insects for dragonflies and the damselflies, which have been around since the Triassic Period dinosaur age (200-250 million years ago). Blair is a native Cape Codder and life-long birder who has been studying and photographing dragonflies and damselflies for almost three decades. He formerly co-edited Ode News, a newsletter about the odonates of southern New England. Blair is past-president of the Cape Cod Bird Club and served as an associate member of the Mass. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program Advisory Committee.
Releasing a banded bird, photo courtesy of Manomet
• Presentation:
Saturday, February 9th, 2:00 p.m.
(suggested donation: $5.00 pp)
Bird Banding in Massachusetts
Presentation by Trevor Lloyd-Evans: Director, Manomet’s Landbird Conservation Program
Manomet is a non-profit conservation organization with the mission of applying science and engaging people to sustain our world. The Manomet Bird Banding Lab has been continuously monitoring migratory landbirds for over 50 years by banding birds on 40 acres in Plymouth. Shorebird studies have expanded geographically over the same period from Plymouth to Alaska to South America. Learn how long-term bird monitoring tracks changes in bird populations and migration ecology. See how bird banding data can inform conservation science and applied conservation efforts. Trevor has been banding migratory birds since 1968, and his conservation research both in Plymouth and abroad, focuses on avian migration, breeding ecology, taxonomy, evolution, and conservation biology.
Black racer snake, photo courtesy of Liz Baldwin
• Presentation:
Saturday, February 23rd, 2:00 p.m.
(suggested donation: $5.00 pp)
Tracking Black Racer Snakes
Presentation by Liz Baldwin: Assistant Director & Wildlife Biologist, BiodiversityWorks on Martha’s Vineyard
Black racer snakes were historically an abundant species. Today they are uncommon and are a MassWildlife priority species. BiodiversityWorks has been gathering important information about their habitat use and movements that will inform future management and conservation of this species. Learn about the adventures of radio-tagging black racer snakes as well as the natural history of these and other local snakes, and how you can help all snakes thrive in our changing landscape. In the past, Liz has presented for HCT about North American river otters and bats of New England.
March
Screech owl (red morph), courtesy of Mark Wilson, Eyes on Owls
• Saturday, March 9th
two shows (11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.)
13th 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 23rd, noon – 3:00 p.m.
10th Annual “Meet Your Local Farmers” Event
Harwich Community Center Gym
Kick-off the 2019 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.
Non-native Japanese knotweed is an invasive plant.
• Saturday, March 30th, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
(Free)
Presentation:
Non-Native Invasive Plants–Effects on Local Ecosystems and What You Can Do
Harwich Community Center, multi-purpose room
Sponsored by Harwich Conservation Trust, The Garden Club of Harwich, and Blue Flax Design, this educational presentation focuses on the problems that invasive plant species are causing in our native ecosystems. The presenters will share life cycle facts and misconceptions about these plants as well as answer common questions. Which species are the biggest ecological problems locally? Are there other potential invasive species of concern in the region? What can homeowners and property managers do to control the spread of invasive plants and ensure the survival of native species? After the presentation, participants will have the option of joining a walk outside, where we will learn to identify several plants within a short distance of the Community Center.
April
L to R: Walk leaders Marcus Hendricks & Todd Kelley
Sponsored by Harwich Conservation Trust, Brewster Conservation Trust, and Dennis Conservation Trust, join 12th generation Cape Codder Todd Kelley and native Wampanoag/Nipmuc Marcus Hendricks for a fascinating series of interpretive walks exploring the history of Cape Cod from the First People and early European settlers to the nature of Cape Cod today. This is an engaging three walk series that follows a progressive storyline about human settlement near freshwater sources and coastal water embayments and will take place at locations within the towns of Harwich, Brewster, and Dennis. Cost: $45.00 for the series (if you join one or all three walks, it’s a one-time fee of $45.00).
WALK #1: Harwich, Saturday, April 6th
10:00 a.m. – noon
(Rain date: Sunday, April 7th)
First People of the Herring River Valley
WALK #2: Brewster, Saturday, April 13th
10:00 a.m. – noon
(Rain date: Sunday, April 14th)
First People of Saquatucket to John Wing and Quaker Path (1659)
WALK #3: Dennis, Saturday, April 20th
10:00 a.m. – noon
(Rain date: Sunday, April 21st)
Ralph of Nobscusset to Rafe of Portanimicut (1643-1816) and Indian Town (1713) to Yarmouth Quaker Meeting (1714)
Click here for walk & reservation details.
May
• Sunday, May 5th (5:00 – 8:00 p.m.)
17th Annual Spring Winetasting Dinner
Hosted by The Cape Sea Grille in Harwich Port
Reserve for Harwich Conservation Trust’s (HCT) 17th Annual Spring Winetasting Dinner at The Cape Sea Grille Restaurant in Harwich Port on Sunday, May 5th at 5:00 p.m. The cost of $125 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 20th (5:00 – 8:00 p.m.)
5th Annual 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 20th at 5:00 p.m.
The cost of $125 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 Bob & Judy Valchuis through Liquor ‘N More of Orleans.
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.