A flock of seven or eight long-tailed parakeet types visited some caged parrots on a hillside between the Allen Farm and the Keith Farm.

Sidney Morris, the former education director at the Farm Institute, was behind the plan for a solar greenhouse at the farm. The greenhouse, which will teach kids and grow food, is scheduled to be completed by Thanksgiving.

Those of all ages and species joined the celebration at Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary Sunday in honor of 50 years of the sanctuary’s popular Fern and Feather day camp. Former campers brought their children. Gus Ben David brought a cane toad.

A major state grant awarded this year to the town of Chilmark to restore Squibnocket Beach may be in jeopardy because it was tied to a project that voters rejected at the annual town meeting in April.

Lanny McDowell took a break from painting in 2007 to focus on his bird photography, which appears in a variety of publications and videos. One can often find his work accompanying the bird column or other articles in the Gazette. His photographs also stand alone and are in private collections around the country.

Felix Neck’s Fern and Feather day camp has shown young people the incredible beauty and wildlife on the Island since 1964 and it celebrates 50 years of family-friendly fun with a big party on Sunday, Oct. 12.