Image of the MMA’s beloved ❤️Vestal Street Observatory under a blanket of snow, watched over by the keen eye of the snowwoman, Maria Mitchell.
Dear Friends —
I hope this note finds you warm and well as Nantucket settles into its snow-blanketed, frozen quiet. For those of us who treasure this season, winter offers rare gifts: stillness, clarity, and the chance to witness wildlife that visits our island only briefly. One of my favorite winter rituals is heading out on a Snowy Owl prowl with our island treasure, Ginger Andrews.
Last week, Ginger shared news that has weighed heavily on my heart—and one I feel a responsibility to share with you.
A Snowy Owl, much loved and widely followed this winter, was found dead. The cause was rodent poison. One eye open, the other blackened. It is a devastating image, and an even more devastating loss.
This was not an act of malice. It was the unintended consequence of rodenticide use. When owls consume rodents that have ingested poison, they too are poisoned. This secondary poisoning is particularly dangerous during the winter months, when Snowy Owls migrate to Nantucket and depend on our landscape for survival.
If this heartbreaking loss—linked to rodent poison use along Tennessee Avenue—disheartens you as deeply as it does us, I ask that you share this information with year-round residents, seasonal homeowners, and property managers. Awareness matters. Conversations matter.
Nantucket is one of the most important wintering grounds for Snowy Owls on the East Coast. Our wide-open spaces, low vegetation, dunes, and beaches closely resemble the Arctic tundra where these birds breed. The island feels familiar to them. Safe. Home. Our healthy populations of small mammals provide the sustenance they need to survive the winter. Each year, local birders and naturalists carefully document their increasingly rare presence, contributing valuable data to regional and national conservation efforts. One recent sighting even made national news, which is what makes this loss so profoundly sad.
We understand the need to control rodents. We also know that there are effective, rodenticide-free alternatives that do not put our wildlife at risk. Many local pest control companies already use and recommend these methods:
Snap traps
Electronic traps
Exclusion methods, such as sealing entry points
Supporting natural predators, including barn owls—species Nantucket could successfully sustain
Dry ice (CO₂) treatments for larger infestations
Most importantly: talking with neighbors, property managers, and service providers to share this information
This is not about blame. It is about responsibility. And love. And recognizing that the choices we make—often unseen—can ripple outward in ways we never intended.
The Snowy Owl’s visit to Nantucket is fleeting. Its survival is fragile. What we can offer, together, is a safer place to land.
With care and gratitude,
Joanna Roche, MMA Executive Director
MMA Discovery Camp 2026
Registration has begun and spots are filling fast!
At MMA Discovery Camps, children become scientists, explorers, and problem-solvers—learning through hands-on experiments, nature-based discovery,
and unforgettable experiences. Registration is open, and space is limited!
In Environmental Education, Communications & Marketing,
Event Planning & Development, and History/Art History/Historic Preservation are Open Until March 1st!
We invite students studying education, history/art, historic preservation, non-profit development, and communications/marketing to apply.
If you know a qualified undergraduate or graduate student who would love to intern on picturesque Nantucket Island this upcoming summer, please help us spread the word by sharing the link below. Come join our amazing team!
Internship opportunities in astronomy, marine biology, and the natural sciences have closed.
Night-time has always had a mysterious appeal, which brings out a whole new cast of avian and other creatures. It requires patience, and a shift of consciousness from sight to hearing. Join the MMA's Field Ornithologist, Ginger Andrews, to listen for the calls of Saw-whet owls and other nocturnal creatures. We will search for Saw-whets as they begin their nightly activities. While a sighting is not guaranteed, you will certainly be able to observe several fascinating nocturnal animal species.
Explore Nantucket’s birdy landscapes and hidden nooks with local bird guide and Inquirer and Mirror columnist, Ginger Andrews. With so many varied habitats so close together, the Island is a great place to look and listen for birds. Our location out at sea makes for a fascinating mix of migratory species and year-round residents. Dry humor—always useful in a foggy environment—natural and human history, unexpected rarities, and other stories fill out the picture. Children 8 and up are welcome with an adult guardian. Loaner binoculars available. Wear sensible shoes, dress for the weather. You never know what may turn up.
Pre-registration is recommended as programs do fill up but walk-ins are welcome subject to availability.
