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 in the Mt. Sanford Block of Naugatuck SF. We’ll leave from the trail head parking area entrance of Naugatuck SF, 2705 Downs Rd., Hamden, and go

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The White Memorial Foundation is a 4,000-acre nature preserve with extensive woodlands, conifer plantations, wetlands, thickets, and fields. The preserve is home to more than 115 breeding species and is visited by many migrant species. Notable breeding species include: Least Bittern, Virginia Rail, Northern Goshawk, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, and Blackburnian Warbler. Meet at the visitor center parking

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This will be a trip to study shorebirds and terns, which should be here in concentrations 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 3 PM. mantlik@sbcglobal.com cell - 203-984-9410  

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 dbarvir@newhavenct.net phone - 203-946-6086

This event is organized with the New Haven Land Trust, Save the Sound, and Audubon Connecticut. An environmentally-focused family-friendly morning learning about the Urban Oases projects in New Haven, the work of the Land Trust on this piece of “disturbed” but “recovered” land in the heart of downtown New Haven, and, of course, a bird walk. We hope to see

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Moved to Sept 7, Thursday due to thunderstorm prediction.  Time moved to 9:00 am 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. Rain will cancel the day out. Kathy Van

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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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Diversity Database will be presented. This is one of the smallest State Parks in Connecticut, and we’ll walk short distances to see the birds and the plants. Walk led by Mike Horn, Friend of the Farm River Estuary. Meet 9 AM at the entrance; 2 hours. Bring a folding chair or sit-upon. crstrasser@gmail.com 908-328-5563

Edgewood Park and West River Memorial Park make up an Important Bird Area and include a 2 mile section of the West River. These parks look particularly “hot” on the radar maps for New Haven that show areas most used by birds in fall migration.  We will see what we can find! The walk is open to birders of all

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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. m.stockmal@snet.net 203-305-3728  

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 61 off I-95 (the usual Hammonasset exit).

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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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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. m.stockmal@snet.net 203-305-3728

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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Quinnipiac Meadows/Eugene B. 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 views of the lower Quinnipiac River. mfhorn@att.net 203-288-1891

This walk has been moved to Nov 8 due to tree damage from the weekend storm. 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

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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. birdshop@sbcglobal.net 203-421-4128 203-710-2011  

Join us for a pre-CBC walk around Lake Wintergreen in Hamden.  Depending on conditions, we may take a walk up to Baldwin Drive to have a look over to Woodbridge and Konold’s Pond. jtriana1@sbcglobal.net 203-758-7203

We survey Area K one week prior to the December 16 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, loons, herons, raptors, shorebirds, woodpeckers,

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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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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

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Note: Moved to Feb 14 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 Hammonasset Beach State Park parking area on Boston Post Road, Madison, just left (east) of main entrance

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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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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 203-984-9410

This walk has been canceled.  Bill is not able to lead the walk. Join Bill Batsford for a late winter walk at this urban park with varied habitat including woodlands, fields, streams, and ponds. Wood Duck, Hooded Mer Merganser, Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and Brown Creeper are all possible. An Eastern Screech-Owl used a Wood Duck box in 2017.  Meet at

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Please Note: This walk has changed dates from the Yearbook.  It was originally scheduled on April 7, 2018. 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

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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. kathyvda@gmail.com home - 203-259-2426 cell - 203-331-7517

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

Beaver Ponds Park is one of the many Urban Oasis sites in New Haven. Friends of Beaver Park and the other Urban Oasis partners have maintained an area of rich plantings to offer the birds a food oasis. The park itself is excellent habitat, offering fresh water wetlands, forests, and fields. We can hope for Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Common

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Note:  this is a change to the date published in the yearbook. On this walk by East Rock Park's Mill River, children with accompanying adults are invited to help us look for warblers and other spring migrants. Other interested adults are also welcome to join the walk in this famous spring birding place. Bring binoculars and a field guide if

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Join us for a walk on Regional Water Authority properties in Woodbridge and Bethany, some of which are off limits to the public. Pat Leahy has been maintaining a bluebird trail on several of the properties surrounding the reservoirs. Please be prompt! It will be difficult to join the group on route. We will carpool and proceed to trails on

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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. john.oshlic@yahoo.com 203-584-1955 co leaders - Renee Baade rbaade@juno.com 203-526-7667 Bill Batsford 203-494-4325

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. dbarvir@newhavenct.net 203-946-6086  

Eli Whitney Museum staff share information on the master landscaping plan for the museum’s space along the Mill River adjoining East Rock Park, while the NHBC Conservation Committee provides—and seeks helpers for—planting bird-friendly plants at newly invasive-eradicated areas of East Rock Park and the Eli Whitney Museum property.  A bird walk follows, along the loop beginning & ending at the

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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 Audubon Connecticut. The walk is open to birders of all levels and families are welcome. We will not only see and hear birds, but

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Hartman Park is known for its breeding population of Cerulean Warbler. There is also a power cut which may have Prairie, Blue-winged, Magnolia and other warblers. Both Cuckoos have been seen here as well. Meet at the commuter parking lot, I-95 exit 55. john.oshlic@yahoo.com 203-584-1955