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Field List of the Birds of Essex County, MA
Seventh Edition, 2002

Essex County Sightings

A recent list of birds seen in Essex County

MassBird.org
Birding On The Net
MassBird On Google
Plum Island Birds
Newburyport Birders

Jim Berry's
Book of the Month

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or renewal form

Essex County Bird Walks

ECOC Member Outings, Newburyport Birders &
Brookline Bird Club
Sponsored Bird Walks

Trip Reports & Photos

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Club decal featuring
Frank Benson's art work.
Avail. for $1.00 ea.


ECOC American Kestrel

Nest Box Program

Winter/Spring Calendar 2012

Friday, Feb. 10, 7:45 pm

Birding Columbia
 Plus ECOC meeting, 7:30-7:45 pm

Expert birder, Jan Smith, recounts his 2010 birding trip to Columbia where he saw many endemic species during a nearly 4-week-long tour.  Long regarded as a mecca for birders because it has the longest species list in the world and many endemics, Columbia has been largely off-limits to birders for decades due to violence.  Over the past 5 years, however, conditions have steadily improved and the countryside is now considered as safe as anywhere in South American for birding, and Columbia has made a commitment to preserving its incredible natural resources. Co-sponsored by PEM.  Free and open to the public.  

Morse Auditorium, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem. 


Friday, March 16, 7:45 pm

 Climate Change Comes to Thoreau’s World
Plus ECOC meeting, 7:30-7:45 pm

Richard Primack, Professor of Biology at Boston University and noted author on conservation biology, has been leading a local effort to understand effects of climate change on seasonal plant cycles and the timing of bird migrations.  Find out what Primack’s team has discovered by comparing current patterns with observations recorded in the journals and diaries of Henry David Thoreau and other naturalists.  Co-sponsored by PEM.  Free and open to the public. 

Bartlett Gallery, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem.

Friday, April 20, 7:45 pm

Oystercatchers!
 Plus ECOC meeting, 7:30-7:45 pm

Did you know American Oystercatchers nest in Essex County?  Learn more about these striking shorebirds from Shiloh Schulte of Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences.  Oystercatchers are the focus of Schulte’s work, as head of the American Oystercatchers Recovery Campaign – an initiative to reverse the population decline of these fascinating birds.  Co-sponsored by PEM.  Free and open to the public. 

Bartlett Auditorium, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem.

Winter Members Outing

 

Monday, February 20 (Presidents’ Day), 8:00 am

 

Winter Birding Walk in Ipswich (and vicinity)

Walk leader:  Jim Berry 978-356-5505

Target birds are waterfowl, raptors and wintering boreal songbirds.  Very limited walking.  Carpooling is essential from the meeting place.  Co-sponsored by the Brookline Bird Club.

 

Meeting Place:  Former Town Hall parking lot, next to the war memorial in downtown Ipswich on Rts. 1A/133, 100 yards south of Choate Bridge.
 

Spring Members Outings 

Monday, May 7, 6:00 pm

Annual Birding and Supper Event, hosted by Dotty Brown

Join us for a long-standing tradition in ECOC — started by Sarah Robbins and Dotty Brown over 20 years ago — birding Eastern Point during spring migration.  Even if the weather is uncooperative for birding, you will enjoy the company and unobstructed ocean view from Dotty’s wonderful seaside home!  Come early for birding with your families and/or guests, BYO sandwiches (or sushi).  Dotty provides beverages and bird-inspired cakes.  Don’t miss this delightful, informal gathering of ECOC members — new and old! 

Directions: Dotty’s house is at 45 Fort Hill Ave, Eastern Point, Gloucester (978-283-3247).  Take Rte. 128 North to Gloucester.  Follow signs for “East Gloucester, Eastern Point” (ocean will be on your right).  The entrance to Eastern Point will be on your right, marked by two stone pillars on either side.  Ignore the sign that reads “Private Road” and follow the meandering narrow road that leads out to Eastern Point.  Bear left onto Fort Hill Ave. in about a half-mile.  Follow road to end, where you will find Dotty’s home on the ocean. 
 

 Saturday, May 19, start time TBD

Ipswich River Canoe Trip and Bird Survey
Event Coordinator:  TBD

Participate in the 106th ECOC birding trip down the Ipswich River!  Arguably the oldest uninterrupted bird-count in the world, this event is timed to get the best views of birds before full leaf-out, but late enough in the season to get better weather for paddling.  More information to come!  Keep an eye on the ECOC homepage for updates and coordinator contact information. 

 Notes:

bullet Please support ECOC programs for 2012 and beyond by making sure your membership is up to date!  Contact ECOC treasurer Mary Donovan

Membership runs from October 1 to September 30
 
bullet ECOC president is Jim McCoy: 978-578-7076
bullet ECOC vice president and programs coordinator is Janey Winchell: 978-542-1627
 
bullet View the “Field List of Birds of Essex County”
 

Directions to the Peabody Essex Museum

The Peabody Essex Museum is located at the corner of Essex St. and Liberty St., in downtown Salem, MA.  Both Morse Auditorium and Bartlett Gallery are in the main museum building.  Note: if severe weather is forecast, please call 978-745-1876 to confirm that the ECOC event is still on.

Map of the area with "To & From" directions provided by Google