Field Trips and Meetings
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Bird Count – New Haven Summer Bird Count – Steve Mayo

This is a wonderful opportunity to work on your song identification skills and see what birds are nesting in your area. For the names of area captains and other information, contact Steve Mayo. Meet at various points.  Coordinator Steve Mayo, 203-551-1707, scmayo999@gmail.com

Field Trip – Lake Watrous, Woodbridge, Bethany – Pat Leahy

Lake Chamberlain Recreation Area corner of sperry rd and morris rd, Bethany, CT, United States

Join Pat Leahy for a walk on protected Regional Water Authority property in Woodbridge. Views of the lake and dam, some wetlands and lakeside forest. Walking is not strenuous and on a well-maintained road. Meet at Lake Chamberlain Regional Water Authority parking area on Sperry Road south of Morris Road, Bethany. We will carpool to Lake Watrous from there. Leader:

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Field Trip – Ewen Farm Preserve, Orange – Beverly Propen

Ewen Farm Preseve 654 St Johns Road, Orange

A scenic walk around former hay fields, past streams and a pond. Forty-three acres of deep woods, meadows, ponds, wetlands, and fields that attract resident and migrating birds. A 75-yard boardwalk takes you through wetlands to the Wepawaug River. The trail crosses wet areas; wear appropriate footwear. Leader - Beverly Propen - bpropen@gmail.com. Location - Meet at the intersection of

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Hawk Watch / Bird Count at Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven: Daily September to December

Lighthouse Point 21 Lighthouse Rd, New Haven, CT, United States

Hawk Watch / Bird Count at Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven: Daily September to December Starts Sunday, September 1, 2024, 7 a.m. Lighthouse Point Park on New Haven Harbor is a premier location in southern New England for observing migrating raptors and a wide variety of songbirds. The watch starts daily at 7 a.m. and continues as long as the

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Indoor Meeting (hybrid) – A River Runs Through Us: The Environmental History of the Connecticut River Region – Patrick J. Lynch

Whitney Center, Cultural Arts Center 200 Leeder Hill Drive, Hamden, CT, United States

NOTE: For all hybrid indoor programs, the (in-person) social half-hour begins at 7 p.m. and the meeting and program begin at 7:30 p.m. After 11,000 years of Indigenous Peoples’ history and more than 400 years of inhabitants from Europe and the rest of the globe, New England presents us with a uniquely humanized American landscape. The soft, domesticated contours of

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Field Trip – Geology and Birds: Stony Creek and Quarry Park – Cheryl Cape and Dan May

Kelley Memorial Preserve 103-127 Quarry Road, Branford, CT

(Rain date) Sunday, September 15, 2024, 8 am to noon Come join us for a new field trip that will explore the natural resources and birds in two different rock quarry areas in rural Branford and suburban New Haven. The trip will start in the Kelley Memorial Preserve in Branford, which surrounds the active Stony Creek quarry. The Stony Creek

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Field Trip – Introduction to Lighthouse Point and Hawkwatching – Steve Mayo

Lighthouse Point 21 Lighthouse Rd, New Haven, CT, United States

Join Hawk Watch Coordinator Steve Mayo for an introduction to identifying and counting the raptors that stream over and through Lighthouse Point Park during fall migration. Lighthouse Point is a premier location on the East Coast and watching the migrating raptors pass through can be thrilling. Meet at the Hawk Watch  parking lot, Lighthouse Point Park, 2 Lighthouse Road, New

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Field Trip – Farm River State Park, East Haven – Maria Stockmal

Farm River State Park 96-98 Hoop Pole Lane, East Haven, CT, United States

Join us for a walk in this species-rich but under-birded state park in East Haven. September possibilities include shorebirds and herons, various migrating hawks and falcons, resident woodpeckers, and a wide range of resident birds and other passerines in migration. If time allows, we will also walk the short East Haven Greenway Trail loop, which offers a variety of species.

