• Hawk Watch / Bird Count at Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven: Daily September to December

    Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven 2 Lighthouse Road, New Haven, CT

    Lighthouse Point Park is a premier location in southern New England for observing migrating raptors and a wide variety of songbirds. The watch starts daily at 7 a.m. and continues as long as the hawks keep flying. Stop by anytime. We meet by the tall lone tree on top of the hill. If the gate is staffed, just let them… ..

  • Field Trip – Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison – Maria Stockmal

    Shoreline Greenway Trail, Madison Shoreline Greenway Trail Eastern Trailhead Parking Lot, Madison, CT

    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 Shoreline Greenway Trail parking area on Boston Post Road, Madison, just east of the park's main entrance road.… ..

  • Field Trip – Great Meadows Unit, Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, Stratford – Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe

    Great Meadows Unit, Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, Stratford 5R7R+9RX, Stratford, CT

    The salt marshes of Connecticut are active during early fall migration. Come visit one of the state's largest salt marshes to observe Palm Warblers, wading birds, shorebirds, migrating sparrows and swallows, Merlins, Northern Harriers, and others. Corrie Folsom-O'Keefe, Director of Bird Conservation at Audubon Connecticut, will also discuss salt marsh ecology and the large marsh restoration project that is in… ..

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

    Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven 2 Lighthouse Road, New Haven, CT

    Join us on a visit to this premier local birding location, renowned for its migrating raptors and other passerines. If the weather conditions are favorable, we may see hundreds of hawks in flight over the park. NOTE: the walk will be limited to 20 participants. Watch for the NHBC email announcement for details. Meet at the Hawk Watch parking lot,… ..

  • Indoor Meeting – Twitching (Birding) at the Yale Center for British Art – Mark Aronson

    Whitney Center - Cultural Arts Center, Hamden 200 Leeder Hill Dr., Hamden, CT

    The history of birds, formal studies of ornithology and birdwatching owe much to the efforts of British natural historians, scientists and collectors.  In the 17th and 18th centuries artists helped systematically cataloguing and depicting both British and world birds. By the 19th century artists tried to depict all the species they came across during their world travels.  Mark Aronson, the… ..

  • Fall Migration Festival, Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven

    Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven 2 Lighthouse Road, New Haven, CT

    Join the New Haven Parks Department for the Annual Migration Festival. Lighthouse Point Park is located on the Atlantic flyway, a major route for butterflies, hawks, and many other bird species in their annual migration south for the winter months. Events include bird watching walks, hawk displays, butterfly observations, and the annual hawk count, among others. Meet at Lighthouse Point… ..

  • The Big Sit!™ 2026

    Yes, The Big Sit!® is on! The Big Sit®, established by the NHBC, has become an international event, with birders from all over the world trying to record as many species of birds as possible in one day from one 17-foot diameter circle. There are local circles at a number of birding hot spots throughout Connecticut. Join other birders at… ..

  • Field Trip – Bauer Park (Bauer Farm), Madison – Chuck Imbergamo

    Bauer Park, Madison 257 Copse Road, Madison, CT

    Explore fields, community gardens, and woodland trails for resident birds and migrants. The terrain is easy and mostly flat. Meet at the Bauer Park Community Gardens parking area, 257 Copse Road, Madison. Leader: Chuck Imbergamo, imbercj@comcast.net 

  • SPECIAL EVENT (Virtual Only): Identification of Connecticut’s Sparrows – Chris Loscalzo

    Chris Loscalzo will give a zoom presentation on the identification of the 27 species of sparrows known to have occurred in Connecticut as preparation for his walk to be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the old Country Club of Woodbridge; see Outdoor schedule. The talk will last 45 to 50 minutes and will focus on the important identification… ..

  • Field Trip – Country Club of Woodbridge Property, Woodbridge – Chris Loscalzo

    Country Club of Woodbridge Property, Woodbridge 50 Woodfield Road, Woodbridge, CT

    Join Chris Loscalzo for a walk on this former golf course (now a valued open space as the fairways have transformed into weedy and brushy fields) as he looks for sparrows and other late fall migrants. The walk will be preceded on Friday, October 16th by a presentation on sparrow identification via Zoom when Chris will review the ID of… ..

  • Field Trip – Ansonia Nature Center, Ansonia – Ranger Evelyn and Kelly Meineke

    Ansonia Nature Center, Ansonia 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia, CT

    Ansonia Nature Center encompasses a variety of habitats: a pond, grassy fields, thickets, wetlands, and woods. In late October we can expect numerous sparrow species, raptors, and woodpeckers, along  with migrating songbirds, including some warblers. Join Ranger Evelyn and NHBC's Kelly Meineke and explore. Leaders: Ranger Evelyn, 203-736-1053 or ansnaturectr@ansoniact.org and Kelly Meineke,  203-736-7888 or meinekek@gmail.com

  • Field Trip – Farm River Trolley Trail with the Friends of the Farm River and Estuary, East Haven – DeWitt Allen

    Shore Line Trolley Museum, East Haven 17 River Street, East Haven, CT

    The Friends of the Farm River and Estuary invite the New Haven Bird Club to share a walk along the tracks of the Shoreline Trolley Museum in East Haven through several productive habitats. The timing may be good for us to find a mix of resident and migrating salt marsh birds, raptors, and woodland species. Plus a ride on an… ..

