Shantigar Foundation
in Western Massachusetts
Arts
Meditation
Nature
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Jean-Claude van Itallie, Founder
1936 - 2021
Bird Walk
A Bird Walk
with Shantigar Foundation and the Franklin Land Trust
Saturday, June 15, 2024
6:30 - 9:30 AM
Free and open to all
Join us for an early morning bird walk on Warner Hill Trail in Rowe and Charlemont, Massachusetts, led by Land Steward Alex Wahlstrom from the Franklin Land Trust.
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Starting from Shantigar, we’ll traverse this public access trail across conserved land, winding along the crest of Warner Hill. This is a serene, rustic path suitable for wildlife observation. Keep an eye out for spring warblers, including redstarts, yellow-rumped, chestnut sided, and indigo buntings.
The Warner Hill Trail covers 2.5 miles, a round-trip distance of approximately 5 miles. Our leisurely walk will last 2-3 hours, with only two steep sections near the meadow portion of the trail. Boots are advised for wet or muddy areas. Bring snacks and water.
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We’ll meet with Alex at 6:15 am at the trailhead, located at the second parking area opposite Shantigar at 63 Davenport Road in Rowe, MA. (Signs will be posted.) If possible, consider carpooling. In case of rainy weather, we’ll reschedule the event for another day.
Alex Wahlstrom is Land Steward at the Franklin Land Trust and an enthusiastic birder.
Alex has studied environmental science at Greenfield Community College and UMass-Amherst and has worked on Upinngil Farm, which is dedicated to environmentally sound farming in the Connecticut River Valley, one of the most fertile places on earth.
About the Warner Hill Conservation Project
In 2021, five families and the Shantigar Foundation collaborated with the Franklin Land Trust; MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs; MA Department of Fish and Game; New England Forestry Foundation, and other generous donors to conserve more than 800 acres in Rowe and Charlemont, Massachusetts. Thanks to their support, most of Warner Hill remains pristine and will be protected for generations to come. The public access trail starting at Shantigar is free and open to all.
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https://www.franklinlandtrust.org/hawk-watch/
All bird pictures courtesy of Franklin Land Trust.
