Join us in welcoming local author, George DeLuca! George will discuss his book Waterfowl Winterfest on the Merrimack River in Lowell, MA. The book celebrates the ecological revitalization of the Merrimack River in Lowell. 

This event is co-hosted by Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust.

Book summary: For decades, toxic waste and effluent were dumped directly into the Merrimack River. The Clean Water Act of 1972 mandated the initiation of a cleanup effort that restored the ecology. The local flora and fauna have flourished ever since.

Today, a variety of waterfowl winter along the one-mile stretch of river that once powered the Mile of Mills during the Industrial Revolution.

Waterfowl Winterfest celebrates the ecological revival of the Merrimack River in Lowell. The story portrays the diving ducks that migrated to the city from the boreal forests of Canada during the 2024–2025 winter season.

In December 2024, a flock of Common Goldeneyes visited the city as in previous years. But this time, they were joined by Buffleheads, Mergansers, and Ring-necked Ducks.

The plot thickened when an eclectic mix of dabblers arrived on the scene, including geese, swans, Mallards, and American Black Ducks.

Then, when the apex predators arrived, harmony gave way to tension and chaos.

Brief Biography: George L. DeLuca is a Lowell-based author with a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. George writes in the creative non-fiction genre.