The Tom and Georgia French Family Sanctuary

The Tom and Georgia French Family Sanctuary, 20 acres – 2008
For years, Tom and Georgia French spent many happy hours with friends and family on this land in the middle of Middlefield, Massachusetts, picking blueberries, hiking, camping and going on nature walks—the land was given to Tom and Georgia by close friends Jackie and Roger Merrell in 1965. Orenda acquired the property in September 2008. Dick and Sue Merrell had reported that the sanctuary provides habitat for the following wildlife: chickadees, nuthatches, crows, jays, hawks, owls, doves, etc.  Seasonal visitors include families of hummingbirds, all variety of finches, red polls, grosbeaks, red winged blackbirds, scarlet tanagers, robins, indigo buntings and an occasional cardinal. Turkeys are a bird group unto themselves and recent winters there have been seen two separate flocks (surprisingly distinct from each other).  Quail, pheasants and their broods, and ruffled grouse make themselves known with their distinctive thrumming that sounds like a one cylinder engine starting up. Many deer, bear and foxes are also seen on this now protected property. Bobcat have been seen in the past running across a glazed snowfield.

Directions: West Hill Rd. Middlefield, Mass: Almost 20 acres of open fields and woods in the Berkshires.