Queer Early Spring Birding Hike - Western Massachusetts
April 13, 2024 — 9:00 - 12:00 pm ET
Rain date: April 14, 2024
Last day to register: April 10, 2024
Join volunteer Sam and your fellow queer nature enthusiasts for a birding hike in Western MA to celebrate the “most wonderful time of the year”—spring migration! Mid-April is the perfect time to get our eyes on early migrating songbirds who have just started to arrive from their wintering grounds. We might even see some nesting great blue herons if we are lucky! Along the way, we’ll keep an eye out for spring ephemerals and other flora emerging in the forest understory.
We will plan on hiking for 2.8 miles round trip, following a stream that winds through the woods and ending up at a beautiful lake view. We will move slowly as a group, stopping frequently to take in the nature unfolding around us and share our observations with each other. The majority of the trail is relatively flat and wide, with gentle inclines, but there are some narrow sections that may require navigating around rocks, roots, or mud. Although this is a beginner-friendly trail, it is not wheelchair-accessible.
Binoculars are highly recommended for this hike, but feel free to bring whatever equipment you find most comfortable when birding, be they binoculars, a camera, or even just your sharp eyes and ears.
We ask folks under the age of 18 to please register themselves and an adult to accompany them.
If you require a service dog to attend, please let us know and we collaborate with you on how to keep you both comfortable and hydrated on the hike.
GENERAL INFO
Location: Northampton area, MA
(Nipmuc, Pocumtuc, and Nonotuck lands)
Parking: Dirt parking lot by trailhead. No restroom is available at the trailhead.
Pets: While we love pets, we ask furry friends remain home on this adventure.
Meet: April 13, 2024
Hike: 2.8 miles, 160 ft elevation gain
Cost: $0-$20 sliding scale
To find out where you fall best in our sliding scale, see the “Why does this trip cost money?” dropdown below.
Bring: Please bring water, snacks, comfortable walking or hiking shoes, bug spray, sunscreen, weather-appropriate clothing, and binoculars (not required, but recommended)
COVID SAFETY
Masks are not required during this event, however they are welcomed if wearing one allows you to better engage with the group. PLEASE be mindful of your own and group safety. If you or anyone in your household are not feeling well, do not participate in a hike.
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Our sliding scale is meant to make our trips and events more accessible for those who have financial barriers. Paying a higher amount allows us to provide more opportunities to others. Paying a smaller amount is recommended for those who would not otherwise be able to afford the estimated value. Please choose an amount that you will be able to pay, but will not hinder your ability to afford food, housing, etc. By paying as much as you can, we are able to serve more of our community members.
Our sliding scale recommendation:
- Low: Yearly income $30,000 or under, struggles to meet basic needs
- Mid (pays estimated value): Yearly income $40,000-$75,000, some expendable income
- High: Yearly income $80,000-$100,000, comfortable, never struggle with basic needs
Need more examples? We follow the Green Bottle principle. Click here to view and find out where you fall.
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Information for our land acknowledgment was gathered from nativeland.ca, which provides an estimate of original indigenous land occupation, but does not take into account migratory patterns or movement of the many surrounding communities. We recognize the historical complexity of indigenous movement across the land, and honor with gratitude the many, many surviving native nations whose land we benefit from in our work to diversify the outdoors.
