Connecticut Audubon Society will not be holding
the Connecticut Audubon Society Eagle Festival® in February 2010. Unfortunately the economy remains such that the corporate support necessary to put on our free-to-the-public event is simply not there. Once the economy improves and we can obtain that corporate support (a commitment of approximately $150,000) we will put on our 10th Connecticut Audubon Society Eagle Festival®. 

The good news is that in 2010
our EcoTravel program is again offering
its very popular “Eagle-Viewing Boat Tours”
on the Connecticut River.
Reservations are required; tickets are $40/person.

DATES for Eagle-Viewing Boat Tours:

February 6 through March 21, 2010

DEPARTURE TIMES for Eagle-Viewing Boat Tours:

Weekends at 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm and 3:15 pm
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am

TICKET & RESERVATION INFO:
Tickets are $40/person
Advance Reservations Required.
For reservations & more information, contact

EcoTravel at 860-767-0660, 800-996-8747,
or click here to send them an e-mail.

EcoTravel has gift certificates for the holidays!

EcoTravel is also offering special overnight packages and/or brunch available at The Griswold Inn in Essex.

Photo: Bald Eagle in Essex © 2007 Mathias Kohring.

                                                                         

CT Audubon Society Is Offering These Eagle-Viewing Opportunities in 2010

1. CAS's EcoTravel is offering its popular guided “Eagle-Viewing Boat Tours” on the Connecticut River aboard “Riverquest.” Trips begin Saturday, February 6, 2010 and run through Sunday, March 21, 2010. Boats depart Saturdays & Sundays at 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm & 3:15 pm; Tuesdays & Thursdays at 10 am. Tickets are $40/person; advance reservations required. Call EcoTravel at 860-767-0660 or 800-996-8747 or click here to e-mail them. Seats are limited and sell out quickly so call today!
For the holidays, EcoTravel has gift certificates available! EcoTravel is also offering special overnight packages and/or brunch available
at The Griswold Inn in Essex.

Photo: Bald Eagle pair on the Connecticut River © 2007 Hank Golet.

2. Starting December 26, 2009 volunteers (coordinated by Connecticut Audubon Society staff) will assist visitors, provide information and answer questions at the Shepaug Dam Bald Eagle Observation Area in Southbury, CT. The Observation Area is open from December 26 through March 17, 2010 on Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Reservations are required and may be made beginning December 8, 2009 by calling 800-368-8954 Tuesdays through Fridays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Visit http://www.shepaugeagles.info/ for more info & directions.

Ways You Can Help Protect Connecticut's Birds & Wildlife Habitats

1. Become a Member of Connecticut Audubon Society or make a donation to help support
our year-round conservation, education and advocacy programs.
»To learn about the benefits of Membership click here or contact Madeline Dennis at 203-259-6305 ext. 105 or mdennnis@ctaudubon.org. 
»To make a secure online donation click here. Or contact Ann O’Leary at 203-259-6305 ext. 102 or aoleary@ctaudubon.org.

2. Click here to read our "Connecticut State of the Birds 2009" report. including our recommendations to help save endangered birds and other at-risk wildlife in Connecticut.

3. Help us expand our efforts and broaden our impact -- join "CAAN," our new "Connecticut Audubon Advocacy Network." Send us your e-mail address so we can send you regular e-mailed reports about conservation issues and legislation relevant to our state. When specific issues arise, we will alert you to contact the appropriate official or legislator if you want to voice your opinion. Click here to send us an e-mail and say “Yes, I want to join the Connecticut Audubon Advocacy Network (CAAN)."

The 2009 Connecticut Audubon Society Eagle Festival® Is Cancelled

On Nov. 13, 2008 Connecticut Audubon Society announced that it had decided to suspend its annual festival for the coming year. The 2009 Connecticut Audubon Society Eagle Festival® was originally scheduled for Feb. 14-15, 2009 in Essex, CT. “This year, the national economic downturn has prohibited the depth and breadth of support that we usually enjoy from our corporate sponsors,” said Robert Martinez, Connecticut Audubon Society’s President. “This corporate support is what allows Connecticut Audubon Society to offer festival visitors the opportunity to see Bald Eagles in the wild, enjoy live birds of prey demonstrations and attend environmental lectures from noted experts -- all free-of-charge to the public. We are grateful for the enthusiasm that all our constituents feel for this, the largest birding festival in North America, and we look forward to continuing and revitalizing this popular event the moment the economy allows." Click here to read the full press release.

Snap Shots from our 2008 and 2007
Connecticut Audubon Society
Eagle Festival®









During one of his standing-room-only programs, Tom Ricardi of the Massachusetts Birds of Prey
Rehabilitation Facility holds a live Bald Eagle that he rehabilitated and trained.
Photo © 2008 Debbie Donofrio.

Photo © 2008 Debbie Donofrio.

Visitors enjoyed two days of beautiful weather for spotting Bald Eagles
on the Connecticut River.
Photo © 2008 Fran Baranski.

2008 Festival Honorary Co-Chair
Phil Donahue is a long-time supporter of Connecticut Audubon Society.
During the Eagle Festival,
Phil emceed a group discussion
with an expert panel about "Connecticut's Conservation Agenda."
Photo © 2008 Debbie Donofrio.

2008 Festival Honorary Co-Chair
Faith Middleton broadcast her hourlong WNPR.FM radio show live from the Eagle Festival. In front of a live audience, Faith interviewed Phil Donahue and many other participants.
Photo © 2008 Debbie Donofrio.

Our new "Portraits with a Raptor" program was very popular. Connecticut Audubon Society's
Carol Kratzman holds Milton
(a European Barn Owl)
for his photo opportunity
with one of many visiting families.
Photo © 2008 Mara Neville.

2008 CAS Eagle Festival® visitors wait to board the Lady Katharine Cruises' luxury dinner yacht, "Mystique" for a 90-minte guided Eagle-Viewing Boart Cruise
on the Connecticut River.
Photo © 2008 Mara Neville.

During our 2007 Connecticut Audubon Society
Eagle Festival®, Festival Co-chair Phil Donahue
met "Tad" (actor Paul Dinello) of "The Colbert
Report," which was filming the Festival for

later broadcast on the show.
Photo by Bird Chick.

Passengers aboard an Eagle-Viewing Boat at our
2007 Connecticut Audubon Society Eagle Festival®.
Photo by Pablo Zevallos.