Connecticut Audubon Society
Center at Pomfret

189 Pomfret St. (Rte.169)
Pomfret Center, CT 06259
860-928-4948

Visitor Hours:

Our Center at Pomfret is open
Mondays thru Fridays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Saturdays & Sundays, noon-4 p.m.

Click here for Directions

Click here for a MAP of our
5 Centers & 19 Wildlife Sanctuaries

Our 700-acre Bafflin Sanctuary is open
daily dawn to dusk year-round.
Click here for a Bafflin Sanctuary MAP.

General Information
The rural beauty of Connecticut’s "Quiet Corner" surrounds Connecticut Audubon Society's facility in the northeastern region of the state. Our Center at Pomfret is a community-based facility that offers environmental education programs, bird walks and many opportunities to learn about and explore the natural world.

Our newest facility serves as the gateway to the adjoining 700-acre Connecticut Audubon Society Bafflin Sanctuary with its vast rolling meadows, forests, streams and fertile grassland habitats. The successful combination of a Center and wildlife sanctuary greatly expands environmental learning. Aerial photo of the Bafflin Sanctuary courtesy GLSweetnam.

Nothing enriches learning like first-hand outdoor experience and outdoor teaching surrounded by the natural beauty of a "classroom without walls.” The Center at Pomfret features:

• Expansive and diverse 700-acre Bafflin Sanctuary, which adjoins the Center.
• New classroom where people of all ages can experience hands-on environmental education programs.
• Offices and meeting rooms that serve as a gathering place for people interested in volunteering, teaching and making a contribution to the environmental community in the northeast corner.
• After-school and weekend environmental programs.
• Day and evening hikes in Bafflin Sanctuary.
• Seasonal lectures and workshops.
• Changing natural history exhibits.
• Teacher workshops.
  

For the American Kestrel, It was a Very Good Year . . . in Pomfret!

The American Kestrel,  a state of Connecticut "threatened" species, had a record year in Pomfret in 2009. Four nesting boxes produced 18 young falcons! (In 2008, we banded nine young Kestrels from three nest boxes.)

Two of the boxes were located on our 700-acre Bafflin Sanctuary, one was on a Wyndham Land Trust parcel, and one was on privately owned land.  
Kestrels need large fields to hunt and cavities in trees to nest. The lack of natural cavities and large fields have reduced their populations.

Carol Millard, our master bird bander, is certified to attach the aluminum bird bands on the young falcon’s leg.  Each band has a unique number with a phone number on it.  The bands help track movements of the birds through migration. 

A dozen or so people observed the banding in 2009. This year, if you are interested in observing and photographing the baby falcons up close, give us a call in June 2010. 

If you think you may have appropriate habitat, contact Andy Rzeznikiewicz at our Center at Pomfret about installing a nest box: 860-928-4948. Photo of an American Kestrel chick being banded in Pomfret by James Cutler.

Citizen Science Volunteer Monitoring Programs

For more information about our Center at Pomfret's Citizen Science Programs contact Coordinator Paula Coughlin at paulacoughlin@charter.net or call 860-928-4948.

2009 was an exciting year! We’re well into the first of a 2-year partnership with Canterbury Public Library and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, involving field work in 5 projects. To date, 59 citizen scientists have contributed a total of 393 volunteer hours to the 5 Canterbury projects. In 2009, a total of 111 citizen scientists contributed 808 volunteer hours to our 5 ongoing Citizen Science projects, described below.

1) Stream Water Quality Monitoring: This past summer, StreamWalk volunteers waded down the Little River in Canterbury, documenting stream conditions. Local residents Kevin LaMontagne and Dawn Davis invited us onto their property bordering the Little River and subsequently became trained volunteers. In the fall, Rapid Bioassessment volunteers collected aquatic insects, which indicate water quality. We’re happy to report that the Little River results indicated exceptional water quality. In Woodstock, StreamWalk volunteers surveyed five segments of the Mill Brook. (Photo: Paula Coughlin and Ellie Hubbard lead a StreamWalk volunteer group.)

2) Rapid Bioassessment Monitoring for Volunteers: Aquatic insects can tell us a lot about stream water quality. Many of us recognize these fascinating insects only during their brief time as flying adults (dragonflies, mayflies, stoneflies). You can learn how to do a stream assessment using these riffle-dwelling macro-invertebrates. You’ll get exciting hands-on experience while providing valuable data to the CT Dept. of Environmental Protection and local conservation groups. Come dressed to muck about in the streams; we’ll provide waders and nets. Training is free for Canterbury residents as part of our 2-year Canterbury Citizen Science Volunteer Monitoring Program partially funded by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Stream data will be collected at streams in Canterbury as well as Woodstock and Putnam. Training dates in August and September 2010 to be announced.

Connecticut Audubon Society’s StreamWalk and Rapid Bioassessment projects receive support from the Watershed Assistance Small Grants Program, conducted in association with the CT Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act and administered by the Rivers Alliance of Connecticut. These projects provide valuable data to CT DEP (and is posted on their website), the Eastern Connecticut Conservation District & local conservation groups.

3) Grassland Bird Habitat Survey: we launched this new citizen science project in 2009. In July, volunteers were introduced to grassland birds and began surveying large land parcels looking for suitable habitat. You’ll find more information about how to participate in the “2010 Grassland Bird Habitat Survey” we plan to issue in the spring of 2010.

