Author Archives: Hillary T.

About Hillary T.

Where: Mass Audubon Headquarters, Lincoln Who: Massachusetts transplant by way of Florida and New York. Raising two young girls, who she hopes will be budding naturalists Favorite part of the job: Learning something new every day from some of the smartest and most enthusiastic groups of people

Lauren Kras looking through binoculars

The Latest from Tidmarsh

Posted on April 23, 2018 by Hillary T.

Last spring, we asked for your help to raise the $3.6 million needed to turn a 481-acre former cranberry farm in Plymouth into a wildlife sanctuary for all to enjoy. And so many of you responded with enthusiasm and generosity.

Sanctuary Director Lauren Kras

Sanctuary Director Lauren Kras

Since that time, we officially purchased the property, welcomed the sanctuary’s inaugural director, created trails, installed signs, and added a parking lot. In January, the ribbon was figuratively cut on Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary. And that is just the beginning, thanks to the leadership of Lauren Kras, Sanctuary Director.

Lauren comes to Mass Audubon from New Hampshire where she served as the President of the Seacoast Chapter of NH Audubon and Conservation Easement Steward at the New Hampshire Forest Society. An avid birdwatcher, conservationist, photographer, and hiker, Lauren holds a Master of Science degree in Plant Biology from the University of New Hampshire where she studied rare, threatened, and endangered plant species.

Alder in bloom at Tidmarsh

Alder in bloom at Tidmarsh

Putting her skills to work immediately she began the sanctuary’s sandplain restoration, opening more trails, and working with members of the community to share this beautiful sanctuary and programs with people of all ages and abilities.

See the progress for yourself this spring. In addition to Statewide Volunteer Day projects and weekly Herring Walks with Living Observatory, there will be a family-friendly Open House on Saturday, June 2. The Open House will provide opportunities to explore on your own, join a guided walk, meet the Tidmarsh team, and watch for herons and kestrels soaring overhead.

Noah’s Art

Posted on April 3, 2018 by Hillary T.

If you visit the Museum of American Bird Art (MABA) in Canton, you can see works by Andy Warhol, Barry Van Dusen, Frank Benson, John James Audubon, and Noah, age 8. Noah, who lives in Holliston, is one of the many young artists from around the country who has participated in MABA’s Taking Flight: Juried Youth Bird Art Exhibition.

For the past 2 years, the museum has put out a call to children ages 4-18 to submit their drawings and paintings of birds. Of the submissions, 28 are chosen for the exhibition, the opening of which includes a chance to meet renowned bird artists such as David Sibley (2016) and Barry Van Dusen (2017).

For Noah, Taking Flight was an opportunity to combine two passions and learn along the way. “I love animals and I love drawing. So I love drawing animals!” he said, noting that he likes drawing birds “because they show us just how beautiful our world is and how important it is that we make nature conservation a priority.”

His piece Tweety Birds, Tweety Birds What Do You See? I See Beautiful Colors All Around Me, was selected for the 2017 exhibition and is now on view at MABA. This is something Noah is especially proud of—a feeling he wishes everyone can experience.

“I hope anyone who likes to draw takes the opportunity to enter!” Noah said. And now’s your chance. The 2018 exhibition is accepting entries through June 15, 2018.

Tweety Birds, Tweety Birds What Do You See? I See Beautiful Colors All Around Me by Noah Chen

We’ll be featuring more young artists on MABA’s blog, so be sure to subscribe!