Note: “A Sense of Place in the Connecticut Valley: What to Expect in our Bird World” John Green, Naturalist & Photographer, who has over 35 years of experience of birding in the Pioneer Valley and many other locations around the world.

Arrive To: Program registration: After you have registered for your room at the Clarion Hotel, registration for program will be held in breakfast service area of the hotel where you'll receive your arrival packet containing the most up-to-date schedule. At 4:30 the group leader will provide an orientation in the breakfast area to the logistics of the week and participants will get acquainted with each other. Please be aware that the program is subject to change based on local conditions and unforeseen circumstances. Participants will be notified a soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Dinner: Dinner is in the breakfast area at the Clairon Hotelt featuring traditional New England fare that will highlight the bounty of local farms’ seasonal harvests. Vegetarians and special dietary restrictions can be accommodated with prior notice; please be sure to indicate you needs on your health and safety form.

Evening: Evening: Hear a fascinating and animated introductory lecture: "A Sense of Place in the Pioneer Valley: What to Expect in our Bird World" by John Green, local naturalist and nature photographer with 38 years of experience walking the nooks and crannies of the valley. In previous sessions of this program, the group spotted over 50 different species on the walks led by John.

Lodging: Clarion Hotel

Note: Planned walks on the Norwottuck Rail Trail from Amherst, the Quabbin Reservoir in Belchertown, Historic Deerfield - with a tour of a historic museum house, and the Great Falls Discovery Center and Barton Cove on the Connecticut River. Final routes for all field trips will be evaluated by bird guides to assess the current bird activity to maximize the number of species viewed. In the evening Scott Surner will provide a lecture on the history of Westover and an introduction to its habitat.

Breakfast: The day starts with continental breakfastt Clarion Hotel at 5:00 a.m. The group will board a van for early field trip at 5:30 a.m. The group will meet birding guide, John Green, at Norwottuck Rail Trail and the move to the Quabbin Reservoir for a long walk. The week prior to the program John will evaluate the best route for the most species of the birds based on local seasonal conditions. Possible species that could be sited are Yellow-throated and Blue-headed Vireos; Blue-gray Gnat-catcher; Chestnut-sided , Pine, Black-and-white, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, and Cerulean Warblers; Ovenbird, Hermit and Wood Thrush; Least Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee; Eastern Towhee; and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. After the walk, participants will have a hot and hearty brunch the Hawley Family Restaurant in Belchertown.

Morning: After brunch, participants will board the van and travel to Rattlesnake Gutter Road in Leverett or other birding location of note and of seasonal interest for a short, scenic walk with John Green which can offer a wide variety of birds including: Pileated Woodpecker, Winter Wren, Veery, Common Ravens, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Dark-eyed Junco.

Lunch: Early lunch/brunch at Hawley Family Restaurant in Belchertown

Afternoon: The afternoon will start with a tour of the Well-Thorn House of Historic Deerfield that interprets the history of the village through time from 1740 to 1850. There will be short free time for a self-guided bird walk around the village or to visit other museum houses. After two hours of time in the village the group will board the van again for a field trip to the Great Falls Discovery Center located in Turners Falls on the Connecticut River. Here they will enjoy an exhibit that interprets the habitats of the entire Connecticut Valley from the Connecticut lakes in Northern New Hampshire to the river delta marshes near New Haven, Connecticut. Expert center staff will orient participants to the exhibits and tell to story of the creation of the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge that protects key habitats in the Connecticut River watershed. After the visiting the center, participants will travel back to Greenfield to enjoy a scenic walk at Poet's Seat Tower to overlook the valley and view a variety of warblers and other species.

Dinner: The Clarion Hotel will provide a hearty meal.

Evening: Participant will learn more about the threats and challenges facing bird habitats in the Valley with a lecture from Scott Surner, President of the Hampshire Bird Club. Scott, a lifelong birder, is passionate about local birds and will share is commitment to conserving the habitats of the valley. Scott will also provide a brief history of the Westover Airforce Base and why it continues to be one the best birding destinations in the Pioneer Valley. The evening will end early to give people enough rest for a 5:30 a.m. departure Wednesday morning.

Lodging: Clarion Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Birds of Lower Pioneer Valley and Overview of the Entire Connecticut River Valley

Note: Westover Air Force Base*, Chicopee *Alternate if security disallows Westover will be Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge, Longmeadow. At Westover, please be mindful that ticks are present in the grassland environment and come prepare, in the morning - home of one of the largest populations of Upland Sandpipers and Grasshopper Sparrows in New England. In the afternoon a hilltown birding destination based on local species activity. In evening John Green will provide slideshow bird and nature photo

Breakfast: The day starts with continental breakfast at the Clarion Hotel at 5:00 a.m. The group will board a van for early field trip at 5:30 a.m. The group will meet their expert guide at the Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee (which requires security clearance and can not be confirmed until about a month before the trip, the necessary information from participants will be collected in the event that access for the field trip is approved by the local Air Force superintendent). At Westover, participants will be able to view one of the largest populations of Upland Sandpipers in New England as well as the Grasshopper Sparrow and Bobolink. During the 2011 session of this program, participants spotted 45 and 2012 session spotted 31 different species on the field trip. If Westover is unavailable due to unforseen circumstances the group will meet their guide at the Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge along the Connecticut River in Longmeadow The species that can be viewed at Fannie Stebbins are Great Blue and Green Heron, Wood Duck, Belted Kingfisher. After the morning bird walk, participants will have a hot and hearty breakfast/lunch at the Bernie's Dining Depot in Chicopee (if birding at Westover) or Christo's in Agawam (if birding in Longmeadow).

Lunch: The group will receive a hearty brunch after walk at the Westover Air Force Base at Bernie's Dining Depot in Chicopee. Bernie's is a local institution that the locals frequent and bring their out-of-towns guest to.

Afternoon: After a brief free time for clean up after the field trip to Westover, the group will head to a hill town destination for birding in the higher woodland area of the Pioneer Valley. Final destination will be based on the local bird activity in habitats.

Dinner: The Clarion Hotel will provide a hearty dinner .

Evening: John Green will share his many years of nature photography from around the world and early to bed to rest for 5:30 a.m. departure for morning field trip.

Lodging: Clarion Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Final Bird Walk at the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton where participants will find a large Blue Heron rookery along the Connecticut River oxbow.

Breakfast: The day starts with continental breakfast Clarion Hotel at 5:00 a.m.

Morning: At 5:30 the group will board the van for a final field trip to the Arcadia Wildlike Sancturary on the Oxbow of the Connecticut River in Easthampton. Participants will find a large Blue Heron Rookery at the location.

Lunch: The Clarion Hotel will provide a box lunch upon return from field trip for participants to take with them on their way home.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch