Medway & Millis December 2017

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Page 16 Medway & Millis Local Town Pages www.localtownpages.com December 2017 You Can Be Part of the Christmas Bird Count! Millis Circle to Bird, Gather Data on December 16th for National Audubon Effort By J.D. O’Gara It’s been a tradition for 118 years, 47 years in this area, and you can join in! For over a century, the National Audubon Society has conducted the annual “Christmas Bird Count” to gather information about bird species populations. “It started in New York City, and is now in this hemisphere from Canada and Alaska all the way down to the tip of South America,” says Elissa Landre, Director of Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Broadmoor Sanctuary at 280 Eliot Street, Natick. The “Millis Circle Count,” she says will take place in the 24-hour period of Saturday, December 16th. “The circle I compile for is centered in Millis, Mass.,” says Landre. “Each circle is 15 miles in diameter.” The Millis Circle includes such towns as Holliston, Norfolk, Wrentham, Franklin, Millis, Medfield, Medway, Sherborn and Hopkinton—just a handful in the radius. “The intent is to count every bird you can within each circle during a 24-hour period,” says Landre. Starting at midnight on Saturday the 16th and going to 11:59 p.m. the evening of the 16th, novice ornithologists in those areas, both in teams led by captains at certain locations in the area or right in their own backyards, keep a tally of every bird, reporting the largest group of one type of bird that they see at one time. “It started in 1972 in Millis,” says Landre, who heads up the team in Holliston. She says anyone can volunteer to participate in the count. She assigns team leaders, such as Jack Lash, of Franklin, who will be bringing students out in the field in that area this year, and Skipper Farwell, of Norfolk, who heads up a team at MCI Norfolk. “I assign people, says Landre. “They get in touch with me through the Mass Audubon website (www.massaudubon.org) and let me know, so I can cover as many areas as possible. There are some groups that go out for owls in the predawn hours of Saturday morning, and others start closer to seven. I start at Broadmoor and bird for a couple hours here, then head to Sherborn and Holliston.” Landre says folks can just bird at their feeders for a minimum of 15 minutes. “You count, for example, every chickadee you see at one point in time. If people feed birds and want to keep track of what they see and report that, that would be great,” she says.” You’re going to count only the maximum number of birds you see at any one time of the same species for a minimum of 15 minutes. The point is to try not to double count, although that even happens in the field.” The group later gathers at Broadmoor for soup and a wrapup, with sector leaders report what they’ve seen. Landre submits the data to the national level. Over the long period of time the count has taken place, trends and changes in bird populations have become evident. “Any one year will give you a snapshot, but it won’t give you enough data to look at trends. If you look over a longer period of time, you see trends, and you have to ask yourself why.” Some of the changes, for example, have been a dip in scavenger species such as herring gulls and fish crows. “We think we know why,” says Landre. In early years, when the Christmas Bird Count first began in the area, there were many open dumps. “All those gulls and crows ended up at the dumps.” Nowadays, these areas have been turned into recycling centers and treatment facilities, so the scavengers moved on. Another change, says Landre, is an increase in some species not seen here in the 1970s or 1980s. “The Carolina Wren is moving up from the south, and so is the red-bellied woodpecker,” she says. “Milder winters could make it easier for them to survive.” Loss of habitat has decimated other bird populations in the area, such as the American Kestrel, and hairy woodpeckers have given way to more downy woodpeckers. Similarly, food sources play a role, as with blue jays, which increase or decline BIRD COUNT continued on page 17 fluoride Now Accepting New Patients High quality dentistry for the whole family in an affordable caring manner at a state of the art office. Esthetic and Cosmetic Dentistry Emergency Appointments (including dental trauma) Conscious Sedation for children and adults Orthodontics - braces and Invisalign Root Canals • Implants • Dentures Laser (tongue ties and frenectomies) Same day, evening and Sunday appointments. Shabtai Sapir DMD - Pediatric Dentistry Minda Sapir DMD - General Dentistry $ 57 EXAM includes exam, 2 bitewings, cleaning and fluoride (with coupon for uninsured only ($250 value) EXPIRES 1/31/18 FREE orthodontic or Invisalign consultation EXPIRES 1/31/18 Use your 2017 insurance and FSA benefits before the end of the year 65 Holbrook St., Suite 210 • Norfolk, MA 02056 (508)850-6992 www.norfolkfamilyandpediatricdentistry.com Christmas Dinner TO GO • AT YOUR HOUSE New England Steak & Seafood Restaurant ~ announces ~ ROAST PRIME RIB OF BEEF LET US DO THE WORK FOR YOU COOKED OR READY TO COOK YOUR CHOICE! Call 508-478-0871 Full Boneless Prime Rib Feeds approx. 