Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Master Demonstration

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LENOX, Mass. — Come meet Tom Ricardi and some of his patients. 
 
Ricardi, 83, is the owner, operator and principal behind the Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center. Learn about the care and rehabilitation of birds of prey. at a demonstration to be held at the New Barn at Mass Audubon's Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary on Sept. 11.
 
The Hoffmann Bird Club Monthly Meeting starts at 4:30 pm with a presentation at 5:45 pm.
 
Bring binoculars and a side dish or dessert to share.  Beverages are provided by the Club. Bring your own place setting and utensils to help lighten the impact on the sanctuary.  
 
The New Barn, Mass Audubon's Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 472 W Mountain Road.
 
According to a press release:
 
Caring for injured birds has always been a labor of love for Tom Ricardi. But lately it seems more laborious than ever.  
 
"It used to be a great, fun thing to do," he said. "But now it's a job.  A 24/7 job."  
 
From his yard on a hilltop deep in the woods of Conway, Ricardi cares for many falcons, owls, eagles and other raptors that have been injured in some way, usually as a direct consequence of encountering humankind.  Since retiring in 2001 after a 38-year career with the Massachusetts Environmental Police, Ricardi has been the Western Massachusetts go-to resource for injured birds of prey.  Several dozen times a year, police departments across the region call to say an officer on patrol has found an injured owl, eagle or red-tailed hawk.  They ask if Ricardi can come by and have a look, and he always does.
 
"I do a lot of work with local animal control and (the Massachusetts Division of) Fisheries and Wildlife," he said.  "I usually rescue between 125 and 150 birds a year.  Birds coming in, birds being released.  There's always birds here."
 
He has about 50 birds in the 28 enclosures on his property at any given time. 
 
The injured birds that recover the ability to fly are tended to and eventually released back into the wild.  Those that are permanently disabled with an injured wing that doesn't heal right or damaged vision, become his resident guests, remaining under his care for the rest of their natural lives.

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Ventfort Hall: Baseball in the Berkshires

LENOX, Mass. — Larry Moore, Director of the nonprofit Baseball in the Berkshires, and a retired Physical Education Specialist, will tell about the history of baseball in the Berkshires at Ventfort Hall on Tuesday, July 16 at 4 pm. 
 
A tea will be served after the presentation.
 
According to a press release:
 
The game of baseball has a long and storied history in the Berkshires. From the broken window by-law of 1791 and the first college game ever played in 1859, there were 60 years of minor league teams calling the Berkshires their home. There are 40 major league players coming from the Berkshires and two of them are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Over 220 minor league players were born, raised or settled in the Berkshires. Just when you think you have a grasp on those stories someone asks about women's baseball and black baseball in the Berkshires. Going back to the late 1800's both the history of women and people of color have strong roots here. The long list of famous baseball visitors that left parts of their stories here contains the names of "Say-Hey Kid," "Joltin' Joe," "The Iron Horse" and of course, "The Babe."
 
Larry Moore worked as a Physical Education Specialist in the Central Berkshire Regional School District for 37 years. He taught a popular yearlong unit about the history of baseball for 25 years, along with his regular Physical Education program, to his fifth graders culminating with a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He now volunteers at the National Baseball Hall of Fame as an Outreach Educator. Nine years ago he, along with Tom Daly, Jim Overmyer and Kevin Larkin, established a group of baseball enthusiasts who established the nonprofit organization, Baseball in the Berkshires. Its mission is to tell the fascinating stories of baseball in the Berkshires through exhibits and educational programming.
 
As director of this group he, and his fellow volunteers, have created numerous exhibits and educational programs throughout the Berkshires. He co-authored the book "Baseball in the Berkshires: A County's Common Bond." 
 
He is a resident of Lenox and has spent many years working with the young people of the Berkshires, as an educator, coach, official, and business owner.
 
Tickets are $40 for members and with advance reservation; $45 day of; $22 for students 22 and under. Ticket pricing includes access to the mansion throughout the day of this event from 10 am to 4 pm. Reservations are strongly encouraged as seats are limited. Walk-ins accommodated as space allows. For reservations visit https://gildedage.org/pages/calendar or call at (413) 637-3206. Please note that all tickets are nonrefundable and non-exchangeable. The historical mansion is located at 104 Walker Street in Lenox.
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