Field Trips and Meetings
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Barn Island Wildlife Management Area, Stonington – Carolyn Cimino

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

Note: this is a date change from our published yearbook. This will be our 14th annual trip to this excellent birding spot. We’ll meet at the commuter lot at Exit 55 off I-95 and carpool to Barn Island. The area consists of large expanses of salt marsh, tidal pools, wetlands, woodlands, and open fields. We should see wading birds, shorebirds,

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The Outer Cape (Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown, Cape Cod, Massachusetts)

This weekend of birding and fellowship is being made available to 15 club members by advance registration.  Late spring birding on the Outer Cape always is productive.  Our birding localities during the three-day period include Fort Hill (Eastham), Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary/Massachusetts Audubon Society, Wellfleet Harbor, the Herring River and Herring River Estuary, the kettle ponds and the dwarf oak

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Branford Supply Ponds – Maria Stockmal

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

Visit this first-rate birding spot to look for fall migrants and resident species. The area has varied habitats with woods, shrubby areas and a powercut. A variety of waterfowl can be found in the ponds. Meet at Branford Supply Ponds parking lot, Chestnut Street, off Rte. 1, Branford. m.stockmal@snet.net 203-305-3728

Pond Mountain Trust, Kent – Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe

Pond Mountain Trust, Inc. includes 796 acres of deciduous woodlands, pockets of conifers, meadows, streams, wetlands, and Fuller Pond.   The Trust is part of the Macedonia Forest Block Important Bird Area, which was identified for its importance to Cerulean Warbler, Wood Thrush, and other forest nesting birds.The trip involves moderately strenuous hiking, but is open to birders of all levels;

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First Wednesday Walk: Mohawk Mountain State Park – Greg Hanisek

Greg Hanisek, 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 entrance to Mohawk Mountain State Park on Route 4 in Cornwall, four miles west of Goshen.

Summer Bird Count

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.   rsdmayo@sbcglobal.net  203-393-0694

Whip-poor-will walk in Naugatuck State Forest, Naugatuck – Jack Swatt

Note: rain date June 23 - same time 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

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Field Trip – Cancelled – Shorebirds and Terns at Milford Point – Frank Mantlik

Milford Point 1 Milford Point Road, Milford, CT, United States

This trip is cancelled due to predicted thunderstorms. This will be a trip to study shorebirds and terns, which should be here in concentration now. We will walk out on the sand flats at mid-tide, then see the numbers of birds build as the tide rises. Wear waterproof shoes or sandals, and apply sunscreen. We'll finish by about noon. mantlik@sbcglobal.net 

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Field Trip – Lighthouse Point Park Bird Walk / Prep for Migration Festival – Dan Barvir

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

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 habitat.  Meet at the Hawk Watch parking lot, Lighthouse Point Park,

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Field Trip – Long Wharf Nature Preserve and Urban Oasis – Deborah Johnson

Long Wharf Nature Preserve long wharf nature preserve, New Haven, CT, United States

Our second annual trip to this evolving and ever-improving site in the heart of downtown New Haven. An environmentally focused, family-friendly morning learning about the Urban Oases projects in the New Haven Harbor Watershed. A one-mile walk along the harbor shoreline and three separate ecosystems as the ground rises from sea level. NHBC Conservation Chair joins with Audubon’s Bird Conservation

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Bird Count – Hawk Watch, Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven; Daily September to December

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

Daily from September 1 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 AM and continues as long as the hawks keep flying. Stop by anytime. Coordinator - Steve Mayo - rsdmayo@sbcglobal.net    

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

Milford Point 1 Milford Point Road, Milford, CT, United States

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. Milan Bull -  mbull@ctaudubon.org  cell - 203-610-5097

September Indoor Meeting – Jim Zipp – Connecticut Birding Through the Seasons: Watching and Photographing the Ever-changing Bird life That Surrounds Us Throughout the Year

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

We'll travel in time through a year in Connecticut and watch our bird life change just as our seasons do. Jim will talk about his photographic techniques and pass on some tips on how to improve your captures. Jim has been photographing birds for over 40 years. Much of that time has been in Connecticut but also includes travels throughout

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Migration Festival – Lighthouse Point, New Haven – Dan Barvir

