Mass Audubon Nantucket Sanctuaries

09/23/2026

The countdown is on! You have one week to submit your 10 best photos to our annual photo contest.

You have until September 30 to submit your best photos that highlight people in nature, capture the beauty of Massachusetts wildlife, or celebrate our stunning landscapes.

Enter today: massaudubon.org/picturethis

Snowy Egret © Lisa Cohen, 2024 Picture This Photo Contest Entry

09/21/2026

The clock is ticking! There’s still time to get your ducks in the race and compete for $5,000 cash or one of three unforgettable experiences.

For as little as $10, you can sponsor a duck, support Mass Audubon’s conservation work, and be entered to win. Want even better odds? Grab a duck package and increase your chances!

Online duck sales close Sunday, September 27 at 11:55 pm ET. Don't miss your shot at the prizes and a chance to make a difference for wildlife.

🔗 massaudubon.org/duckderby

08/28/2026

🦆 Ready, Set, Quack... Duck Derby is Back!

For just $10, you can sponsor a duck, support wildlife conservation, and be entered for a chance to win $5,000 cash or one of three unforgettable experiences:

🦋 Backyard Habitat Makeover
Transform your yard or community space into a thriving haven for wildlife.

🌊 Coastal Birds Expedition
Explore Massachusetts' coastal habitats alongside the experts working to protect them.

🦉 Up Close & Wild Animal Encounter
Go behind the scenes for an unforgettable experience with one of Mass Audubon's animal ambassadors.

Every duck you sponsor helps support Mass Audubon's conservation, environmental education, and community engagement programs across southeast Massachusetts.

🎟️ Adopt your duck today: http://massaudubon.org/duckderby

08/17/2026

🌿👏 It's been a busy summer for the 2026 Youth Environmental Stewards (YES)!

Through this paid immersive program, local high school and college students gain hands-on conservation experience while building professional skills, receiving mentorship, and exploring careers in environmental stewardship.

This summer, YES participants have worked alongside Mass Audubon's Coastal Waterbird Program, helped maintain trails, removed outdated structures, and tackled a variety of projects that support healthy habitats and welcoming spaces for people and wildlife alike.

We're proud to help empower the next generation of conservation leaders and grateful for all they're doing to protect the nature of Massachusetts. 💚

08/10/2026

08/06/2026

Meet the Thread-waisted wasp (Sphecidae) 🐝

Named for the slender “thread” that connects its body segments, this striking wasp is as fascinating as it is important. Adults sip nectar and pollen, helping to pollinate plants, while females provision their nests by paralyzing caterpillars as a food source for their young.

Despite their fierce-sounding life cycle, these solitary wasps rarely sting humans and play a valuable role in supporting healthy ecosystems.

08/04/2026

Hello, August! This new month brings Ghost Pipes in the woods, Monarch Butterflies on milkweed, coyotes howling, and more.

Download, print, and screen read here: massaudubon.org/almanac

07/25/2026

Have you ever spotted an Ox beetle while out on the trails? 🪲

This large, dark brown scarab calls sandy habitats home—and eastern Massachusetts marks the northern edge of its range. Though mostly active at night, you might spot one wandering a trail by day.

Both larvae and adults feed on decaying wood, making them unsung heroes of nutrient cycling and essential decomposers in Nantucket’s ecosystems.

07/15/2026

Our Youth Environmental Stewards (YES) are back!

This program empowers local high school and college-aged students through a paid, immersive experience combining hands-on environmental stewardship with early-career training, mentorship, and professional skill-building to cultivate the next generation of conservation leaders.

07/10/2026

Have you spotted Piping Plovers on the Island yet this year?

Go Wild for these incredible shorebirds with Mass Audubon!

Spot the fuzzy baby 🥹

This month, as part of our yearlong Wild for Wildlife celebration, we are showing some love for the Plove(r). The Piping Plover, that is.

Once pushed to the brink, Piping Plovers now showcase one of Massachusetts’ biggest conservation success stories, still shaping how we care for our coast today.

Learn more about this endearing shorebird, get a limited-edition Piping Plover bucket hat, check out upcoming programs, and more reasons to go wild for them at https://www.massaudubon.org/nature-wildlife/go-wild-for-wildlife/go-wild-for-piping-plovers

Piping Plovers © Katherine Sayn-Wittgenstein