  • Field Trip – Lake Dawson, Woodbridge – Pat Leahy

    Lake Chamberlain Recreation Area, Bethany 92R8+GP, Woodbridge, CT

    Join Pat Leahy for a walk on protected Regional Water Authority property in Woodbridge. We will see fall migrants and winter residents. There are some mild slopes on a well-maintained road. Meet at Lake Chamberlain Regional Water Authority parking area on Sperry Road, the second metal gate south of Morris Road, Bethany. We carpool to Lake Dawson from there. Leader:… ..

  • Hawk Watch / Bird Count at Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven: Daily September to December

    Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven 2 Lighthouse Road, New Haven, CT

    Lighthouse Point Park is a premier location in southern New England for observing migrating raptors and a wide variety of songbirds. The watch starts daily at 7 a.m. and continues as long as the hawks keep flying. Stop by anytime. We meet by the tall lone tree on top of the hill. If the gate is staffed, just let them… ..

  • Field Trip – Cheshire Hotspots – Melissa Baston

    South Meriden Road, Cheshire 894 S Meriden Road, Cheshire, CT

    We bird several hotspots in the Town of Cheshire, including Broad Brook Reservoir. The Reservoir annually hosts 200-400 Ruddy Ducks in fall, one of the highest concentrations of this diving duck in the state. The Reservoir is level walking (100 yards) on leaf-covered paved road. Other locations will be chosen according to current conditions and bird sightings. Meet at 894… ..

  • Field Trip – First Wednesday Walk: Sherwood Island State Park, Westport – Tina Green

    Sherwood Island State Park, Westport Sherwood Island State Park, Westport, CT

    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… ..

  • Field Trip – Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison – Corrie Folsom O’Keefe

    Meigs Point Nature Center, Hammonasset State Park, Madison 7F23+JJ Madison, Madison, CT

    Join Corrie Folsom-O'Keefe, Director of Bird Conservation for the CT Office of the National Audubon Society, for a walk at Hammonasset Beach State Park, one of CT's most productive birding destinations at all seasons of the year. We'll look for shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, late migrants, and other over-wintering birds. The park's varied habitats include over 400 acres of salt marsh,… ..

  • Indoor Meeting – VIRTUAL ONLY! The Common Loon: Stories About a Loon’s Life and Loon Conservation – Eric Hansen

    Vermont Center for Ecostudies biologist Eric Hanson will discuss the amazing recovery of loons in Vermont over the past 30 years, the threats that they face, and the conservation actions that have brought them back. We’ll explore their fascinating behaviors and natural history, from territorial takeovers to visual and verbal communication. The Vermont Loon Conservation Project is a program of… ..

  • Field Trip – Lake Chamberlain, Bethany – Pat Leahy

    Lake Chamberlain Recreation Area, Bethany 92R8+GP, Woodbridge, CT

    Join us for a walk on Regional Water Authority property in Bethany. The swallows will be gone but we will see fall migrants and winter residents. Walking is on fairly flat and well-maintained trails and is not strenuous. Meet at Lake Chamberlain Regional Water Authority parking area on Sperry Road, the second metal gate south of Morris Road, Bethany. Leader:… ..

  • Book Club – Monday, November 16, 2026 at Mitchell Library, New Haven

    Mitchell Branch - New Haven Public Library 37 Harrison Street, New Haven, CT

    The "Birds in Words" book club will meet on Monday, November 16, 2026 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the Mitchell Library in New Haven. Feel free to bring snacks to enjoy and share! The club will discuss The Story of Birds: A New History from Their Dinosaur Origins to the Present by Steve Brusatte. Tens of billions of birds… ..

  • Hawk Watch / Bird Count at Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven: Daily September to December

    Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven 2 Lighthouse Road, New Haven, CT

    Lighthouse Point Park is a premier location in southern New England for observing migrating raptors and a wide variety of songbirds. The watch starts daily at 7 a.m. and continues as long as the hawks keep flying. Stop by anytime. We meet by the tall lone tree on top of the hill. If the gate is staffed, just let them… ..

