Nature Academy of the Berkshires
2023 Berkshire Biodiversity Day (BioBlitz)
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontUPDATE: BIOBLITZ IS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND! Some people have asked what will happen with Biodiversity Day this weekend if it's raining. We still plan to go ahead with the programs and the surveying, regardless of the weather forecast. We're keeping a close eye…
Wild Bee Walk with Aliza Fassler at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontJoin Aliza Fassler for a wild bee walk during the 14th Berkshire Biodiversity Day (aka Berkshire Bioblitz). Aliza will encourage participants to look for and observe bees doing their usual pollinating work and talk about who is found! This walk…
“What is a Spider and What is Not” with Joseph Warfel at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontJoseph Warfel will present on spiders and other arachnids at the 14th Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day (or Bioblitz). He'll give an overview of spiders and their relatives, including brief life histories of arachnids and their place in nature and the global…
Amphibian + Reptile Walk with Tom Tyning at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontJoin Professor Tom Tyning, an expert on amphibians and reptiles and an authority on New England’s natural history, for a guided herp walk at the 14th Berkshire Biodiversity Day. As part of the biological surveys, Tom will lead folks through…
“Local Mushrooms and Their Roles in the Ecosystem” with John Wheeler at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontJohn Wheeler will speak about local mushrooms and their role in the ecosystem at the 14th Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day (or Bioblitz). He’ll go over the symbiotic relationship between plant roots and fungi (mycorrhizal fungi) and mushrooms that get their…
“Backyard Leafminers” with Charley Eiseman at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontCharley Eiseman will speak about leafminers — insect larvae that spend at least part of their lives feeding between the thin, outer (epidermal) layers of leaves — at the 14th Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day, or Bioblitz. In North America, leafminers…
Owl Prowl Walk with Hoffmann Bird Club at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontJoin Rene Wendell of Hoffmann Bird Club for an evening owl prowl during the 14th Berkshire Biodiversity Day (aka Berkshire BioBlitz). Rene will lead participants on the edge of wooded areas to try and determine who-who-who might be out there…
Early Morning Bird Walk with Hoffmann Bird Club at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontJoin Rene Wendell of Hoffmann Bird Club for an early morning bird walk during the 14th Berkshire Biodiversity Day (aka Berkshire BioBlitz). This walk is one of many activities happening during this year’s Berkshire Bioblitz that’s taking place on September…
Mist Netting + Bird Banding Demo with Berkshire Bird Observatory at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontJoin Ben Nickley of Berkshire Bird Observatory (BBO) for an early morning mist-netting demo during the 14th Berkshire Biodiversity Day (aka Berkshire BioBlitz). This demonstration is an excellent opportunity for people to experience some of the biodiversity surveying methods used…
“Meet the Native Bees of New England” with Aliza Fassler at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
April Hill 62 Undermountain Rd., South EgremontIn North America, there are approximately 4,000 species of wild bees that are critical for pollinating plants in our forests, gardens, and fields. At the 14th Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day (or Bioblitz), Aliza Fassler will talk about the diversity of…
2024 Berkshire Biodiversity Day (BioBlitz)
Berkshire Community College 1350 West St., Pittsfield, MACelebrating local biodiversity during a time of unprecedented global biodiversity loss, the 15th Berkshire Biodiversity Day (aka Berkshire BioBlitz) welcomes community members of all ages to join biologists, naturalists, and environmentalists to identify as many plants, animals, fungi, and other…
“Lichens: Their Roles in Nature and Their Secrets” with Kay Hurley at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
Berkshire Community College 1350 West St., Pittsfield, MADiscover the fascinating world of lichens with Kay Hurley at the 15th Berkshire Biodiversity Day. Join us for an engaging exploration of these remarkable underdogs of the fungal world. Kay will reveal the surprising roles lichens play in the lives…
“From Stigma to Significance: Arthropods and Us” with Professor Bugman at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
Berkshire Community College 1350 West St., Pittsfield, MAAt the 15th Berkshire Biodiversity Day, Bryan "Professor Bugman" Man will talk about why it’s more important than ever to learn about, understand, and embrace the largest and most diverse group of animals our world has ever seen. Arthropods often…
“Native Plants as Insect Habitat” with Charley Eiseman at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
Berkshire Community College 1350 West St., Pittsfield, MACharley Eiseman will present "Native Plants as Insect Habitat" at the 15th Berkshire Biodiversity Day, or Bioblitz. Each native plant species has a suite of host-specific insects that depend on it for food. Even allowing a single "weed" to grow…
“Moth Mystique: Illuminating the Dark Side of Winged Wonders” with Carla Rhodes at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
Berkshire Community College 1350 West St., Pittsfield, MAJoin the dark side with conservation photographer and moth enthusiast Carla Rhodes for a captivating presentation on the kaleidoscopic world of moths. While showcasing her backyard moth photography, Carla will share why moths are essential to our ecosystem, and how…
Owl Prowl Walk with Hoffmann Bird Club at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
Berkshire Community College 1350 West St., Pittsfield, MAJoin Rene Wendell of Hoffmann Bird Club for an evening owl prowl during the 15th Berkshire Biodiversity Day (aka Berkshire BioBlitz). Rene will lead participants on the edge of wooded areas to try and determine who-who-who might be out there…
Observing Moths at Night: Lightsheeting Demo with Matthew Rymkiewicz at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
Berkshire Community College 1350 West St., Pittsfield, MAJoin Matthew Rymkiewicz for a demo on mothing—using a light to look for moths at night—at the 15th Berkshire Biodiversity Day (aka Berkshire BioBlitz). This demonstration is an excellent opportunity for people to experience one of the surveying techniques used…
Early Morning Bird Walk with Hoffmann Bird Club at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
Berkshire Community College 1350 West St., Pittsfield, MAJoin two former presidents of the Hoffmann Bird Club, Rene Wendell and Jonathan Pierce, for an early morning bird walk during the 15th Berkshire Biodiversity Day (aka Berkshire Bioblitz). BCC’s campus spans 180+ acres and boasts a diverse range of…
Mist Netting + Bird Banding Demo with Berkshire Bird Observatory at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
Berkshire Community College 1350 West St., Pittsfield, MAJoin Ben Nickley of Berkshire Bird Observatory (BBO) for an early morning mist-netting demonstration during the 15th Berkshire Biodiversity Day (aka Berkshire BioBlitz). This demonstration is an excellent opportunity for people to experience some of the biodiversity surveying methods used…
Snakes, Salamanders, and Small Mammals Walk with Tom Tyning at Berkshire Biodiversity Day
Berkshire Community College 1350 West St., Pittsfield, MAJoin Professor Tom Tyning, an expert on amphibians and reptiles and an authority on New England’s natural history, for a guided walk at the 15th Berkshire Biodiversity Day, and look at the value of cover boards for finding and counting…