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Pine Island, Hardwick:
Pine
Island is a complex of old pastures and marsh located behind the
northeast side of Hardwick Common. Birding is interesting here
year-round, but autumn seems typically to be the most active time. A
long list of migrants have been recorded, including such unusual
species as Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Orange-crowned Warbler,
Yellow-breasted Chat and Vesper Sparrow. White-crowned and Lincoln
Sparrow are annually regular. Summer breeders include American
Kestrel, Virginia Rail, Willow Flycatcher, Blue-winged Warbler,
Baltimore Oriole and Swamp Sparrow. Winter often offers Great Horned
Owl, Carolina Wren, Cedar Waxwing and Swamp Sparrow.
A phenological bar graph of observations can be viewed HERE. One
concern at this site is the expanding invasion of Purple Loosestrife in
the marshes. This exotic species has taken a strong foothold in recent
years and is currently threatening to exclude much of the native
vegetation in the marshes, including the beds of cattails that support
Virginia Rail and potentially the state-endangered American Bittern
(one was seen here throughout the 2000 breeding season). I would
actually recommend NOT to enter the marshes autumn through early
spring. Doing so would put you in contact with millions of Loosestrife
seeds that you would inevitably disperse not only throughout this site,
but potentially to other, yet unaffected sites as the tiny seeds travel
unnoticed in your clothing.
To
reach Pine Island from Hardwick Common turn onto Ruggles Hill Road
near the church on the hill. Continue on Ruggles Hill Road for about
0.3 miles (down the hill and up the next) until you see a basketball
court on the right. You can park anywhere around this basketball
court. Now on foot, continue on Ruggles Hill Road for another 0.2
miles, until you see a bar-way on the right, just past where the Red
Pine forest ends. Through the bar-way is Pine Island. Like much of
Hardwick, Pine Island is private land, but quiet, respectful birding is
not a problem.
 Update - 2011-November-2011: The central wet meadows, marsh edges and pastures, as well as the stand of trees in the middle of the complex for which Pine Island takes its name, have undergone an ambitious reclamation over the past year, with invasive species management being a primary activity designed to reclaim much of this section of the tract for the suite of breeding, migratory and wintering birds mentioned above. Though this section is not posted, access to it requires crossing dense multi-flora rose and open marsh and is extremely difficult from the entry point described above. However, the East Quabbin Bird Club will make seasonal trips here to explore this habitat. This work was initiated and executed by the current landowner, and the East Quabbin Land Trust, who holds a Conservation Restriction on the property, provided technical support in developing the habitat management plan. It's been exciting to watch this work unfold over the past year. Long-term, the East Quabbin Land Trust hopes to find ways to apply this type of management across the entire complex, including the pasture tract along Ruggles Hill Road, so that the entire complex will function again as accessible prime bird habitat.   |
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