WILLIAMSBURG — Amateur photographer Gloria Black says she never really had a strong interest in birds before picking up a camera to snap a few pictures of them. That, she says, changed everything.
Now, after photo-documenting the seasonal avian activity at her Williamsburg property, Black is exhibiting her work at Meekins Library throughout December. An artist reception is scheduled Saturday, 1-3 p.m., and is free and open to the public.
Black came to Williamsburg via Bogota, Columbia, 30 years ago and earned her master’s degree in linguistics at the University of Massachusetts in 1995, after which she became a Spanish teacher.
“I have always loved to see nature, but when I came here I was so busy I never had time to take photos,” Black said.
After retiring two years ago, she found herself with a little more freedom.
“I started thinking about how to use my time and began taking pictures,” she said. “Most of the photos are taken from my deck or through a window.”
Luckily, Black has a wonderful window on local bird life at “Wildemere,” the home she shares with her husband, Ralmon Black, on land that has been in the his family since the early 1800s.
Here, the opportunity to see a variety of species fascinated her and as her interest deepened, her keen eye for details in markings, diet, characteristics and behaviors began to develop.
“She has put a lot of work into this and I think what she has done is very interesting,” Ralmon Black said. “She has photographs of birds interacting with the environment and each other, parents feeding babies, and a lot of them have our family farm in the background.”
Meekins Library is open on Tuesdays from noon to 5 p.m., Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursdays 3-6 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information call 268-7472.
GOSHEN — Take in the stunning winter beauty of New England and celebrate the shortest day of the year with a peaceful, silent hike through the Daughters of the American Revolution State Forest on Thursday, 3:30 p.m.
Sponsored by the Hilltown Land Trust as part of the Hilltown Hiking Series, the walk will traverse the accessible trail along the Upper Highland Lake to a boat launch, where participants will be able to enjoy the sunset over the lake. The group will leave from the parking lot immediately to the left after the parking/ranger booth.
This will be an easy, flat hike and, depending on the desire of the participants, the 1.1-mile round trip hike can be extended to a longer 1.6-mile hike.
People are reminded to wear warm, non-cotton layers and to bring a flashlight or a headlamp, and water.
Those interested are asked to RSVP for this free event. For more information or to RSVP, call Katie at 628-4485, ext. 4.
PLAINFIELD — With the installation of Plainfield’s town-owned fiber-optic network scheduled to begin in the spring, the town is looking for help in clearing a small plot of land where the prefabricated network “hub” will go in.
The Plainfield Broadband Committee is seeking volunteers to pitch in their brush hauling labor, chainsaws and chainsaw wielding skills on Saturdays, Jan. 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. next to the public safety complex.
Anyone interested in helping can email Sally Silberberg at ssilberberg@town.plainfield.ma.us.
Ideas for the column on life in the Hilltowns can be sent to Fran Ryan at fryan.gazette@gmail.com