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The Official Website of the Department of Fish and Game (DFG)

 
Outdoor Recreation

Wildlife Watching Information

Wildlife Viewing Area signMassachusetts Wildlife Viewing Sites -- Explore the wild side of the Bay State at 67 sites across the state representing some of the finest wildlife viewing opportunities in a variety of habitats.

Some sites are staffed, with programs and other information, others have no development except for a sign, parking area and unmarked paths. Watch for brown binocular logo signs on roads directing you to Viewing Sites!

Wildlife viewing sites were chosen to be published in the Massachusetts Wildlife Viewing Guide. It's the key tool for finding the best places to watch wildlife.The Viewing Guide is available for $8.95 from bookstores and from MassWildlife District Offices and the Westboro Field Headquarters.

Outdoor Recreation Map PDF icon (2.5 MB) - This statewide map shows you all Wildlife Viewing Sites, Wildlife Management Areas, State Parks and State Boat Launches. Hard copies of the map are available for free at MassWildlife offices, State Parks and at the Office of Fishing and Boating Access.

Birders atop Mt. WachusettEagle Cam -- In most years, you will see a bald eagle nest on Barton's Cove in Turner's Falls (Montague) and watch the eaglets hatch and the adults care for the young. This year, due to the nest tree collapsing, the eagles have a new nest in a different tree nearby. There was not time to put a camera on this nest this year (2009), but plans are to set this up for next year. This service is a partnership of MassWildlife, Northeast Utilities, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other cooperators.

Essex County Birding Trail - Birdwatching visitors to Massachusetts northeastern region of the state will find this link very helpful. MassWildlife, the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Essex National Heritage Association and other cooperators created a list of birding sites in Essex County.

View Migrating River Herring in Spring -- Each spring, millions of river herring migrate into Massachusetts's coastal waters to begin their annual trek up dozens of rivers. See this Guide to Viewing River Herring PDF icon (1.8 MB) by the Division of Marine Fisheries which provides information on 9 fishways on the Massachusetts coast.