Foss Reservoir

Foss Reservoir

Important Bird Area Framingham, Massachusetts 01701

Sudbury and Foss Reservoirs IBA

Birds of Interest

Waterfowl species that regularly migrate through this area include Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant (generally fewer than 20), Canada Goose (counts of 160 to 290), Mallard (counts of 50), American Black Duck (generally fewer than 10 per day), Green-winged Teal (small numbers), Hooded Merganser (typically 20 to 50 per daily count), American Coot (daily counts in fall range from 2 to 12). Waterfowl species not typically found in central Massachusetts that have appeared in just the last few years include Canvasback, Redhead, and Eurasian Wigeon.

Besides the concentration of waterfowl, there is the Great Blue Heron rookery (four nests and increasing) on an island in the southern section of the Sudbury Reservoir. Migrant land birds find the area very attractive, especially the eastern shore. Several species that linger into winter are very uncommon in that season in Worcester County: Gray Catbird, Hermit Thrush, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.

About this Location

Sudbury and Foss Reservoirs Important Bird Area
This IBA is a portion of the watershed of the Sudbury and Foss Reservoirs (18,000 acres), an emergency water supply for eastern Massachusetts. The Sudbury Reservoir is fed by the Assabet River to the east. The area around the reservoir is a second-growth mixed forest with stands of Red Pine. A network of trails maintained by the DCR is found on the eastern shore. The irregular shape of the reservoir includes many inlets and bays as well as several small islands, making this very attractive to migrating waterfowl. Both spring and fall, this site hosts large numbers of migratory waterfowl including significant numbers of Ring-necked and Ruddy Ducks, American Wigeons, Common Goldeneyes, Buffleheads, mergansers, and American Coots.

Content from Sudbury and Foss Reservoirs IBA