Guide

Go seeBirds

Winter waterfowl on the Turners Falls power canal

February

DCR calls the canal a winter home for waterfowl and says you may see hundreds of geese and ducks resting there, viewed from the level paved trail.

Why this time of year

DCR's Winter Wanders trip suggests February vacation week or any time in winter. Anywhere there is open water you will likely find waterfowl; if the river above the dam is frozen solid you may see none there, but the canal itself does not ice over. You may also see or hear the resident bald eagles as they get their nest ready at Barton Cove.

How to notice it

  1. Walk the Canalside Rail Trail south from the Great Falls Discovery Center about 1.5 miles to where the power canal widens near a bench and a few tall pines, and scan the open water. For a shorter walk, DCR suggests parking where Avenue A meets 11th Street and joining the trail there.
  2. Count the mute swans first; DCR says they are hard to miss. Then look for smaller ducks among the geese and gulls.
  3. At the stop above the dam, check whether the river is open or frozen, and look on the ice for gulls resting on it.
  4. Look and listen for bald eagles flying over toward Barton Cove. Please do not feed the waterfowl.

Try this with kids: Find the frozen water and the open water. Which one has the birds on it, and why do you think that is?

Phrase to know: A “power canal” is a channel that carries river water to a hydroelectric station.

Safety

  • DCR warns that during winter, portions of the Canalside Rail Trail and the surrounding areas may be quite icy. Watch your step.

Sources

  • web.archive.orgDCR Trip-Tip 'Winter Wanders' PDF (Wayback 2025-09-01; live mass.gov 403), read 2026-11-10: "Challenge yourself to visit all the parks with your family during February Vacation Week, or anytime this winter." "A number of locations along the Canalside Rail Trail in Turners Falls provide excellent winter waterfowl viewing." "The open waters of the power canal don't ice over in winter because of the constant movement of water." "You may rest your eyes on hundreds of geese and ducks." "Anywhere there is open water, you will likely find waterfowl. If the waters above the dam are completely iced over, you may not see waterfowl here." "You may also see or hear the resident bald eagles flying nearby as they prepare their nest at Barton Cove." "please do not feed the waterfowl." Mute swans "hard to miss". "Watch your step as portions of the trail and surrounding areas may be icy."
  • web.archive.orgDCR Great Falls Discovery Center suggested hikes PDF (Wayback 2025-09-01), read 2026-11-10: Canalside Rail Trail Power Town Hike, easy, 3.0 miles round trip from the Discovery Center; "the canal widens at a stand of pine trees with a park bench"; "Wetlands near the canal and the open waters of the canal provide abundant homes and resting places for wildlife, especially waterfowl." "Be aware that during winter, portions of the trail may be quite icy."
  • web.archive.orgDCR Great Falls Discovery Center November 2023 program sheet (Wayback), read 2026-11-10: walk along the Canalside Rail Trail "is about 3 miles-long, on a level paved surface. Makes for an easy stroll"; Discovery Center "Wheelchair accessible".
  • web.archive.orgDCR Canalside Rail Trail page (Wayback 2026-06-12), read 2026-11-10: "The Canalside Rail Trail follows the former rail bed for an easy-riding 3.7 miles"; facilities "Paved bike paths"; hours sunrise to sunset.
  • massaudubon.orgMass Audubon (2019-01-01), read 2026-11-10: "more than 25 waterfowl species that regularly spend the winter in Massachusetts"; "look for habitats where there is open water, either salt or fresh"; "Many waterfowl begin their courtship activities in midwinter."

Checked against these sources on November 10, 2026.

In the guide for February

Also worth noticing