Connecticut Audubon Society

It must be Spring! For the 12th year in a row an Osprey pair has returned
to the nesting platform at our Coastal Center in Milford Point.

Connecticut Audubon Society Celebrates 2008 “International Migratory Bird Day”
During May at CAS Centers in Fairfield, Glastonbury, Milford, Pomfret and Hampton

Officially celebrated in the continental U.S. on May 10, many 2008 "International Migratory Bird day" events in the U.S. and Canada are scheduled throughout may to coincide with the different arrival times of different migratory bird species.
Our IMBD celebrations will take place at:
»Birdcraft Museum in Fairfield (May 10),
»Coastal Center at Milford Point (May 10),
»Center at Glastonbury (May 1, 3, 8, 10),
»Center at Pomfret (May 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 21, 24),

Rare 1860 Edition of John James Audubon's "Birds of America" Elephant Folio
Now on Display at Pequot Library in Fairfield; Featured Part of an Exhibit That Includes
Connecticut Audubon Society's "Connecticut State of the Birds" Report

This "rare and scarce" 1860 edition of Julius Bien's folio of John James Audubon's "Birds of America" measures 54.5 inches tall and 40.5 inches wide. Starting April 19, it will be on display again for the first time since 2003 (when Pequot Library began renovations). Each day the book Is on display a page will be turned so that visitors can see all 65 plates. Pequot Library is located at 720 Pequot Ave., Southport section of Fairfield, 203-259-0346.

Connecticut Audubon Society Receives Highest Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator

Donate Online Through April 30, 2008 and Receive a Free $5 L.L. Bean Gift Card!

Connecticut Audubon Society has received the coveted Four-Star Rating from the national charity evaluator, Charity Navigator, the highest rating a non-profit organization can receive. In his letter announcing CAS's four-star rating, Michael Smith, Interim President of Charity Navigator said, “We are proud to announce Connecticut Audubon Society has earned our 4-star rating for its ability to efficiently manage and grow its finances. Approximately a quarter of the charities we evaluate have received our highest rating, indicating Connecticut Audubon Society outperforms the majority of non-profits in America with respect to fiscal responsibility. The ‘exceptional’ designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Connecticut Audubon Society from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.” (Click here to read the full press release.) In addition to the membership gifts that Connecticut Audubon Society offers year-round, during April online givers will receive a free $5 L.L. Bean gift card. The entire process takes place via our secure Internet server -- reducing costs, waste and energy consumption as no postage or paper are needed. Even the gift cards are e-mailed! Only a few days left are left to take advantage of this special offer!!! Click here for Membership information. Click Here for Donor information.

Support CT Audubon's "Raven Luna-Ticks" Team During the
25th Annual "World Series of Birding" on May 10, 2008.

Your Pledges Help Support CT Audubon's Year-Round
Conservation and Education Work in Connecticut.

Read the April 2008 issue of National Geographic Magazine's "Bird Blitz" story, about the WSB and featuring interviews with CAS's Frank Gallo, Captain of our "Raven Luna-Ticks." Click here.

CT Audubon's "Raven-Luna-Ticks" team had an amazing day of birding during last year's " World Series of Birding" -- logging 227 different bird species seen and sharing 2nd place honors with the Nikon-DVOC team! Our Raven Luna-Ticks are only the 4th team in WSB history to break the 225-species mark! (Cornell's team won in 2007, recording a most impressive 230 species.)

The 25th annual "World Series of Birding" will be held May 10, 2008 in Cape May, New Jersey. The goal of the competition is to raise funds for bird conservation organizations. Up to 75 teams from around the world compete annually to identify the most birds by sight or sound in a 24-hour period. It is hosted by New Jersey Audubon, but all funds raised by each team go directly to that team’s birding organization. Teams ask companies and individuals to pledge donations on a per-bird basis.

For the 7th year in a row, sponsor Bushnell Outdoor Products is outfitting our "Raven-Luna-Ticks" team with their top-notch optical equpment and paying all team expenses -- which means
that 100% of every dollar you pledge will directly support CT Audubon's important
conservation and education programs for children, families and adults.
Click here to read more and to download our 2008 pledge form.

"Uncommon" Black Vulture
Visits Connecticut

On February 27 staff at our Center at Fairfield realized the Turkey Vulture they thought was sitting atop an outdoor cage (where we house our birds of prey) was really a Black Vulture, an uncommon sight in Connecticut. According to Milan Bull, Connecticut Audubon's senior director of science and conservation, Black Vultures can be found scattered along the Atlantic coastline from Florida to New Jersey but sightings in Connecticut are on the rise.

Connecticut Audubon Society Issues 2008 “Connecticut State of the Birds” Report
which focuses on possible conservation strategies for six bird species
“in serious trouble" to illustrate how complex the problems and the solutions are.
Click here to read our 2008 report and for more infomation.

Exhibition: “Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang --
Bird Extinctions Around the World Since 1600"
Through June 9, the Watkinson Library of Trinity College in Hartford's major exhibition on bird extinctions features beautiful ornithological publications from the18th century to the present and original paintings to illustrate a selection of 31 extinct birds from around the world with a brief discussion of each bird and an explanation of its extinction when ascertainable. Arranged geographically, it begins on the coast of Africa, continues in Australasia, Asia and Hawaii and finishes in North American and the North Atlantic. Also on display is a small exhibition on endangered felines. Hours: Monday-through Thursday 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Friday, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Located at 300 Summit Street in Hartford. Admission is free.

