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Svalbard: An Arctic Naturalist’s Paradise Presented by Wayne Petersen The stunning Svalbard archipelago, one of the dramatic lands of the midnight sun, belongs to Norway but is located far north of the country. Its endless summer hours of daylight, towering sea cliffs teeming with breeding seabirds, immense slopes of rocky talus, and gleaming tidewater glaciers are a constant reminder that
Enjoy the peak of spring migration in this superb birding location where we’ll search for both migrants and residents. The mixed hardwood forest is a great spot for Hooded and Worm-eating Warblers and many other species. Last year on this trip we saw many different warbler species including Bay-breasted, Hooded, Blackburnian, and Lawrence’s. Meet at the commuter lot at Exit
Today we explore two prime birding locations in Lyme. Nehantic State Forest, a 1,200-acre woodland, is home to Hooded and Worm-eating Warblers and numerous other species. There are large ponds where we can find waterfowl, flycatchers and other species. Nearby Hartman’s Park is known for its breeding population of Cerulean Warblers. Meet at 6:30 at the commuter lot at Exit
This will be our eleventh annual trip to this excellent birding spot. We'll meet at the commuter lot at Exit 55 of I-95 and carpool to Barn Island. The management area consists of large expanses of salt marsh, tidal pools, wetlands, woodlands, and open fields. We should see wading birds, shorebirds, and area residents such as Saltmarsh Sparrow, Marsh Wren,
Come to look and listen for birds in a variety of habitats within a small area. We’ll do a loop trail that includes a powerline right-of-way, a deep ravine, and the typical deciduous and coniferous forests between the two. There are steep areas going down and up the ravine so wear sturdy shoes. Meet at the Regional Wa-ter Authority recreation parking lot
Join us on a visit to this excellent birding location where we’ll look for late spring migrants and early nesting species. The center and park have open fields, woods, ponds, and streams. Meet at the Kellogg Center parking lot, 500 Hawthorne Avenue. Leader: Maria Stockmal: 203-488-3876 or m.stockmal@snet.net.
Greg, one of the best birders in the state, will lead the walk in this scenic and spacious forest in the northern part of the state. Nesting species here include Blue-headed Vireo, Hermit Thrush, Canada Warbler and Black-throated Blue Warbler. Meet at the park entrance on Rte. 4 in Cornwall, four miles west of Goshen. Leader: Greg Hanisek. Contact: Tina
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 leader Steve Mayo: 203-393-0694 or rsdmayo@sbcglobal.net
National Trails Day is celebrated across the country with hikes, trail work, and naturalist events. NHBC will commemorate the day with a birding hike on the oldest hiking trail in CT, the Quinnipiac Trail. We’ll leave from the Downes Road parking area entrance of Naugatuck SP and go through the mountain laurel, beech, birch, hickory and oak forest; then up
On this trip we will look for grassland and shrubland birds, inclu-ding Bobolink, American Kestrel, Blue-winged Warbler, and Indi- go Bunting. Grasslands and shrublands are uncommon in CT so it is a treat to see and hear species associated with these habitats. We will meet at the Bent of the River Important Bird Area, then carpool to Good Hill Farm IBA,
On our walk to this "Globally Important Bird Area," we will focus on shorebirds, such as the Semipalmated Sandpiper, that use the mouth of the Housatonic River to rest and refuel during migration. Participants will also learn about threats to shorebirds as well as strategies for protecting them. This walk is geared to beginners but birders of all levels and families
Sharpen your shorebird identification skills at one of the best places in the state to see shorebirds. We may have an indoor presentation before going out to the beach. Meet at the Coastal Center parking lot, 1 Milford Point Rd. Bring a scope if you have one. Leaders: Patrick Comins, Frank Gallo, and Frank Mantlik. Contact: Chris Loscalzo: 203-389-6508, closcalz@optonline.net
Saturday, August 22, 2015, 8:00 am Walk and 9:30 Cleanup Join Park Ranger Dan Barvir on a late summer bird walk at Lighthouse Point Park on New Haven Harbor. Then, beginning around 9:30 am, we’ll perform some light trail maintenance and cleanup. This is a great way to enjoy looking at birds and at the same time help preserve their
August 31 to December 1, 2015 Lighthouse Point Park on New Haven Harbor is one of the premier locations in southern New England for observing migrating raptors, as well as a wide variety of songbirds. The watch starts daily at 7:00 am and continues as long as the hawks keep flying. Stop by anytime. Coordinator: Steve Mayo: 203-393-0694 or rsdmayo@sbcglobal.net
Join us as we look for shorebirds and terns at this excellent local birding location. We should also find raptors, waterfowl, long-legged waders, and migrating passerines. Ten or more species of shorebirds are possible, including American Golden Plover. Meet at the Coastal Center parking lot, at 1 Milford Point Rd. Leader: Stephen Spector, 203-876-7461 (home), 203-928-8089 (cell) or charsjs@sbcglobal.net.
