Harris Center News

Open Lodge & Grounds Accessibility Project: Opening New Doors to Nature

A new project is underway to improve accessibility of the Harris Center grounds and create a new outdoor gathering space for events both large and small.

The 20-Minute Nature Fix

Harris Center birding expert Phil Brown shares how a simple visit to the Hiroshi parking area and trailhead can provide a front-row seat to spring’s unfolding beauty.

Little Voices, Big Wonders: Exploring Wildlife Through Music

Harris Center teacher-naturalist and musician Jazimina Creamer-MacNeil brings the magic of music and nature to every First Friends preschool in the ConVal school district.

Field Report from the 2024 Saw-whet Owl Banding Project

2024 was our third season of saw-whet owl banding on SuperSanctuary lands. Here are the highlights!

The Diary of an Easement Monitoring Intern

Easement monitoring intern Kate McKay shares her memorable encounters with nature while exploring the Harris Center’s SuperSanctuary.

Field Report from the 2024 Vernal Pool Project

In 2024, Harris Center interns and community scientists documented 10 new vernal pools on conserved land in Amherst, Fitzwilliam, and Hancock.

Nature’s Voice: Poetry at Winter’s End

We’re delighted share the poems of Sue Copley, Cathy George, Sandy Taylor, and Anna Leversee, who participated in the “Transitions” nature poetry workshop with Brian Evans-Jones at the Harris Center in the spring of 2024.

150 Supporters Celebrate Honorees at the 2024 Annual Meeting

On October 20, the Harris Center hosted its 54th Annual Meeting at the Peterborough Players, welcoming nearly 150 supporters for an afternoon of celebration, reflection, and recognition.

A Solar Milestone

In September of 2024, the Harris Center moved to 100% solar electricity by adding two solar ground mounts in a sunny patch behind our building.

A Raptor Conservation Update: Summer 2024

This summer, we monitored Broad-winged Hawk nests, expanded our kestrel nest box program, prepared for the 20th season of hawk migration monitoring at the Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory, and more.

Summer Interns Contribute to Research & Stewardship Efforts

In the summer of 2024, student interns provided essential support for a wide variety of projects, from conservation easement monitoring to forest inventory.

Monitoring American Goshawks in the SuperSanctuary & Beyond

A new Harris Center research project is using acoustic monitoring to search for the secretive American Goshawk, a species in decline.