THANK YOU to Everyone Who Participated in
Connecticut Audubon Society's 2008 EAGLE FESTIVAL™

in Essex, CT, the best place
to see the largest concentration
of wintering eagles
in the entire northeast!
You've helped make our Festival "the Largest Birding Event
in North America"!

Artist James Prosek's New Exhibition Focuses on Birds, Aldrich Museum in Ridgefield

Artist, writer and fly-fisherman extraordinaire James Prosek's new exhibition (and first solo museum show) "Life & Death -- A Visual Taxonomy" comes into focus around birds and comprises four main bodies of work. These depict over two dozen species -- including the Surf Scoter, Gambel’s Quail, Black-billed Magpie and Cinnamon Teal -- and offer a fresh look at the practice of natural history painting. Prosek has replaced the names of the birds with an alternate categorization based on geometric lines and shapes. Through June 8. The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, 258 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT, 203-438-4519, www.aldrichart.org.

101 Bird Species Spotted at CAS Coastal Center --
Beating CT State Record (Daytime) of 93 Species!
Our "Big Sit" Team Took 2nd Place in the U.S.!

October 14, 2007, Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center at Milford Point -- Today a "Big Sit" team of bird watchers spotted 101 different species between 4:45 am and 6:30 pm at Milford Point – beating Connecticut’s previous State Daytime record of 93 species and earning 2nd place honors in the entire country! Click here for more information.

Sandpiper photo © 2007 by E.H. Soderberg

SPECIAL ARTICLE:
Bald Eagle Removed From the
Federal Endangered Species List
By Julie Victoria, Wildlife Biologist,
CT Department of Environmental Protection

On June 9, 2007 the Federal Register announced the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s removal of the Bald Eagle from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife, effective August 8, 2007.

When adopted as our national symbol in 1782, an estimated 100,000 pairs of Bald Eagles were breeding in the continental Unites States. The Bald Eagle was a regular nester in Connecticut through the early 1900s, though the numbers of pairs are not known.

Bald Eagles declined throughout the United States due to human disturbance at nest sites; the loss of waterside habitat due to human occupation; the loss of nesting trees; intentional shooting by poachers; illegal trapping; and the contamination of food sources, especially by organochlorine pesticides. By 1963 only 417 nesting pairs were found in the lower 48 states. In 1978, the Bald Eagle was listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. Click here to read the entire article and see photos of Bald Eagles in CT. (Also, see related article below.)

40 years and decades of conservation work later,
the Bald Eagle population has rebounded in the
lower 48 states: from 417 nesting pairs in 1967
to some 10,000 nesting pairs today.

By Milan Bull, Connecticut Audubon Society
Biologists, natural resource regulators and bird lovers around the country are thrilled that the Bald Eagle, our National Symbol, is now officially off the Federal "Endangered Species" list in the lower 48 states.This marks the climax of a decades-long effort to successfully restore this magnificent raptor, literally bringing it back from the brink of extinction. This effort involved the will of the American public, a tremendous amount of hard work, and, of course, a lot of money.
Conservation works! Bald Eagles are re-populating habitats that haven’t seen eagles for many decades, thrilling birders, wildlife watchers and local residents around the country.

In Connecticut and other states, however, the Bald Eagle will remain a state-listed "Endangered Species." State regulators understand that our eagles are rebounding and being observed by more and more people from Stonington to Greenwich. However, now is not the time to be complacent. As our eagle population increases, it's important to note that eagle habitat is declining. Human population growth and suburban sprawl are eating up prime eagle habitat. We need to be sure that when those two curves meet, there is enough quality habitat remaining to support a sustainable Bald Eagle population.

More of the World's Birds "Than Ever Face Extinction" -- BirdLife International
According to BirdLife International's latest evaluation of the world’s birds, "more species than ever are threatened with extinction . . . and additional conservation action is critical to reversing current declines." Published May 21, BirdLife International’s latest annual "Red List" update states that "1,221 species are considered Threatened with extinction and are to be listed as such on the 2007 IUCN Red List. The Red List takes into account population size, population trends and range size for all 10,000 bird species worldwide. The latest update also shows an additional 812 bird species are now considered Near Threatened, adding up to a total of 2,033 species that are urgent priorities for conservation action. The overall conservation status of the world’s birds has deteriorated steadily since 1988, when they were first comprehensively assessed. Now, more than a fifth (22%) of the planet’s birds is at increased risk of extinction." Click here to learn more.

Connecticut Audubon Society's first annual "Connecticut State of the Birds 2006" report identifies habitat loss as the most serious threat to our native birds populations and habitats.

Our 2007 report identifies specific man-made activities that are taking a significant toll on Connecticut’s already-stressed native bird populations. Click here to learn more. Of the 290 bird species that occur regularly or annually in the state, Connecticut's DEP lists 50 native birds that are either
Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern species. Click here to learn more.