Hoping to stop the commercial slaughter of birds for women's ornamental hats, two cousins formed the Massachusetts Audubon Society in 1896. Harriet Hemenway, with the help of Minna Hall, started the organization dedicated to "Protecting the nature of Massachusetts." Mass Audubon is independent of the National Audubon Society, which was founded in 1905.
Today, Mass Audubon protects more than 35,000 acres, including a number of sanctuaries on Cape Cod, the Islands, and the South Coast.
Scroll through the photos above of a recent trip to the Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary in Falmouth, a Mass Audubon sanctuary.
Have a favorite Audubon property to visit? Let us know in the comments below.
Here is a map of the Audubon Society's nearby sanctuaries. Click on the icons for descriptions and visitor information.
