Friends of Alewife Reservation (FAR)
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Bird Boxes Go Up In Snow
December 6, 2002 (updated January 17, 2003 - see link at bottom of page) The Friends of the Alewife Reservation (FAR) teamed up with the MDC last Friday (December 6, 2002) in the snow to start work on a series of nesting boxes which will encourage native bird species to reside in the Alewife Reservation. Mark Kirk and Stew Sanders of Belmont, and William Ackerly of Cambridge, spent the morning securing large 2 foot by 1 foot boxes. Sean Gallup of the MDC's North Regional office came to help with constructing the 18 foot elevated poles. The nesting boxes, made in Maine for FAR, consist of 2 hinged sections of pressure treated lumber made to survive the elements. The top door section of the box can be swung down for cleaning, and swung up for closing. These first two nesting boxes have been designated for kestrels which are predatory birds, smaller than Cooper's hawks and native to New England. One of the boxes is clearly visible east of the Minuteman bikepath near the Alewife T station in a marsh. The second is located in the Reservation north of the Little River near Perch Pond. Future boxes will be designated for Wood ducks and other native nesting birds such as flickers. A brochure about the birds, boxes and locations will soon be available at the MDC kiosk behind the Alewife T stop. Monitors will be needed for all seasons. Call Mark: 617 489-7717. Map of nesting box locations with links to information on the birds. |