Walks & Talks
BBC’s walk programs are free and open to the public. We ask that you register beforehand, which will allow us to answer any questions and notify you of any changes or cancellations. To sign up for any of the following walks, please send an email to Dave Pritchard at Registrar@BroadBrookCoalition.org. For more information call Dave Pritchard (413-695-8442).
A Wildlife Search at Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area
Brad Timm
Sunday, May 3, 10:00 a.m.–noon
North Farms Rd. entrance
Join wildlife ecologist and author of “America is Wild!” Brad Timm as we take a leisurely stroll looking and listening for a wide diversity of animals that live in the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area. We’ll look under logs for salamanders and other critters, keep our ears and eyes peeled for birds all around us, keep an eye out for evidence of different mammals (e.g., tracks, feeding evidence, scat, etc.), and much more! And we’ll learn fun facts about many of these animals we come across. All ages are welcome and encouraged to join! Copies of “America is Wild!” will be available for purchase ($20), and Brad is more than happy to sign them as well.
Spring Bird Walk
Lesley Farlow and Steve Winn
Saturday, May 9, 7:30–10:00 a.m.
Marian St. entrance
Lesley Farlow and Steve Winn, experienced birders and members of the Hampshire Bird Club, will lead a bird walk along the Marian St. Trail to the bird blind, along the Boggy Meadow and Pines Edge Trails for a total of about 2 miles. We will look for breeding migrants and resident birds as we pass through a number of different habitats. We should be able to see and hear some migrating warblers, Wood Thrushes, and Red-eyed Vireos. We may see Tree Swallows, Great Blue Herons, Belted Kingfishers, and more. We will have a few extra pairs of binoculars, if needed. Co-sponsored by Hampshire Bird Club. For directions to the Marian St. entrance see broadbrookcoalition.org/about-fitzgerald-lake/how-to-visit.
Pyrophilous (Fire-loving) Fungi Walk
Peter Russell, Karen Hidalgo
Sunday, May 17, 1:30–4:00 p.m.
Laurel Park and Marian St. entrance
Peter Russell and Karen Hidalgo from the Pioneer Valley Mycological Association will lead this program focusing on fungi that thrive in burned-over landscapes. We will meet at 1:30 at Laurel Park’s Normal Hall for a talk on fire-loving fungi followed by a walk at 3:00 to the site of the 2024 brush fire near the Swamp Forest Trail in Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area. The walk will begin at the Marian St. entrance to FLCA. From there it is about a 15-minute walk along Middle Path to the burn site. Co-sponsored by the Pioneer Valley Mycological Association and Broad Brook Coalition. Laurel Park is located off Route 5 in Northampton. For directions to the Marian St. entrance see broadbrookcoalition.org/about-fitzgerald-lake/how-to-visit.
Spring Nature Walk
Rich Baker
Saturday, May 23, 9:00–11:00 a.m.
North Farms Road entrance
Rich Baker, a conservation biologist and curious naturalist, will lead a walk focused on the plants and animals we see along our way. We’ll discuss the ecological relationships around us, share what we know, and wonder about things we don’t know. There will be spring wildflowers to identify, trees to marvel at, birds to find and songs to learn, as well as the surprises and adventures that nature always provides. Bring binoculars, if you have some.
Learn Your Ferns
Randy Stone
Saturday, June 27, 10:00 a.m.–noon (rain date Sun., June 28)
North Farms Rd. entrance
Ever wonder if you might be susceptible to fernophilia? Join Randy Stone of the Pioneer Valley Fern Society for a walk through the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area, finding common ferns and club mosses of our area. Learn the key features for easy identification of our “top 10” native ferns and maybe some uncommon ones too. Start creating a list of ferns of Fitzgerald Lake! Bring a hand lens if you have one. Wear clothing appropriate for possible encounters with poison ivy, insects including ticks, or muddy ground.
Late Summer Wildflowers
Connie Parks, botanist
Saturday, August 29, 10:00 a.m.–noon
Cooke Ave. entrance
Hike through cool forest to Fitzgerald Lake, and explore the meadows at the dam and in Cooke’s Pasture. Identification and interpretation of summer flora and preview of fall asters and goldenrods will be provided. Bring a hand lens and field guide if you have them, but we will have others to share. We will be walking Boggy Meadow Road, which may have wet, muddy patches, so water-resistant footwear is advised. Insect repellent and tick protection are also recommended. Connie lives in Florence and uses her expertise in plant and soil science in volunteering at Mass Audubon’s Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary and the Botanic Garden of Smith College.
The Fungi of Fitzgerald Lake
Peter Russell
Saturday, September 19, 10:00 a.m.–noon
North Farms Road entrance
Join Peter Russell of the Pioneer Valley Mycological Association for another in his walks examining the fungi found in the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area. This walk will consider the natural history of the fungi that grow in the FLCA, in particular their different types of feeding strategies and substrates, and their associations with the different species of trees. Peter is at work on an illustrated book on the fungi he has found and photographed at Fitzgerald Lake.
Workdays at the FLCA
Annual Cleanup at the North Farms Road Entrance
Saturday, May 16, 9:00–11:00 a.m.
This is the day for cleaning up the North Farms Road entrance to the FLCA. We’ll clear winter debris from the path to the bridge and boardwalk, pick up trash in the parking lot, and remove by hand invasive plants such as garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed, and multiflora rose in the adjoining woods. Please help us spruce up this heavily used route to the conservation area. Tools will be provided. Contact Tom Annese at tannese@northamptonma.gov for further information.
Shrubland Habitat and Native Plants
Sunday, June 7, 9:00 a.m.–noon
Several years ago, we established three “islands” of native shrubs in Cooke’s Pasture to provide food and habitat for shrubland birds and small mammals. We return every year to prune the shrubs, cut back competing undergrowth, and replace plants that have not survived the winter. Tools will be provided, though additional clippers are always welcome. Wear long pants and bring along your favorite insect repellent. Note: The Cooke Ave. parking lot will likely still be closed for construction at this date. You can walk to Cooke’s Pasture from the Marian St. entrance (via Marian St. Trail and Boggy Meadow Rd. to the dam) or from the North Farms Rd. entrance (via the Lake Trail to the dam). We’ll meet at the dam at 9:30, or in Cooke’s Pasture any time after that. Contact Tom Annese at tannese@northamptonma.gov for further information.
Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
Saturdays: June 20, July 11, July 25, August 15; Sunday, September 13.
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Several years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called “pull early, pull often.” In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2025 the yield was down to 260 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, water chestnut seeds can remain viable for up to ten years on the lake bottom so we plan to continue our work again this year. We’ll organize crews in late May, begin pulling in mid-June, and continue at 3-week intervals throughout the summer. Volunteers should bring their own canoes or kayaks. If interested, contact Tina White by email (broadbrooktreasurer@gmail.com) or phone (413-341-0240) for further information.