General

The “meteorological winter” survey of the 39th annual Lloyd Center Winter Waterfowl Census was embedded between an endless parade of weekend snowstorms, including one causing a postponement. On Saturday, January 31st,the official new count day (because the rescheduled Sunday had yet another storm), participants were greeted by arctic morning temperatures, snow covered fields, and unless…

Wind blew snow flurries across the parking lot and formed whitecaps along the west shore, while waves crashing against the causeway sent sea spray over the road. These are common occurrences at renowned Gooseberry Neck Island in Westport during the winter, where the Lloyd Center holds its annual New Year’s Day Walk and conducts other…

On December 4, 2025 on a moon tide and under stellar conditions, temps in the low 40’s and no wind, Lloyd Center staff and volunteers embarked on the December portion of the Center’s 39th Annual Winter Waterfowl survey in systems here in Southeast New England (see waterfowl page for study area details).  Both seasonable temperatures…

A very meticulous Michael, his parents, and two other volunteers set up the new StoryWalk® last week.  Michael  – a second-grader – read through the entire walk to make sure the pages were in proper order! His attention to detail ensures that visitors will experience the story line accurately.   The StoryWalk® starts from the Yellow…

Each fall, the Lloyd Center for the Environment is transformed. Crisp air replaces summer’s warmth, oaks and hickories paint the forest in rich gold and russet, and birdsong subtly shifts as new visitors arrive. While the beauty is obvious, there’s a deeper story unfolding in the forest, salt marshes, and estuary that make up the…

We are grateful for the support you have given to the Lloyd Center for the Environment. Because of your generosity, more than 100,000 students have participated in Lloyd Center programs over the last 10 years! But as you may know, now more than ever, we need your support. Changes to federal funding combined with higher…

There’s a bend in the trail where the trees always catch the afternoon light just so. You might know the one – where the golden leaves hang a little longer than elsewhere, and the view of the Slocum River briefly opens up like a quiet invitation. Maybe it’s a different spot for you: the Holly…

During the first week in August, shorebird enthusiasts statewide participated in the “Massachusetts Shorebird Blitz”, an initiative started by the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, to get a snapshot of shorebird abundance, distribution, and habitat use during peak migration. The survey utilizes protocol form a larger “International Shorebird Survey”, which like the Center’s winter waterfowl…

On August 1st, the Lloyd Center for the Environment welcomed friends, supporters, and community members to The Cove Restaurant & Marina in Fall River for our 2025 Summer Celebration – carrying on the tradition started by Angelica Lloyd Russell, who hosted the first clambake at Colonial Green’s mansion, and was held in honor of her brother, Demarest Lloyd,…

Ospreys have been managed and studied by the Lloyd Center since the mid 1980’s when the late Gil Fernandez was leading local efforts at the species’ recovery. Currently, The Center has five platforms under our jurisdiction between the Slocum and Little Rivers, including on the Slocum on the salt marsh of Demarest Lloyd State Park…

With beach season in full swing and shorebird season on the home stretch, it’s time for an update on the Piping Plover nesting season for sites we manage. Events have included early hatches of broods that fledged, loss of nests or hatchlings to predators  limited nest or egg loss to abandonment and high tide overwash,…

Like clockwork during the last week in March, the first Ospreys appeared at one of the small cluster of platforms overseen by the Lloyd Center on the Slocums (3) and Little Rivers (2). These unique raptors, or “Fish Hawks”, have a specialized fish diet and were the so-called “Buzzards” that led to the name of…

Another season of Feathery Focus has come to an end.  The 2025 Feathery Focus programming was a great success! Our education team of Liz, Amanda, Bruce & Shannon enjoyed teaching local elementary students around the Southcoast community. This year our schools included the Joseph DeMello, James M. Quinn & George M. Potter Elementary Schools in…

For the 2023/24 winter waterfowl survey a year ago, both counts featured warm temperatures and rain events, during a stretch of mild winters with minimal snow and ice, along with some moon or rainfall-enhanced high tides. For study of a bird community escaping extreme cold and frozen wetlands, the count has more resembled an index…

Lloyd Center membership grants you access to exclusive benefits, including: Invitations to Special Events & Programs – Enjoy our annual Music in the Woods, workshops, and seasonal events. Discounts on Programs & Summer Programs – Get reduced rates on engaging educational experiences for children and adults. Early Access to Registration – Secure your spot in…

The Lloyd Center held its 34th annual New Year’s Day walk at Gooseberry Neck Island, a location popular for hiking and beach goers alike. Gooseberry is a dynamic island shaped by winds, tide, and currents that transport and deposit sand and cobble along a constantly shifting shoreline. The cobble buildup both provides a fitness challenge…

On December 1, 2024, Lloyd Center staff and volunteers embarked on the 38th Annual Lloyd Center Winter Waterfowl Survey in southeast New England, which covers 22 coastal systems from Tiverton, RI, to Dartmouth, MA. Click here for background (Figure 1, Table 1). As has become routine in recent years, unusual climate-related trends likely influenced the…

As the seasons change, so does the wildlife that calls the Lloyd Center’s trails home. Fall is a vibrant time to explore the trails, with rich colors, crisp air, and unique opportunities to observe a variety of animals and plants in their autumnal routines. Here’s a glimpse of what you might see as you walk…

This has been a monumental year at the Lloyd Center! Our new Welcome Center, constructed by students from the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School and built to Living Building Challenge™ specifications, opened to the public. Even while under construction, our Education Team taught more than 10,000 students, and our research department monitored…