Bird Sanctuary

 Nevins Bird Sanctuary

The Nevins Bird Sanctuary, once part of the Nevins Family Estate was part of the bequest to the City of Methuen, when the last heir of the Nevins family Harriet F. B. Nevins passed  away.  Harriet was a lifelong champion of animals and nature.

Once widely known and beloved, this little park tucked away in a corner of the city nearly forgotten until now.  The Sanctuary is framed by the the Spicket River and Rt. 213. The Methuen Rail Trail bisects the 18 acre sanctuary almost evenly, but the birds and wildlife also make the many many acres of adjoining conservation wetlands their home.   Check out this page of Wildlife photos from Methuen.

sanctuaryunexpired

SPECIES OF NOTE:Red Tail Hawks, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, American Bittern, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Wood Ducks, Mallards, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers,  Chimney Swifts, American Goldfinch, Eastern Kingbird, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Cedar Waxwing; occasionally Great Egret, Black Ducks, Cormorant and Osprey.

HABITATS: Woodland, Marsh, Small Meadow, Riverbank.
VIEWING INFORMATION:  No facilities at this location. Town owned parcel bisected by the Methuen Rail Trail and bordering the Spicket River.  Trails are overgrown and sometimes interrupted by trees downed by active beaver.   Waterfowl, marsh and shorebirds can also be viewed from the water.  A Great Blue Heron rookery on the Spicket River can be best viewed from a point on the rail trail a quarter mile north from the Sanctuary.
WARNINGS: Beware poison ivy and deer ticks.
ACCESS:  Improvements to trail access are planned.  The rail trail has a crushed asphalt surface suitable for wheelchair and mobility scooter access, but there are no suitable connecting paths at this time.
SIZE: over 18 acres, town owed bordering many more acres of conservation wetlands.
LOCATION: the end of Pine St, Methuen or directly behind the Quinn Health and Safety building (Police Station) on Hampshire St.
MANAGED BY: Conservation Office, City of Methuen 978-983-8650
HOURS: Dawn to Dusk
DIRECTIONS: From Rt 93. Take exit 47 for Pelham St, follow Pelham St towards downtown Methuen at Five Corners intersection, take slight left onto Lowell St and first left onto Pine St, continue to the end of the street.
PARKING: Parking is available along the rail bed.

 

nevins bird sanctuary

 

4656699256_36eb3432fb_b

 

Sample Float Plan to file if you take a boat out in the sanctuary

Birders: Paula MacFarland & Sue McGrath
Location: Nevins Bird Sanctuary
Observation date: 5/23/10
Number of species: 32

Wood Duck 1
Mallard 3
Great Blue Heron 30 (approx 16 occupied nests!)
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Chimney Swift 10
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Eastern Phoebe 7
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 3
Tree Swallow 10
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 8
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 7
Cedar Waxwing 10
Yellow Warbler 6
Common Yellowthroat 5
Scarlet Tanager 1
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 5
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Red-winged Blackbird 4
Common Grackle 15
Baltimore Oriole 11
American Goldfinch 3
House Sparrow 15

Birders:Joyce Godsey & Christine Lewis
Location: Nevins Bird Sanctuary
Observation date: 7/27/10

Nevins Bird Sanctuary, Methuen

Wood Duck 6
American Black Duck 2
Mallard 4
Great Blue Heron 2
Green Heron 3
Killdeer 2
Rock Pigeon 1
Mourning Dove 2
Chimney Swift 9
Downy Woodpecker 2
Eastern Phoebe 1
Eastern Kingbird 3
American Crow 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 1
Gray Catbird 1
European Starling 2
Cedar Waxwing 2
Yellow Warbler 2
Song Sparrow 2
Scarlet Tanager 1
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Common Grackle 2
American Goldfinch 1

 

Share and Enjoy:
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Blogplay

 

1 Comment »

One Response to “Bird Sanctuary”