14 People Includes: Mashed Potatoes, Au Jus and Dessert $349.99 Half Boneless Prime Rib Feeds 7 People Includes: Mashed Potatoes, Au Jus and Dessert $199.99 Cinnamon Rolls $12.99 doz • Onion Rolls $12.99 doz • Pumpkin Bread $12.99 doz All orders must be in by Dec. 22 & picked up on Dec. 24 between 1pm & 4pm BONELESS FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE INCLUDES = PRIME RIB COOKED OR UNCOOKED MASHED POTATOES AU JUS AND DESSERT “NOTE PLEASE ORDER EARLY”!!!!!!!
December 2017 Medway & Millis Local Town Pages www.localtownpages.com Page 17 BIRD COUNT continued from page 16 in population with the increase or decline in acorn production, something that can be affected by gypsy moths. Each year, about 40-45 people take place in the Millis Circle of the Christmas Bird Count, but there is always room for more. “It’s fun for people who are hardy,” says Landre. “I will find a place for anybody that wants to do it. The more eyes out there, the better the count. A family could bird their back yard if they wanted to.” As coordinator, Landre works to make sure no two groups are counting the same birds, so she asks anyone interested to contact her before taking part. If you are interested in being part of the Christmas Bird Count on December 16th, email Broadmoorprograms@massaudubon.org. In preparation, you might also want to check out A Special Lecture: State of the Birds, on December 14, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at the Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick. Instructor Joan Walsh, Mass Audubon’s Bertrand Chair of Natural History and Field Ornithology will discuss which bird species are thriving and which are in trouble, and why that might be. Registration is required for the program, which costs $15 for nonmembers and $12 for members, is available online at www.massaudubon.org or by calling (508) 655-2296. Litter of Dalmatian Puppies Visit Medway Town Hall on Halloween The cutest gang of Dalmatians dropped by Town Hall for tricks and treats on a very Happy Halloween. Thanks to everyone at Back To Basics Preschool! Thanks to Charles River Bank, Gold Sponsor of Medway Christmas Parade Charles River Bank’s President and CEO Jack Hamilton (right) and Senior Vice President of Customer Care & Relationship Development Ann Sherry (center) present a donation check of $1,000 to the Medway Christmas Parade Committee, represented by Vice President of EPCO Inc. Richard Parrella (left). Charles River Bank has been the parade’s sole “Gold Sponsor” for several years. 115 HOLLISTON STREET, MEDWAY, MA 02053 | 508.533. 6634 | WWW.MEDWAYMANOR.COM New England Inc. Ballistic Services Instant cash paid for your valuable firearms. Call today for a confidential consultation 508-381-0230 • www.neballistic.com The local choice for personalized quality care, delivered with warmth, Post-Acute & Long-Term Care Physical, Occupational, & Speech Therapy Joint Replacement / Surgical Rehabilitation Hospice & Respite Care dignity, and respect. Private & Semi-Private Rooms Call today to schedule a tour. Air Conditioned for Your Comfort Complimentary Wireless Internet Access ALSO FE ATUR I N G : 508.533.9893 | medicare/insurance certified • POST-A CUTE & I n making your choice, choose LONG-TERM wisely. CARE Visit many to be sure you have found the right one. One where you can continue living with dignity - the life style • you PHYSICAL, most enjoy. OCCUPATION AL, Chances are your choice will & lead SPEEC to us. H THERAPY • JOINT REPLACEMENT/ SURGICAL REHABILITATION • PRIVATE & SEMI-PRIVATE ROOMS • DENTAL, VISION, & PODIATRTY SERVICES AVAILABLE • COMPLIMENTARY WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS • HOSPICE & RESPITE CARE
Page 1 and 2: localtownpages Medway & Millis PRSR
Page 3 and 4: December 2017 Medway & Millis Local
Page 11 and 12: Plainville December 2017 Medway & M
Page 15: December 2017 Medway & Millis Local

Medway & Millis December 2017

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?