Elizabeth “Lis” M. Kernan and Sean Riley
Female Saltmarsh Sparrow. Photograph by Lis Kernan.
For those unfamiliar with Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, here is a brief overview. Situated in East Boston, Revere, and Winthrop, Belle Isle is the largest remaining salt marsh in Boston. The reservation is roughly 350 acres, of which approximately 140 acres are salt marsh, mostly low marsh. The reservation is a state designated ACEC (Area of Critical Environmental Concern), a Mass Audubon designated IBA (Important Bird Area), and a Natural Heritage designated priority habitat on the Massachusetts BioMap, with 16 of the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA) listed species either breeding in or moving through the reservation at various times throughout the year. Ebird observations at Bell Isle Marsh list 272 species and it is a fantastic birding location within walking distance of public transportation. Belle Isle is also an excellent location to see the bird that is the focus of this article, the Saltmarsh Sparrow.
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