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

Click Here for the full brochure This festive event is sponsored by the New Haven Department of Parks, Recreation and Trees; the NHBC; and other fine organizations. Click Here to see the Lighthouse Point 2018 Migration Fest Flyer 8:00 am-ongoing      Hawk Watching 8:00 am - 9:30    Bird Walk with Chris Loscalzo 8:30 am - 11:00   Bird Banding Demo

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Field Trip – Yale Golf Course, New Haven, CT – Bill Batsford

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 such

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Field Trip – Autumn Along Marginal Drive at the West River Memorial Park – Dennis Riordan

west river memorial park rt 34 location rt 34 and marginal drive, New Haven, CT, United States

Note: this is a change from the yearbook on the starting location of the walk. The West River Memorial Park is a designated Important Bird Area (IBA) and is part of the New Haven Harbor Urban Refuge Partnership. Species counts have increased since the removal of the tide gates at Rt.1 and the planting of native food-producing shrubs and pollinator

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Field Trip – First Wednesday – 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 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. Frank Gallo - peeplo@aol.com   cell- 203-644-2163  

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

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

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 Kellogg Environmental Center/Osbornedale State Park, 500 Hawthorne Avenue, Derby. m.stockmal@snet.net  cell - 203-305-3728

Field Trip – Edgewood Park, New Haven – Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe

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

Note: This is a change in date from the Yearbook, the walk was moved from 09/29, Saturday to 10/7, Sunday 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

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October Indoor Meeting – Frank Mantlik – A Passion for Rarities

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

When one has been an avid student of field-birding for a time, one eventually will "discover" a bird rare to their area. Our speaker has found his share of rarities over the years, including several first records for Connecticut. Many birders have caught the "rarity bug," resulting in some miraculous finds in recent years. Mr. Mantlik will discuss methods to

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THE BIG SIT! ®

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 in one of

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Field Trip – Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison – Flo McBride

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 new parking lot on the Post Rd. NEW Directions: Take Exit 62 off I-95 (the usual Hammonasset exit).

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Field Trip – Lake Chamberlain; Cooper and Calebresi Farms – Pat Leahy

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

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

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Field Trip – Branford Supply Ponds, Branford – Maria Stockmal – Cancelled

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

This walk has been cancelled due to impending stormy weather. Visit this first-rate birding spot to look for fall migrants and resident species. The area has varied habitats with woods, shrubby areas and a powercut. A variety of waterfowl can be found in the ponds.  Branford Supply Ponds is Chestnut Street off Route 1. m.stockmal@snet.net  cell - 203-305-3728

Field Trip – Cheshire Hotspots, Cheshire – Steve Broker

boulder knoll farm 875 boulder road, cheshire, CT, United States

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 highest concentrations of this diving duck in the state. Fresh

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Field Trip – Bird walk at Genesee, Madison – John Triana

Genesee Recreation Area 1825 Durham Rd., Madison, CT, United States

CANCELLED DUE TO STORM We will be holding a joint bird walk  with the Regional Water Authority  across their Genesee property in Madison.  Several timber harvests in this area within the last five years has changed the habitat.  Meet at the Genesee recreation parking lot.  The address for the parking lot is 1825 Durham Rd. (Rt. 79) in Madison.  It

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

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

CANCELLED DUE TO STORM Fargeorge Preserve is always full of surprises. We have had 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.  Meet at Quinnapiac Meadows/Fargeorge Wildlife Preserve. Go south on Quinnipiac Avenue from Rt. 80 (Foxon Road). Turn

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Field Trip – First Wednesday – 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 the

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November Indoor Meeting – Frank Gallo – Birding in Connecticut

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

Join Frank Gallo, author of the new book, Birding in Connecticut, for a virtual journey to a variety of Connecticut’s birding locales, from hot spots to less-known gems. Frank will concentrate on an array of sites statewide that may offer good birding in winter. Frank Gallo is a leading expert on finding birds in Connecticut and has led birding expeditions

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Field Trip – Hammonasset State Park, Madison, CT – Chris Loscalzo

Hammonesset Beach State Park - Meigs Point Meigs Point Nature Center, Madison, CT, United States

Visit one of the best birding locations in the state.  We’ll look for sea ducks, raptors, grassland birds, lingering shorebirds, passerines, and western vagrants.  We’ll visit several locations in the park, including Meig’s Point, the Moraine Trail, Willard’s Island, the west end, and the Campgrounds area.  Anticipate a fair amount of walking and dress for the weather.  Meet at the

