The advent of cooler temperatures doesn’t mean you should hibernate. January is a spectacular time for a romp through the wetlands and woods of the 624-acre Broadmoor Sanctuary, Massachusetts Audubon Society’s jewel practically in Holliston’s own back yard. With nine miles of trails, this piece of land abutting Indian Brook and the Charles River is home to over 150 species of birds, not to mention other wildlife, including beavers, adjacent to scenic waterways and mill dam waterfalls. Trails range from easy to rugged, so a trip to Broadmoor is what you make of it.
“About a year ago, we completed an extension of our all-persons trail,” says Elissa Landre, Sanctuary Director at Broadmoor, referring to a quarter-mile Broadmoor trail built in 1999 that can accommodate people of all abilities. “We added 600 feet that go up to a rise overlooking a field and forest, that people can use to watch hawks, foxes and deer.” The all-persons walk incorporates a boardwalk and even a downloadable audio tour that alerts visitors with visual impairments to sensory stimuli they can hear, smell and feel.
“In January, if there is snow (visitors) can see beautiful snow covered landscapes, if not beautiful frozen ponds and landscapes,” says Landre. “And sightings can include red-tailed hawks, a variety of birds like cedar waxwings, wild turkey and more. Small mammals are active under the snow. Turtles are active under the ice. If it’s black ice you can see them.”
Now that many leaves have dropped from the trees, fox and coyote, who are actively hunting, become easier to spot. A little bit of snow might reveal their tracks, or those of others living in the woodland home.
If you spot a beaver lodge, know that there’s activity inside them.
“Beavers are snug in their lodges. Once the wetland freezes, they can’t work – they’ll be in the lodge. They’re going to stay in their lodge once the ice is frozen. They store food in the fall. They store tasty branches by cutting them in their teeth and sticking them in the mud near their lodge,” says Landre.
Broadmoor’s not only an excellent location for sightseeing, but it’s a great spot to bring your snowshoes and cross country skis.
“Snowshoeing and cross country skiing is permitted on the trail, so bring your equipment,” says Landre, although expect the trails to be natural, not groomed.
Broadmoor is anything but quiet in these coldest months. In addition to an owl festival planned next month on February 4th, which will feature live owls, you can choose from such programs as Owl Prowl Adventures, Watercolors in Nature, Animal Tracking, nature photography and more this month.
Broadmoor Sanctuary is located at 280 Eliot Street in Natick. It’s open to visitors from Tues-Fri, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., with daily admission for nonmembers is $5 for adults and $4 for children (2-12) and seniors (65+). Entrance is free with an annual membership, $65 per family for new members, or $48 for a single membership, which includes admission to all 100+ Mass Audubon’s sanctuaries across the state.
If Holliston locals are seeking an even closer, more rugged adventure this winter, they can look no further than the 229-acre Waseeka Wildlife Sanctuary, an unstaffed sanctuary off of Clinton Street in Hopkinton that backs almost into Highland Street. Waseeka is open daily, dawn to dusk.
“Waseeka is one of our jewels, actually. I like it a lot. It’s where I get away,” says Landre. It’s unstaffed, and no one plows the parking lot in winter, but if you’re up for a rugged adventure, it’s on the Holliston, Hopkinton border and has trails and a pond. It’s a mecca for photographers and birders and people who want a quiet experience in nature.”
You can find out more by calling (508) 655-2296 or by visiting the sanctuary’s page at http://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/broadmoor
Issue Date:
January, 2017
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