National Wildlife Refuges National Parks Acreage of Important Bird Areas 11 16 1,620,987 Though Massachusetts is a relatively small state, it boasts an extremely active contingent of birders, who trace their heritage back to the legendary Ludlow Griscom, a pioneer in field ornithology. (Fittingly, Griscom is buried in Cambridge’s Mount Auburn Cemetery, one of the state’s most popular birding sites.) Massachusetts birders spend much of their time on or near the Atlantic coast, where sandy beaches, marsh, and rocky shores provide habitat for a long list of species. Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, near Newburyport, makes the list of the most productive birding destinations in the Northeast. The curving arm of Cape Cod encompasses several top sites as well. Even the metropolis of Boston has many worthwhile parks and refuges, thanks to conservation-minded citizens who have fought to spare some of the best natural...