Water Birds of the Charles River

Taking water quality samples early in the morning usually means we are one of the few boats out on the Charles. However, this does not mean the water is not full of life at this hour! Lauren, Ali and I entertain ourselves by pointing out all the creatures we pass along the way. We check to see if our favorite big turtle is still perched on his rock near the Community Boat House, and we take care to avoid ruffling too many geese feathers with the waves our boat makes. In my short time here at CRWA, I have tracked my creature sightings on the river to the point of obsession, and I thought that a blog entry about the diverse bird species we see would be the perfect outlet for sharing our findings. Here is a short list of the most loved, and most interesting, waterfowl we have seen on the Charles:

1. Canada Goose

Source: naturemappingfoundation.org

These large geese are all over the river – they love the Charles as much as we do! Canada geese travel in groups along the river, flying swiftly from one place to the next, both on land and water.

Fun fact: Canada geese mate for life.

2. White Domestic Goose

Source: birds.cornell.edu

Every day we take water samples, we see our white goose friend with his usual group of Canada geese. As it happens, this friendship is not unheard of, although it seems unusual.

Fun fact: One breed of white goose can weigh up to 34 pounds!

3. Cormorant

Source: grahamowengallery.com

The Cormorant is definitely my favorite bird on the Charles! It has a squat, sleek body that sits almost entirely below the water’s surface as it bobs along the river, and is easily identified by its bright orange beak.

Fun fact: Some cormorant species have been known to dive as deep as 150 feet underwater!

4. Great Blue Heron

Source: utahbirds.org

The Great Blue Heron is an elegant bird with an extremely elongated neck (perfect for gobbling small fish). It can be found perched on the banks of the Charles or wading in shallow water.

Fun fact: The call of the Great Blue Heron is a harsh croak.

5. Black-crowned Night Heron

Source: threesheetsnw.com

This waterbird was tough to track down! It is a spectacular hunter, and gets its name because it feeds primarily at night and in the early morning. I have only seen one of these guys on the river this summer, but keep your eyes on the river banks, and you might sneak a peek at one!

Fun fact: This species breeds all over the world, with the exception of Antarctica and Australia.

The water is full of incredible, unique creatures, even in our urban setting of Boston. I urge everyone to try to find the birds on this list... and maybe a few more!

Cormorant in the Charles. Photo by Kristen Volinski.