Berkshire County Historical Society Bird Banding Demonstrations

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire County Historical Society in partnership with Ben Nickley and Berkshire Bird Observatory will offer a series of bird banding demonstrations at Arrowhead beginning June 5. 
 
This recurring, free drop-in event takes place June 5, 12, 26; July 3, 10, 24, 31 from 8 -10 am, and is weather dependent. The program allows visitors an up-close opportunity to see birds and watch the process of bird banding.
 
Bird banding allows researchers the opportunity to study a wide array of wild birds in their natural habitat. Arrowhead's woods, fields and shrub land make it an ideal site to monitor a broad range of breeding bird species.  
 
Ben Nickley is the Executive Director of Berkshire Bird Observatory (BBO), a local nonprofit dedicated to bird conservation in the Berkshires and beyond.  Nickley shares his passion for birds with others and weaves education and engagement into BBO's various scientific projects--including summer bird banding, migration monitoring, and their highly successful Kestrel Nest Box Project. 
 
This program is sponsored by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Suspect Arraigned in 'Horrific' Dragging Case

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Complete write-thru 3 p.m., Feb. 18.


District Attorney TimothyShugrue says the community has been 'really upset' by this case. 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Hancock man has been charged in last week's gruesome dragging that killed 69-year-old William Colbert. 
 
William Gross, 65, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Wednesday for negligent motor vehicle homicide and leaving the scene. He was arrested Monday after police investigators narrowed down the type of car seen on video at the accident scene. 
 
Police say Colbert had fallen in the road at the Francis Avenue and Linden Street intersection on Feb. 10 before he was struck and dragged nearly four miles. His body was found on West Housatonic Street.
 
Gross is being held on $250,000 cash bail in the Berkshire County House of Corrections. District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said the case will go to a grand jury and foresees additional charges being placed. 
 
"I think this community was really upset by this case," Shugrue said while being interviewed by the press after the morning arraignment.  
 
"It's a horrific case, and the fact that someone was fleeing, and there was someone that was stuck there that could have been treated, and potentially in the initial stages, could have been potentially saved." 
 
Colbert was coming from a house on Francis Avenue about 11:30 on Feb. 10 when fell in the road and had trouble getting up, according to Shugrue. 
 
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