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Field Trip – First Wednesday – 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 at Hammonasset Beach State Park parking area on Boston Post Road, Madison, just left (east) of main entrance road. birdshop@sbcglobal.net   cell - 203-710-2011

December Indoor Meeting – Helen Hays – Gull Island

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

Great Gull Island lies at the eastern end of Long Island Sound. The former site of an army fort, its overgrown battlements are now defended by the largest concentration of nesting Common Terns in the world (9,500 pairs). The boulders dumped around the edge of the island to stabilize the shoreline, as well as some of the retaining walls of

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119th Annual New Haven Christmas Bird Count – New Haven Count Circle – Chris Loscalzo Compiler

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

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 – 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 the

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January Indoor Meeting – Steve Broker – Connecticut Bird Atlas – Year One Progress Report

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

The Connecticut Bird Atlas aims to map all bird species found in the state during both nesting and non-nesting seasons. From 2018 through 2020, birders are documenting the distribution, abundance, and breeding activities of birds at sites throughout the entire state. The resulting data will be used to document changes since the last comprehensive survey of the state’s birds, held

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Field Trip – Stratford Point, Stratford – Genevieve Nuttall

Stratford Point 1207 Prospect Drive, Stratford, CT, United States

The best thing about the bleak midwinter is the birding! Join us on a winter walk at Stratford Point, a beautiful coastal spot at the mouth of the Housatonic River going into Long Island Sound. We will walk the loop at Stratford Point in search of wintering ducks such as the Long-tailed Duck and Common Goldeneye, uncommon gulls, and Snowy

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Field Trip – Milford Hotspots , Milford – Frank Mantlik

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

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 off

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Field Trip – Barkhamsted Reservoir & Vicinity “Hart to Hart: New Hartford to Hartland” – Steve Broker

Maple Hollow road, New Hartford maple hollow road, Barkhamstead, CT, United States

We start at Maple Hollow in Bakerville at 8:00 AM. After birding in this vicinity, we continue to the center of New Hartford and its main parking lot for brief R&R, then head off for Lake McDonough, followed by Barkhamsted Reservoir. After scoping the reservoir for Bald Eagles on the nest, we make a series of stops along Routes 181

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The Third Annual Mega Bowl of Birding in New Haven County – Chris Loscalzo Compiler

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

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

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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 at Hammonasset Beach State Park parking area on Boston Post Road, Madison, just left (east) of main entrance road. ctgregh@yahoo.com

February Indoor Meeting – Member’s Night

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

Sign up with Gail Martino to feature your story for member's night. Each speaker will be allotted ten minutes to show slides or tell a story. The Valentine's Day theme of the night will be "Love Is for the Birds." For those of you participating in the CT Bird Atlas project, this is a great chance to highlight some of

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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

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

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Field Trip – Sparrows and Speculaas, White Memorial Foundation – Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe

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. As one of the best birding sites in the state and an Important Bird Area, White Memorial Foundation has approximately 35 miles

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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 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 St. (Rt. 113); we carpool from there. mantlik@sbcglobal.net  cell - 203-984-9410

March Indoor Meeting – Dr. Bhart-Anjan Bhullar – The Dragon in the Dove: How Dinosaurs Became Birds and How Birds Remain Dinosaurs

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

Birds are living dinosaurs. The legacy of their monstrous forebears remains in the way they walk, fly, eat, and think. It remains in their embryos, which assume a dinosaur-like form before they transform into hatchling birds. New fossil discoveries and new information about embryonic development have overturned some of our previous assumptions about the early history of birds. Dr. Bhart-Anjan

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Field Trip – Edgewood Park, New Haven – Bill Batsford

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

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 there.  Meet at the Edgewood Park parking lot next to tennis

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April Indoor Meeting – Michael DiGiorgio – Illustrating the World of Birds

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

Join us as Michael DiGiorgio describes his journey from tracking and observing birds in the wild to learning how to express their beauty—and his feelings about them—in drawings and paintings. Along the way he meets the masters of bird art, finds his voice as an artist, and comes into his own as a nationally-recognized nature artist. The talk also will

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Field Trip and Trail Maintenance – East Rock, New Haven – Dan Barvir

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

Meet 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 and pruning shears if you have them.  Meet at the Eli Whitney Museum parking lot, 915 Whitney Avenue, Hamden. dbarvir@newhavenct.net  cell 203-946-6086