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The West River Memorial Park is a designated IBA (Important Bird Area) and is part of the New Haven Harbor Urban Refuge Partnership. The Urban Oasis here improves annually, and the osprey platform has been active with the same male-female pair for many years. By this time in June, the chicks will have hatched and be visible on the nest,
Jack Swatt, New Haven Bird Club member and DEEP volunteer Whip-poor-will monitor, will lead a walk to listen and look for Whip-poor-will at the Naugatuck State Forest. Jack will give a short talk on the status of Whip-poor-wills in the northeast and Connecticut. We will then wait for dusk to fall while we listen for the distinctive call. A sighting?
This trip has been cancelled Salt Meadow Unit is the Refuge headquarters for the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, the only NWR unique to Connecticut. We'll walk 2.5 miles at most to see the birds and the plants; some hills are present. Meet at the entrance to Salt Meadow Unit, 733 Old Clinton Road, Westbrook, CT. Take Exit 64
We’ll walk out on the sandbar at near high tide to see the variety of shorebirds and terns, which will begin feeding as the tide falls. We’ll also check the Coastal Center grounds for songbirds. Meet at the CT Audubon Coastal Center, 1 Milford Point Road, Milford. Leader: Frank Mantlik, 203-984-9410 or mantlik@sbcglobal.net
Join Park Ranger Dan Barvir on a late summer bird walk at Lighthouse Point Park on New Haven Harbor. Then, beginning around 9:30 a.m., 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 habitat. Meet at the Hawk Watch parking lot, Lighthouse Point
This walk may be rescheduled but is cancelled for now. This small waterfront park on the Quinnipiac River is part of the New Haven Harbor Urban Refuge Partnership. Native trees, shrubs, and flowers have been planted to provide cover, food, and habitat for wildlife and a place to learn, relax, and connect with nature. We’ll see summer resident birds and
Daily September to December Starts Sunday, September 1, 2019, Daily, 7 a.m. Lighthouse Point Park on the 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 a.m. and continues as long as the hawks keep flying. Stop by
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 CT Audubon Coastal Center, 1 Milford Point Road, Milford. Leader: Milan Bull, 203-610-5097 or mbull@ctaudubon.org
Note: this is starting 30 minutes later than normal meeting time. It seems that owls have always been surrounded by an air of mystery, probably because most are nocturnal and not easily spotted in the wild. This meeting may be your chance to be only a few feet away from two Eastern Screech Owls, a Barred Owl, and a Great-horned
This festive event is sponsored by the New Haven Department of Parks, Recreation and Trees; the NHBC; and other fine organizations. There will be hawk watching, bird banding, live raptor demonstrations, bird walks, and more. Chris Loscalzo will lead a walk at 8 a.m., Mike Horn will lead a 9:30 a.m. walk, and Flo McBride will lead a kid’s walk
Edgewood Park and West River Memorial Park make up an Important Bird Area and include a two mile section of the West River. These parks look particularly “hot” on the radar maps for New Haven that show which areas are most used by birds in fall migration. We will see what we can find! The walk is open to birders
continuing through to December click here for details
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 parking lot, Lighthouse Point Park, 2 Lighthouse Road, New Haven. Leader: Frank Gallo, 203-644-2163 or peeplo@aol.com
This walk was originally scheduled for Oct 20th. It will now be held on Oct 6th. Osbornedale State Park offers a variety of habitats for a fall bird walk, from fields to ponds and woodland streams to deciduous forest. On this walk we explore these habitats in search of sparrows, kinglets, late migration warblers, woodpeckers, and more. The walk is
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 such
Come on a trip around the world with one of Connecticut Audubon's EcoTravel leaders! Andrew Griswold has been the director of EcoTravel for Connecticut Audubon Society (CAS) since 1996. He graduated as an honor student in biology from Hartwick College, where he worked at their biological research station in the Bahamas studying avian ecology. Andy is the original concept creator
Saturday–Sunday, October 12–13, 2019 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. The circles are located at a number of birding hot spots throughout CT. Join other birders
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 new parking lot on the Post Rd. Directions: Take Exit 62 off I-95 (the usual Hammonasset exit). At
Join a fall walk to see what can be found at these picturesque locations. The group will explore trails at Lake Bethany, then proceed to properties not open to the public, Lake Watrous and Lake Dawson. Fall migrants should be working their way through the area and the scenery will be breathtaking. Meet at Lake Bethany Regional Water Authority parking
Thursday, October 31, 2019, 3 p.m. & Saturday, November 2, 2019, 8:30 a.m. Two opportunities to explore Town Center Park in Hamden—Thursday October 31 at 3 p.m. (to coincide with the final Farmer’s Market of the season), plus the following Saturday morning, November 2, 2019, at 8:30 a.m., to allow for comparison of what’s seen at different times of day.
continuing through December click here for details
Fargeorge Preserve is always full of surprises. We have seen everything from woodcock to eagles to snow geese, lots of fall migrants, wintering ducks, and more. It is a varied habitat with excellent view of the lower Quinnipiac River. Directions: Go South on Quinnipiac Avenue from Rt. 80. Make a right just past the railroad overpass. Drive through the open
Thursday, October 31, 2019, 3 p.m. & Saturday, November 2, 2019, 8:30 a.m. Two opportunities to explore Town Center Park in Hamden—Thursday October 31 at 3 p.m. (to coincide with the final Farmer’s Market of the season), plus the following Saturday morning, November 2, 2019, at 8:30 a.m., to allow for comparison of what’s seen at different times of day.
