Accessible bird outing at Fannie Stebbins National Wildlife Refuge, Longmeadow, MA
When: Sunday November 19, 10:00AM
Anticipated birds: Ducks, herons, gulls, sparrows and raptors.
Where we’ll meet: Park along the road near the intersection of Pondside Rd & Birnie Rd. There is no designated parking area, but pulling off on Pondside Rd is acceptable and safe.
You’ll see a pull-off and a boardwalk leading to a gazebo. There is no parking lot or designated van-accessible parking.
The nearest bus stop is the flag stop at the intersection of Longmeadow St & Summit Ave, about a mile from our meeting location. (The walk from this bus stop runs along GORGEOUS birding habitat, but please get in touch if you need a ride from here.)
You can meet us for all or some of the time. If you are running late, please look for us along the stretch of Pondside Rd described below!
Accessibility & what to expect: This location can be birded with a stationary effort including from the accessible, covered gazebo or from your car. Depending on interest and prevailing weather conditions, we may walk a short distance (less than 0.5 mile) south along Pondside Rd, which is a flat asphalt road with low traffic and many pedestrians.
The road and the boardwalk that overlooks the ponds can usually be navigated by wheelchairs and other mobility aids (but may not meet accessibility standards in case of freezing precipitation).
The gazebo has benches and guardrails that don’t obstruct a seated view. There are no bathrooms but a portable toilet is occasionally present a quarter mile away.
Please note that Pondside Rd runs parallel to the railway tracks, and while trains are infrequent and typically out of view from the road, the noise and proximity to our birding route may be difficult for those who experience auditory/sensory overload.
Safety: At this time, our events are only open to vaccinated participants. 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!)
What to bring: Please bring a mask! Binoculars will be available to borrow if you don’t have one. A scope is also recommended and we will have a couple to share.
[Image description: On an orange watercolor background, there’s a border of fall foliage leaves and branches. In the lower right there is a brown image of a sparrow on a branch. The image reads ‘Join Feminist Bird Club of Western Mass for a bird outing at Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge Longmeadow, MA Sunday November 19 10am. Meet at the intersection of Pond Rd & Birnie Rd.’]