News

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…

Between stifling heat, biting insects, and a long stretch until fall foliage emerged, the woods and other interior landscapes were an afterthought through most of summer.  Late July to early August featured migratory movements of various species that provided subtle reminders of seasonal change, but kept our eyes on the shoreline.  The north to south…

On September 22, 2024, the Lloyd Center for the Environment hosted its fourth annual Music in the Woods, a benefit for Lloyd Center members. The day offered a perfect blend of live music, nature, and community engagement, set against a backdrop of breezy fall weather. Musicians from the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra (NBSO) provided a…

As stated in the early season article, winter storms both reduced nesting habitat for breeding shorebirds where dense cobble washed up, and increased it through sand replenishment. While Piping Plover abundance is constrained on small sites with lower carrying capacity, microhabitat changes can create new nest locations for both small numbers of additional pairs and…

As the late summer movements of shorebird migration kick in, biologists are busy summarizing data for the nesting season for various species. For the Lloyd Center, this includes first and foremost, the shorebird nesting season which is on its home stretch. But first, we offer a brief summary of our osprey work, for which we…

Hey Y’all! My name is Bruce Traban and I am a lifelong Dartmouth resident. I spent my childhood exploring the local trails and going to the Lloyd Center to check out all the exhibits they had to offer. Not only did I visit, but I also volunteered and was a student of theirs. I attended…

Getting kids up close with nature is the goal of this environmental center in southeastern Massachusetts DARTMOUTH – The Lloyd Center for the Environment in Dartmouth, Massachusetts has been teaching children about nature for more than 40 years. Executive director Rachel Stronach said they’ve been around so long they’ve been written into the curriculum at local schools.…

The Lloyd Center for the Environment recently hosted a productive volunteer workday, featuring staff from Fernandes & Charest in Westport, MA. This incredible team spent hours cleaning up the grounds at the Lloyd Center, contributing to the Center’s mission of promoting environmental stewardship. Volunteer workdays are an integral part of the Lloyd Center’s operations, providing…