“ And this our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything.”
— SHAKESPEARE
From a 1950 field journal entry of S. Waldo Bailey
Clockwise from top left, Bartholomew’ s Cobble, Sheffield, 1954; S. Waldo Bailey and a Peregrine Falcon at Blue Hawk Mountain, Cheshire, May 5, 1931; Berkshire Summer, 1950; Tannery Falls, Savoy, 1936.( From S. Waldo Bailey’ s journals, courtesy of Hoffmann Bird Club)
THE HOFFMANN BIRD CLUB hosts monthly meetings from September through May that are free and open to all. Their field trips accommodate birders at every skill level. One standout event is the annual“ Dovekie Day,” which will take place this year on April 4— a playful tradition that began when someone placed a carved wooden Dovekie( a small arctic seabird) on Smiley’ s Pond in Egremont as an April Fool’ s prank. The joke has evolved into a beloved yearly event where teams spend a morning searching Berkshire County waters for the hidden wooden bird while tallying other species they spot along the way. It’ s a lighthearted outing that can be done on foot or by car, blending birding with humor rather than serious competition. More on this and other upcoming events and programs are at hoffmannbirdclub. org.
Spring 2026 BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE // 85