Every December, birders in coastal Massachusetts anticipate the arrival of Snowy Owls.  Although we’ve become accustomed to seeing them on the Cape the last several years, their visits are not guaranteed.  So, it was exciting news that Snowy Owls have been spotted making their way south from the Arctic tundra to southeastern Massachusetts, with sightings reported at Corporation Beach in Dennis on December 21.

Before you grab your binoculars, spotting scope, or camera, review these reminders from Mass Audubon about ethical birding practices:  https://www.massaudubon.org/newsc/latest/snowy-owls-are-back-in-massachusetts-here-s-what-you-need-to-know.  Make these visitors feel welcome – and avoid disturbing them – by giving them the space they need!

AviList: A Unified Global Checklist of the World’s Birds is Now Available

AviList: A Unified Global Checklist of the World’s Birds is Now AvailableAviList: A Unified Global Checklist of the World’s Birds is Now AvailableA new unified global bird checklist, AviList, the most authoritative and up-to-date taxonomy of the world’s birds, was released on 11 June by a global team of experts in taxonomy, nomenclature, and bioinformatics. This collaboration includes researchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the American Ornithological Society, BirdLife International, the International Ornithologists’ Union, and other leading institutions.

The new list recognizes 11,131 bird species across 252 families, offering a single, harmonized reference point for ornithologists, conservationists, and birders around the world. “In trying to protect birds at a global scale, it is important to ensure that everyone is talking the same language and the data match,” says Marshall Iliff, an AviList team member and eBird project leader at the Cornell Lab.

Click here for more information

We are pleased to announce that two Cape Cod teens have been awarded the “Hog Island Mountains to Sea Birding for Teens” scholarships.

Congratulations to Ethan Seufert and Alex Russell! And, thanks to all who applied!

Go to the Cape Cod Teen Scholarship page for more information.

In addition to joining the club via US Mail, you may now join or renew online with either a PayPal account or credit card.  The checkout process is done with PayPal, but you do not have to have a PayPal account to use it. The club has no access to your credit card information, and no credit card information is stored on the club’s website.

Go to Join Online from either the menu above (Join –> Join Online), or clicking here.