BEAT to Host Sixth Annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day

08:00AM / Thursday, September 11, 2025Print Story | Email Story

ADAMS, Mass. — The 16th annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day, also known as Berkshire BioBlitz, invites nature lovers of all ages to join scientists, naturalists, and environmental educators in identifying as many species as possible—plants, animals, fungi, and more—over the course of 24 hours.

The Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) hosted event will take place from noon on Saturday, Sept. 13 to noon on Sunday, Sept. 14 at the Greylock Glen Outdoor Center in Adams. Participation is free and open to everyone, regardless of age or experience.

Attendees are invited to drop in at any point during the event to join scheduled guided walks, attend hands-on demonstrations, and learn from expert-led presentations.

This year's lineup includes two nature walks led by well-known naturalist Tom Tyning, one focusing on amphibians and reptiles and the other on butterflies. Rene Wendell from the Hoffmann Bird Club and The Nature Conservancy will lead a nighttime owl prowl, as well as an early morning bird walk with Jonathan Pierce, also from the Hoffmann Bird Club.

Matthew Rymkiewicz will demonstrate how to attract and observe moths using lightsheeting techniques, and Ben Nickley of Berkshire Bird Observatory will conduct a live bird banding session. Laura Hancock from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts will give a presentation on bats and surveying techniques, as well as lead a demonstration in plant preservation and specimen mounting. Nicaela Haig of Mass Audubon will lead a hawk watch, and Sonia Szala-Krotkov will lead a bee walk.

Visit thebeatnews.org to find a detailed schedule of the 24-hour program.

All activities and presentations will be based at the Greylock Glen Outdoor Center at 135 Gould Road, Adams, where attendees must register upon arrival. Participants may stop by anytime to take part in the scheduled guided walks, live demonstrations of surveying techniques, and educational presentations, or contribute their own observations to the species survey across the Glen's diverse landscape.

Berkshire Biodiversity Day is organized by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT). This year's program is co-sponsored by Greylock Glen Outdoor Center, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Mass Audubon, and BEAT.

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After More Than a Century, Heating Failure Puts Adams Turners' Future at Risk

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
07:20AM / Sunday, September 27, 2026

ADAMS, Mass. — For more than a century, generations have gathered for dances, community gatherings and bowling at Turn Hall, but that longtime tradition is now in jeopardy after the building's aging heating system failed.

The Adams community is known for rallying behind local people and organizations in times of need, and now Adams Turners is asking for that same support said Gail Burda, the group's financial secretary.

The boiler, referred to as "the Beast" by board members, is as old as the building itself, which was constructed in 1902. It started out burning coal, was later switched to oil and then to gas President Virginia Fuller said.

For several years, the nonprofit social club, a 501(c)7, has struggled with the aging system, with members periodically checking on it throughout the day during the winter to ensure it was still operating, she said.

Now, "the Beast" has reached the end of its life but the Adams Turners don't have the funding to replace it, prompting them to establish a GoFundMe.

At the time of writing, the GoFundMe has raised $1,750 and members have donated more than $2,500 toward the $30,000 needed to secure an additional $25,000 grant and $25,000 loan from American Turners, the national organization under which the club operates.

The nonprofit hopes to hire a contractor to install a multi-zone hydronic system, a project estimated to cost $81,443. The work would include new heating systems for the apartment, bar area, gym and bowling alley, along with new baseboards, gas lines, permits and other necessary fittings.

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