Field Trips and Meetings
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Indoor Program – Daniel Jared Field: From Big Years to Big Eras: Birding through Geological Time

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

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

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Conservation Project – Litter Cleanup: Sandy Point IBA Bird Sanctuary, West Haven

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

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Annual Migration Festival, Lighthouse Point Park

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

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

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Field Trip – Yale University Golf Course, New Haven (200 Conrad Drive)

Yale Golf Course the course at yale, New Haven, CT, United States

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

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Field Trip – Kellogg Environmental Center/Osbornedale St. Park, Derby

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

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

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

Indoor Program — Dave Winston: Love Your Patch!

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

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,

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Bird Count – THE BIG SIT! ®

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

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Field Trip – Beginners’ Bird Walk at Griswold Point, Old Lyme

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

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Field Trip – Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison

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).

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Field Trip – Beacon Cap, Bethany

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

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Field Trip – Branford Supply Ponds, Branford

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

Field Trip – Fargeorge Wildlife Preserve, Quinnipiac River, New Haven

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

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Bird Count – NHBC 23rd Annual Winter Feeder Survey

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    

Field Trip – First Wednesday Walk: Sherwood Island St. Park, Westport

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

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Indoor Program — Tom Wessels: Reading the Forested Landscape

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

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

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Field Trip – Lake Chamberlain & Cooper and Calabresi Farms, Bethany

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

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Field Trip – Sherwood Island State Park, Westport

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

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

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

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Indoor Program – Brad Winn: Meeting Shorebirds Halfway: Managing Hemispheric Travelers

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

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

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Field Trip – Moodus Reservoir, Bashan Lake, Moodus/East Haddam area

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

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Bird Count – 116th Annual New Haven Christmas Bird Count

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

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Field Trip – First Wednesday Walk: Harkness State Park, Waterford

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

Field Trip – Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison

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

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Indoor Program – Larry Fischer: Owls of Western Connecticut

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

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

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Field Trip – Milford Hotspots in Winter

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

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

***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

Indoor Program – Members’ Night

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

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

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Field Trip – Sachuest Point NWR and Rhode Island Coast

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

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

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

Indoor Program – William Burt: Rare and Elusive Birds of North America

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

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

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Field Trip – Cromwell Meadows Wildlife Management Area

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,

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Field Trip – Lighthouse Point to the Richard English Bird Sanctuary

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

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Field Trip – Gull and Gannet Frenzy, Southport Beach, Southport

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,

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Field Trip – First Wednesday Walk: CT Audubon Coastal Center, Milford

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

Field Trip – East Rock Birding and Trail Maintenance, New Haven

Meet at the Eli Whitney Museum parking lot (915 Whitney Ave., Hamden) for a bird walk from 8-9:30 am. Then join Park Ranger Dan Barvir to help with light trail maintenance along the river until noon. Bring work gloves & pruning shears if you have them. Leader: Dan Barvir: 203-946-6086 or dbarvir@newhavenct.net

Indoor Program – Michele Parrett: Beyond the Scope: The Social Lives of Captive Parrots

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

Parrots have enchanted us for centuries. We find their plumage breathtaking, their intellectual abilities intriguing, and their antics amusing. Above all, perhaps we’re most fascinated by their ability to talk and by the ways they use words to connect with us. Parrots are highly social by nature, but we usually underestimate their need for attention and interaction when we bring

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Field Trip – Lake Chamberlain, Bethany

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

Join Past-president Bill Batsford to check out this excellent birding area. Lake Chamberlain, a Regional Water Authority property, is surrounded by coniferous forest and it has open fields and thickets. Early spring migrants likely to be seen are Palm and Pine Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-headed Vireo. and Eastern Phoebe. Bluebirds and Tree Swallows nest in bird houses. Meet at the

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Field Trip – Ansonia Nature Center, Ansonia

Enjoy a walk at this great birding location. The nature center has a small pond, grassy fields, thickets, wetlands, and woods. The woods have had Northern Goshawk and Great Horned Owls nesting there and there are often surprises. Meet at the nature center parking lot, 10 Deerfield Lane (off Benz Rd.) in Ansonia. Leader, Maria Stockmal: 203-305-3728, m.stockmal@snet.net.

