Please Note: This program will be held on Zoom. A link will be sent out prior to the program date.

Essex County, Massachusetts, from Cape Ann to the Merrimack River is beautiful any time of year. But in winter, there’s something very special about our little corner of the world.

Bill Gette takes us on a photographic excursion from the rocky headlands of Cape Ann, through historic Essex, to the expansive saltmarshes of the Plum Island Estuary and the barrier island beaches at the mouth of the Merrimack River. Bill shows us through the beautiful scenery and an incredible variety of wildlife that not only survives but prospers during our harsh New England winters. Bill will share maps so you can plan a winter adventure on your own, with examples of the wildlife typical of each location on the virtual itinerary, including Harlequin Duck, Long-tailed Duck, Snowy Owl, Lapland Longspur, White-winged Crossbill, and many more.

Bill Gette began leading area, domestic U.S., and international travel programs for Mass Audubon in 1986. Since then, he has traveled to all seven continents studying and photographing wildlife. He joined Mass Audubon full time in 1996 as the Founding Director of the Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport. At Joppa Flats, Bill developed the Birder's Certificate Program - a college level ornithology course; developed and taught the Certificate Program in Bird Ecology to train naturalist guides in Belize; and operated the Joppa Flats Bird Banding Station on the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge for over 20 years.

Bill retired from Mass Audubon in 2016, but remains very active teaching workshops. He is the President of the Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and enjoys sharing his photographs and travel experiences through his presentations.