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PHOTO: Wally Gobetz, Creative Commons

NOV 16 • 9:30 – 11:30 AM • Boston, MA

DUCK DUCK GOOSE

A survey walk in the Emerald Necklace for The Walking City Trail

EVENT Details

MEET AT:
Allerton Overlook
203 Pond Ave.
Boston, MA

DATE – Saturday. Nov. 16, 2024 
TIME  9:30-11:30 AM ET

QUESTIONS? hello@bostonbirdingfestival.org

DETAILS

This event is free, but you must register in advance. Spaces are limited. You’ll receive an email with additional info after you register.

We also request a signed release, which you can complete on line or print, sign, and bring or complete onsite. If you have questions, please ask! Thanks! If you have previously completed a form in 2024, you’re all set!

Habitat

FeNS, POnds, public PArk/Suburban, Meadow, Small woodlands, Wetlands

DIRECTIONS

GPS ADDRESS:
203 Pond Avenue, Boston

Parking

Parking is scarce but available in multiple small lots along the Riverway as is even scarcer metered street parking. If you are driving, please consider carpooling,

Public Transportation

Nearby T stations include the Riverway, Longwood and Brookline Village. There are also numerous city buses and Blue Bikes.

Please look for the email we send about in advance for updates. 

 

ABOUT THIS TRIP

Winter waterfowl are arriving! And these four ponds, like diamonds, in the Emerald Necklace, make for a enjoyable morning of fall/early winter birding. 

Join us as we explore the beautiful and historic Olmstead park are that includes Jamaica Pond, Willow Pond, Ward’s Pond and Leverett Pond. 

Ducks are on the move from the north, and frequently drop in one Boston’s ponds. Dabblers, divers, chasers, grebes, stiif-tails, geese, swans and more can all be found within the city limits. Let’s see what we can add to the Walking City Checklist!

Waterfowl are also a great way to burnish your birding skills. We’ll likely see territorial displays, a variety of plumages, and lots of interesting behavior.

New birders are welcome, and we have some binoculars to lend.

Spaces are limited. Free. 

ABOUT THIS TRIP

The Boston Birding Festival is excited to partner with the WCT and others to bring greater attention to Boston’s urban green space and advocate for conservation and greater access to parks and nature.

Simply by birding the trail and sharing your observations, you can help create more awareness of important outdoor corridors and encourage greater access to and protection for green space in the city. The data you collect will help shape urban planning decisions, increase and direct conservation efforts toward neighborhoods that have been neglected, and contribute to a better understanding of Boston’s urban ecology.

Read more about the Walking City Trail Survey Project here.

Golden light bouncing off the surface of a quiet pond. A Northern Pintail floats and bobs, leaving ripples.
A grey day. But a beautiful American Widgeon flies through the scene, defying the grey with the rusts and greens of its plumage.
All the fierceness of a female Belted Kingfisher perches on a brand against the blur of a green pond.
He hunkers down while partoling the edge of teh marsh. A male Hooded Merganser in all his finery.

PHOTO: Norther Pintail, American Widgeon, Belted Kingfisher, Hooded Merganser. Getty Images.

GOOD TO KNOW

ACCESSIBILITY

This route is mostly paved, wide and described as stroller friendly and accessible. We would like to add that that there are a couple of hills at about 5% grade. There are also lots of benches in this area.

There are also wheelchair accessible restrooms in the Jamaica Pond section of the trail and designated parking.

This walk is also designed to make it easy for people to join us for portions of the walk. While some of us will bird for a full two hours or even more, you should feel free to jump in or out at any section. Just sign up in advanced so we can send you a detailed plan  a few nights before.

TRAILS

This walk is easy-moderate—about 3 miles over paved and uneven surfaces. The terrain is mostly flat with a some gentle hills,  To explore this route see the All Trails map  [LINK].  Please note we will only be birding the southern two sections, not the top section, for this walk.

CHALLENGES
Please note: This is a city park and quite popular. 

POSTED

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PHOTO: Delaney WMA, ©MFBAGDER