I come from a family of bird-watchers, photographers, artists, and hikers. When I was young, my family would drag me out of bed at six or seven in the morning declaring that we were already running late for prime observation time. We would drive past dozens of houses, over the bridge to plum island, past the gate and finally reach the dirt road that marked the final stretch of our drive.
Although getting up early was a pain, by the time I reached the Parker River Refuge, the fresh, aromatic air would have forced my grogginess to subside and I would be ready and raring to go. Young legs would carry my brother and I bouncing along the the Hellcat trails, likely startling away half the birds in our path. However, now and then we would pause and be dazzled by the small and elegant plumes of Yellow Warblers or Northern Parulas.
One of my family’s favorite spots to visit in Newburyport is still the Plum Island Refuge. I find myself much more fond of it now that my parents have given up on waking their teenage children before eight in the morning.
The Refuge, founded in 1941, is home to hundreds of species, and the diverse environment is the perfect stopover for migratory birds.
Just like the fowl, thousands of bird-watchers, photographers, fishermen, and families flock to the island each year in hope of catching a glimpse of such a beautiful array of wildlife.
Recently, my family brought our German Exchange student for a visit to the beach, a special treat for someone who lives over five hours from the nearest ocean. Together we walked to one of the observation towers, which offers an incredibly view of the tree line dotted with houses.
I believe our guest was thoroughly marveled to see a beaver dam, observe the sloping dunes, and even discover a large fish skull.
In all my years visiting our Refuge, never have I left without new experiences or curious finds, my most recent trip being no exception.
Although the most popular seasons at the Refuge are Spring and Summer, the brightly colored foliage and amber dune grass make Autumn just as lovely a time to visit as any. The boardwalks offer lovely paths along the dunes and marshes, and the beaches are vast and remarkably clean.
I feel that this, special beach is something that really sets us apart from neighboring towns. Gladly, I’ve never seen a lost beer can or plastic bag drifting along the beaches, which is excellent news for the wildlife inhabiting the area.
Seeing how well preserved our home is, I feel extremely proud of the work that Newburyport High School students and other residents have put towards the preservation of our environment.
Both the High School Environmental Club and the high school members of GOMI, (Japanese for rubbish and the name of an art movement that uses rubbish), have put so much energy into protecting our home.
Seeing the elimination of plastic bags and the introduction of composting in my neighborhood has warmed my heart and given me so much hope for the future of this charmed city.
As a time of thanks, November has truly urged me to look at what a wonderful place we live in.
I feel unbelievably lucky to be surrounded by such beauty every single day.
Now that we reach the end of fall, the leaves are quickly disappearing from the trees. Autumn will melt into the winter, which will bring everyone’s favorite tourist group, team Snowy Owl.
It is never too early or late for a trip to our serene island, and I encourage everyone to discover the special things that the Refuge has to offer each season.
***