|
|
|
|
Click on a bird name to go to bird information and images on the US Geological Survey (USGS) website. Map - from a larger map by Stew Sanders. Nesting box locations added by Mark Kirk (who also provided the USGS link information). Updated Feb. 22 2003. |
|
How to Get to and Work With the Boxes Nesting box installation and construction. KESTREL BOXES Kestrel Box #1: Just north of the Minuteman bikepath tunnel under Rt 2 near the Alewife T station. The box is on a stand and is located approx 50 ft east of the path in the marsh. Opening this box will require a sturdy ladder, a wrench, and at least 3 strong people (the top bar swings down). Kestrel Box #2: Park about 500 ft down past 2 large concrete blocks on the right on Acorn Park drive (if you pass a marsh on your right you've gone too far). Enter the woods here and continue straight ahead until you come to a mass of phragmites. Turn left and follow the boundary of the phragmites (about 100 ft) until you come to an open area. Head for Little River (as it leaves Perch Pond). You'll see an obvious box on a stand. Opening this box will require a sturdy ladder, a wrench, and at least 3 strong people (the top bar swings down). ORCHARD/PERCH POND BOXES These boxes are best reached by parking in Hill Estates (private property). Parking here in small numbers is not a problem. Rt 2 West: Take the Rt 60 exist. At the end of the offramp, at the lights, turn left. At the 2nd set of lights go left. Rt 2 East: Take the Rt 60 exit. At the end of the offramp turn right. At the first light go left. Rt 2 continued...Continue through one light and turn left after a fifth of a mile onto Hill Road (between Citizen's Bank and TNT Gas Station). If you cross the train tracks you've gone too far. Go straight all the way down Hill Road until you are forced to turn right behind an apartment building. Turn right here and go straight ahead until you are again forced to turn right. The woods in front of you are the old apple orchard. Park here. Fresh Pond Rotary to Concord Av: At the intersection of Concord Av and Brighton (immediately AFTER Griswald St on the right) turn right onto Brighton St. Go straight, over the train tracks, and turn right onto Hill Road. Follow the directions for "Rt 2 continued" from here on. NOTE: Brighton St is also called Blanchard Rd part of the way Screech Owl Box: At the corner of the parking lot by the orchard, head east towards Perch Pond. Follow Wellington brook on your right. Keep looking over your left shoulder as you'll pass a large old tree after a minute or two. Nailed to the tree about 10 feet up is the screech owl box. This box can be opened with a phillips screwdriver and a ladder. Wood Duck Box: After passing the Screech Owl Box continue on to Perch Pond in front of you. Bear left along the pond's bank for a few feet and you'll come to a box on a short stand. This box can be opened with a phillips screwdriver and a ladder. Chickadee Box: At the corner of the parking lot by the orachrd, head south straight into the orchard. Take care here to avoid some poison ivy and thorn bushes in the area. At the eastern boundary of this relatively open area is a small white box on a stand. This box can be opened with a phillips screwdriver and a ladder. Wren Box: By the boundary of the orchard and Wellington brook is a box on a short stand. This box can be opened with a phillips screwdriver and a ladder. BLAIR POND To access Blair Pond follow the directions for reaching the orchard but instead of turning onto Hill Rd continue over the train tracks (or before them if coming from the other direction) and turn left into the parking lot for a White Hen Pantry store. Go all the way back to the end of the lot, Blair Pond is in front of you. It is ok to park here. Swallow Box: Go down towards where Wellington Brook feeds into Blair Pond. There is a finger of marshy land sticking out into the pond here. At the end of it is the box on a stand. This box can be opened with a phillips screwdriver and a ladder. LITTLE POND Flicker Box: At the end of Hill Road instead of turning right towards the Orchard, park near here and walk behind the townhouses on your left. Little River runs behind these townhouses, follow it until you come to Little Pond (about 5-10 minutes). On your right will be a patch of woods where Little River leaves Little Pond. Near the river bank, about 10 feet up and nailed to a tree is the box. This box can be opened with a phillips screwdriver and a ladder. |