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Field Trip – Great Meadows Unit, Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, Stratford – Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe

Great Meadows Stratford 498 Long Beach Blvd, Stratford, CT

The beautiful salt marshes of Connecticut are active during early fall migration. Come visit one of the state's largest salt marshes to observe Palm Warblers, wading birds, shorebirds, migrating sparrows and swallows, Merlins, Northern Harriers, and others. Corrie Folsom-O'Keefe, Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon Connecticut, will also discuss salt marsh ecology and the large marsh restoration project that is

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Field Trip – Edgewood Park, New Haven – Chris Howe and DeWitt Allen

Edgewood Park 361 West Rock Ave, New Haven, CT, United States

Edgewood Park is an important stop-over site for migrating birds in the fall, and a wide variety of song-birds, raptors, and land-birds are possible. Join us as we explore river, woods, pond, and open field habitats. The walk is easy and flat, but might include one dirt path through a wooded area and an often-wet field. Wear appropriate shoes. Total

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Hawk Watch / Bird Count at Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven: Daily September to December

Lighthouse Point 21 Lighthouse Rd, New Haven, CT, United States

Hawk Watch / Bird Count at Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven: Daily September to December Starts Sunday, September 1, 2024, 7 a.m. Lighthouse Point Park on New Haven Harbor is a premier location in southern New England for observing migrating raptors and a wide variety of songbirds. The watch starts daily at 7 a.m. and continues as long as the

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Field Trip – First Wednesday Walk: Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven – Frank Gallo

Lighthouse Point 21 Lighthouse Rd, New Haven, CT, United States

Join us on a visit to this premier local birding location, renowned for its migrating raptors and other passerines. If the weather conditions are favorable, we may see hundreds of hawks in flight over the park. Meet at the Hawk Watch parking lot, Lighthouse Point Park, 2 Lighthouse Road, New Haven. Leader: Frank Gallo, peeplo@aol.com, 203-644-2163

Field Trip – Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison – Maria Stockmal

Shoreline Greenway Trail Eastern Trailhead Parking Lot - Hammo Shoreline Greenway Trail Eastern Trailhead Parking Lot, Madison, CT, United States

Visit one of our state’s best fall birding spots, where the abundance of some migrants and sightings of less common species can make for a truly memorable trip. The walking is easy, all on level ground. Meet outside the park at the Shoreline Greenway Trail parking area on Boston Post Road, Madison, just east of the park's main entrance road.

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Field Trip – Bauer Park (Bauer Farm), Madison – Chuck Imbergamo

Bauer Park 257 Copse Road,, Madison, CT, United States

Explore fields, community gardens, and woodland trails for resident birds and migrants. The terrain is easy and mostly flat. Meet at the Bauer Park Community Gardens parking area, 257 Copse Road, Madison. Leader: Chuck Imbergamo, imbercj@comcast.net

Indoor Meeting – The Sparrows of Connecticut – Dr. Chris Loscalzo

Whitney Center, Cultural Arts Center 200 Leeder Hill Drive, Hamden, CT, United States

Join Chris as he takes us through the various sparrow species found in Connecticut at the height of sparrow migration. Learn facts and useful ID points for these entertaining but underappreciated birds. Chris will discuss the sparrow species from the most to the least common. Chris is past-President of the New Haven Bird Club and the Connecticut Ornithological Association, the

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THE BIG SIT! ®

Saturday and/or Sunday, October 12 & 13, 2024 (your choice) THE BIG SIT!®, established by the NHBC, has become an international event, with birders from all over the world participating. The object is to record as many species of birds as possible in one day from one 17-foot diameter circle. Local circles are at a number of birding hot spots

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Field Trip – Old Woodbridge Country Club – Chris Loscalzo

Old Woodbridge Country Club 40 Woodfield Road, Woodbridge, CT, United States

Three days after Chris Loscalzo's presentation on sparrows at NHBC's October indoor meeting, we walk this abandoned golf course property where the fairways have been replaced by weedy fields and where birds abound. We'll look for sparrows and other fall migrants. Meet at the parking lot on Woodfield Road in Woodbridge, opposite the old clubhouse. Leader: Chris Loscalzo, closcalz@optonline.net, 203-389-6508.

