Ponds, rivers, streams, and marshes are our most biologically diverse environments. Though two streams or ponds may be only a mile apart, each could harbor a unique mix of species, particularly when separated by the hilly landscapes familiar across southern New England. That very diversity can also make life in ponds, rivers, and streams vulnerable: rivers contain more varieties of threatened or endangered wildlife than any other environment.
Patrick Lynch’s talk will look at the variety of birds and other wildlife in freshwater environments and ways to enhance your wildlife viewing to include the myriad other creatures living in our southern New England wetlands — all while keeping your feet dry.
Patrick J. Lynch is the author of many field guides, the most recent of which is A Field Guide to the Connecticut River: From New Hampshire to Long Island Sound, published by Yale University Press in April 2024. His previous books include A Field Guide to North Atlantic Wildlife: Marine Mammals, Seabirds, Fish, and Other Sea Life; A Field Guide to the Southeast Coast & Gulf of Mexico: Coastal Habitats, Seabirds, Marine Mammals, Fish, & Other Wildlife; A Field Guide to Long Island Sound: Coastal Habitats, Plant Life, Fish, Seabirds, Marine Mammals, and Other Wildlife; A Field Guide to Cape Cod: Including Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Block Island, and Eastern Long Island; and A Field Guide to the Mid-Atlantic Coast.