A Nature Year - at The Nest at the MABA Education Center

Immerse yourself in a full year of local natural history. With a skilled Mass Audubon naturalist as your guide, experience the cycle of the seasons at The Nest at the Museum of American Bird Art Education Center in Canton and gain extensive natural history knowledge-all while receiving the many benefits of spending time outdoors. Each month, you will focus on a special topic, natural community, or seasonal phenomenon. In autumn, learn about bird and monarch migration, fall colors, mushrooms, seed ecology, and more. As the temperatures drop, explore tree ecology, tracks, owls, and more. During spring, we'll study vernal pools, amphibians, bird migration, nesting, and more. Finally, spend the summer delving into milkweed and their insect village, night sounds, and summer ecology.

Make the most of your relationship with nature-join today.

Most sessions will meet the third Wednesday of each month from 10am to noon, September 2025-August 2026. Exceptions: We’ll meet on February 11 and August 12. July 15 will be an evening program, 7-9 pm.

We will usually start inside at The Nest with an introduction and overview of topics and then head out for our adventure in the field which will be at least 90 minutes outside. We’ll travel mainly on trails, actively exploring and experiencing various habitats and sanctuary spots.

Here is what we have planned. There might be an occasional change in timing or topic depending on what nature provides.

September 17, 2025 -Migration: Monarchs and Bird Migration

October 15, 2025 -Fall Forest: Fall Colors and Mushrooms

November 19, 2025 - Oaks, Seeds, and Insect Galls

December 17, 2025 -Trees & their buds

January 21, 2026 - Tracks, Traces, and Winter Ecology

February 11, 2026 - Great Horned Owls, Barred Owls, and more

March 18, 2026 - Getting Ready for Spring

April 15, 2026 -Vernal Pools and Amphibians

March 18, 2026 - Getting Ready for Spring

May 20, 2026 - Forest Ephemeral Wildflowers, Bird Migration, and Nesting

June 17, 2026 - Milkweed and the Milkweed Insect Village

July 15, 2026 - Night sounds, night life, evening walk - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Aug 12, 2026 - Butterflies, Moths, and Host Plants