Join the Hoffmann Bird Club (HBC) of Berkshire County on Monday, September 8, to celebrate its 85th Anniversary at Berkshire Community College! Social hour will start at 6:00 PM, with the meeting and programs starting at 7:00 PM in the Susan B. Anthony building, 1st Floor. The event will be complete with a birthday cake and presentations from several HBC Members. The event is free and open to the public. Everyone is invited!

There will be a brief meeting, and mini programs to follow. On the roster are:

• Dick Ferren, who will introduce us to his new book, “The Birds of Rhode Island.” Dick is a former professor of Life Sciences at BCC, and recipient of the 2020 “Distinguished Naturalist” by the Rhode Island Natural History Survey. [There will be a limited number of these books will be available for sale.]
• Zach Adams, who will discuss his new book, “The Birds of New England.” Throughout his career in conservation— working with National Audubon, Mass Audubon, and Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy, and now Trout Unlimited— Zach’s knowledge and enthusiasm have helped hundreds of people connect with birds. [His new book will be available for sale.]
• Chip Blake, HBC’s current president, who will tell us about: “The History of Birding in Berkshire County.” Chip has lived in Berkshire County for almost three decades, exploring every corner of it as a naturalist and birdwatcher. He is the author of The Birds of Berkshire County, to be published later this year by the Nuttall Ornithological Club. Earlier, he served for 25 years as the editor of Orion magazine.
• Steven Miller, HBC Vice President, Website and Social Media – Steven Miller will preview the new Hoffmann Bird Club archive, containing bird sightings, field trip reports, and other historical documents from the club’s 85 years of birding the Berkshires. This physical archive will be housed at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield and a digital archive will be available on the website this fall.

The Hoffmann Bird Club, established in 1940, promotes the study and appreciation of birds in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Named in honor of naturalist Ralph Hoffmann, the club has played a vital role in ornithological education, conservation, and community science for 85 years. With nearly 400 members, the Hoffmann Bird Club organizes a wide range of birdwatching events, field trips, and educational programs while participating in long-standing traditions such as the Bartlett Hendricks Memorial Waterfowl Census and the Christmas Bird Count. The club is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization and remains dedicated to fostering a community of bird enthusiasts and protecting the region’s rich bird diversity for future generations. For more information and upcoming events, visit www.hoffmannbirdclub.org.

DATE: Monday, September 8

TIME: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

LOCATION: Susan B. Anthony Annex (former cafeteria) at Berkshire Community College, 1350 West Street, Pittsfield, MA