Q-MoB Queer Men's Dusk Birding/Peepers Easy Hike @ Arcadia (Easthampton,MA)

Saturday, 5:00-7:00pm
Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary
127 Combs Rd
Easthampton, MA 01027

A late afternoon hike at Mass Audubon’s Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in mid-May is arguably one of the most magical experiences in the Pioneer Valley. By visiting between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM on May 10th, you are hitting the "golden hour" for both the evening lighting and wildlife activity.

Spring bird migration will be right at its peak, and the wetlands will be incredibly alive. Here is what you can expect to see and hear, particularly around the Marsh Trail and the Observation Tower:

As the afternoon heat begins to fade, the wetlands transform into an acoustic amphitheater.

• The Marsh Symphony: The absolute dominant sound will be the trilling and calling of Red-winged Blackbirds. The males will be fiercely defending their territories in the reeds with their classic, metallic "conk-la-ree!" call.
• Amphibian Peeps and Croaks: While the early spring chorus of Spring Peepers might be starting to wind down, you will likely still hear them, joined by the banjo-like "plunk" of Green Frogs and the trills of Gray Treefrogs waking up for the evening.
• Warbler Chatter: Mid-May is peak warbler migration. If you listen closely to the brush and trees bordering the water, you'll hear the sweet, rapid-fire songs of Yellow Warblers (which sound like "sweet-sweet-sweet-I'm-so-sweet") and Common Yellowthroats.
• The Twilight Hunters: As you get closer to 7:00 PM, keep an ear out for the iconic "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?" call of the Barred Owl echoing from the deeper floodplain forest.

The 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM window is prime time for wetland residents to emerge for their evening foraging.

• Beavers and Muskrats: The water will likely be completely still, making it very easy to spot the V-shaped ripples of muskrats and beavers cruising through the marsh. This is their most active time of day!
• Aerial Acrobats: You will almost certainly see flocks of Tree Swallows swooping and diving just inches above the surface of the water, catching the evening hatch of insects.
• Wading Birds: Look toward the shallow edges and mudflats for Great Blue Herons stalking fish and frogs. You might also spot striking Wood Ducks weaving through the flooded timber.

The landscape itself will be in a state of rapid, vibrant transition.

• Lush Greenery: The massive, tropical-looking leaves of Skunk Cabbage will be fully unfurled, blanketing the muddy areas in bright green.
• Unrolling Ferns: You will see hundreds of ferns—like the Cinnamon Fern and Sensitive Fern—unrolling their fiddleheads along the damp trail edges.
• The Golden Hour: The sun will be getting lower in the sky, casting a beautiful, warm light across the oxbow and the Mount Tom Range in the background, making it a perfect time for photography.

WHAT TO BRING: Regardless of the forecast, in the Valley in the Spring, please be prepared for rain, cold, wind, mud, mosquitos, ticks, & low light conditions, and specifcally consider bringing:

• Rain-gear, and layers like wool hat, gloves, fleece, sweater, puffy jacket in case it becomes wetter, colder, or windier than was forecast
• Appropriate footwear for hiking in potentially wet, muddy portions of the trail
• Headlamp or flashlight
• Mosquito/tick repellant and/or long sleeve light colored shirt & light colored long pants tucked into your socks
• Water bottle & snacks
• Trekking poles or a walking stick (they make it safer in mud, or ascent or descent)
• $10-$20 Tax-Deductible Donation, in cash, or check made out to "Q-MoB Inc" (Q-MoB is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit), or so you never have to donate at any regular Q-MoB event, or just come for FREE if this is the very 1st Q-MoB event you have ever attended or you want a low-income work-exchange or scholarship.

WEATHER: Before you leave home, please check the weather for the hike location so you will know current conditions and how to dress for them. Please let us know your cell phone number when you register so we can text you 1-2 hours before the event should an unexpected weather threat arise that causes us to have to cancel or postpone the activity.

The Post-Hike Tick Prevention Protocol: Before getting back in your car, do a quick brush-down of your pants and boots. Once you get home, throw your hiking clothes directly into the dryer on high heat for 15 minutes (the dry heat kills ticks instantly, whereas the washing machine will not) and do a thorough full-body tick check in the shower.

ABOUT THIS

This hike is part of a series of Q-MoB LGBTQ outdoor recreation activities (hiking, biking, paddling, walking, swimming) funded by the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR) Inclusive & Accessible Events Grant Program and is designed to:

1) reduce isolation and build community connections between LGBTQ people in the Berkshires & Western Mass; click to learn about the many activities that have already been scheduled

2) build a diverse capacity in the LGBTQ community to regularly lead & offer outdoor recreation activities throughout the year; please if you'd like to learn how easy it is to help lead outdoor recreation activities for the LGBTQ community

3) educate the community about the natural & human history of important recreation sites, as well as how the native flora & fauna are responding to climate change & human use/restoration so the LGBTQ community will fall in love with those places and the organizations that maintain them and thereby participate in stewarding & enjoying those sites. Please call us at 413-344-8162 if you know LGBTQ or allied outdoor experts who know the ecology and/or history of any of the amazing Berkshire recreation sites and might want to get paid a small stipend to co-lead.

IMPORTANT: PLEASE if you would like to learn how you might volunteer or even get paid to help coordinate this series or co-lead a particular outdoor recreation activity, or just give us a call with your ideas and feedback: 413-344-8162.

OR : Besides making a donation to Mass Audubon at the beginning of your hike, please donate $10-$20 to help assure Q-MoB can continue to offer more than 20 activities & multiple resources & services to rural queer people all over the region. If you attend 2 or more Q-MoB events/month, please consider becoming a monthly sustaining donor member. By donating $25, $50, $75, or $100/month you can help to sustain the incredible variety of activities, services, and resources Q-MoB provides and assure all of these activities are accessible to men regardless of their age, income, or ability, and best of all you can avoid having to donate at each and every event you attend. Monthly Sustaining Members pay only once a month and then can attend all our activities with no further donation.

ACCESSIBILITY: We design our recreation activities so they are relatively easy & accessible to ambulatory adults with average strength, but if you have moblity challenges and want to know our capacity to support you, please or give us a call 413-344-8162. We are a very small non-profit with very limited access to outdoor recreation mobility devices and volunteers trained to provide accessibility assistance, but if we know about your needs, we will make our best effort to meet them, and we enjoy making our activities accessible to as broad a range of our community as possible.

REACHING US DAY OF EVENT: If you have trouble finding us, are running late, or decide not to come, please text or call Kreature, your hike leader at his cell phone number that will be in your confirmation email or call or text Q-MoB's info line: 413-344-8162

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