Field Trip – Lake Chamberlain, Bethany – Pat Leahy

Lake Chamberlain Recreation Area corner of sperry rd and morris rd, Bethany, CT, United States

Join Pat Leahy for a walk on Regional Water Authority property in Bethany. The swallows will be gone but we will see fall migrants and winter residents. Walking is on fairly flat and well-maintained trails and is not strenuous. Meet at Lake Chamberlain Regional Water Authority parking area on Sperry Road, south of Morris Road, Bethany. Leader: Pat Leahy, ptjleahy@yahoo.com,

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Field Trip – Branford Supply Ponds – Maria Stockmal

Branford Supply Ponds Branford Supply ponds, Branford, CT, United States

This a good time to look for fall and early winter migrants. There can be quite a mix seeing Baltimore Oriole, Pine Warbler, American Coot, Common Raven, Winter Wren, Fox Sparrow, and Red-shouldered Hawk. The Supply Ponds Preserve offers two generous ponds, a forest area, and a power-line cut. The forest has been damaged by severe storms in 2020 and

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Field Trip – Fresh Meadows Preserve, Cheshire – Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe (REGISTRATION REQUIRED)

Fresh Meadows Preserve corner of cook hill road and corliss lane, cheshire

NOTE: This date is a change from the yearbook! Cheshire Land Trust’s Fresh Meadows Preserve includes a variety of habitats that appeal to a wide variety of bird species looking for a place to rest and refuel on their southbound migration. With conifer groves, deciduous woodlands, and meadows, all located along the Mill River, it’s worth a visit. Expect a

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Conservation Event – Six Lakes (Olin Powder Farm)

TBD

Join the New Haven Bird Club at a trash cleanup sponsored by Save the Sound at a potential future open space in Hamden. While we can't access the property, we can still show our support for the future of Six Lakes (the Olin Powder Farm; eBird Hotspot "Olin pond") and help protect nearby waterways like Lake Whitney and the Mill

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Field Trip – Fargeorge Wildlife Preserve; joint trip with Gather New Haven (formerly the New Haven Land Trust) – Mike Horn

Fargeorge Preserve 1040 Quinnipiac ave, New Haven, CT, United States

This is a joint trip with Gather New Haven (formerly the New Haven Land Trust). Quinnipiac Meadows Eugene B. Fargeorge Preserve, a varied habitat with excellent views of the lower Quinnipiac River, is always full of surprises. We have seen everything from Woodcock to Bald Eagles to Snow Geese, lots of fall migrants, wintering ducks, and more. We will be

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Field Trip – Farm River Trolley Trail with Friends of Farm River – Mike Horn

Shore Line Trolley Museum 17 river street, east haven, ct

We walk the Trolley Museum tracks through several productive habitats. A great trip for migrating raptors plus salt marsh and woodland birds. Meet in the rear parking ot of the Shore Line Trolley Museum, 17 River St, East Haven. Leader: Mike Horn, mfhorn@att.net, 203-288-1891.

Hawk Watch / Bird Count at Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven: Daily September to December

Lighthouse Point 21 Lighthouse Rd, New Haven, CT, United States

Hawk Watch / Bird Count at Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven: Daily September to December Starts Sunday, September 1, 2024, 7 a.m. Lighthouse Point Park on New Haven Harbor is a premier location in southern New England for observing migrating raptors and a wide variety of songbirds. The watch starts daily at 7 a.m. and continues as long as the

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Field Trip – Lake Dawson, Woodbridge – Pat Leahy

Lake Chamberlain Recreation Area corner of sperry rd and morris rd, Bethany, CT, United States

Join Pat Leahy for a walk on protected Regional Water Authority property in Woodbridge. We will see fall migrants and winter residents. Some mild slopes on a well-maintained road. Meet at Lake Chamberlain Regional Water Authority parking area on Sperry Road south of Morris Road, Bethany. We carpool to Lake Dawson from there. Leader: Pat Leahy, ptjleahy@yahoo.com, 203-314-0566.