Hinchman House Natural Science Museum, 7 Milk Street
Friday, February 13 | 6 - 7:30pm
Experience the Natural Science Museum after dark during this special art program. Guided by artist, Nikoline Bohr, you'll create a personalized work of art in a calm and inviting setting. Connect with fellow participants, explore your creativity, and take home your finished piece as a lasting keepsake.
Pre-registration is required. All materials provided.
Hinchman House Natural Science Museum, 7 Milk Street
Friday, February 20 | 3 - 5pm
What happens when an animal dies in an aquarium or museum? Scientists preform a necropsy to find out what happened (a necropsy is an examination of the animal after death). Come learn proper necropsy techniques and why it's important. This session may get messy - please wear appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes.
The MMA invites participants to explore the intersections of science, technology, engineering, art, and math through creative challenges, guided investigations, and collaborative projects.From designing and testing inventions to analyzing natural phenomena and building artistic interpretations of scientific ideas, students will grow their curiosity, confidence, and problem-solving skills. Each month features a new theme and a fresh opportunity for discovery.
This program is for middle schoolers who enjoy exploring, making, experimenting, and thinking in new ways—no prior experience necessary.
Pre-registration is required. All materials provided.
Join MMA staff on a tour as they feed the hungry animals at the Natural Science Museum! Learn about the unique adaptations of turtles, frogs, snakes, and more! This is a great way to learn about native and non-native species up-close, especially if you love animals.
Enjoy this program designed for the young explorer in your family! During each session, a MMA educator will read a nature or science themed book, introduce you to one of the MMA's animal friends, and will finish up with an activity related to the story. This is a recurring program, but the specific focus and materials provided will change each week.
Join the Maria Mitchell Association this fall for our Winter I After-School Series, designed for students in Grades K–5. Each day of the week offers a unique set of nature-based activities, crafts, and adventures as we explore Nantucket Island together!
NPS Early Release Day is Wednesday, Feb. 11. Register under the NPS Early Release Days option one week in advance. More information here.
Each Afternoon Holds Different Activities, Crafts, and Adventures!
MMA Members receive a 20% Discount. Stay tuned for our Winter Series II, March 3 - 26!
Join the Nantucket Conservation Foundation (NCF), the Nantucket Land and Water Council (NLWC), the Maria Mitchell Association (MMA), Linda Loring Nature Foundation (LLNF), the Nantucket Islands Land Bank, and Fairwinds for a fun and FREE community series. This is a wonderful opportunity to get outdoors during our quiet season to enjoy Nantucket's natural environment together.
These engaging walks will last approximately 45 – 60 minutesand will be led by staff from the organizations. At the start of each walk, a representative from Fairwinds, Nantucket’s behavioral health center, will give a brief introduction and background on their services.
February 8:110 Eel Point Road, Linda Loring Nature Foundation at LLNF
February 15:22 Berkley Avenue, Nantucket Land and Water Council at The Creeks
February 22:180 Polpis Road, UMass Boston Field Station
Free to the public. Registration is required. More walks coming in March.
As part of this year’s Nantucket STEAM Festival, in collaboration with the Dreamland Theatre, we’re thrilled to welcome a very special guest: Doktor Kaboom!
His original science-comedy shows blend big ideas, explosive demonstrations, and laugh-out-loud humor—keeping audiences riveted from start to finish. Hailed as “part Mister Wizard, part Mr. Rogers,” Doktor Kaboom delights patrons of all ages with curiosity, creativity, and charm.
Tickets available in mid-February!
The Annual Nantucket STEAM Festival
Saturday, March 14 (3.14 - Pi Day!)
The Nantucket High School Gymnasium
A Free Community Event!
This year's STEAM Festival falls on March 14 which means Pi Day! In 2026, we mark 12 years of this annual FREE event. Join the Maria Mitchell Association and our incredible team of collaborators for this FREE, hands-on community event. This year’s theme is “3.14 Miles from Shore: Infinite Patterns”: celebrating hands-on STEAM learning across sky, land, and sea.
Explore the world of STEAM-based art, interactive displays, and hands-on activities for all ages. Thank you to all of our community partners that make this event such a success: The Artists Association of Nantucket, Egan Maritime Institute, Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Mass Audubon, Nantucket Atheneum, Nantucket Community School, Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Nantucket Fire Department, Nantucket Police Department, Nantucket Land and Water Council, Nantucket Lights, Nantucket New School, UMASS Boston Field Station Nantucket, US Coast Guard Station Brant Point, NISDA, and Sustainable Nantucket.
