Nantucket : A Birder ’ s Paradise
By Ken Blackshaw , author of 8 books about island birds
© Ken Blackshaw
Situated at the eastern edge of North America and the western edge of the Atlantic Ocean , Nantucket Island is often the last land many stray birds from the west encounter , or the first ray of hope for others straying from Europe . Over 300 different species have been recorded here , and – in any given year – you can easily spot 200 .
Many of these birds are not readily found elsewhere in the U . S ., and some specialties attract birders to our shores throughout the year . Nearly half the island is preserved and free from development . Thus , it ’ s easy to meander down to the shoreline to view shorebirds , gulls , terns , sandpipers and many other species in the warmer months . In the off season , Nantucket often presents a ‘ gull show ’ featuring thousands of Bonaparte ’ s Gulls , along with rare ‘ white-winged ’ gulls from the north . Several species of gulls also cross from Europe . In some years , incredible flights of Long-tailed Ducks cross the island daily to feed out in the Atlantic . These may number in the hundreds of thousands and provide an awesome spectacle !
The island ’ s annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count draws birders from all over the northeast , and Nantucket often leads the New England area with the highest species total .
Maria Mitchell Association ( MMA ) and the Linda Loring Nature Foundation ( LLNF ) are local organizations providing most of the birding opportunities for visitors . MMA leads birdwalks from their Vestal Street location on Tuesday and Friday mornings from mid- June through August . Every Wednesday from early spring through late fall the LLNF offers birdwalks starting at 110 Eel Point Road . In addition , the informal – and very popular – Nantucket Bird Club meets at 8 AM every Sunday morning in front of the High School for several hours of birding fun .
Ginger Andrews writes a weekly column in the Inquirer & Mirror newspaper featuring the latest bird news and up-to-date information on local birding opportunities . Mitchell ’ s Book Corner and Nantucket Bookworks both carry copies of ‘ Birding Nantucket ,’ and many other great books detailing Nantucket ’ s birds at every season .
You are never far from a bird on Nantucket , and they can add a wonderful dimension to any island visit . As my friend , the late Vern Laux , was known to say : ‘ While out in the field – keep your eyes to the sky !’
24 • 2017 Official Guide to Nantucket