Join ACAB for a bird walk at Westover Air Force Base and Stony Brook Wetlands on Sunday, May 7!
Parking: We’ll park and meet on Tilley Street in Ludlow, a dead-end road off East Street. GPS coordinates are 42°13'03.9"N 72°30'23.1"W, or you can enter the address 99-53 Tilley St, Ludlow, MA 01056 in Google Maps. Parking is on the side of the road, but there is no traffic. Park before the gate. (Note: On Google maps, this area is called Westover Conservation Area.)
Trip leader: Rebecca Doris
What to expect: Expect warblers and other neotropical migrants, sparrows, thrushes, swallows and more. After about 1 mile, we will reach the perimeter fence of Westover Air Reserve Base, where we may be able to see upland sandpipers, Grasshopper Sparrows, eastern meadowlarks, American kestrels, and savannah sparrows.
What to bring: binoculars if you have them, footwear that is appropriate for muddy conditions, water. There are no benches or designated rest areas, but we will go slowly and stop as needed. We have extra loaner binoculars for those who need them.
Safety: This event is open to vaccinated participants only. Please be prepared to wear a mask if social distancing becomes difficult or if high-risk individuals are in attendance. (If a disability prevents you from meeting these requirements, you are still welcome here, but please contact us prior to the event so we can talk through how we can best support everyone's safety!) You should also expect ticks! To prevent ticks, it’s recommended to remain on trail, wear bright colors and long pants/long sleeves, and check yourself when you get home. More tick prevention tips from the CDC.
Accessibility: This is not a wheelchair accessible trail. There are two gates with narrow openings. The path is fairly flat and wide, but unpaved for the most part and feels like a typical woods walk with rocks, roots, and muddy/wet areas. Depending on the rainfall, it may be quite wet, so wear boots. There are no toilets. Please note that we have submitted a report to the town of Ludlow about a downed tree over one area of the path, but the tree may not be cleared by the time of this walk.If you have any other accessibility needs or questions please reach out to Rebecca.
You can meet us for all or some of the time, as always. See you then!
[Image description: Flyer of a photo of an Eastern Meadowlark perched in a grassy field. Text reads “Join ACAB/FBC Western Mass for a bird walk at Westover Air Force Base and Stony Brook Wetlands in Ludlow, MA on Sunday, May 6 at 8am. 2 miles walking. Flat and wide. Some roots and mud. Vaccinated only. Prepare for ticks.]