Field Trip – Cheshire Hotspots – Steve Broker and Melissa Baston

Broad Brook Reservoir, Cheshire 689-739 CT-68, Cheshire, CT, United States

Bird several hotspots in the Town of Cheshire, including Broad Brook Reservoir and Fresh Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary. Broad Brook Reservoir annually hosts 200-400 Ruddy Ducks in fall, one of the highest concentrations of this diving duck in the state. Fresh Meadows offers a diversity of bird species through the year. Broad Brook Reservoir is level walking (100 yards) on leaf-covered

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Field Trip – First Wednesday Walk: Sherwood Island State Park, Westport – Tina Green

Sherwood Island State Park 390 Sherwood Island Connector, Main parking lot, Westport, CT, United States

Join a midweek trip to this outstanding Long Island Sound birding spot. We check for loons, grebes, goldeneye, and other sea ducks. The fields are a good place to look for Snow Buntings, Horned Larks, and sparrows. Meet at Sherwood Island State Park: take Exit 18 off I-95 in Westport and head south on the Sherwood Island Connector. Drive into

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Indoor Meeting – Member’s Night!

Whitney Center, Cultural Arts Center 200 Leeder Hill Drive, Hamden, CT, United States

Don't be shy! This is your chance to shine! Members' Night is all about sharing your favorite photos, stories, and/or memories from birding adventures and bird club activities. You'll be among fellow birding enthusiasts who will truly appreciate your experiences. Details, including how to volunteer as a presenter, will be announced via the Club email group and on our website.

Field Trip – First Wednesday Walk: Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison – Jerry Connolly

Shoreline Greenway Trail Eastern Trailhead Parking Lot - Hammo Shoreline Greenway Trail Eastern Trailhead Parking Lot, Madison, CT, United States

At any time of year, Hammonasset is a true gem. Enjoy a mid-week trip to explore this birding hotspot for fall migrants. The varied habitat attracts shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, and songbirds. Meet outside the park at the Shoreline Greenway Trail parking area on Boston Post Road, Madison, just east of the park's main entrance road. Leader: Jerry Connolly, birdshop@sbcglobal.net, 203-710-2011.

Field Trip – Quinnipiac Trail, Prospect – John Triana

Boardman Drive Boardman drive, Prospect, CT, United States

Join us for a vigorous walk along the Quinnipiac Trail from Cornwall Avenue in Prospect through Regional Water Authority and Prospect Land Trust property off of Boardman Drive. Expect many steep areas with rough terrain. Wear appropriate footwear and bring water. Inclement weather cancels. Meet at the end of the cul-de-sac on Boardman Drive, Prospect. We’ll carpool to Cornwall Avenue

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Indoor Meeting – Barn Owls and Barn Owl Restoration – Joseph Zbyrowski

Whitney Center, Cultural Arts Center 200 Leeder Hill Drive, Hamden, CT, United States

Join us for a presentation by local raptor specialist, Joseph Zbyrowski, during which he will emphasize barn owl characteristics, physical features, and behavior. He will also discuss restoration methods to encourage owls to nest and reproduce. Joseph has been working with hawks and owls for more than 30 years. He is a retired teacher of environmental science; master bird-bander; and

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124th Annual New Haven Christmas Bird Count

Whitney Center, Cultural Arts Center 200 Leeder Hill Drive, Hamden, CT, United States

Join other NHBC members in this fun event, steeped in tradition. Join birders in the field or report what you see in your backyard (if you reside within the count circle). Take part for a few hours or all day. The results of the count are sent to the National Audubon Society for inclusion in an international census of early

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Field Trip – Second Wednesday Walk: Sherwood Island State Park, Westport – Tina Green

Sherwood Island State Park 390 Sherwood Island Connector, Main parking lot, Westport, CT, United States

