Joining your local bird club is an excellent way to improve your birding skills, meet new people and make new friends, visit beautiful places and learn more about birds, conservation, habitat, ecology, environmental justice, citizen science, biodiversity, and climate change.
Most clubs rely on volunteers to manage their organizations. As a club volunteer, you can gain valuable, resume-enhancing experience and skills—from leading trips, to bookeeping to organizing events, and managing social media. And healthy, welcoming clubs help strengthen the social fabric of our communities.
Every club is different but most are either free to join or less than $40 annually and almost all offer free events and bird walks including trips accessible to people with disabilities.
Did we get something wrong? Are we missing a club? Please send us corrections. Thank you!
The Allen Bird Club serves area birders and others who appreciate nature by providing a program in which to develop common interests and share knowledge about birds. These interests are encouraged, first of all, by offering more than fifty birding field trips each year that are open to the public.
Springfield, MA
The Anti-Racist Collective of Avid Birders is an inclusive, progressive birding group based in Western Massachusetts, that was established informally in June 2020. As of December 2021, we are also a regional affiliate of the Feminist Bird Club.
Western MA
The Athol Bird & Nature Club was formed in 1963 to “enhance the appreciation of natural history in the North Quabbin Region.” Founded by Robert Coyle, an eighth-grade science teacher, the Club is now a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a diverse membership from around the region and beyond and takes pride in its leadership role in natural resources education and conservation in the North Quabbin Region. The ABNC is also the managing partner of the Millers River Environmental Center.
Athol, MA
While not currentlty a membership organization, the Boston Birding Festival offers free birding and nature experiences in partnership with other nonprofits that bring people together to learn and engage in conversations about ecological and environmental challenges we face in our region and beyond.programs.
Regional
Boxborough Birders is an enthusiastic group of bird watchers from Boxborough, MA, and nearby towns.. The group focuses primarily on local “patches” (habitats) in studying and learning about resident and migratory bird species. The group organizes walks throughout the year, especially during spring and fall migration.
Boxborough, MA
The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) is the largest, and one of the oldest and most active of the bird clubs in the US. Membership is open to all who are interested in birds and nature. We sponsor an active program of year-round field trips, covering the entire state of Massachusetts from the Berkshires to Stellwagen Bank, New England and beyond.
Boston/Brookline, MA
The Cape Cod Bird Club Inc. is an organization whose members are interested in the protection and conservation of the birdlife and natural resources of Cape Cod and beyond. Visit us online for membership info and a list of walks.
Brewster, MA
https://capecodbirdclub.org
https://www.facebook.com/CapeCodBirdClub
EMHW is an all-volunteer, member-based organization whose mission is to promote the study, conservation, and preservation of hawks locally and on a continental scale by monitoring migration in Massachusetts; to share data for research and conservation purposes; to promote education and awareness of the identification of hawks and the issues related to migrating hawks and to instill an appreciation for hawks in general.
Eastern MA
The Emerald Necklace Bird Club works closely with the Friends of Jamaica Pond and Jamaica Pond Project, Boston Parks & Recreation Department, Boston Park Rangers, and many private and public agencies. The Emerald Necklace is the urban oasis for much of the natural world in Boston. Join the Emerald Necklace Bird Club and explore this landscape and natural wonder each season.
Boston, MA
The Essex County Ornithological Club promotes interest in ornithological study in Essex County, Massachusetts, and promotes the conservation of birds and their habitats in Essex County. The Club maintains a long tradition of holding an annual May bird census and presents speakers, and organizes field trips.
Essex County
Feminist Bird Club (Boston) is a birdwatching club dedicated to promoting diversity in birding and providing a safe opportunity to connect with the natural world in urban environments while fundraising to protect the rights of women, members of the LGBTQ+ community and other people of color. We offer free walks in locations accessible by public transportation, and encourage beginner birders to join. Any and all persons are welcome!
Boston, MA
Facebook. Instagram
Hampshire Bird Club Inc. is an organization dedicated to helping people enjoy birding and to help them learn about birds and bird habitats. They offer monthly meetings including programs by renowned speakers, field trips for birders at any skill level, educational outreach, strong ties to the Christmas Bird Count, a lending library, a monthly newsletter and a Rare Bird Alert.
Pittsfield, MA
The Hoffmann Bird Club was established in 1940 with a mission of promoting the study of birds in Berkshire County. The club was founded under the auspices of the Berkshire Museum. and named in honor of Ralph Hoffmann a naturalist who was born in Berkshire County. Meetings are open to anyone interested in birds. Field trips are led by experienced birders and beginners are welcome.
