Berkshire County Historical Society Bird Banding Demonstrations

10:37AM / Monday, June 02, 2025Print Story | Email Story

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.

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Pittsfield's Christian Center Seeks Community Input on Services, Name

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:57PM / Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Worker Dionisio Kelly, left, board member Kenny Warren, Executive Director Jessica Jones, and Food and Services Director Karen Ryan.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's a new year, and The Christian Center is looking at how it can serve the area in 2026 and beyond.

This includes a possible new name fueled by community forums in late January and early February.

"We're hoping people will come in and talk about the name, talk about what programs, what services they would like to see from us. What would be most meaningful," Executive Director Jessica Jones said.

"Because the population in this area has changed quite a bit, and we no longer serve just the West Side. We serve people from other parts of Berkshire County. So the hope is just to make it more inclusive."

The Christian Center was a stop on Berkshire Community College and NAACP Berkshires' Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

The nonprofit will hold three input sessions at 193 Robbins Ave. to inform future programs and branding, and ensure that West Side voices are heard.

The sessions will be held on:

Saturday, Jan. 31, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, Feb. 5, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

The center dates back to the early 1890s, when it was the Epworth Mission started by the Methodist Church to serve newly arrived immigrants and help them assimilate. The Christian Center was incorporated in 1974.

Over the decades, it has drifted away from a faith-based organization to a space for anyone who needs a meal, a warm jacket, a place to bring their child, or a meeting place. A space for everyone.

This is what center officials wanted reflected in the name.

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