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Historic Status

Despite its rarity as a breeder, the Northern Shoveler has nonetheless long been in the sights of hunters in Massachusetts. William Peabody described the bird in 1839 as “one of the greatest luxuries of the table,” and “sometimes found in the Boston market, brought from the ponds in the vicinity.” Forbush, unable to confidently put a quantitative analysis together for the species, in 1925 declared it “formerly less rare” in New England, and Joel Asaph Allen opined in 1878 that “It was formerly, judging from its present breeding range in the interior, a frequent summer resident.”

Atlas 1 Distribution

Shovelers were rare but nonetheless present as Bay State breeders through Atlas 1. Most of the breeding activity was focused in areas where they were also most often seen (and hunted) during their migration. The Confirmed results of their breeding activity in Atlas 1 amounted to 2 occupied blocks at Parker River Wildlife Refuge and another Confirmation on South Monomoy Island off Cape Cod. The locations of these birds suggest that they may have been migrants that decided to remain in Massachusetts after the hunting season was over, having found suitable habitat during the long trip north.

Atlas 2 Distribution and Change

There were no breeding Confirmations of Northern Shovelers during Atlas 2, although birds were present during Safe Dates at four scattered locations in the state. Of these, the Probable birds recorded at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge were the most likely to have been actual breeders, as shovelers have been Confirmed at the Refuge in years past.

Atlas 1 Map

Atlas 2 Map

Atlas Change Map