  • Field Trip – First Wednesday Walk: Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison – Jerry Connolly

    Shoreline Greenway Trail, Madison Shoreline Greenway Trail Eastern Trailhead Parking Lot, Madison, CT

    At any time of year, Hammonasset is a true gem. Enjoy a mid-week trip to explore this birding hotspot. The varied habitat attracts shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, and songbirds. Meet outside the park at the Shoreline Greenway Trail parking area on Boston Post Road, Madison, just east of the park's main entrance road. Leader: Jerry Connolly, 203-710-2011 or birdshop@sbcglobal.net

  • Indoor Meeting – Still Counting After All These Years: The History of the New Haven Christmas Bird Count – Steve Broker

    Whitney Center - Cultural Arts Center, Hamden 200 Leeder Hill Dr., Hamden, CT

    In 1900, ornithologist and Bird-Lore editor Frank Chapman called for “a Christmas bird-census” to counter the ongoing slaughter of millions of North American birds. Two pioneer counts were held in Connecticut, and in 1901 Aretas A. Saunders held New Haven’s first Christmas Bird Count (CBC) in Edgewood Park. The CBC, sponsored by National Audubon Society, has matured over the past… ..

  • 127th Annual New Haven Christmas Bird Count – Saturday, December 19

    Join other NHBC members in this fun event, steeped in tradition. Join birders in the field or report what you see in your backyard (if you reside within the count circle). Take part for a few hours or all day. The results of the count are sent to the National Audubon Society for inclusion in an international census of early… ..

  • Field Trip – First Wednesday Walk: Sherwood Island State Park, Westport – Tina Green

    Sherwood Island State Park, Westport Sherwood Island State Park, Westport, CT

    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… ..

  • Indoor Meeting – Finch in a Pinch: Effects of Invasive Parasites on Darwin’s Finches in the Galápagos Islands – Dr. Sarah Knutie

    Whitney Center - Cultural Arts Center, Hamden 200 Leeder Hill Dr., Hamden, CT

    Join Dr. Sarah Knutie, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Connecticut, for a presentation on the remarkable birds of the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador. Learn about the unique birdlife of this iconic island ecosystem and what makes it one of the world’s most important places for studying evolution, ecology, and conservation.

  • Field Trip – Milford Hotspots in Winter – Frank Mantlik and Darryl Rathbun

    Milford Commuter Lot - Exit 35 off I-95 6W76+5XX, Milford, CT

    We'll look for waterbirds and fowl including Long-tailed Ducks, scoters, and loons, as well as shorebirds, gulls, and raptors 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… ..

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

    Shoreline Greenway Trail, Madison Shoreline Greenway Trail Eastern Trailhead Parking Lot, Madison, CT

    Enjoy a mid-week field trip to Hammonasset Beach State Park, one of the state’s best birding locations any season of the year. We will look for sea ducks, grassland species, and rarities. Meet outside the park at the Shoreline Greenway Trail parking area on Boston Post Road, Madison, just east of the park's main entrance road. Leader: Chris Loscalzo, 203-214-3473… ..

  • Indoor Meeting – Sharing the Shore: The Ongoing Conservation of Connecticut’s Breeding Shorebirds – Matt Joyce

    Whitney Center - Cultural Arts Center, Hamden 200 Leeder Hill Dr., Hamden, CT

    Join Matt Joyce, Conservation Science Manager at the Connecticut Audubon Society, for a presentation detailing the ongoing conservation efforts to preserve Connecticut's charismatic shoreline bird species. This presentation will show the challenges faced by these birds; the techniques the Audubon Alliance staff and volunteers use to monitor and protect species such as Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern, and Common… ..

  • Indoor Meeting – VIRTUAL ONLY! A Connecticut Yankee Goes to Washington: Sen. George P. McLean, Birdman of the Senate – William McLean Greely

    Join author Will McLean Greeley for the story of Connecticut’s George P. McLean and his pivotal role in securing lasting legal protections for birds. Greeley will discuss how McLean helped oversee passage of the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act, landmark environmental legislation still in effect today, and place this achievement within McLean’s distinguished 45-year career of public service and reform.… ..

  • Indoor Meeting – Osprey Prey Study in Connecticut – Stefan Martin

    Stefan Martin, Conservation Manager for Connecticut Audubon, will discuss the latest research from Osprey Nation, including findings from the 2026 Osprey Prey Study and field season. He will also look ahead to the future of the project and discuss next steps for understanding Connecticut’s Osprey population and the health of the waters upon which they depend. NOTE: The April meeting… ..

  • NHBC Annual Banquet 2027

    Amarante's Sea Cliff Restaurant, New Haven 62 Cove St, New Haven, CT

    SAVE THE DATE! Thursday, May 13, 2026 – 6 p.m. Amarante’s Sea Cliff Restaurant, New Haven Don’t miss this festive event! Watch for MailChimp emails and check the Club website for information on how to make reservations and for other details. NOTE: Our speaker was not confirmed at time of publication; check the NHBC website for updates The New Haven… ..