Site Summary: Site Summary: Sudbury and Foss Reservoirs

Map of the Sudbury and Foss Reservoirs IBA site

Nominated By:

Mark Lynch, Sheila Carroll

Size:

4,500 acres

Towns and Counties:

Framingham, Marlboro, Southboro; Middlesex, Worcester

Ownership:

Department of Conservation and Recreation, Sudbury Valley Trustees

Major Habitats:

oak-conifer forest, lake/pond, river/stream, urban/suburban, migratory stopover site

Land Use:

hunting and fishing, other recreation or tourism (walking and jogging), forestry (DCR projects), water supply, suburban/residential

Site Description:

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 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.

Current Conservation Status:

Industrial development near the Foss Reservoir is extensive and care needs to be taken to prevent point pollution. Traffic along Routes 9 and the MassPike, which run adjacent to the reservoirs, may provide other sources of pollution. Human disturbance is growing, as the area becomes better known to hikers, joggers, and fishermen.

Ornithological Significance:

Other waterfowl species not listed below 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.

State Listed Species:

Species

Breeding

Winter

Migration

Pied-billed Grebe * * 4 per day in fall

* None known

Other Important Species:

Species

Season

Maximum Numbers

Years

Bufflehead FM 27 1995
Greater Scaup FM 60+ 2000
Common Goldeneye SM 39 1999
Common Merganser SM 124 2000
American Wigeon FM 124 2000
Ruddy Duck FM 125 1996
Ruddy Duck FM 210 1997
Ruddy Duck FM 466 1999
Ring-necked Duck FM 856 1997
Ring-necked Duck FM 538 1995
Ring-necked Duck FM 664 1994
Ring-necked Duck FM 1180 2000

Other Flora or Fauna of Significance:

None listed.

Data Sources:

Systematic point counts are of the Sudbury Reservoir section only and were conducted by the authors for the past 10 or so years. The counts above represent typical single-day counts at Sudbury Reservoir where the authors run a standardized point count predominantly in the fall. Counts of Foss Reservoir are difficult to do because of geography (bordered by private corporate land, Mass Pike, and Route 9). NB: waterfowl of all species mentioned appear both spring and fall in both bodies, but generally the highest counts of most species are in the fall.

Download the Map:

sudburyfoss-iba.jpg 938.34 kB