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Get Outside & Explore
Yoga at the Stone Barn
Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays 9:30am | Adults
Bobolink Walks
Thursdays in June | Adults
Spring Osprey Exploration on the Westport River
June 3 | Adults
Join, Connect & Save
Members get free access to wildlife sanctuaries and nature centers statewide and program discounts—including summer camp!
Join Now >
Get Your Ducks Now
14th Annual Duck Derby
The 2017 Duck Derby will take place on Saturday, August 12.
The race will start at 10 am, followed by an 11 am Duck Derby Festival with amazing $5 BBQ, silent auction, plant auction, live music, and winner announcements!
Ducks are already being adopted online and entered into this year's race. Get your ducks now!
Maybe 2017 is your year to win the grand prize of dinner for two anywhere in the world with round-trip airfare and two nights' lodging!
Contact Us
1280 Horseneck Road
Westport, MA 02790
Questions?
Please call the sanctuary at 508-636-2437 or email us.
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May 2017
Welcome Back, Migrants!
© Sean Murphy
With spring in full swing, we're enjoying the return of our migratory species, from wading birds (did you happen to see our rare male ruff?) warblers, bobolink and coastal waterbirds—the sightings are frequent and exciting! One of our migratory species is currently nesting on our barrier beach, and our Greater New Bedford Vocational Tech Co-op student, Alyssa, wrote a fantastic piece about them—the American oystercatcher.
The American oystercatcher is no stranger to the coastal shores of Massachusetts. Once hunted for their plumage, the oystercatcher population decreased drastically in the nineteenth century and this number was not raised significantly until a century later. These water birds get their name from their main food source: shellfish. American oystercatchers eat mussels, clams, oysters, marine worms, sand crabs, jelly fish, and other intertidal zone organisms. They have a black head, a brown back, a white underside, and an unmistakable red bill which can be three to four inches long. Adults can reach heights up to 21 inches, with a wingspan of 35 inches.
An oystercatcher reaches maturity within one year but does not start to mate for another three years. The mating season for this species ranges from February to July. Female oystercatchers lay their eggs at ground level along marshes or dunes in shallow sand scrapes lined with rocks and shells—a nest both parents help to create.
The female typically lays one to four eggs which are gray in color with brown speckles. Two females and one male sometimes share nests, which can result in more eggs residing in a single nest. These eggs, although well camouflaged and protected, can be eaten by raccoons, crows, seagulls, and other local predators. The incubation process for the oystercatchers takes around three to four weeks and is done by both the male and the female. Once the young birds hatch, they are fed by their parents for two months and develop a strong enough beak to search for their own food within sixty days of birth.
Oystercatchers are extremely sensitive to coastal development, human disturbance, pollution, invasive species, and sea level rising. The presence of any one of these factors puts the American oystercatcher at risk which has led to an increase in conservation efforts in many
states including Massachusetts.
Volunteer With Us on National Trails Day
June 3, 9 am-noon
Join us as we walk our newest trail, widening it as we go and picking up any trash we find along the way. While we work, we'll also talk about the history of the land and the importance of the plants and animals that live there. The project will end back at the Stone Barn where you are welcome to bring your lunch and stay for a picnic! Hand tools and gloves will be available, and we'll provide all necessary training.
Learn More & RSVP >
Don't Miss Osprey Field Exploration
June 24, 9:00 am–8:00 pm
© Heather Fone |
Allens Pond is delighted to be offering an adult field school program this year as part of our new Let's Go! Field School Series. This day-long experiential program for adults will bring you deep into the natural history of the species, through to conservation and stewardship. Space is limited to 15 participants per session.
Learn More & Register >
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