Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

Plum Island.

Overview

An 8 mile barrier island located in Newburyport, Massachusetts, itself a heavily birded location. Driving the length, you see marshes on one side while the other side has dunes and ocean accessible from boardwalks.

Birds

Notable Species

Parker River Wildlife Refuge has 4662 acres of diverse wetlands which are habitat to more than 300 species of migrating birds. Parts of the refuge are closed due to winter conditions or the summer breeding of Piping Plovers. Winter visitors include Snowy Owl and Northern Gannet.

Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Mallard, Common Eider, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Osprey, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Mourning Dove, Eastern Kingbird, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, American Redstart, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Bobolink, Red-winged Blackbird

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Other Wildlife

• White-tailed Deer
• coyotes
• butterflies
  • Monarch
  • Pearl Crescent
  • Spring Azure
  • Mourning Cloak
  • Common Wood Nymph
  • Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
• Harbor Seal
• Hooded and other arctic seals on occasion

Site Information

History and Use

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Areas of Interest

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Access and Facilities

The refuge is a place to bird year round. There is an entrance fee. Follow Water Street to Plum Island over the bridge and turn right.

Contact Details

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External Links

• Parker River NWR

Content and images originally posted by Digital Rebel

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