{"id":7557,"date":"2016-05-09T09:32:44","date_gmt":"2016-05-09T13:32:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=7557"},"modified":"2016-05-09T09:32:44","modified_gmt":"2016-05-09T13:32:44","slug":"5-fun-facts-about-wachusett-meadow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/5-fun-facts-about-wachusett-meadow\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Fun Facts About Wachusett Meadow"},"content":{"rendered":"

Located in the bucolic Central Massachusetts town of Princeton, Wachusett Meadow<\/a> is a remarkably peaceful yet diverse wildlife sanctuary. Here, you can explore 12 miles of trails that traverse more than 1,000 acres of woodlands, wetlands, and meadows.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s more to Wachusett Meadow than meets the eye. Teacher Naturalist Cindy Dunn shares just a few of the sanctuary’s special features.<\/p>\n

Views Uninterrupted (For Now)<\/h3>\n

\"another<\/p>\n

On clear days, look northwest from Brown Hill summit to see the rocky slopes of Mount Monadnock, 30 miles distant.\u00a0The sweeping views to the south include Fieldstone Farm, a 300-acre parcel abutting the sanctuary. Currently up for sale, Mass Audubon is working with the Princeton Land Trust to purchase and permanently conserve the property. But time is running out.\u00a0Find out how you can help save this view ><\/a><\/p>\n

Leave it to Beavers<\/h3>\n

\"beaver5<\/p>\n

Beavers have created habitat throughout Wachusett Meadow including an 85-acre marsh that is the largest wetland on the sanctuary. American Bittern, Green Heron, river otters, and moose are among the species taking advantage of beaver engineering.<\/p>\n

A Road Less Traveled<\/h3>\n

\"west<\/p>\n

West Trail<\/a> is an abandoned roadbed and formally the Barre Turnpike, an 1820\u2019s toll road providing improved stagecoach travel along the route from Boston. The varied habitats adjacent to this trail make it a great spot to enjoy the chorus of frogs in spring, birds in summer, and insects in fall.<\/p>\n

Frequent Flyers<\/h3>\n

\"tagged<\/p>\n

The birds aren\u2019t the only thing airborne at Wachusett Meadow. The sanctuary is a certified Monarch Waystation and participates in research by tagging adult monarchs in migration.\u00a0And its dragonfly list currently stands at an impressive 84 species, one of the highest numbers at a Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuary!\u00a0You won\u2019t want to miss the swarms of robust, acrobatic darners on a late summer day.<\/p>\n

Natural Materials<\/h3>\n

\"CDegutis<\/p>\n

Over 25 miles of stone walls thread through Wachusett Meadow, visible along nearly every trail.\u00a0 The walls are favorite travel routes for weasels, squirrels, chipmunks, and bobcats. Milky quartz also occurs abundantly at Wachusett Meadow including some impressively large chunks and boulders.\u00a0Check out Fern Forest Trail, Brook Trail, and Brown Hill Loop<\/a>\u00a0especially.<\/p>\n

Want to learn more? Attend Stone by Stone: The Magnificent History of Wachusett Meadow\u2019s Stone Walls<\/a>, at Wachusett Meadow on \u00a0May 21. This free talk and walk is part of Freedom\u2019s Way National Heritage Area\u2019s 2016 Hidden Treasures program.<\/p>\n

Have you been to Wachusett Meadow? If so, tell us about your visit in the comments!<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Located in the bucolic Central Massachusetts town of Princeton, Wachusett Meadow is a remarkably peaceful yet diverse wildlife sanctuary. Here, you can explore 12 miles of trails that traverse more than 1,000 acres of woodlands, wetlands, and meadows. But there\u2019s more to Wachusett Meadow than meets the eye. Teacher Naturalist Cindy Dunn shares just a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[165],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sanctuaries-100"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-1XT","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6614,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-wachusett-meadow-wildlife-sanctuary\/","url_meta":{"origin":7557,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary","author":"Rosemary","date":"November 30, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Wachusett Meadow in Princeton offers scenic views, abundant wildlife, diverse habitats, and historic buildings, including a barn for the resident sheep. 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And stay tuned this week for a closer look at Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sanctuaries 100"","block_context":{"text":"Sanctuaries 100","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/sanctuaries-100\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":10263,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-snowy-scenes\/","url_meta":{"origin":7557,"position":2},"title":"Take 5: Snowy Scenes","author":"Ryan D.","date":"December 18, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"There's something magical about our wildlife sanctuaries when they're draped in a fresh blanket of snow; over-wintering birds like chickadees and goldfinches flit between bare, icy branches and a peaceful hush envelops the world as the fluffy snow absorbs the sounds of their chirping and singing. 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