Conservation Activity – East Rock Garlic Mustard Pull

Take part in a crucial conservation project. Help remove garlic mustard from East Rock Park, an Important Bird Area that’s a vital migratory bird stopover and breeding habitat.  This invasive plant is a pernicious, prolific pest that can overrun forested areas, squeeze out native spring flowers, kill butterfly cater- pillars, and alter the habitat of our native birds. In 3

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Field Trip – Bird Walk for Families at East Rock Park, New Haven

On this walk by the park's Mill River, children, accompanied by adults, will search for warblers and other spring migrants. Other interested adults are also welcome to join the walk in this famous spring birding site. Meet at the Eli Whitney Museum parking lot, 915 Whitney Ave., Hamden. Bring binoculars and a field guide if you have them. Leader: Florence

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Field Trip – Bent of the River Wildlife Sanctuary, Southbury

Explore a prime birding location along the Pomperaug River in Southbury where more than 100 species of birds have been observed in a single day. This beautiful and highly diverse habitat is owned and maintained by the National Audubon Society. Take Exit 14 off Rt. 84. Go north on Rt. 172 , then turn left onto East Flat Hill Rd.

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

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 covered bridge near the Eli Whitney Museum, 915 Whitney Ave., Hamden. Leaders: Bill Batsford: 203-494-4325, or william.batsford@yale.edu Frank Mantlik: 203-984-9410 or mantlik@sbcglobal.net; John Oshlick: 203-584-1955 or john.oshlic@yahoo.com

Bird Count – Big Day Marathon

Take part in all or part of this event. We'll focus on New Haven area hotspots, seeking 100-130 species. We start at East Rock and search several other local migrant traps, as well as the coast from Lordship to Hammonasset. Meet at the Eli Whitney Museum parking lot, 915 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, at 6:00 am. Leader: John Oshllick: 203-584-1955 or

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Field Trip – East Rock Park with Ranger Dan, New Haven

Note: this is a date change from the Yearbook, Originally April 30 Join Ranger Dan Barvir at this premier site for warblers and other spring migrants. We will meet at the Rice Field (baseball field) end of East Rock Park on English Drive. Leader: Ranger Dan Barvir: 203-946-6086 or dbarvir@newhavenct.org

Field Trip – Housatonic River, Kent

Today we enjoy the riparian woodlands along the Housatonic in Kent, CT. We meet at the parking area on the southwest corner of Bull's Bridge Rd and Rt. 7 (Kent Rd.) south of Kent. We carpool from there, paralleling the Housatonic via Schaticoke Rd, and Skiff Mountain Rd to River Rd, listening and looking for spring migrants. The area is

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Annual Banquet – Chris S. Elphick: “Canaries” in the Saltmarsh: The Conservation of Saltmarsh Sparrows and Other Tidal Marsh Birds

Don’t miss this festive event—always great company, great food, and a great program. Reservations required; watch the spring newsletter, Club emails, and the Club website for details and reservation forms. Early reservations are greatly appreciated! √ Please remember to bring cash to the banquet to pay for your drinks at the cash bar and to buy tickets for the always-fun

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Field Trip – Nehantic State Forest and Hartman’s Park, Lyme

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 6:25 at the commuter lot at Exit

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Field Trip – Naugatuck State Forest, Naugatuck

Join us at the peak of spring migration on this moderately strenuous and long hike in a fine birding location. We search for both migrants and residents. We often see more than 15 warbler species on this trip, including nesting Hooded and Worm-eating Warblers. Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and many other species are common here. Meet at the commuter lot

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Field Trip – Massaro Farm, Woodbridge, May 15

Massaro Farm 41 Ford Road, Woodbridge, CT, United States

We're so pleased to offer a spring migratory bird walk, led by New Haven Bird Club member and expert birder, Chris Loscalzo. Please join us Sunday, May 15th at 2pm as we walk the woods and fields of the farm looking for a variety of birds. The diverse structure at the farm - open fields, low brush and the woods

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