{"id":928,"date":"2012-10-09T07:58:41","date_gmt":"2012-10-09T11:58:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/blogs\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=928"},"modified":"2012-10-09T07:58:41","modified_gmt":"2012-10-09T11:58:41","slug":"saving-sibley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/saving-sibley\/","title":{"rendered":"Saving Sibley"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>When you’re in the business of protecting land as we are, we\u2019re often sending out requests for help. And when it came to the Sibley and Warner Farms property in Spencer, you heard our calls loud and clear. On Monday, June 4, we permanently protected the\u00a0350-acre property for conservation, farming, and public use, for all time!<\/p>\n

What\u2019s so special about this land? The former Sibley and Warner Farms make up one of the most spectacular undeveloped properties in central Massachusetts. Its rolling hayfields, upland forests, and wetlands offer clean water, productive farmland, and an abundance of wildlife, including otter, beaver, fisher, waterfowl, and songbirds.<\/p>\n

Many people know the property from hiking the Mid-State Trail, hunting its woods, snowmobiling the Snowbirds trail, or just driving past and admiring the beautiful view of the pond and hayfields along Route 9.<\/p>\n

The property seemed lost to development forever when developers won approval for a shopping center and 300-unit condo development in 2005. But then the economy turned down, the bank foreclosed, and suddenly the land had a second chance.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Along with our partners (Town of Spencer<\/a>, Greater Worcester Land Trust<\/a>, and Common Ground Land Trust<\/a>), we needed to quickly raise $2.91 million. A tall order, for sure. But thanks to over 400 generous donors, the residents of Spencer, the Massachusetts Landscape Partnership<\/a> and Agricultural Preservation Restriction Programs<\/a>, and enthusiastic 7th and 8th\u00a0graders from Central Tree Middle School in Rutland, we met our goal just in time.\u00a0Now the land is safely and permanently in the hands of the Greater Worcester Land Trust and Mass Audubon.<\/p>\n

Since June, we\u2019ve barely had time to catch our breath. We\u2019ve been busy preparing plans, obtaining permits, and beginning construction on the new parking and trailhead on Greenville Street that will serve not only the Sibley and Warner farms but also as the new main entrance to our Burncoat Pond Wildlife Sanctuary<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The dilapidated buildings on the site came down over Labor Day weekend; trails are being improved and meadows mown. And plans are well underway for our big celebration on Sunday, October 14, at 2 pm, which is open to all. Email us<\/a> for details on the event and to RSVP.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you’re in the business of protecting land as we are, we\u2019re often sending out requests for help. And when it came to the Sibley and Warner Farms property in Spencer, you heard our calls loud and clear. On Monday, June 4, we permanently protected the\u00a0350-acre property for conservation, farming, and public use, for all […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[10,12],"tags":[62,92],"class_list":["post-928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-land-protection","category-project-updates","tag-land","tag-sibley-farm"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-eY","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":8809,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/young-explorers-coloring-contest-warblers-by-number\/","url_meta":{"origin":928,"position":0},"title":"Young Explorers Coloring Contest: Warblers by Number","author":"Ryan D.","date":"April 4, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"In the spring issue of\u00a0Explore member newsletter, we\u00a0asked kids to fill in a color-by-numbers page of native warblers and send us a picture of themselves with their completed coloring sheet. One lucky artist will win a copy of the Sibley Birds Coloring Field Journal, signed by David Sibley himself, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Stuff We Love"","block_context":{"text":"Stuff We Love","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/stuff-we-love\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Veronica, age 4","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/03\/Veronica-age-4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12298,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-central-colombia-birding-tour\/","url_meta":{"origin":928,"position":1},"title":"Take 5: Central Colombia Birding Tour","author":"Hillary T.","date":"February 4, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A paradise for birders, Colombia has the highest bird species count of any country in the world, with well over 1,900 species. Mass Audubon's Bertrand Chair of Ornithology Joan Walsh and ornithologist, author, and artist David Sibley recently led 11 travelers on a 12-day Mass Audubon Natural History Travel adventure\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/02\/Crimson-rumped-Toucanets.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/02\/Crimson-rumped-Toucanets.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/02\/Crimson-rumped-Toucanets.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10760,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/noahs-art\/","url_meta":{"origin":928,"position":2},"title":"Noah’s Art","author":"Hillary T.","date":"April 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"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\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Young Explorers"","block_context":{"text":"Young Explorers","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/young-explorers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/04\/Noah_600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/04\/Noah_600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/04\/Noah_600.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1334,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/a-seasonal-change-of-clothes\/","url_meta":{"origin":928,"position":3},"title":"A Seasonal Change of Clothes","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"December 27, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"With the hard work of raising young behind them, many birds shed their tired, worn-out feathers (a process called molting) in winter and replace them with new ones.\u00a0But not all birds make a simple one-for-one swap. Some species turn dull, while others nearly completely flip their plumages. Here are a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2012\/12\/AmericanGoldfinchWinterValerie-Rene%C3%A9Flickr_small.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11843,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/mass-audubons-2018-holiday-gift-guide-is-here\/","url_meta":{"origin":928,"position":4},"title":"Mass Audubon’s 2018 Holiday Gift Guide is Here","author":"Ryan D.","date":"November 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Have you heard? Now through Sunday, November 18, Mass Audubon members can save 20% on our fantastic selection of nature-themed gifts, toys, books, and more in the Mass Audubon Shop.* Visit us in person at the Mass Audubon Shop at Drumlin Farm in Lincoln or check out a selection of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Shop"","block_context":{"text":"Shop","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/shop\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Holiday Brush Owl","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/11\/Holiday-Brush-Owl-750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/11\/Holiday-Brush-Owl-750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/11\/Holiday-Brush-Owl-750.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/11\/Holiday-Brush-Owl-750.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7152,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/its-time-to-nest\/","url_meta":{"origin":928,"position":5},"title":"It’s Time to Nest","author":"Rosemary","date":"March 3, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Provide a home for birds, learn about their nests, and make your own nest cozier\u00a0with these picks from the Audubon Shop. Find a selection of items in our\u00a0online shop or visit us in person at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln, MA. Also, don't miss our in-store only events: Spring\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Stuff We Love"","block_context":{"text":"Stuff We Love","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/stuff-we-love\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Audubon Clock","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/02\/audubonclock.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/928","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=928"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/928\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}