Note: the meeting room has been changed for this meeting to the 6th floor room at the Whitney Center. Staff will help you find the new location. The present is an amazing time to be a birder. For example, Neil Hayward was able to set a new Big Year record in 2013 using modern birding networks, improved taxonomic knowledge, and
Join a critical conservation effort: Help remove trash from an Important Bird Area as part of the Ocean Conservancy's “International Coastal Cleanup". A clean site prevents predators, attracted by food litter, from becoming accustomed to visiting Sandy Point, one of the prime sites in CT for Piping Plovers and other beach-nesting bird species. Plus: Our data will help scientists fight
This festive event is sponsored by the New Haven Parks Dept., NHBC, and other fine organizations. There will be hawk watch-ing; bird banding and live raptor demos; bird walks; and more. Chris Loscalzo will lead an 8:00 am walk, Mike Horn will lead one at 9:30 and Flo McBride will lead a kids’ walk at 9:30. The park is located
The golf course is located on more than 700 acres, with woods and ponds surrounding the course. It’s a great place to see birds year round. We’ll be visiting the course when there are no golfers, so we’ll be able to walk the cart paths and wooded trails without being disturbed or disturbing others. We’ll be looking for fall migrants
Here’s a chance to visit an outstanding birding spot that boasts a variety of habitats—open fields, woodlands, and ponds. We’ll look for fall migrants, including warblers, sparrows, flycatchers, and vireos. Meet at the Kellogg Center parking lot at 500 Hawthorne Ave., Derby. Leader: Maria Stockmal: 203-305-3728 or m.stockmal@snet.net
Join us on a visit to this premier local birding location, renowned for its migrating raptors and passerines. If the weather conditions are favorable, we may see hundreds of hawks in flight over the park. Meet at the hawk watch site inside the park, which is located at 2 Lighthouse Rd., New Haven). Leader: Frank Mantlik: 203-984-9410 or mantlik@sbcglobal.net
Birders often have a favorite “patch,” a birding spot they love to visit again and again. But how do we take care of those beloved haunts, for our own and others’ future enjoyment? Tonight’s speaker has plenty of suggestions and he’s eminently qualified to deliver them. A lifelong and Master Gardener who spent three years at the NY Botanical Garden,
THE BIG SIT! ®, established by the NHBC, has become an international event, with birders from all over the world participating in it. The object is to record as many species of birds as possible in one day from one 17-foot diameter circle. The circles are located at a number of birding hot spots throughout CT. Join other birders in
Note: This is a time change from the Yearbook. (Originally scheduled for Oct 4, at 8:30) Located at the mouth of the CT River, Griswold Point provides important stopover habitat for shorebirds and songbirds in the fall. On this walk, we scan the coastline for late migrating shorebirds and look for Saltmarsh and Nelson's Sparrows along the edges of the marsh. The Saltmarsh Sparrow is globally vulnerable
Visit one of our state’s best fall birding spots, where the abun- dance 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 new parking lot on the Post Rd. New Directions: Take Exit 61 off I-95 (the usual Hammonasset exit).
Join us for a short, but strenuous, hike up to Beacon Cap on the Naugatuck Trail in Bethany. We will look for late fall migrants as we go up to a glacial erratic at the top of a hill. Even if the birding is slow, we should have good color to enjoy on the foliage overlooking Rt. 63 in Bethany. Be prepared
Visit this first-rate birding spot to look for fall migrants and resident species. The area has varied habitats with woods and shrubby areas. A variety of waterfowl can be found in the ponds. Meet at Supply Ponds parking lot, Chestnut Street, off Rt. 1. Leader: Maria Stockmal: 203-305-3728 or m.stockmal@snet.net
This is a joint trip with the New Haven Land Trust. Join us as we visit the Trust’s property along the Quinnipiac River. With its varied habitat, this location is a good place to see raptors, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Sightings here have included Snow Goose, Bald Eagle, and American Woodcock. Directions: Go south on Quinnipiac Ave. from Rt. 80 (Foxon
November 1, 2015 through March 31, 2016 This is a yearly census to determine the number and frequency of birds visiting feeders in the greater New Haven area. You are invited to watch and record the activity at your feeder at least once a week for the entire time period. Contact: Peter Vitalii: 203-288-0621 or vitali_peter_e@sbcglobal.net
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. Take Exit 18 off I-95 in Westport and head south on the Sherwood Island Connector. Drive into the park, meet at the main
Based on Tom’s book, Reading the Forested Landscape, A Natural History of New England, this program introduces us to approaches that we can use to interpret a forest’s history while wandering through it. Using evidence such as the shapes of trees, scars on their trunks, the pattern of decay in stumps, the construction of stone walls, and the lay of
Join a fall walk to see what can be found at these picturesque locations. Lake Chamberlain, a Regional Water Authority property, has an active bluebird population, many woodpeckers, and a number of waterfowl that visit the lake before heading further south when the lake freezes over. The walk at Lake Chamberlain is relatively easy. After birding the RWA property, we will visit the
