Long Pasture SandyNeck view
It's not easy finding the sign on Route 6A in Cummaquid that points to Mass Audubon's Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary--Old King's Highway Historic District rules keep signage small. But even if you have to make a few U-turns, it's worth the effort to locate this hidden gem tucked along Barnstable Harbor.
At 110 acres in size, Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary rivals any local conservation area for its variety of habitats, including salt marsh, tidal flats, fields, forests, ponds, and vernal pools. "It's a slice of protected land in an otherwise highly developed neighborhood," says Sanctuary Director Ian Ives. And though it is roughly one-tenth of the size of Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and is in just its third year of offering public programs, this fledgling sanctuary on Bone Hill Road in Cummaquid is an ideal location to get a glimpse of an incredible variety of birds, animals, and plant life. Two and a half miles of well-marked trails wind through the property and its distinct habitats, and the sanctuary has direct access to Barnstable Harbor, a perfect place to explore the tides or catch a wonderful view of Sandy Neck Lighthouse.
Arriving via Bone Hill Road, you can either drive straight to the visitor center or stop at the first trail head parking area and wander through Long Pasture Trail, Woodcock Trail, Beck Family Trail, and the Butterfly Mosaics. In summer, magnificent monarch butterflies and dragonflies are drawn to the sanctuary's open fields bursting with wildflowers such as Queen Anne's lace and milkweed. Warblers, bobolinks, and bluebirds sing from the fields and nearby tupelo grove, and in spring, American woodcocks perform their dramatic mating dance.
Continue hiking towards the visitor center on the Long Pasture Trail or Bone Hill and Lichen Trails, passing spruce and several varieties of American hollies along the way, or hop in for the short drive to the visitor center. The center, which overlooks Barnstable Harbor, is the former home of Sherman C. Parker, who, along with T. Edmund Beck, donated the property on which the sanctuary sits in memory of his wife, Katharine Rodgers Parker.
Stroll west from the visitor center to the wetlands habitat of the manmade Night Heron Pond or the Harbor Overlook Trail, a great place to spy night and green herons, snowy egrets, kingfishers, and painted turtles basking in the sun. The Harbor Overlook Trail leads to a newly enhanced marsh boardwalk, with interpretive panels and an observation platform perfect for viewing osprey and other shorebirds. The boardwalk serves as both an access to the tidal flats of Barnstable Harbor and a launch for Mass Audubon's kayak excursions around the area. Visitors can register to use one of the sanctuary's kayaks--or bring their own--to explore the vibrant ecology of Barnstable's Great Marsh. These wetlands were created through eastward growth of Sandy Neck; by reducing the force of waves approaching from Cape Cod Bay, this geological process has allowed the marsh to develop into the second-largest in Massachusetts. "It's just an ecological gold mine," Ives says of the area. When the tide recedes, step off the boardwalk and investigate the crabs, snails, and worms that inhabit the sea floor in twice-weekly Secrets of the Sands family walks. You may even see horseshoe crabs, which are one of several species monitored by the sanctuary's 120 volunteer citizen scientists.
Identifying the various wildlife and habitats at Long Pasture can be a real scavenger hunt, especially when you play the Mass Audubon Quest. Participants follow a series of nature clues that lead to hidden ink stamps, which players imprint on their score cards to earn points. "It's a fun way to learn about natural history and highlight special features of the landscape," Ives says. To learn even more about this microcosm of the Cape, sign up for one of Mass Audubon's naturalist-led Family Fridays or Goat Walks. Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary staff members also guide visitors to other natural sites as well. On Sundays in late August and September, the staff leads day trips to Cuttyhunk Island. "It's a fantastic birding spot, especially for raptor migration in the fall," Ives says of the island.
In July and August, the sanctuary charters Hy-Line Cruise's Sea Swan II for Aquatic Exploration Cruises. In this program, participants engage in hands-on activities, like pulling up plankton nets and otter trawls, and have the opportunity to watch the staff collect data about the catches as they cruise around Lewis Bay and Grand Island. And on August 8, the Long Pasture visitor center lawn hosts the annual Folk for Feathers Festival, a sunset concert to benefit Long Pasture Sanctuary and Coastal Waterbird Program, with singer Greg Greenway.
Even though the number has been drastically reduced in recent years, Mass Audubon reports that Massachusetts is losing roughly 22 acres of land each day to development. "This kind of habitat is increasingly rare on Cape Cod," says Ives of the sanctuary. Fortunately, twice as much land is being saved as is being developed. And once you've immersed yourself in the natural beauty and ecological wealth of Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary, you'll agree that statistic is worth cherishing.
Susan Spencer is an award-winning freelance writer and photographer who lives in Whitinsville and Brewster, Mass.
