Judith Bruce

Describe your volunteer activities at HCT:
I have enjoyed HCT’s wonderful programs, meetings and walks for years but became involved as a volunteer bird nest box monitor in 2006 through a joint venture between HCT and the Cape Cod Bird Club. We’ve got a fabulous group of volunteers and the program has grown to 78 boxes at three sites (Bank Street Bogs, Thompson’s Field and Texeira).

How long have you volunteered?
This will be my 8th year working on the nestbox project.

What do you like most about it, memorable moments?
Aside from being outdoors and around birds, my most memorable experience was getting to watch a flock of gray catbirds chase a large black racer OUT of a tree (I’m assuming it was after one of their nests) and across Thompson’s Field.  They were relentless and totally fearless in their pursuit of that snake! (and it was not a small snake)

What’s special about Harwich?
Every town on the Cape has special places.  For me the special places are beautiful natural areas – fields, marshes, coastlines, ponds, forests, dunes.  I’m primarily drawn to water.  And all the towns of Cape Cod are connected by water.  I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

What else do you like to do for fun or other activities or volunteering?
I chair the Orleans Conservation Commission, serve on the Water & Sewer Board, Community Preservation Committee, and Pleasant Bay Alliance Steering Committee. I’m a founder and past president of the Orleans Pond Coalition and have served on the Board of the Friends of Pleasant Bay.  I also volunteer with Sue Finnegan’s bird banding program on Wing Island in Brewster.