Urban birding

Bob Greco

Chief of Staff, Department of Fish & Game (DFG)

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It is certainly not a secret among avid bird watchers, but most people who live in and around Boston probably don’t realize how fantastic the bird watching opportunities are in the metropolitan area.

Earlier this month, I took an early morning train into North Station and the Green Line subway to Boylston Street station so that I could look for warblers and other spring migrants in the Boston Public Garden. I always make an effort to catch the warbler migration in Boston and Cambridge during the month of May.

I saw a total of six warbler species and met up with another birder who saw three additional warbler species that morning. I saw northern parula, black throated green, black and white, black throated blue, yellow rumped, and common yellowthroat warblers. In total, I counted 26 species of birds in about an hour and a half of birding, including a veery, chimney swifts, Baltimore orioles, white and red breasted nuthatches, a red tailed hawk that nests in the area, and of course, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard!

My two favorite spots for spring birding in the Boston area are the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge and the Boston Public Garden. All of the areas listed below are readily accessible via public transportation.

Boston Public Garden

Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge

Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary

Belle Island Marsh Reservation, East Boston

City of Boston Emerald Necklace Parks (Boston Common, Arnold Arboretum, Franklin Park, etc.)  

 

Comments

[Marion Larson]

@Michelle Mendoza -- Hi Michelle, This is Marion Larson from MassWildlife. Sorry I didn't notice this earlier, but any park with grass and or trees is a good place to start your urban birding experience. Note that Bob also has a link to the City of Boston Emerald Necklace which are excellent places to visit. You might also try the Boston Nature Sanctuary run by MassAudubon, I've seen some interesting birds in the Public Garden and if you get out on the coastline say near JFK library, there are good sea bird opportunities!

[Michelle Mendoza]

Thanks for the blog Bob!Do you have any recommendations on where to go bird watching in Boston? Thanks, take care.