Whip-poor-wills by Moonlight
June 27 @ 3:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Free; suggested donation of $15
This outing features a parade of oddities; the vast Montague Sandplains developed on a sandy delta that formed in Glacial Lake Hitchcock. This fire-prone land of scrub oak and pitch pine hosts birds that are rare elsewhere in our region, including grasshopper and vesper sparrows, prairie warblers, rufous-sided towhees, and brown thrashers. Rare plants and butterflies abound. The stars of the show take the stage at dusk—those cryptic birds with their unmistakable call, whip-poor-wills. We have timed this outing to coincide with a nearly-full moon, which whip-poor-wills love. Yes, there will also be fireflies.
Meet at the Brattleboro Park & Ride at 3 pm to carpool to the sandplains, a 35-minute drive. We will explore for a couple of hours and then retire to the Lady Killigrew Cafe at the Montague Book Mill for sandwiches. This is a beautiful place for picnicking. Then, head back to the sand plains in quest of whip-poor-wills. Join us for this short trip to a different world!
BEEC naturalist Patti Smith has been exploring this part of the world since she could crawl out the door, and that was a long time ago. She will co-lead this trip with the participants. Together we will learn the story of the place and, with many eyes and ears, discover its magic.
What to Bring: Binoculars and a flashlight. Bring your own picninc or bring some coins to buy supper at the Lady Killigrew.
