Berkshire Natural History Conference (BNHC)

Close up of a wildflower

9th Annual BNHC

Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Williams College '62 Dance and Theater Center
1000 Main Street
Williamstown, MA 01267
Admission: $25 per person; $15 per student (at all levels)

Learn about native birds, turtles, caves and more at BCC's annual BNHC. Enjoy knowledgable speakers, exciting exhibits with local environmental groups, incredible book and natural history sales items, and the annual Natural History Quiz.

Topics range from brand new bird guides written by Berkshire naturalists to the ecology of bogs, the importance of nature studies, working with birds of prey and much more.

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Contact Us

Professor Tom Tyning
ttyning@berkshirecc.edu
413-236-4502

BCC is committed to providing universal access to all our events. Email foundation@berkshirecc.edu or call 413-236-2185 to request disability accommodations.

Schedule of Events

  • BNHC 2025

    • 8 a.m. Registration and Exhibits, Natural History Quiz, Silent Auction
      • Running Show of Mark Thorne’s Photography
    • 9 a.m. Rene Wendell: Welcome and Announcements
      • Welcome from Williams College
      • Thank you to Director of the Theater
    • 9:30 a.m. The ABCs and IgGs of Lyme disease
      • Dr. Nicholas Mantis, Wadsworth Center, New York Department of Health
    • 9:50 a.m. The Birds of New England – the Latest
      • Zach Adams
    • 10:10 a.m. Making Shelburne a Dark Sky Town
      • Jeff Boettner
    • 10:30 a.m. Break. Exhibits, Quiz, Silent Auction
    • 11 a.m. Honeybee Democracy, and What We Can Learn from Bees
      • Chris Nye, Author, Naturalist
    • 11:20 a.m. The Plants of North Pownal
      • Jerry Jenkins, Northern Forest Atlas Project
    • 11:35 a.m. Massachusetts Mosquitoes
      • Doug Bidlack, Entomologist, Massachusetts State Reclamation Board
    • 11:50 a.m. Why Work with Birds of Prey
      • Tom Ricardi, former Environmental Police Officer
    • 12 p.m. Lunch break at the Faculty Club next door, exhibits
    • 1:30 p.m. Welcome Back, Reminders and Announcements
    • 1:35 p.m. Natural History at Williams Special Collections
      • Lisa Conathan, Head of Special Collections at Williams
    • 2 p.m. Natural Native American Medicines Traditional to the Stockbridge Munsee Band of Mohicans
      • Misty Cook, M.S. Author and chronicler of Native American life
    • 2:20 p.m. Conserving Diversity: The Flora of Bogs
      • Joan Edwards, Professor of Biology, Williams College
    • 2:45 p.m. Restoring the Call: The State of Common Loons in the Berkshires
      • Thomas Gregg, Loon Field Biologist for the Biodiversity Research Institute
    • 3 p.m. Restoring Fire Influenced Landscapes in Western Massachusetts
      • Caren Caljouw, Mass Div of Fisheries and Wildlife
    • 3:20 p.m. The Afterlife of Leaves in Hopkins Memorial Forest
      • Allison Gill, Assistant Professor of Biology. Williams College
    • 3:45 p.m. Thanks, Announcements, Exhibitors, Natural History Quiz, Next year Nov. 7 at MCLA