On The Refuge
Adam Dutra
The Locals
During my many trips to the refuge I came across many different bird and mammal species. These are some of the natives that I came across and a little bit about them.
Eastern Bluebird
The Eastern Bluebird is a medium sized song bird measuring about 8.3 inches long. They tend to nest in large open fields and pastures and can lay up to six powder blue eggs. These birds are known for the males bright blue plumage.
House Wren
These tiny song birds are the most common type of wren and have only faced conservation issues when the house sparrow was introduced to the northern part of the United States. They grow to be roughly 4-5 inches long and create large barrier like nests in which they lay six to eight red and white blotched eggs.
Tree (Violet-Green) Swallow
The Tree Swallow also known as the Violet-Green Swallow is a migratory bird which breeds in the Northern United States in early spring and summer then travel south to Mexico and South America during the winter months. Growing to be only five inches long, these tiny birds are known to pack a punch and will defend their nests at all costs.
House Sparrow
Native to Europe and parts of Asia, this bird has become quite a nuisance in the United States. Now found almost everywhere in North America, the sparrow is considered an invasive species with critical impact. Though small these birds are aggressive when it comes to food and territory, often killing many birds that have taken ideal nesting locations. These birds are partly responsible for songbird declines such as the House Wren and Eastern Bluebird.
Black-Capped Chickadee
The Chickadee is a non-migratory species of song bird which means it stays in the same location all year round. Native to most of North America, this bird is the state bird of both Maine and Massachusetts. Growing to be between four and six inches long, the Chickadee is commonly found in nesting boxes. Their nests consist of moss and plant down and can hold about five to eight tiny eggs.
Some other local animals found on the refuge are...
Hawks, Turkeys, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Robins, Mourning Doves, Golden Finches, Mocking Birds, Deer, Weasels, and many insects (Especially Ticks).