Stanley Park offers outdoor programs
By Lori O'Brien
Correspondent
WESTFIELD-Award-winning naturalist/conservationist Art O'Leary will lead off Stanley Park's Nature Workshop Series on April 15 by seeking out the early signs of spring at the park.
In a collaborative effort between Stanley Park, Westfield State College, and the Greater Westfield community, 11 nature workshops led by local professionals in their field will be conducted on the 175-acre wildlife sanctuary at the park off Western Avenue. The workshops will introduce area residents to the Frank Stanley Beveridge Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary which is a unique haven for birds and wildlife.
During an interview with Reminder Publications, O'Leary said he will discuss the differences between the calendar spring (March 21/22) and meteorological spring (March 1), while seeking signs that signify the change of seasons and patterns.
O'Leary noted that he hopes participants will take their newly discovered ability of seeking out the early signs of spring to awaken their senses to the beauty that is all around us.
"In a park you thought you knew, imagine the potential return visits for education, quiet observation and shared discovery," he said.
During his two-hour walk and talk, O'Leary will cover vernal pools, awakening plants, shrubs, trees and returning bird and animal species.
"I hope to instill in people the desire to partake in the diverse cultural, educational, and fun offerings at the park," he added.
Participants will also complete blooming reports, bird censuses, and phenology charts, and then compare them to past records.
O'Leary, an environmental field biologist, is currently an instructor of natural history and outdoor adventure, as well as community education, at Westfield State College. He is also a certified mountain leader by the Appalachian Mountain Club, and an adviser to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. His resume of various accomplishments geared toward the environment spans more than two decades.
Always looking forward to plans to get away with family and friends and have some fun in the great outdoors, O'Leary is always on the go educating others on experiencing "a time and place never felt."
Holding on to the wonder of discovery and fostering it in others is a perfect way to describe O'Leary.
O'Leary is a former Westfield resident who grew up in Agawam within earshot of what is now Six Flags New England. Currently, he resides in Suffield, Conn.
During his April 15 presentation, O'Leary emphasized he hopes to unfold for participants the biological drama that is currently taking place in the wildlife sanctuary.
"Participants will learn how late winter and early spring are a starvation period for some wildlife, and a courtship time for others," he said, adding "they will also feel the warmth of the spring sun as it climbs in the sky."
O'Leary will also lecture on several other occasions, including on June 2, 2 p.m., on "Wetland and Watercourse Communities," on July 14, 2 p.m., "Invasive Plants and Species," on Aug. 25, 2 p.m., "Nature Along the Trail," and on Oct. 6, 2 p.m., with "Signs and Tracks of Wildlife."
The series on April 21 at 10 a.m. will feature speaker Tim Parshall discussing "Intro to Bird Watching." Parshall noted that this workshop will be an ideal way for beginners to start looking for and identifying spring birds returning to the area. He will talk about the most important characteristics of birds to look for so that one can identify them easily.
In addition, Parshall will introduce the basics to using binoculars effectively. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars, however, the park will also have some on hand for individuals to borrow. Individuals are also encouraged to bring a bird identification book if they have one.
Workshops also planned in the coming months include Janice Zepko's "Enjoy the Birds of Spring," May 20, 8 a.m.; Dave Lovejoy's "Spring Flowers," on May 20 at 2 p.m., and Parshall returns with "Hemlock Woolly Adelgid" on June 9 at 2 p.m. Also, Lovejoy presents "Identifying Local and Native Trees," June 23, 2 p.m., and "The Oak Forest" on Sept. 16 at 2 p.m.
All walks and workshops will meet at the entrance sign to the wildlife sanctuary. Participants are encouraged to bring along their field guides, binoculars and camera. Heavy rains will cancel the day's programming.
For more information on the outdoor classroom series, call the Stanley Park office at (413) 568-9312.
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