Accessible
Birding Sites
The Athol Bird and Nature Club under the leadership of the late Joseph Superchi have provided accessible birding experiences for many decades. In keeping with this tradition, we have identified sites where persons of limited mobility can explore quality birding/nature sites in the region. Our hope is to include more sites as we learn of them and offer guided visits to these sites moving forward.
We want to shout out to the Birdability Project providing a wealth of information on identifying accessible birding sites, adaptive equipment, and guidance on running accessible excursions.
Alan E. Rich Environmental Park: Athol
Alan E. Rich Environmental Park
10 Main Street, Athol, MA
(978) 249-2496
https://www.athol-ma.gov/parks-trails/pages/alan-e-rich-environmental-park
A park welcoming visitors with car-top boat access, picnic benches, and a nature trail through Cass Meadow and woodland along the Millers River. Named for the late Alan Rich, a long-time Athol Selectman, and political leader, the park was developed as part of the Mass Urban River Visions initiative. Cass Meadow is managed by the Mass Division of Fisheries and Game and The friends of the Alan E. Rich Environmental Park,
Conservation land right in the center of Athol? Yes, indeed, land that includes car top access to the Millers River, a park landscaped with native plant varieties, benches and picnic tables welcoming visitors, and a short loop trail. Meandering through an area of young woodland and the open land of the Millers River Wildlife Management Area, that trail includes short spurs to the south shore of the Millers River and a longer spur leading deeper into the meadow.
It is a trail that makes one forget for a time how close one is to civilization. Listen to the birds, revel in the grasses and wildflowers, watch the swooping dragonflies….
A favorite destination for naturalists and photographers the flat grassed trails provide leisurely access to the natural world.
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Wastewater Treatment Plant Access Road: Athol
Treatment Plant Road
Town of Athol DPW
69 Jones Street Athol 01331
One of Athol’s best birding spots is the access road to the treatment plant. Access is gained by traveling down South Street from town Center and turning left on Jones Street and immediate right onto the access road. Park before the gate on the right being sure to keep far off the side of the road to accommodate the trucks that use the facility. Do not bring vehicles inside the gated area.
Spring and fall are wonderful times to visit the area but birds can be good the year around. Immediately upon exiting your vehicle look for birds in the canopy and along both sides of the road with the Millers River on the right and a swamp are on the left.
The gate is open during business hours and easily accessible for wheel chairs. After hours foot traffic is allowed around the gate. Birding is good in the thickets near the well buildings. Song birds such as Catbirds, Carolina Wren, and warblers in migration and summer.
Proceeding along the paved road as you dip down the incline the swamp on the left is a good place for a variety of waterfowl, Kingfisher and Herons. The thickets on the right as the road flattens out have produced the best migrant warblers and sparrows. Depending on the water level of Millers River shorebirds and rails have been found between the road and river. Bluebirds, Yellow and Yellow-throated Warblers are common in summer. Please do not enter the treatment plant fenced area. The adventurous may take the foot trail to the right before the gate and follow along the river which will meet up with MassWildlife’s Millers River Wildlife Management Area. Another foot path from the parking are takes you to the railroad property where several small ponds are worth noting in migration. No restrooms or benches available. The Cumberland Farms store on Main Street in Athol has accessible bathrooms.
Silver Lake: Athol
289 Unity Avenue (Main entrance open year around)
https://www.athol-ma.gov/parks-trails/pages/silver-lake-park
Located near downtown Athol, this glacial kettle hole pond is an excellent place to watch for resident and migrating waterfowl. Mallard Ducks are common through the summer and are joined by Hooded Mergansers, Wood Ducks and an occasional specialty like Long-tailed Duck . While you’re there look for Great Blue and Green Herons, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Kingbird and Eastern Phoebe. The area is excellent for car birding as a road circles the edge of the pond; about 2/3 of it is paved and open for public vehicles.
Branch Bridge: Athol, New Salem
The long causeway is over the “branch” of the Millers River which now makes up the Lake Rohunta complex. Lake Rohunta has sections named Eagleville and Partridgeville. Branch Bridge is located between White Pond Road in South Athol and Blackington Road in New Salem. From mid-March through late spring, and again in the fall, the area is visited by flocks of waterfowl. This is the local “best” waterfowl spot in the North Quabbin. Ring-necked ducks can number in the hundreds and are joined by Lesser and Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Hooded and Common Mergansers, Bufflehead and Green-winged Teal. The unpaved causeway is good for car or wheelchair birding.
Quabbin Reservior: New Salem, Petersham, Hardwick
Several of the many gates giving access to the reservoir are open for bicycling, and suitable for wheelchair birding. There is room for wheelchairs to get around the locked gates. Best birding gates are #29, #31, #35, #40, and #43. These are rich in wildlife from spring through fall, but are especially good for migrating Warblers, Thrushes, Flycatchers, Vireos, and other songbirds in April and May. At #35 ravens have nested for several years. If you can get as far as the open water of the reservoir (often half a mile or more), Common Loons, Horned Grebes, Scoters and Bald Eagles can be seen.
Barton’s Cove: Gill, Turners Falls
Described in the “Birdwatchers Guide to Western Mass,” this Valley birding hotspot is easily viewed from two locations. The first is off Route 2 between the DCR Public Boat Ramp (also a good viewing spot) and the Turners Falls Bridge. By exploring the neighborhood adjacent to the river you will easily find quiet streets and be able to see resting waterfowl during the spring and fall migration. Large numbers of Mallards, Black Ducks and Canada Geese are joined by Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Mute Swans, Common and Hooded Mergansers.
In winter large flocks of gulls gather on the ice and the savvy observer may find among the Herring, Great Black-backed, and Ring-billed Gulls such specialties as Iceland, Glaucous, or Lesser Black-backed Gulls. The streets and boat ramp are good for both car and wheelchair birding.
A special treat each spring is the return of the nesting Bald Eagles. A spotting scope is helpful in observing the birds across the cove. A stop at the Silvio Conte National Wildlife Refuge Discovery Center (just over the Turners Falls Bridge from Route 2) will allow you to view the Eagles’ nest on closed-circuit TV, and the Center’s accessible exhibits are not to be missed.
An additional stop at the Turners Falls Rod and Gun Club (watch for sign on left as you head for the airport from the Discovery Center) allows a view of a different section of the river and in addition to the species mentioned above is one of the best places to view Canvasback Ducks in migration. A Red-headed Woodpecker once spent several months there.
Fort River Trail: Hadley
oThe Fort River Trail is located in the Fort River Division of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge: 260 acres of forests, riverlands, and grasslands providing exceptional wildlife habitat for birds and other animals. The Fort River Trail passes through all of these picturesque landscapes, offering excellent opportunities for bird-watching and wildlife observation. The trail is 1.2 miles long and is constructed with boardwalks and flat surfaces, making it universally accessible to wheelchairs, strollers, and the blind.
The Birdability link for this site with additional access information
Alderbrook Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary: Northfield
The Gunnery Sergeant Jeffrey S. Ames Accessible Nature Trail is located in the Alderbrook Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary: 5 acres of Conservation Area consisting of a mature pine forest and wetlands habitat and pond created by beaver flooding. The Accessible Nature Trail is a 0.5 mile long loop constructed of hard-packed dirt and meets the United States Forest Service’s guidelines for accessibility.
The Birdability Link for this site with additional access information
Other Accessible Birding Sites
Several other accessible birding sites, for which directions and descriptions can be found in the “Birdwatchers Guide to Western Mass,” include the “Canal” at Turners Falls, The University of Massachusetts Campus Pond in Amherst, and Quabbin Park in Belchertown.
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