Date: Saturday, September 17 – Sunday, September 18
Location: Brattlebrook Park, Pittsfield, MA (SEE DIRECTIONS BELOW – The Google location of Brattlebrook Park will lead you to a random dead end.)

Celebrating local biodiversity during a time of unprecedented global biodiversity loss, the 13th Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day (also known as Berkshire BioBlitz) welcomes community members of all ages to join biologists, naturalists, and environmentalists to identify as many plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms as possible during a 24-hour period.

The event, which is FREE and open to all, will take place at Brattlebrook Park in Pittsfield. It will kick off with a “pre-event” bird banding demonstration on Saturday morning, September 17th. The 24-hour survey will begin at noon and finish around noon the following day — Sunday, September 18th.

Participants may take part at any time during this period to record a survey of their findings and experience first-hand the importance of a healthy, active ecosystem in their community. This year’s program will include: a bird banding demonstration; an early morning bird walk; an owl prowl; animal skull identification; and plant, insect, & fungi walks with experts.

This year’s event is co-sponsored by Nature Academy of the Berkshires, Hoffmann Bird Club, Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), Greylock Federal Credit Union, and Pittsfield’s Conservation Commission.

Brattlebrook Park is a 178-acre conservation area owned and maintained by the City of Pittsfield. The site exhibits a grassland-forest ecotone with expansive grassy fields, forested areas, and wetland habitats, with unmarked trails throughout the property. The conservation area is near Goodrich Pond and can be accessed through two separate entrances. One is located off Longview Terrace, whose extension goes through the park, and the other is at the end of Maple Grove Drive off Williams Street.

DETAILS ON ACTIVITIES

On Saturday morning, Ben Nickley — director of Berkshire Bird Observatory — will lead a bird banding demo from 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM.

On Saturday evening, Zach Adams – a teacher naturalist for Mass Audubon – will lead an owl prowl from 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM.

On Sunday morning, from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM, Greg Ward and Chip Blake of the Hoffmann Bird Club will lead an early morning bird walk.

If you’d like to learn more about this 24-hour biological survey, you can visit www.berkshirebioblitz.org or www.facebook.com/BerkshireBioBlitz.

DIRECTIONS

There are two ways to reach the park: (1) Maple Grove Drive, which is off Elm St; or (2) Longview Terrace, which is connected to Parkside St, and Parkside is off Newell St. There’s one gravel road that goes straight through the park and a small parking area next to a soccer field where we’ll have tables set up for people to sign in and get maps of the conservation area. Please meet there!