North River Wildlife Sanctuary

July 4, 2019

 

North River Wildlife Sanctuary

Nestled along Route 3 about two miles from Kathy’s father’s home is the North River Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is named for the state-designated Scenic River that winds along its northern boundary, and is owned and operated by Mass Audubon. One of three South Shore wildlife sanctuaries ( the others being the Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary and the North Hill Marsh), run by Mass Audubon, North River features trails that run through fields, oak forest, and the salt marsh,

Kathy and Chris 

The sanctuary attracts a wide variety of birds and seals are often visible from the riverside platform. Considering that Kathy’s father’s land features pretty much the same sort of natural setting, you may wonder why I wanted to visit the North River property. If you guessed gift shop on site, you would be correct, as I am a sucker for well-run gift shops, especially those run by deserving Environmental organizations.

 

Kathy, her brother Chris and I spent the better part of an afternoon visiting the gift shop and also hiking along the trails through the fields, marsh and forested area of the sanctuary. There was a bunch of cool wildlife to be seen, starting with the huge Osprey nest located on a raised platform in the middle of a field that allowed for great views of the nesting pair of Osprey as they flew about building or at least maintaining the nest.

 

One of the birds would carry large branches from the nearby forested area to the nest and it was really cool to watch. We also saw a variety of chipmunks, squirrels and a bunch perhaps 8 or 9, large wild turkeys. It was a really fun and interesting experience. The River loop trail circles the large open field where the osprey nest was,   we also had the opportunity to see eastern bluebirds, hunting red-tailed hawks soaring overhead, and a wide variety of butterflies feeding on native flowers. 

 

A wooden boardwalk led from the trail to the banks of the North River where a cool viewing platform gave a wonderful panorama of the river and all the activity going on there, it was really beautiful. But as awesome and amazing as the area was, it still doesn’t really come close to the beautiful nature that surrounds Kathy’s father’s house. 

 

Kathy

His house is located right along the marsh that gives Marshfield its name and all around the house is a wooded area that is home to all manner of woodland creatures including deer, raccoon, skunk, opossum, squirrel and chipmunks. There are also literally hundreds of birds at any given moment all around. Trails lead through the woods to the nearby marsh, and then down to the South River where there is a dock that we used as a base for swimming in the river.

 

If you follow the river down and cross it a few hundred yards downstream, you find yourself at a beautiful private beach on the Atlantic Ocean, making it all in all a perfect place for a summer getaway. Kathy, Jack and I went down to swim in the River almost daily while we were there, often joined by her brother or father as well.

Jim

https://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/north-river