Pittsfield, MA
The Menotomy Bird Club is dedicated to making birding accessible to everyone in the Mystic Valley Watershed. We have no dues, and all activities are free and open to members and non-members alike. All activities are posted on the web page, but we encourage people to join the Arlington Birds Listserve to get reminders of events as well as discussions of birds and birding in the area.
The Merrimack Valley Bird Club (MVBC) has been exploring the Merrimack Valley and North Shore of Massachusetts since 1948. Newcomers are welcome. Bring binoculars and/or spotting scope if you have them! Most walks include coffee and snacks at the end unless otherwise noted. Bring something to share if you can!
Andover, MA
We’re a bird club on a mission to connect people with birds. Birds have a remarkable way of changing our world. Regardless of your knowledge of birds, your background, or who you are, we are here to connect you to the world of birds. All field trips and programs are free and open to everyone. Members range from brand-new birders to the very serious – all are welcome.
Mattaposiett, MA
The Nuttall Ornithological Club was the first organization in North America devoted to ornithology. A primary goal of the club is to publish ornithological literature. The Nuttall Ornithological Club has, from its beginning in 1873, followed a policy of electing its members. For information, see our website.
Cambridge, MA
Paskamansett Bird Club was established in 1963 for the purpose of bringing people together who have the utmost fascination and appreciation for nature’s crown jewels, birds. Members are always willing to share their knowledge to help beginning birders enjoy their newly found hobby. We have many bird walks that take us to some of the most beautiful areas in Southern New England.
Darthmouth, MA
The South Shore Bird Club (SSBC) was founded in 1946 and the first members set out to explore the birds and birding habitats of the South Shore of Massachusetts. We concentrate on field trips for both members and non members. Most trips involve car-pooling with occasional canoe trips or beach hikes. Non-members are always welcome.
Plymouth, MA
Paskamansett Bird Club was established in 1963 for the purpose of bringing people together who have the utmost fascination and appreciation for nature’s crown jewels, birds. Members are always willing to share their knowledge to help beginning birders enjoy their newly found hobby. We have many bird walks that take us to some of the most beautiful areas in Southern New England.
Darthmouth, MA
Since November of 2003, a group of nature lovers has met semi-regularly to explore and appreciate an urban area together. We enjoy seeing the birds and other animals, weeds and cultivated plants, mushrooms and lichens, insects and spiders as well as the non-living aspects of nature, as they appear to us amid the man-made chaos of the city.
Boston, MA
Enthusiasm for the rich natural history of the north central Worcester County region led to the founding of the Hubbardston-Ware River Nature Club by a group of Hubbardston residents in 2014. Since then our membership has expanded, and members hail from all parts of northern Worcester County and beyond. To reflect this growth, our name was changed to Ware River Nature Club in 2015. We are a growing group of professional and amateur naturalists, hikers, birders, outdoor enthusiasts, artists, writers, plant-lovers, and more who believe that appreciation of nature and the outdoors begins in our own backyards.
Worcester County
WEBSITE: https://www.ctbirding.org
Founded in 1984, the Connecticut Ornithological Association is an all-volunteer organization with the mission of promoting interest in Connecticut birds and collecting, preparing, and disseminating the best available scientific information on the status of Connecticut birds and their habitats.
WEBSITE: https://www.ctbirding.org
Founded in 1984, the Connecticut Ornithological Association is an all-volunteer organization with the mission of promoting interest in Connecticut birds and collecting, preparing, and disseminating the best available scientific information on the status of Connecticut birds and their habitats
WEBSITE: https://www.ctbirding.org
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New England Herpetological Society
Massachusetts Horticultural Society
Wild See Project (Maine)
Rhode Island Wild Plant Society
Connecticut Entymological Society (also on Facebook)
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The Audubon societies of Massachusetts. New Hampshire and Rhode Island are independent organizations founded before National Audubon. In addition to their vital conservation, climate, research, and education work, each of these organizations offers extensive recreational programming to members and the public.
Massachusetts Audubon
New Hampshire Audubon
Rhode Island Audubon
National Audubon protects birds and habitat throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation and has many New England chapters. Each chapter offers many trips, talks, special events classes, and camps,.
Litchfield Hills Audubon (CT)
(CT)SocietySharon Audubon (CT)
Potapaug Audubon Society (CT)
Wood Duck Swamp Audubon Sanctuary (CT)
Maine Audubon (ME)
South Eastern Vermont Audubon Society
Vermont Audubon
New England Nature Photographers
A large and active Facebook group for sharing and advice
Nature and Wildlife Photographers of New England and Beyond
A meet-u group
The Chirp Sporadic is our occcasional newsletter in which we share updates on Festival events and happenings as well as assorted birding-related news.