Join a midweek trip (on the Second Wednesday!) to this outstanding Long Island Sound birding spot. We check for loons, grebes, goldeneye, and other sea ducks. The fields are a good place to look for Snow Buntings, Horned Larks, and sparrows. Meet at Sherwood Island State Park: take Exit 18 off I-95 in Westport and head south on the Sherwood

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Indoor Meeting – History of the New Haven Bird Club – John Triana

Whitney Center, Cultural Arts Center 200 Leeder Hill Drive, Hamden, CT, United States

The NHBC was organized on April 3, 1907. In the lead-up to the Club’s centennial in 2008, John did extensive research on NHBC’s history. This included stories about the women and men who have contributed to the Club’s success over the last century. John will review the highlights of those 100 years and bring us up-to-date with additions to the

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Field Trip – Milford Hotspots in Winter – Frank Mantlik

Milford Commuter Lot exit 35 111 Schoolhouse rd, Milford, CT, United States

We'll look for waterbirds and fowl including Long-tailed Ducks, scoters, and loons, as well as shorebirds, gulls, and raptors as we visit Milford hotspots that will likely include Milford Point, Mondo Ponds, and Caswell Cove. Dress warmly and plan to carpool. The trip ends by noon. Inclement weather will probably cancel the trip. Check with the leader if you have

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The Eighth (REALLY THE NINTH) Annual Mega Bowl of Birding in New Haven County

Birders of all ages and skill levels are welcome to participate in a fun and friendly event! Go birding for all or part of the day to see how many species you can observe. Earn points for each species found. The rarer the species, the more points earned. Birders can participate alone or in a group of up to five people. Compete

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Mega Bowl Compilation Dinner (location to be announced!)

Birders of all ages and skill levels are welcome to participate in a fun and friendly event! Go birding for all or part of the day to see how many species you can observe. Earn points for each species found. The rarer the species, the more points earned. Birders can participate alone or in a group of up to five people. Compete

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Field Trip – First Wednesday Walk: Hammonasset State Park, Madison – Greg Hanisek

Shoreline Greenway Trail Eastern Trailhead Parking Lot - Hammo Shoreline Greenway Trail Eastern Trailhead Parking Lot, Madison, CT, United States

Enjoy a mid-week field trip to Hammonasset Beach State Park, one of the state’s best birding locations in any season of the year. We will look for sea ducks, grassland species, and rarities. Meet outside the park at the Shoreline Greenway Trail parking area on Boston Post Road, Madison, just east of the park's main entrance road. Leader: Greg Hanisek,

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Indoor Meeting – Crested Caracaras, 32 years later – Joan Morrison (Virtual only)

Virtual Meeting

**This virtual-only meeting will start at 7p.m.** Dr. Joan Morrison will share highlights from her research on the federally threatened Crested Caracaras in Florida, uncovering new insights into their breeding biology, diet, social behavior, and spatial ecology. Her work has been pivotal in understanding these birds; their intelligence and gregarious nature makes them challenging to study. The primary threat to

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Field Trip – White Memorial Foundation: Birding and Tracking – Craig Repasz

White Memorial Foundation 80 Whitehall Road, Litchfield, CT, United States

White Memorial Foundation is a 4,000-acre nature preserve. The diverse mixture of habitats includes mature deciduous and evergreen forests, as well as fields of tall grass, weeds, and shrubs that are managed for various stages of succession. One of the best birding sites in the state and an Important Bird Area, White Memorial Foundation has approximately 35 miles of woodland

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Field Trip – Sachuest Point NWR and Rhode Island Coast – Chris Loscalzo

the Branford commuter lot, Exit 55 off I-95. 342 East Main Street, Branford, CT, United States

Snow date - Sunday, February 23, 2025 This all-day trip includes stops at Beavertail State Park, Moonstone Beach, Trustum Pond, and other great birding sites along the Rhode Island coast. We will see lots of sea ducks including all three scoter species, Common Eider, and Harlequin Duck. We’ll look for birds of prey, including Rough-legged Hawk and several owl species.

