Ducks & Cocoa - Western Massachusetts
January 11, 2026 — 11:00 am - 1:00 pm ET Rain date: January 25, 2026
Last day to register: January 9, 2026
Join us for a stationary birding event as we recover from the holiday season and welcome 2026 with warm beverages, community, and (hopefully) weird ducks!
This is a free event focused on gathering as a queer and trans community, enjoying the beauty of nature in winter, and getting to know some of our winter resident species of waterbirds. Birders of all experience levels are encouraged. If you’re brand new to or just curious about birding, we enthusiastically welcome you to join us! MJ and Sam will go over birding basics like waterfowl identification and how to use binoculars. We’ll have field guides on site for you to use (we’ll help you get oriented to how to use these and other resources).
Come dressed warmly (with hand warmers if you’d like). Hats, gloves, scarves, warm jackets, long underwear, and layers are encouraged. Bring yourself, a friend (please register each person in your group), and we’ll have spotting scopes, extra binoculars, snacks, and hot beverages to share—or bring a picnic lunch and your warm drink of choice!
Accessibility: This is a stationary event at a riverfront park. Ample parking (including van accessible spaces) is available in a paved lot across the street, but participants should be aware that the potential for snow or ice could make this location less accessible to people using mobility devices. Please bring a seat with you—lawn chairs with a blanket or sleeping bag as insulation will keep us warm and allow us to change location if needed. Accessible restrooms and warming areas are available at a nearby gas station and visitor center, both a 1-2 minutes drive from our site. This event will be masks-optional. Please refrain from wearing any strong scents like perfume and cologne. If you’d like to share any access needs you have with us, we welcome you to do so in the registration form or by emailing rivervalleyma-vt@ventureoutproject.com.
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We ask folks under the age of 18 to please register themselves and an adult to accompany them. If you require a service dog to attend, please let us know and we’ll collaborate with you on how to keep you both comfortable and hydrated at this event.
GENERAL INFO
Location: Great Falls/Turners Falls, MA area (Pocumtuc and Wabanaki land)
Parking: Large unpaved lot by the river. A paved lot with accessible parking spots is available across the street but would require navigating snowy or icy terrain to get to our meeting location.
Pets: While we love pets, we ask that furry friends who are not service animals stay at home for this adventure. Tell them we said hi!
Meet: January 11, 2026
Cost: This event is completely free to access - hot cocoa and snacks included! We welcome donations of any amount, which help us continue to provide these programs. We appreciate your support and your contribution!
Bring: Comfortable portable chair, binoculars/scopes if you have them, blankets or sleeping bags to keep warm, handwarmers, travel mug or insulated cup for hot beverages, lunch or snacks.
COVID SAFETY
Masks are not required during this event, however they are welcomed if wearing one allows you to better engage with the group. PLEASE be mindful of your own and group safety. If you or anyone in your household are not feeling well, do not participate in an event.
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Information for our land acknowledgment was gathered from nativeland.ca, which provides an estimate of original indigenous land occupation, but does not take into account migratory patterns or movement of the many surrounding communities. We recognize the historical complexity of indigenous movement across the land, and honor with gratitude the many, many surviving native nations whose land we benefit from in our work to diversify the outdoors.