Local Water Fowl
March 26, 2005

Athol Bird and Nature club members and friends followed Jacob Morris Segal in pursuit of local waterfowl on March 26. Normally the day before Easter is considered Spring. With most ponds and much of the rivers and brooks still encrusted in ice, the challenge was great. Fortunately our waterfowl come our way anyway. Some spend a good bit of time feeding in pastures. Crisp and bright, the day was more than enough reason to get out of the house. A quick stop at the Orange Airport (our healthy prairie) a small number of horned larks remained. From there we followed the Millers to the Connecticut and on to the Turners power canal.

Highlights included an otter at the canoe landing in Orange. Overhead a Northern Goshawk was a soaring This red eyed terror of deep forests, seldom seen soaring, apparently is as weary of the deep wood snow as we are. The Ravens are back at the cliffs in Farley. Deer are daylight grazing on the Erving Paper Landfill off the newer section of Rt 2 west of Farley. Near Turners Falls a Red Tailed Hawk nest was located below us. At the sportsmens club in Turners, an adult Bald Eagle landed on the ice and leisurely dined on a fish.

At the site of the old Turners Bridge we saw the annual nest sitting of the Eagles. We also witnessed one of the largest flights of Canada Geese in memory. Included were a few Snow Geese. Recently our Canada Goose has been separated into several different species. Not having an electron microscope or DNA sampling equipment, we left it to our companions to search for small variations of appearance. Seriously, the shear numbers made a close binocular search reasonable. Of note, this massive migration was neaded SOUTH. Hmmmm. Following will be a list of species seen for those fascinated by such things. First though, is an invitation to any winter weary folks who might want to join in on these trips. There is seldom a cost. Knowlege is not important. A sense of humor and awe is required. A visit or call to the Millers River Environmental Center should answer all questions. This region offers natural experiences of great value.

Trip list. American Crow, Horned Lark, Tufted Titmouse, Blue Jay, Common Merganser, Killdeer, Am.Cowbird, Cardinal, Northern Goshawk, Redtailed Hawk, several other Raptors.Turkey Vulture, Mallard, Canada Goose, Am.Goldfinch, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Robin, Grackle, Wh.Br. Nuthatch, B.C.Chickadee, Common Raven, Black Duck, Ring Necked Duck, Ring Billed Gull, Pied Billed Grebe, Song Sparrow, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Herring Gull, American Bald Eagle, Lesser Scaup, Mute Swan, Snow Goose, Am. Crow and Otter, White tailed Deer and Muskrat.

If you wish to volunteer to lead a trip please contact
Dave Small or
Events Coordinator Sue Cloutier 978-544-7500