This walk was postponed to November 3 due to weather. We bird several hotspots in the Town of Cheshire, including Boulder Knoll, Broad Brook Reservoir and associated trails, Fresh Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary (Cheshire Land Trust), and the Farmington Canal Lock 12. Boulder Knoll is good for sparrows in fall. Broad Brook Reservoir annually hosts 200–400 Ruddy Ducks, one of the
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
Discover the birds of Costa Rica with Peter Christoph. Have you ever wondered why over 600 birds call Costa Rica their year-round home? Due to its diverse topography, this tropical nation contains several life zones supporting a wide variety of birds, from tiny iridescent hummingbirds to colorful toucans. Discover Costa Rica’s national treasures with a top wildlife photographer as he
continuing through December click here for details
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 at Hammonasset Beach State Park parking area on Boston Post Road, Madison, just left (east) of main entrance road. Leader: Jerry Connolly, 203-421-4128 (home), 203-710-2011 (cell), or birdshop@sbcglobal.net
We survey Area K the weekend prior to the Saturday, December 14 New Haven Christmas Bird Count. This highly productive area includes Ora Avenue / Proto Drive / Morris Creek Marshes, Cosey Beach, Lighthouse Point Park, Beacon Hill and the Trolley Line, Furnace Pond, and the lower Farm River. Area K typically produces 75–80 species on count day, including waterfowl,
With the help of our avian ambassadors, students learn about the amazing adaptations that enable birds to thrive in their specialized environments. Colleen Peters is the Director of Education at the Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy in Litchfield CT.
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
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
Avian patients are a rare sight in most veterinary hospitals. Pet birds don’t require annual vaccines and often don’t show any signs of illness until it's too late. Oftentimes the stress involved in transporting a bird to the veterinary hospital or the risk of escape or injury will outweigh the potential advantage of an annual checkup. In addition, locating a
Come out for a walk at Lake Saltonstall to look for winter birds. We will search the lake for wintering eagles. We will also walk the woods roads and powerline cuts for other birds that over-winter in the area. Meet at the fishing parking lot nearest the fish shack, 100 Hosley Avenue, Branford. Leader: John Triana, jtriana1@sbcglobal.net
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 with the leader if you have weather concerns. Meet at the commuter lot, Exit 35
Held on Super Bowl Weekend! Come join in on a fun and friendly event! Compete with other birders and win prizes and get your team’s name inscribed on the prestigious Mega Bowl Trophy! We will bird New Haven County from Milford to Madison and north to Waterbury and Meriden, CT, and have fun birding and socializing with other birders. Birders
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 Hammonasset Beach State Park parking area on Boston Post Road, Madison, just left (east) of main entrance road. Leader: Greg Hanisek, ctgregh@yahoo.com
This program by an African penguin care team highlights the work that is done both at Mystic Aquarium as well as with their partner institution in South Africa to protect endangered African penguin species. Utilizing the Zoom virtual platform, they will take the group on a virtual tour of the Aquarium’s penguin exhibit. Led by members of our Penguin and Education
This all-day trip includes stops at Sachuest Point NWR, Beavertail State Park, Moonstone Beach, Trustum Pond, and other great birding sites on the RI 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. We’ll also be on the
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. As one of the best birding sites in the state and an Important Bird Area, White Memorial Foundation has approximately 35 miles
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. Meet at the Dunkin Donuts parking lot at 60 Access Road, Stratford, near the intersection with Main Street (Rt. 113); we carpool from there. Leader: Frank Mantlik, 203-984-9410 or mantlik@sbcglobal.net
This meeting has been cancelled due to health concerns with the Corona Virus Earth’s rapid urbanization continues and the decades ahead are projected to see the largest and fastest period of urban expansion in history. To live in urban areas, urban birds must adjust many aspects of their life. Dr. Scott Davies will talk about his research into when urban
Due to the current situation, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Join Bill Batsford for 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. We will make a side trip to Evergreen Cemetery if the Bald Eagles are again nesting
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. Meet at the Coastal Center parking lot, 1 Milford Point Road, Milford. Leader: Jalna Jaeger, 203-246-0885 or jalnabird@gmail.com
Canceled due to Covid-19 Join Matt Bell as he talks about his experiences at Magee Marsh and The Biggest Week in American Birding, one of the largest birding festivals in the world. From numerous warblers that surround you at eye-level, to the lifelong friends made each year, the spectacle of The Biggest Week is one all birders should have on
Meet for a bird walk from 8–9:30 a.m., then join Park Ranger Dan Barvir to help with light trail maintenance along the river until noon. Bring work gloves and pruning shears if you have them. Meet at the Eli Whitney Museum parking lot, 915 Whitney Avenue, Hamden. Leader: Dan Barvir, 203-946-6086 or dbarvir@newhavenct.net
We first 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 then proceed to Hammonasset Beach State Park. This is an all-day trip; bring lunch and dress warmly. This trip almost always has a high species count. Meet at
We focus on just two breeding species for this trip to West Rock Ridge State Park: Peregrine Falcon and Common Raven. A pair of Peregrine Falcons selected West Rock as their home base in 1999, thereby becoming one of the first breeding pairs in Connecticut in the post-DDT era. Since then, seven different females and seven different males (tiercels) have
Bird song can be wonderfully confusing and terrifyingly daunting for beginners. Join us for a seminar presentation in the Barn at the Audubon Connecticut’s Bent of the River to begin learning bird song. After the presentation we will practice our new skills with a bird walk through a prime birding location along the Pomperaug River. More than 100 species of
Join Ranger Dan Barvir at this premier site for warblers and other spring migrants. Meet at the Rice Field (baseball field) end of East Rock Park on English Drive, New Haven. Leader: Dan Barvir, 203-946-6086 or dbarvir@newhavenct.net