Fowl comings
and goings
at Watson Farm by DON MINTO Farm Manager, Watson Farm
T
here are many good reasons to flock to Watson Farm, Historic New England’s 265-acre working agricultural landscape in Jamestown, Rhode Island. Located on Conanicut Island in Narragansett Bay, this historic farm is primarily a grazing operation for sheep and cattle pasturage and serves as hay land. It also consists of highly diverse habitats that support a wide array of vegetation and flora. These habitats support an equally diverse population of wildlife, including many species of birds. As a farmer who spends most of my waking hours on a year-round basis managing this property, I have had the privilege of being immersed in the natural surroundings of Watson Farm. For me, one of the joys of working the land is the opportunity for the interaction, observation, and coexistence with the wildlife and bird species that make Watson Farm home, or in some cases, are just passing through. Among these are the raptors—birds of prey— including red-tailed hawks, American kestrels, and nesting great horned owls. We sometimes see other owl species as well, like snowy, barn, barred, screech, and long-eareds. In addition to the often-seen red tails, hawks that visit are the kestrel or sparrow, Cooper’s, and northern harrier. Occasionally, we might see an osprey with a just-caught fish in its talons fly to a dead tree on the farm to feast on local seafood. Other large birds we encounter are peregrine falcons, bald and golden eagles, and the newly observed
black vultures that are now roosting with a large flock of turkey vultures. Nesting Baltimore orioles and some orchard orioles are found in the mature landscape trees in the barnyard. Here, too, chimney swifts and tree swallows can be found, along with the great population of barn swallows that returns every April to nest in the barns. Over the past two years, we’ve witnessed a rise in the population of invasive English sparrows, which have been observed destroying the barn swallows’ nests. Bobolinks, grasshopper sparrows, killdeers, red-winged blackbirds, eastern kingbirds, cowbirds, and the American goldfinch are all found in the grasslands at Watson Farm during the summer months. At times, eastern meadowlarks and occasionally bluebirds are observed. Great blue herons, egrets (common and great), little green herons, and on occasion yellow-crested night herons spend time in the small pond near the visitors’ parking lot. Sometimes glossy ibises and a rare cattle egret make appearances. Every spring, the farm’s wooded swamp hosts American woodcocks, rotund little birds with a high-flying breeding dance ritual at dusk. Ruby-throated hummingbirds regularly visit the gardens around the farmhouse and red-bellied and downy woodpeckers, cardinals, blue jays, house wrens, phoebes, black-capped chickadees, and tufted titmice abound. This listing accounts for just a few of the birds that frequent Watson Farm. Conanicut Island is a great place for devoted birders and novices alike to explore and perhaps add to their life lists. Make sure to include a self-guided tour of Watson Farm when visiting the property. For information about visiting the Lyman Estate and Watson Farm, go to HistoricNewEngland.org. above A parula warbler visiting the species’ favored habitat at Watson Farm. left Occasionally, bluebirds can be seen on the Jamestown, Rhode Island, agricultural landscape. Photographs by Chris Powell.