Friends of Upton State Forest are pleased to welcome Mark Blazis back, once again, for their annual meeting and program, on Friday, January 10, at 7:00 PM at the Upton VFW Post 5594, 15 Milford St, Upton. (Snow date is Tuesday, January 14). The group will hold a brief business meeting to elect officers prior to the program.
Mark Blazis was personally chosen by the late Roger Tory Peterson for the Roger Tory Peterson award, which is given annually to one of North America’s most notable nature educators. He leads safaris in Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Madagascar, India and the Galapagos Islands. He has also done research in Ecuadorian Amazonia, where he has led over 30 expeditions. In Massachusetts, he directs two bird banding research stations. An ardent conservationist, fly fisherman, hunter and former biology teacher he is the editor and co-author of ten books on the fauna and flora of
Worcester County. He received the New England Outdoor Writers’ Association highest award for his twice weekly, Tuesday and Friday OUTDOORS column on nature, hunting, and fishing in the Worcester Telegram and the New York Times-owned Telegram.com.
Mark studies, photographs, and occasionally hunts deer around the world. The more than 40 species of the family have led him to five continents. Their variety is amazing! We will learn about most of them, going far beyond our local white-tailed deer.
This is a free program open to the public. The Friends do welcome new members, and are offering a 10% discount to anyone who joins as a new member the night of the meeting. Donations to help defray expenses are welcome.
For several years, the Friends have offered Discovery Programs and History Hikes to create awareness about wildlife, historic resources and our public lands. They work with Upton Open Space, and other organizations, to accomplish their mission “to preserve, enhance and protect the natural and historic resources of Upton State Forest.” You can learn more about the Friends at http://www.friendsofuptonstateforest.org. For questions and a snow date notice, please send an email to uptonopenspaceevents@charter.net. You can also call 508-529-6610 with questions about the program.
UPTON DAILY 