Join naturalist, Cherrie Corey*, for a 7:30 AM walk on Sunday, May 12 to meet the season's songbird wave and other harbingers of spring. We will walk in the spirit of Marlboro College biologist, Bob Engel, an inspirational teacher to so many, who shared his passion for native birds and plants and his captivating understanding of the environments that sustained them.

We're starting a week earlier this year, with the hope for a clearer view of arriving migrants ahead of forest leaf out. Along the way, we may encounter various warblers, ovenbird, hermit thrush, winter wren, vireos, scarlet tanager, raven, and more. We'll attune our eyes and ears to their plumage and songs and give careful attention to their preferred habitat and location in the canopy. Spring ephemerals will be in their glory in the woodland and vernal pools will be teaming with life. Along the way, we'll stop at the bird banding station to see how the day's tally is coming and watch Eric Slayton and his team in action.

Meet at the Tower Trail trailhead kiosk, behind the Vermont Distillers building at 7755 VT Route 9. There is plenty of parking across Rte. 9 in the HMCA parking lot. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED; sign up by email to hmca@hogbackvt.org. The event is free and open to the public.

Bob Engel served as Biology professor at Marlboro College from 1975-2011 and on the board of Southeastern VT Audubon for many years. He gave numerous presentations for local environmental groups, led local and far-flung field study trips, including many spring migration walks at Hogback Mountain Conservation Area. Over the years he inspired so many to look deeply and connect passionately and wisely with the wide, WILD world.

*Cherrie Corey, a Marlboro resident, has been an active naturalist, photographer, and conservation steward for many decades. She served as director of the Harvard Museum of Cultural and Natural History, the Native Plant Trust | New England Wild Flower Society's first education director, and as principal naturalist for Great Meadows NWR in Concord, MA for many years. She currently advises and contributes to various organizations in southeastern Vermont and beyond.

May 18, 2024, 10 to 11 AM

May 18, 2024, 10:30 AM

May 22, 2024, 6 to 9 PM