Newton wildlife livens up the pandemic

By Richard B. Primack

“How much more habitable a few birds make the fields! At the end of winter, when the fields are bare and there is nothing to relieve the monotony of the withered vegetation, our life seems reduced to its lowest terms. But let a bluebird come and warble over them, and what a change!” - Henry David Thoreau in his Journal. 

Is wildlife more abundant during this pandemic year in Newton, a suburb just west of Boston, because there is less human activity? Or are people noting wildlife more because they are working from home and spending more time outside? 

During the pandemic, Daniel Segrè has spent more time in Webster Woods pursuing nature photography. For two days, he observed a barred owl, at one point photographing it eating  a rabbit. 

Barred owl in the Webster Woods.  Photo courtesy of Dan Segrè.

Since the lockdown began in March, Max Chalfin-Jacobs, a Newton North senior, has observed 135 bird species in Cold Spring Park, about 30% of all the species known in Massachusetts. Most notably, he recorded a Kentucky warbler, normally found further south as well as red crossbills, pine siskins, and evening grosbeaks, all normally found farther north. 

Max Chalfin-Jacobs watching birds.  Photo courtesy of Ian Dickerman. 

Ted Kuklinski managed to film a great blue heron catching and trying to swallow a full-sized 3-foot-long female American eel on the muddy edge of Dolan Pond. Watch the video at: newtonconservators.org. How a migratory eel wound up in a small isolated vernal pond is a mystery, but it is an example of the adventures awaiting nature enthusiasts in the wilds of Newton.  

Great blue heron starting to eat an American eel. Photo courtesy of Ted Kuklinski.

This is a shortened version of an article that appeared in the Newton Tab.