Friends of Belle Isle Marsh

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Friends of Belle Isle Marsh

Environmental Advocacy

06/13/2026

Our new cover photo - Heather and Matthew, the best Friends a Marsh could ever have! Thanks for your dedication to our feathered, finned and furry friends (and people too).

06/10/2026

Black Swallow-wort treatment

If you’ve been to Belle Isle Marsh Reservation this past week you would have seen signs indicating “Herbicide Application in Progress” and “Invasive plants will be treated”

The invasive plant that was targeted: black swallow-wort

MassDCR’s ecologists / DCR’s Office of Natural Resources selected black swallow-wort on the property due to its quantity within the reservation and its effect on other plants and wildlife.

This invasive is a fast growing vine that covers patches, and takes over and pushes out other desirable vegetation. Monarch Butterflies mistake swallow-wort for milkweed and lay their eggs on it, but when the eggs hatch, the caterpillars cannot digest the leaves as they’re toxic to them, and they starve to death 😞
The plants also contain compounds that are toxic to other local wildlife.

What has MassDCR done about the black swallow-wort at Belle Isle Marsh Reservation?:
MassDCR has worked with SWCA Environmental Consultants for some years now tackling black swallow-wort at the reservation. As part of this process flowers are removed from the plant and then SWCA applies the herbicide directly to the leaves.

The Positive Result: MassDCR is seeing the amount of black swallow-wort at the reservation declining! Hurray!

06/08/2026

Join us next Monday, 15 June at 7pm for our next Monday Night Forum at the Orient Heights Yacht Club (61 Bayswater Street, East Boston)

This forum will be a presentation by Gino Ellison. Gino will be sharing about his bird adventures in Massachusetts, and beyond! Gino takes a lot of fabulous photos, records bird songs, is a conservation advocate, and even leads birding trips to Ecuador twice a year!

This venue is accessible, and is also accessible via public transportation (Blue Line to the Orient Heights T stop, and then about a one block walk down the street)

06/02/2026

Marsh puppy - a.k.a. Eastern Coyote
A sign of a healthy ecosystem, they indirectly protect ground-nesting marsh birds and songbirds, whose eggs and young are frequently eaten by smaller predators like skunks and raccoons by keeping their numbers in check. They also help prevent smaller prey (like rodents and raccoons) from reaching unnaturally dense numbers, which helps stop the spread of rabies, Lyme disease, and distemper.
And finally, their presence is another reason to keep your pets on a leash!
📷 : Nanci St.George

06/01/2026

Saturday’s high winds and rain knocked down some trees and limbs at different Belle Isle sites, and also spun and tilted the porta potties at the main reservation. MassDCR Belle Isle staff has been making their way around assessing damage and moving what they can out of the way until staff with chainsaw certification is in to cut up the rest so that it can be moved.

05/28/2026

Here's some old photos to bring back great memories of the Friends of Belle Isle's events at DCR's Belle Isle Marsh Reservation.

05/25/2026

Make way for … well, you know. 😊 (American black duck and brood at Belle Isle)
📷 : David Malaro

Address

PO Box 575
Boston, MA
02128

Telephone

+16179702474

Website

http://www.friendsofbelleislemarsh.com/

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