Keep Calm and Bird On: January 2024

January 2, 2024
“If you don’t look, you don’t see. You have to go and look.”
-Edith Andrews
The fact is, we never know what may show up in the winter. Look closely and you can see the unmistakable head of an-out-of season Whimbrel in the icy marsh. A young bird taking a late jaunt found the UMass Field Station marsh a welcome rest stop for almost a month.

Winter birding? For die-hard birders, it’s a no-brainer. Of course we want to look at birds in the winter! That’s the best time! Undistracted by summer hordes, birds enjoy the extra space, not to mention peace and quiet, that winter brings. And the cast of characters we see in winter is as different from the summer regulars, as lolling half naked on a towel is from the winter coat, gloves, headgear, boots, etc. that we put on to keep frostbite away.


For winter comfort, forget fleece. Layer wool. Insist on wind and water proof, emphasis on proof. It takes a serious commitment on the part of a manufacturer to produce functional clothing, and most can’t be bothered. Let’s face it, most so-called winter garb favors appearance over comfort and is designed to only cover the thirty seconds between the car and the door. But assuming one has already heeded the Irish maxim, “There’s no bad weather, just improper dressing,” there are still a few useful extra tips. One is to find a lee. Try a beach with the wind off-shore that day. Get on the lee side of a dune, a tree, a building. Or park in such a way that the car blocks the wind.


This makes it easier to enjoy the White-winged Gulls, alcids such as Razorbills, two species of Loons, three species of Scoters, or Harlequin, Common Eider, or Long-tailed Ducks. Red-necked or Horned Grebes in salt water, Pied-billed in fresh; the ubiquitous Buffleheads; or Canvasbacks or Red-heads, American Wigeon or Coot: there is plenty to look at in the winter. Yellow-rumped Warblers will be with us as long as there are bayberries to eat, and a stray Palm or Orange-crowned Warbler may linger into January.


No matter where you go, Nantucket is still a wonderful spot for birds in any season.


Photo by Ginger Andrews

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Maria Mitchell In Her Own Words

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • April 28, 2025
Lynn, Ap. 25 1869  My dear President, I am not sure I told you how long I must be away from the College. If I took only the Sunday’s rest, it would be possible for me to reach the Obs. By Tuesday, but I feel the need of more than one day of quiet, before I enter upon the new and incomprehensible life before me . . . William Mitchell died on April 19, 1869 and for the first time, Maria Mitchell was alone. Save for her trip to the southern United States and Europe in 1857 and 1858, her father was always by her side. She did not know much of a day in her life without him nearby and she knows that. It was difficult for her – and her siblings worried about her and this new world she was now in. She had been – expect for that trip – the caregiver for both of her parents. Her mother, Lydia Coleman Mitchell, died in 1861 on Nantucket and Maria had cared for her as well. She was the child who became the caregiver of the family – both in her youth as her siblings sought her out for care, humor, love, and adventures while their mother was busy with younger children and household duties – and then her parents as the only child who did not marry and remained by their sides. JNLF

Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association Re-Launches Marine Science Research and Mentoring Program for Students

April 15, 2025
NANTUCKET, MA—The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) is proud to announce its 2025 Marine Science Research and Mentoring Program for students grades eight through twelve. In collaboration with the Great Harbor Yacht Club Foundation (GHYCF), the Nantucket Shellfish Association (NSA), and the Town of Nantucket Natural Resources Department Brant Point Shellfish Hatchery (ToN BPSH), the Marine Science Research and Mentoring Program is an immersive two-week marine science program for students passionate about marine science and environmental stewardship. This summer, the program will include various interactive activities with an extraordinary opportunity to engage in real-world Nantucket Bay Scallop science research, gain hands-on experience in field studies, and work alongside expert mentors in a dynamic scientific environment all while giving students a comprehensive understanding of marine biology and environmental science. Instituted in 2016 by Dr. Valerie Hall, the program will continue this summer with a special emphasis on the impact of climate change on the timing of bay scallop reproduction and larval development and include a special focus on economic impact of the last remaining wild fishery. The program will offer a unique blend of professional guidance, scientific exploration, and academic career development. Participants will have the chance to contribute to ongoing Nantucket Bay Scallop research, assist in data collection, and learn about marine ecosystems and conservation strategies. As part of their mentoring experience, students will be paired with expert mentors, receiving personalized support and academic advice. For more details on the program and application instructions, visit the Maria Mitchell Association website. Program Dates and Application Process: The Marine Science Research and Mentoring Program will run across five, two-week sessions during the summer of 2025. The sessions are as follows: • Session I: June 16 - June 27 • Session II: June 30 - July 11 • Session III: July 14 - July 25 • Session IV: July 28 - August 8 • Session V: August 11 - August 22 Each session runs Monday through Thursday from 9am to 1pm, with extended hours on Fridays from 9am to 3pm. For Session II, the hours will be adjusted to Monday through Thursday, 9am to 1:30pm, with a special Friday schedule on Thursday July 3rd from 9am to 3pm to accommodate the July 4th holiday. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and students are encouraged to apply early for their preferred session.  To register, visit the MMA’s registration page here . Scholarship Opportunities: Through generous grants from the Nantucket Shellfish Association (NSA) and the Great Harbor Yacht Club Foundation (GHYCF), the Marine Science Research and Mentor program has available varying scholarships for Nantucket. These scholarships are intended to assist with program costs, ensuring that more local students have the opportunity to gain experience in marine science and research. History of the Bay Scallop Research and Mentor Program: Founded by Director Emeritus, Dr. Valerie Hall and since its inception in 2016, the program’s predominant focus has been on population, ecology, and reproductive biology of the Nantucket Bay scallop (Argopecten irradians). The program has since served over sixty students since 2016, ranging in age from eleven to twenty-two. Students participate in all aspects of ongoing research, as well as designing and carrying out their own independent projects, and enhancing both their scientific method, written, and oral communication skills. Support and Sponsors: This exciting program is made possible through the generous support of both paid and in-kind sponsors, including the Great Harbor Yacht Club Foundation, the Nantucket Shellfish Association, the Town of Nantucket Natural Resources Department, local businesses, and individual donors who are committed to advancing marine science education and conservation on Nantucket. About the Maria Mitchell Association: The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###
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