In Search of Feathered Friends

Among its abundant charms, World’s End boasts superb bird-watching opportunities. Its diverse habitats, from thickets to tidal mudflats, attract an assortment of bird species—both local and migrating.

Over the past 15 years of record-keeping, avid birder Sally Avery has sighted 143 different species of birds at World’s End. In early 2021, the Trustees enlisted Avery’s expertise and guidance to lead bird-watching outings at World’s End. Offered on a monthly basis, these guided excursions are always fully booked. “Winter weather is not a deterrent for birders,” Avery adds. “Every time you go birding, you never know what you’ll see.”

As an example, Avery cites a weekend in mid-February, when the temperatures soared into the 60s and, suddenly, “There were bluebirds everywhere. The snow was melting, so the bluebirds were out looking for insects.” Normally, at that time of year, the most prevalent birds are the yearround residents: titmice, chickadees, cardinals, nuthatches, woodpeckers and ducks.

As one might expect, bird sightings change with the seasons. In the spring, World’s End is the place to go to see warblers—some 30 different species of warblers. “These are 4- to 5-inch birds in shades of yellow, black, white and a touch of red,” Avery describes. “It’s really something to see them all at once.” Warblers have made an annual habit of stopping at World’s End each spring on their way to Canada, to breed in the Boreal Forest.

Summertime brings red-winged blackbirds by the hundreds to World’s End, according to Avery. “The sight of these black birds with their bright-red epaulets really surprises people.” And just as impressive are the multitude of bobolinks, a relative of blackbirds and orioles which birders often describe as “wearing a tuxedo backward.”

For birders hoping to spot a rarity, autumn presents the most likely prospect, as birds migrate south for the winter. “In the fall,” Avery explains, “birds aren’t in as much of a hurry as they are in the spring, when they’re migrating north to claim their breeding territory. So the fall is a protracted migration period; plus, hurricane season can sometimes throw unexpected birds off their intended paths.”

In the fall of 2000, a few months after Avery took up birding seriously, she had a record-breaking sighting at World’s End: a Tropical Kingbird, the first of its kind ever identified in Massachusetts. These large yellow-and-gray flycatchers are popular in Middle and South America and are regular fall visitors to the Pacific Northwest—not typically the Northeast. Needless to say, Avery’s unusual find had birders from all over “flocking” to World’s End during the Tropical Kingbird’s one-month stay.

Now, as part of the monthly Bird Walks at World’s End, Avery takes birders to “The Valley,” located on the farthest-reaching drumlin, one of two areas on the reservation featuring untouched thickets, a favorable habitat for migrating birds. “As World’s End is one of the few undeveloped properties along the coastline, birds like to stop here along their migration routes,” says Avery.

For prime viewing of shore birds and wading birds, including egrets, heron and osprey, she brings birdwatchers to the bird blind at “Bird Alley,” overlooking Damde Meadows. “There have also been lots of sightings of bald eagles in the last year,” says Avery.

Recently, on the west side of World’s End, looking out toward Hingham Harbor and Martin’s Cove, the birding group has glimpsed great egrets, black-crowned night herons, and oystercatchers. Registration is required for bird walks at World’s End and space is limited.

By the Light of the Full Moon

Only a fortunate few have enjoyed the rare privilege of viewing World’s End under the full moon’s glow. Each month, when the moon grows to its roundest shape and fullest size, Trustees Educator Robin Steele sets off at dusk with an intrepid group on a Moonlight Hike at World’s End. After hours, the reservation’s gates are closed to all but those who’ve registered for the Moonlight Hike.

“This is a unique opportunity to see World’s End at a time of day when most people don’t get to see it,” Steele remarks. “Most people have never seen the sunset or the moonrise over World’s End.”

Moonlight Hikers ascend Planters Hill as the sun makes its descent, turning the sky several shades of orange and pink as the sunset hovers over the Boston skyline to the west.

“When we get to the top of the hill, there’s always a lot of oohing and ahhing as people take in the view,” she says.

A few minutes later, as the sun disappears, Steele directs participants in an easterly direction, where the full moon has begun to make its presence known amid the darkening sky. Facing the wind turbine and the Hull coastline, the group climbs slowly down the drumlin for a closer view of the rising moon.

“As we descend, we keep an eye out for crepuscular wildlife—animals that are active at twilight—such as white-tailed deer, red fox, raccoons and skunks,” says Steele. “We also discuss the significance of that particular month’s moon—the Wolf Moon in January, the Snow Moon in February, the Worm Moon in March, and so on.”

Continuing down the hill, the group pauses for a few moments in the cedar grove between the carriage path and the Damde Meadows to admire the moon’s reflection sparkling on the water. Then they veer left on a shortcut that takes them through woodlands to the Bird Blind, surrounded by tidal mudflats and the “ghost trees” that did not survive the opening of the dam decades ago.

“With the moon so bright in the sky and illuminating the ghost trees, it’s quite a mood,” Steele observes.

In the wintertime, when the days are shorter, the Moonlight Hikes begin as early as 5 p.m., but as summer approaches, the start times can be as late as 8 or 8:30 p.m.

“Each month’s full moon is special in its own way, but the Supermoons tend to be the most dramatic and exciting,” Steele notes. “When the moon is closer to the earth, it looks bigger, like you can reach out and touch it.”

Registration is required for Moonlight Hikes at World’s End and space is limited.

Celebrating Summer

Since 1984, World’s End has heralded the arrival of summer with an annual Summer Solstice celebration. The event welcomes a limited number of registered guests to drive their cars across the bridge and park in the field for an evening of food, beer and ice cream trucks and entertainment by the Aldous Collins Band.

“People play lawn games and frisbee and there are kids running around. It’s such a beautiful community gathering,” says Smith-Gillen.

Don’t miss the Summer Send-Off that will take place at World’s End on August 27. Gather your friends and family to celebrate the end of another beautiful season. Sit atop Planters Hill and enjoy live music, great food and craft brews, and an incredible sunset over the Boston skyline. Entertainment will be provided by Duppy Conquerors, a Bob Marley tribute band. (check their website for details). Pre-registration is required. No tickets will be sold onsite.