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Field Trip – First Wednesday Walk: Stratford Shore & Great Meadows – Frank Mantlik

Dunkin Donuts - Frash Pond, Stratford 60 access road, Stratford, CT, United States

Join us on a visit to this excellent birding area. We’ll look for shorebirds birds such as Long-tailed Duck and scoters, as well as raptors and shorebirds. Meet at the Dunkin Donuts parking lot at 60 Access Road, Stratford, near the intersection with Main Street (Route 113); we carpool from there. Leader: Frank Mantlik, mantlik@sbcglobal.net, 203-984-9410.

Indoor Meeting – Environmental Justice through Bird Watching and Music-Making – Diego Soto (Virtual only)

Virtual Meeting

**This virtual-only meeting will start at 7p.m.** Historically redlined neighborhoods are the most undersampled urban areas for bird biodiversity today, a fact which can impact conservation priorities and further urban environmental inequities. Diego Ellis Soto’s research in this area goes beyond the traditional extent of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and takes a look into the role humans

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Field Trip – Edgewood Park, New Haven – Chris Howe and DeWitt Allen

Edgewood Park 361 West Rock Ave, New Haven, CT, United States

A late winter walk at this urban park with varied habitat including woodlands, fields, streams, and ponds. Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and Brown Creeper are all possible. Walking is easy and flat with one dirt path through a wooded area. Total distance is approximately 2.5 miles. Meet at the Edgewood Park parking lot next to the tennis

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Indoor Meeting – Phantasms and Fallacies: Problems and Pitfalls in Bird Identification – Julian Hough

Whitney Center, Cultural Arts Center 200 Leeder Hill Drive, Hamden, CT, United States

Why is it that a large group of birders can look at one species and all of them will misidentify it? Why do certain people consistently find an inordinate number of rare birds? Why are some birders seemingly able to identify birds at great distance on brief or distant views with Ninja-like ability? These questions and many more will be

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Field Trip – The Richard English Memorial Field Trip: Lighthouse Point to the Richard English Refuge – Mike Horn

Lighthouse Point 21 Lighthouse Rd, New Haven, CT, United States

Bird the harbor shore at Lighthouse Point Park for gulls, loons, ducks, and early returning shorebirds. Then we proceed to the Richard English Bird Sanctuary at the Deer Lake Camp in Killingworth. Check with the trip leader for approximate arrival time at each location. Bring lunch and dress warmly. Meet at the Hawk Watch parking lot, Lighthouse Point Park, 2

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Field Trip – Bauer Park, Madison – Mike DiGiorgio

Bauer Park 257 Copse Road,, Madison, CT, United States

Join nationally-recognized wildlife artist and birder Mike DiGiorgio for a walk to look for resident and migrating songbirds. We'll explore the fields, gardens, and woodland trails. Birders of all ages and skill levels, including beginners, are welcome. Meet at the Community Gardens parking area, 257 Copse Road, Madison. Leader: Mike DiGiorgio, mdigiorgio@comcast.net.

Field Trip – Kellogg Environmental Center and Osbornedale State Park, Derby – Maria Stockmal

Kellog Environmental Center 500 Hawthorne ave, Derby, CT, United States

Osbornedale State Park offers a variety of species in its fields and forest, and around its ponds. It is always a surprise which species will be discovered as we walk through the park. We may see a flyover Bald Eagle, nesting Bluebirds, early warbler migrants, Green Heron, and Orchard Oriole, as well as Indigo Bunting, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, and the various

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Field Trip – First Wednesday Walk: East Rock Park, New Haven

Eli Whitney Museum 915 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT, United States

East Rock Park in early May is one of the best places in the state to see migrant warblers. Fifteen to twenty species are possible on a good day. Meet at the Eli Whitney Museum parking lot, 915 Whitney Avenue, Hamden. Leader: John Oshlick, john.oshlic@yahoo.com, 203-584-1955.