The life histories, annual behaviors, and evolutionary story of snakes are incredible, fascinating, and remarkable. Join us online or in person with Professor Tom Tyning at the October Berkshire Green Drinks hybrid event to learn more about this important group of wildlife!

Tom will focus on our Berkshire/New England snake species, highlighting their diversity, survival complexity, conservation status, and overall natural history. Coupled with that, the remarkable reality of just how little is known about even common species will be covered.

Here are some things to think about: How did little animals like Ringneck snakes make their way into New England after the last glaciation? How many of our local snakes are at the edge of their geographic distribution on Earth? Why are some more common in the Berkshires than in other parts of New England? Bring more questions and your curiosity!

DATE: Monday, October 16

TIME: in-person gathering begins at 5:00 PM; presentation and Zoom start at 6:00 PM.

LOCATION: The Barn at Williams Inn, 103 Spring St, Williamstown & online via Zoom
»If the weather permits, the presentation will take place outdoors.

Registration is required to attend virtually and receive the Zoom meeting info. Click here to register for online participation.

Please RSVP if you plan to join us for the in-person gathering.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Tom Tyning has been a Professor of Environmental Science at Berkshire Community College since 1999. Previously, he was a Field Biologist and Master Naturalist for the Massachusetts Audubon Society for 24 years. Tom also served for 15 years as an Adjunct Professor in the Environmental Studies Program at Antioch New England Graduate School, as well as Springfield College and MCLA. For 25 years, he wrote a weekly Nature column for the Springfield (MA) Union-News. As an authority on New England’s natural history, Tom’s main research interests are amphibians and reptiles. His book, A Guide To Amphibians and Reptiles, is published by Little, Brown and Co. As a member of several professional natural history societies, he served for fifteen years as Managing Editor of the scientific journal Herpetological Review. Find more info on Tom’s Website: westernmassnaturalist.org.

What is Berkshire Green Drinks? Berkshire Green Drinks is an informal gathering on the second Wednesday* of the month. A guest speaker talks for about 30 minutes beginning at 6 PM, and the presentation is followed by a discussion and Q&A. These nights are free and open to everyone with any environmental interest. The drinks aren’t green but the conversations are. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join and bring along questions!

What is Green Drinks? Green Drinks is an international forum where people who work in the environmental field and environmental enthusiasts meet for a drink and snacks at informal sessions. There will be a lively mix of people from non-profit organizations, academia, government, business, and the general public. Green Drinks is a great way of catching up with people you know and for making new contacts. These networking events are very simple and unstructured. Come along, and you’ll be made welcome.

*During September, October, and November 2023, our monthly Berkshire Green Drinks gatherings will not take place on Wednesdays as they typically do. We should be back to our normal schedule in December.