Don’t miss your chance to explore, experiment, and celebrate the wonders of STEAM in a day full of discovery, excitement, and a little bit of math magic! We are thrilled to foster curiosity in the next generation of change makers!
We are again offering 9:30am - 10am as a sensory friendly half hour.
Birding News
An Evening Grosbeak is a Rare Bonus at a Feeding Station. Photo by Burton “Spruce” Ballkind.
Keep Calm and Bird On February 2026!
by Ginger Andrews
It looks like February— at least for the first week— will be just as cold and yucky as the end of January was. Ponds frozen, ice in the harbors. What’s a birder— or for that matter a bird— to do?
This is when bird feeders really becomes more than a source of entertainment, but of survival. Then, the right foods are sometimes a true lifeline for birds. Seed eaters like American Goldfinches, House Finches, Northern Cardinals, and Blue Jays are common feeder birds. Lucky purveyors of sunflower seeds may be rewarded by an evening Grosbeak; thistle seed may attract a Common Redpoll.
Suet or suet and nut mixtures are beloved of Downy, Hairy, or Red-bellied Woodpeckers, as well as Black-capped Chickadees. Often Yellow-rumped Warblers will pick up the crumbs beneath the feeder.
A little seed on the ground is enjoyed by Song, Swamp, and White-throated— or maybe even a Fox – Sparrow. Mourning Doves also come to the feast in droves.
If a few end up as prey for Sharp-shinned or Cooper’s Hawks, it is not something to mourn. As Edith Andrews would say, “Enjoy the Hawk.” It’s a bird too, filling a useful niche in keeping the flock strong.
And without exception all need to find fresh open water to survive. So a birdbath heater that keeps water unfrozen is a big help too.
Beyond the feeder, a bird-friendly yard can help tremendously year round. Include some shrub cover, a little tangle, a bit of meadow with diverse local weeds, wildflowers, and grasses. Leave fallen leaves for an area insects will like; birds will find them too. Bayberries, once fruit begins to develop, are an excellent winter food for the aforementioned warblers and any others that drop in.
And you never know what — or who— will show up.
MMA News
2025 NSF-REU Interns from left to right: Madison Gerard, Lauren Barkey, Benjamin Radmore, Aidan Agostinelli, and Kaylee Perez with MMA Director of Astronomy, Dr. Jackie Milingo.
The MMA REU-NSF Interns Attend the
247th American Astronomical Society Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona
The 2025 National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU-NSF) Interns from the MMA made the journey to Phoenix, Arizona in early-January to represent the MMA and present their research. Building on the legacy of Maria Mitchell, the first female astronomer, the MMA offers STEAM research and education opportunities to interns from across the country via their paid internship programs.
The MMA’s Maria Mitchell Observatory has operated the NSF-REU program each summer for decades. The program is funded by a generous grant from the National Science Foundation, which allows the MMA to bring six top undergraduate students to the MMA each summer who are selected out of a pool of approximately 380 applicants from around the United States.
The MMA’s Summer 2025 NSF-REU interns presented their research on fascinating subjects, from faint supernova explosions to dust-shaped infrared lightcurves in stars and supernova remnants. MMA Director of Astronomy, Dr. Jackie Milingo, attended the conference and presented each student with a bound book of their cohort’s papers.
“The Nature of Nantucket,” “The Star Report,” and
“Maria Mitchell's Attic”
Check out our own podcast, "The Nature of Nantucket," brought to you by 97.7 ACKFM. This program airs on 97.7 every Sunday at 7:20am. You can listen to full episodes on Apple or Spotify. Listen here!
Don't forget to check out our weekly "Star Report," written and presented by the MMA Astronomy Department.
Learn more about Maria Mitchell and the MMA through the latest post of Maria Mitchell’s Attic, a blog written by MMA Deputy Director and Curator, Jascin Leonardo Finger. Read here!
MMA Hours February
The Hinchman House Natural Science Museum & Gift Shop, 7 Milk Street:
10am - 2pm, Saturday - Sunday Through Saturday, February 21
Closed February 22 - 23 and March 1
❤️WINTER VACATION HOURS at the NATURAL SCIENCE MUSEUM:
Open 10am - 2pm Tuesday, February 24 through Saturday, February 28
Please see our calendar for our special winter break programming.
The Maria Mitchell Association creates opportunities for all to develop a life-long passion for science, through education, research, and first-hand exploration of the sky, land, and sea of Nantucket Island.