Spend some time at one of Fairfield County's top-notch birding locations. We will look for a wide range of species from waterfowl to finches and everything in between. Take Exit 18 off I-95 in Westport and head south on the Sherwood Island Connector. Meet at the park entrance. Leader and contact person: Tina Green: 203-247-2660 or tina@renaissancestudios.com
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 new Hammonasset parking lot on the Post Rd. New Directions: Take Exit 61 off I-95 (the usual Hammonasset Park exit). At the end of the
We have the ability to make things better for shorebirds: We know enough and we are learning more every day, to maintain and rebuild shorebird populations back to healthy numbers. This optimism holds true for shorebirds that nest on our beaches, as well as those that are passing through on their way to and from the Far North. With the
We travel to a variety of birding hotspots in the Moodus/East Haddam area a week prior to the Salmon River Christmas Bird Count. Since the mid-1980s, our CBC team has developed great familiarity with the fields, forests, farmlands, reservoirs, and wetlands of this section of the Salmon River CBC circle. Our target species will include waterfowl, inland Common Loon, Bald
Join other NHBC members in this fun event, steeped in tradition. Take part for a few hours or all day. Join birders in the field or report what you see in your backyard (if you reside within the count circle). The results of the count are sent to the National Audubon Society for inclusion in an international census of early
Today we’ll explore this beautiful coastline park. It has ponds, fields, shrubs—and lots of shoreline. We will look for raptors, loons, grebes, all three scoters, Eiders (King Eider has been seen here), Bufflehead, and Goldeneye. Snow Bunting and Horned Lark are likely too. Meet in the Harkness parking lot, 275 Great Neck Rd., Waterford. Leader: Tina Green: 203-247-2660 or tina@renaissancestudios.com
Note: this is a date change from the yearbook, originally scheduled for Jan 24th Join us as we visit this premier CT birding location for a mid-winter excursion. We’ll be looking for sea ducks, shorebirds, grassland species and winter finches as we check several areas in the park, including the campgrounds. Meet at the Nature Center parking lot. Leader: Paul
Currently on the Northeast Hawk Watch Board of Directors, Larry is a federally licensed raptor bander who has been banding hawks, falcons, owls, and eagles for more than 30 years, working independently as well as with the CT DEEP and the U.S. Dept. of the Interior. Tonight he talks about owls, those endlessly fascinating birds, and specifically about the owl
Cancelled due to incoming storm Meet at the commuter lot off Exit 35 of I-95. We’ll look for waterfowl, birds of prey, and winter passerines 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
***This walk has been moved to Feb 10 due to weather*** 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 at the park entrance at 8:00 am. Leader: Greg Hanisek: 203-525-1558 or ctgreg@yahoo.com
Don’t be bashful! Be sure not to miss this opportunity to add another 15 minutes of fame to your birding memoirs. Remember: You’ll be among the best of birding friends. Members’ Night is a chance to share your favorite photos, stories, birding haunts, and memories of birds and bird club activities with an appreciative audience. We will have slide and
Note: this is a date change from the yearbook (Snow date: Sunday, February 28, 2016) This all-day trip includes stops at Sachuest Point NWR, Beavertail State Park, Moonstone Beach, Trustum Pond, and other great birding sites on the Rhode Island coast. We will see lots of sea ducks, including all three scoter species, Common Eider, and Harlequin Duck. We’ll look
Join us on a visit to this excellent birding area. We’ll look for oceanic birds such as Long-tailed Duck and scoters, as well as raptors and shorebirds. We will meet at the Dunkin Donuts parking lot at 60 Access Rd. near the intersection with Main St. (Rt. 113). We carpool from there. Leader: Frank Mantlik: 203-984-9410 or mantlik@sbcglobal.net
Late on a June night, in the middle of a vast Spartina marsh in eastern Maryland, William Burt achieved his longtime goal to photograph the Black Rail, a mythic, red-eyed bird so rare and deftly elusive in the fine grass of its meadow home that few ornithologists had ever even seen it. But the trip was just the first of
This WMA in Middlesex County is situated along the confluence of the Mattabesset and Coginchaug Rivers and parallels Rt. 9. A wide dirt/gravel path through the area provides good walking access. Snow or snowmelt may be on the path so wear sturdy, water-resistant boots. The wetland supports large numbers of wintering and spring migrant waterfowl, including Wood Duck, Northern Pintail,
Meet at the Lighthouse Point Park hawk watch parking lot and bird the harbor shore for gulls, loons, ducks, and early returning shorebirds. We then proceed to the Richard English Bird Sanctuary at the Deer Lake Scout Camp in Killingworth. We finish our birding tour with a visit to Hammonasset Beach State Park. This is an all-day trip; bring lunch
Join us as we search for plankton-feeding flocks of gulls, including the rare Little and Black-headed Gulls. We’ll also hope to see Northern Gannets plunge-feeding offshore. Wear waterproof shoes for walking on the tidal mudflats, and dress warmly. We may also carpool to nearby sites. End by 2:30 pm. Meet at 11:30 am at Southport Beach, 1505 Pequot Ave., Southport,
Enjoy an early spring trip to one of the best local birding spots. We look out into the marsh and along the shore for waterfowl, shorebirds, waders, and raptors. Last year there was a late Snowy Owl. Meet at the Coastal Center parking lot, located at 1 Milford Point Rd. Leader: Stephen Spector: 203-876-7461 (home), 203-928-8089 (cell) or charsjs@sbcglobal.net