We are delighted that Greg Gerritt, noted urban naturalist, environmental advocate, and wildlife videographer, will return to Blackstone Park to lead three morning walks along the Seekonk shoreline between May and September. The dates are May 10, June 6 and September 12. Greg will discuss urban wildlife, the making of wildlife videos, and the ecological challenges in the area.
As Greg notes, the tidewater and forest at Blackstone Park are a dynamic ecosystem strongly affected by the seasons. The first walk, in early May comes during the migratory and early breeding season activities of birds. You can see the active setting up of territories by birds that breed here as well as see some migrants passing through. The turtles in the ponds should be waking up, and the waterbirds will be taking advantage of the warming waters.
Early June is summer. Birds sitting on nests, and feeding youngsters. The trees are fully leafed out, the warmer waters on any given day can be teeming with fish, followed by waterbirds, or the schools could be elsewhere in the bay.
By September breeding season is over. Some of the migratory birds have flown the coop, heading for South America and other tropical places, while others take advantage of the still warm temperatures to fatten up before winter. September often sees the biggest schools of fish in the upper bay, and the flocks of water birds and shoreline hunters can be abundant. But every day is different in nature, the rhymes and rhythms are not quite something we understand, and the only way to know is to get out there and see what is going on.
Come for a walk, beginning at the Blackstone Park kiosk on Parkside Road proceeding through the park, along the Seekonk shore and returning to the kiosk.
To register please click here.
Kirsten A. Bagaglia, CRPC