Friends of Boyden Refuge, Inc.

09/14/2026

🌿 DID YOU KNOW? — BOYDEN THROUGH THE YEARS 🌿
Part 2 of 6: Who Was Gertrude M. Boyden?

Last week we traveled back to the days before Boyden was Boyden, when the property was known as the Laura Thomas Estate and noted Taunton ornithologist Arthur Cleveland Bent used the area to study birds and their nesting habits.

But how did this special piece of Taunton become the Gertrude M. Boyden Wildlife Refuge we know today?

Meet Gertrude M. Boyden.

Born in Sherbrooke, Quebec, in 1905, Gertrude Boyden eventually made Taunton her home and became deeply involved in the community. As the conservation movement gained momentum during the 1960s, she developed a particular interest in protecting open space and natural resources.

She didn't just talk about conservation—she became one of Taunton's early leaders in it.

Gertrude served as the first chairperson of the Taunton Conservation Commission and its first Executive Director. She worked to preserve natural areas at a time when communities across Massachusetts were beginning to recognize how quickly open land could disappear if no one acted to protect it.

Her attention eventually turned to a beautiful property along the Three Mile River—the Laura Thomas Estate we introduced last week.

With the support of Mayor Benjamin Friedman and others in the community, Gertrude helped lead the effort to preserve this property for conservation, wildlife and future generations.

And in 1968, that vision was about to become reality...

09/12/2026

Nature Scavenger Hunt with Rob Hellstrom.

September 19th, 11:00 am to 12:30pm

Join us for this interactive and fun challenge on the woodland trails of the refuge. Search for a variety of objects and compete for prizes.

Note: Heavy rain, but no light rain, cancels this program

09/12/2026

09/12/2026

Thank you Maria Armour and Jon Roling for leading an informative talk on "How to Co-Exist with our Wildlife". It was so much fun! And we learned a lot! Photos by Debra Botellio

08/24/2026

🌿 **DID YOU KNOW? — BOYDEN THROUGH THE YEARS** 🌿
**Part 1: Before Boyden Was Boyden**

Long before it became the **Gertrude M. Boyden Wildlife Refuge**, this beautiful property along the Three Mile River already had an interesting connection to nature, wildlife and Taunton history.

The property was once known as the **Laura Thomas Estate**, a summer residence in the Westville section of Taunton. But perhaps the most interesting part of its early history is its connection to one of Taunton's own internationally known naturalists.

🦅 **Arthur Cleveland Bent (1866–1954)**, a Taunton native and renowned ornithologist, used the area that would eventually become Boyden Refuge to study **birds and their nesting habits**. Bent devoted much of his life to studying North American birds and became internationally recognized for his work documenting their life histories.

Think about that the next time you're walking the trails at Boyden and stop to watch a bird in the trees or along the river. **People were studying and appreciating the wildlife on this very land long before it officially became a refuge.**

Bent's connection to Boyden is still remembered today. The Taunton Conservation Commission's **Arthur Cleveland Bent Award** honors individuals who demonstrate a commitment to wildlife, natural resources and conservation.

And this is only the beginning of the story...

👉 **Next week: Who was Gertrude M. Boyden, and how did her vision help turn this property into the wildlife refuge we know today?**

💬 **Now we'd like to hear from you:**
How far back do YOUR memories of Boyden go? Did you visit as a child? Fish there? Walk the trails with your family? Maybe you remember something about Boyden that others have forgotten.

**Share your Boyden memories—or an old photo if you have one—in the comments!** 📸🌳

08/20/2026

These two beautiful swans are among the wildlife that call the refuge home.

❤️ Did you know? Swans are known for forming strong, long-lasting pair bonds, often remaining together for many years—and in some cases for life.

You never quite know what you’ll see when you take a walk through Boyden. From swans and ducklings to turtles, deer, beavers, birds, butterflies and more, there’s always something happening if you slow down and take a look. 🌿🐢🦌🦫

🥾 Take a walk. Explore the trails. Enjoy the wildlife.

Sometimes the best part of Boyden is simply seeing what nature decides to show you that day.

📸 And if you capture something special during your visit, we’d love to see your photos in the comments!

08/19/2026

https://youtu.be/26uHlspkvsQ?si=OvHW7zJidBJX3ktQ

TAUNTON — Leaf-muffled footsteps.A flock of black birds, thousands...

08/19/2026

great piece of history

Dedicated on Oct. 28, 1968, the Gertrude M. Boyden Wildlife and Nature Sanctuary (also known as the Bird Sanctuary or Boyden Wildlife Refuge) is a 50-acre site of the former Oscar G. Thomas estate, plus additional land. Gertrude Boyden was the first chairperson of the City of Taunton’s Conservation Commission and her work for the city was recognized in life by naming the park in her honor. Gertrude remarked during dedication ceremony, “as the city grows we will appreciate an area that is preserved so we can find a restful spot.”

Gertrude became interested in the conservation movement in the 1960s. With the backing of Mayor Benjamin Friedman, Boyden was instrumental in the city’s acquisition of the conservation land along the Three Mile River. Although the family moved to Florida in 1970, she kept tabs on the Refuge, according to her son, Robert. He said that she delighted in hearing updates about activities there and tales of its growing popularity. Gertrude died in Florida in 2002 at the age of 97. You can learn more about Boyden here: https://boydenrefuge.org/gertrude-m-boyden/

Image: Gertrude M. Boyden speaking during the dedication ceremony, Oct. 28, 1968 - Taunton Daily Gazette, OCHM Collection.

08/19/2026

There was a program at the refuge last Saturday and this animal was discussed, does anyone know what kind of animal this is and why is it important to the enviroment?