Join Weston Forest and Trail Association on May 5 at 4 pm for its Annual Meeting and Special Presentation. There will be a short business meeting and then everyone will be treated to a talk about Weston’s Wonderful Birds with Weston resident Michael Pappone.

If you don’t know Michael, you have no idea how lucky you are, Weston, to get this bird’s eye (sorry, inevitable) view of some of our visiting and native birds. Last year, Michael was named MassAudubon’s top fundraiser for their bird count and there is not much he does not know about our visiting migratory birds and those that call Weston home year round.

Here’s the write-up from the WFTA Annual Report:

Weston offers over 2,000 acres of open space, which is about 30% of its total area. Hundreds of species of plants and animals of all kinds call these lands home. Nearly 100 different bird species breed in Weston, and 100 more will visit on their way north. When the month of May arrives, bird migration will be in full swing, and watchful Westonians will enjoy their best chances of the year to see members of the zoological class Aves–some of the most colorful, tuneful and fascinating creatures–in all their splendor.  You’ll want to hone your skills and make your plans both to welcome back the local breeders and to wish the migrants a pleasant stay in our environs.   

Speaker Michael Pappone and his family moved to Weston in 1982. Birds became a passion of his growing up in South Dakota and it has since led him around the world to dozens of countries. Still, it’s Weston that provides the daily opportunities to follow the life cycles of our feathered neighbors, from the iconic Wood Ducks, Pileated Woodpeckers, Barred Owls and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds to the shy Brown Creepers and Ovenbirds. When not seeking out the Indigo Buntings on the Rail Trail and the Black-goggled Tanagers in Brazil, Michael spends his time serving on the boards of Mass Audubon, the Volunteer Lawyers Project and as a trustee of the Concord Museum; cycling near and far; sipping a nice wine with friends–and planning next year’s birding trips.  

In case you’re wondering about Michael’s skill level, this is a fairly typical bird count I get from Michael in the spring–this one from a bird walk on conservation land near Sears Land yesterday.

Yes, in about an hour and a half, Michael noted 35 species – the full list is not in the screenshot.

Bring yourself, your birding questions, your birding comments and your birds (no, not that) to the Scout House on School Street (overflow parking is available at the Weston Public Library). Special treats are available to those who imitate their favorite birds by either flapping or singing or peeping or cawing.

And don’t forget to join WFTA for its last monthly walk of the 2023-2024 walk schedule, this time at Case Estates. The walk will be held prior to the Annual Meeting.

On Sunday, May 5th at 2 pm, walkers will tour the grounds of Marian Case’s experimental farm named Hillcrest which, after her death, was given to Harvard which used it for arboretum test plantings, and then purchased in 2017 by the Town of Weston. There are many surprises at the farm–a star magnolia peers out from taller trees, holly trees near the Legacy Trail’s terminus, and one of the few butternut trees that survived to a great old age in the area. And that’s just the trees. You can read more about Marian Case in a past Owl post here. Or read about the Legacy Trail here.

Walkers can park at the Community Center Parking Lot. All ages are welcome, as are well-behaved dogs on leash. Walkers need not be Weston Forest and Trail Association members, but are encouraged to consider joining, as dues support the maintenance of Weston’s trails and open spaces. WFTA has been hosting Sunday Walks for over sixty years.

Please check the home page for any last minute changes or developments. Support your local land trust!

See you there!