The Backlands Coalition

American Woodcock, Dartmouth site on April 8, 2015
Photos by Joshua Barss Donham

This funny little feathered friend would like to thank you for sticking to the trails while they’re nesting – contrary to what we often think about birds, the American Woodcock makes its nests right on the ground.

Woodcocks are secretive and solitary. Their mottled reddish brown, gray, and black feathers make them almost invisible on the forest floor. They are so well hidden that they are often observed when startled – exploding from their hiding place with the air twittering through their wingtips!

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Dark Eyed Junco
Photos by Joshua Barss Donham

Its nesting season for the Dark-eyed Junco & you can help…

With nests at ground level rather than in trees, Dark-eyed Juncos could really use a bit of cooperation from us 2-legged visitors to the wilderness – from March 20th to September 23rd, please keep yourself & your pets on the trails to allow these feathered friends to nest & raise their young safely.

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Dark-eyed Junco

INTRO (Apr 1, 2024)

Spring is in the air… and underfoot

That’s right, we said “underfoot” and we’re not talking about a budding crocus…

Over the next few months, we will be sharing profiles of four ground-nesting bird species found in the Backlands. Wondering what a ground nest looks like? When you might spot a nestling? What they eat? Where they will go in the winter?

Have you noticed the birds have started to sing? These ‘early birds’ are staking out their territories and hoping to attract a mate. Soon, eggs will be laid in carefully hidden nests all over the Backlands, but not all these nests are in trees.

Several of our most familiar (and threatened!) birds nest right on the ground where eggs and young are very vulnerable to being eaten or trampled….

Over the next few months, we will be sharing profiles of four ground-nesting bird species found in the Backlands.   Read More