Friends of Belle Isle Marsh

10/09/2026

**! NEW PROGRAM ALERT!**

Tomorrow (Saturday 10 October) at Belle Isle Marsh’s John Joseph Kilmartin Pathway (across from Short Beach), Winthrop MA, 9-10:30am

Join the MassDCR Park Programmer for some Nature Mindfulness by immersing yourself in the natural environment. This practice is known to improve health, lower stress, and boost well-being. The park programmer will lead participants in light stretching, breathing exercises, and meditation, providing a chance to slow down and disconnect from the modern go-go-go.

Tomorrow’s Nature Mindfulness program will focus on trees, and the Kilmartin Pathway has some great trees!

Free of cost. No pre-registration needed. Please leave pets at home.

10/02/2026

🍂 🍁 Stop by Belle Isle Marsh Reservation for the Friends of Belle Isle Marsh’s Annual Harvest Festival on Sunday 18 October 1-3pm! 🍁 🍂

There will be live music, MassDCR will have information tables about the marsh’s future restoration and about the benefits of a salt marsh, a photo opp area with the reservation’s tractor, pumpkin decorating, live reptiles, a story walk, conservation walks, & Belle Isle Marsh partners including Mystic River Watershed Association, Trustees of Reservation, Rumney Marsh Conservancy, and more will have information tables. This event is accessible, and is free of cost.

Public transportation info: MBTA Blue Line to the Suffolk Downs stop. Cross at the pedestrian crossing, turn left, walk about four minutes and the reservation’s entrance will be on your right.

09/29/2026

Thanks to those who stopped by the public bird banding demonstration at the Research & Education Center at Belle Isle Marsh Reservation this morning! Master Ba**er / MassDCR Stewardship Biologist Sean Riley weighed, measured, did a fat count, age estimate, and banded a cat bird and some american robins!

Belle Isle Marsh Reservation has the only banding station at an urban park in Massachusetts. The research at the reservation provides additional information about various species, including their age, migration patterns, and overall numbers.

Another public banding demonstration will take place next month. Details forthcoming.

09/29/2026

Bird Banding at the Research & Education Center (red shed) at Belle Isle Marsh Reservation tomorrow (Tuesday 29 Sept) 7-9am!

No pre-registration needed. Please leave pets at home. please note: this public offering will be available again next month on a weekend - details to come!

09/26/2026

09/25/2026

Due to the severe weather forecast, Belle Isle Marsh Reservation and John Joseph Kilmartin Pathway’s parking lots will be closed to the public Saturday 26 September and Sunday 27 September. After the storm ends staff will be out assessing and responding to storm damage.

It is strongly recommended to stay home / stay off the road during this storm unless absolutely necessary due to high winds, rain, and waves along the coast. MassDCR has already installed barriers closing entrances to the beaches, and is staging equipment to close roadways as necessary due to flooding.

Stay well and stay safe!

A big thank you to all who will be out working during this wild weather — including MassDCR, local DPWs, emergency personnel, National Grid, and others!

09/24/2026

Starting the day with some exercise: a raccoon taking a morning swim in the marsh 🦝

09/23/2026

This morning’s Morning at the Marsh program started in darkness, but the sun soon showed itself! Lucas of MassDCR led participants around the reservation, teaching folks about marsh ecology, plants like milkweed, and he provided an up close look at a dragonfly that was spotted on the pathway!

The Morning at the Marsh program will be held again next month, on 28 Oct 6-7am. Being at the marsh in the early morning is a great way to start your day!

09/22/2026

Today’s public banding program has been cancelled due to high winds. Stop by next week Tuesday 7-9am (weather-permitting) for the next public banding opportunity + there will be two public banding dates next month.