4) Vernal Pool Inventory: we began documenting vernal pools in the town of Canterbury in the spring, with volunteers visiting more than 10 sites. The highlights were the pools on the Shinkiewicz property, where the owner showed us two unique habitats. Here, University of Maine graduate student Kevin Ryan is conducting field research on the blue-spotted salamander and spadefoot toad. The vernal pool data we gather will be transferred to a map to help agencies and conservation groups involved in land use decisions. In March of 2010 , we’ll conduct another introductory program on vernal pools at Canterbury Public Library, to help educate residents about these critical amphibian habitats and recruit more volunteers. Call Kathleen Hart at the Library (860-546-9022) for more info and to report a vernal pool. Citizen Science volunteers continued documenting vernal pools in Woodstock & Pomfret; call us at 860-928-4948 to report a vernal pool in Woodstock or Pomfret.

Vernal Pool Inventory Programs in 2010

Vernal pools are small, temporary bodies of water that are critical breeding habitat for many amphibians that need protection. You may have a vernal pool in your backyard! In early March, listen for the quacking call of wood frogs arriving at the vernal pool. On the first warm, rainy nights you might find a parade of spotted salamanders risking exposure to predators and traffic as they make their way to their breeding pools. There are many ways to get involved. You can report the location of a vernal pool. You can document vernal pools as a trained citizen science volunteer. You can also learn how your town can begin its own vernal pool inventory using our model program.

I. Vernal Pools Introductory Programs: Wed., March 31, 7 p.m. at Canterbury Public Library, and Thurs., April 1, 7 p.m. at our Center at Pomfret. Citizen Science Coordinator Paula Coughlin will present a slide program on the characteristics of vernal pools, the breeding habits of the species that use them, and how volunteers can work in this exciting project. Fee per program: $7 CAS Members, $15 Non-members, free for Canterbury residents (USFWS grant). Please pre-register at 860-928-4948.

II. Volunteer Training Sessions at the Center at Pomfret: 9 a.m.-noon on Fri., April 9 and Sat., April 10. Volunteers attend one 3-hour training, then collect data on their own time or visit vernal pools with the project coordinator during April and May of 2010. Fee: $7 CAS Members, $15 Non-members, free for Canterbury residents.

The first step in vernal pool preservation is locating the pools. The more trained Citizen Scientist volunteers we have, the more pools we can identify! Call 860-928-4948 to register for training or report the location of a vernal pool in Pomfret, Woodstock or Canterbury.

5) Mammal Monitoring Program: Hike with program leaders Paula Coughlin and Fran Baranski to explore habitats and learn how to identify tracks and signs of mammals such as bobcat, moose, river otter, fisher, mink and black bear. We’ll find tracks, scat, marks on trees and signs of feeding that tell us stories of life in the meadows and forest.

Photo: Bobcat tracks in the snow on a rock wall are measured by a ciitizen scientist.

We offer three levels of volunteer involvement:
1) “Backyard Tracker” level requires 10-15 hours of participation.
2) “Bafflin Tracker” training requires 20 hours and prepares volunteers to document mammals on our Bafflin Sanctuary.
3) “Volunteer Mammal Monitor” training requires 50 hours of training and prepares volunteers to monitor a study site.

Training hikes, workshops and presentations are offered throughout the year and volunteers can move from one level to the next as their interest and schedule allow. The Citizen Science Mammal Monitoring Project receives support from the NewAlliance Foundation.

We now have 7 years of Mammal Monitoring data from three study sites in northeastern Connecticut; another study site is planned in Canterbury. Our 2010 winter training schedule is below. Call us for information and to register: it’s a great way to learn about local wildlife!

Mammal Monitoring Training Programs in 2010

Begin or continue training to become a Citizen Science wildlife monitor by attending training hikes. On combined training amd transect monitoring hikes, you’ll learn alongside trained citizen science volunteers, looking for tracks and sign of mammals on our Woodstock study site. Pre-registration required.

I. Wildlife Workshop: Sat., Feb. 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. An indoor/outdoor workshop for volunteers participating in training, or other adults who want to learn more about mammals and wildlife tracks and sign. Dress for the weather, bring water, lunch and snack. Program at our Center at Pomfret; pre-registration required. Fee: $50 CAS Members, $60 Non-members, free for Canterbury residents (thanks to a grant from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service).

II. Training Hike: Sat., Feb. 27. 9 a.m-3 p.m. Locations and fees to be determined; call our Center at 860-928-4948.

III. Woodstock Transect Monitoring Training Hike: Saturday, March 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Date subject to change due to weather.) Pre-registration required. Fee: $50 CAS Members, $60 Non-members, free for Canterbury residents (thanks to a grant from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service).

Woodstock Eagle Scout Completes
Community Project on Bafflin Sanctuary

A giant “thank you” goes out to Aaron Landry, a Woodstock resident, recent graduate of EastConn in Brooklyn and newly inducted Eagle Scout. Aaron oversaw a challenging trail improvement project on the Bafflin Sanctuary, including the installation of new railings and trail steps on a Bafflin trail leading up to the CT DEP Airline Trail. Located on a very steep slope, the job required a lot of rough and rocky post-hole digging and stonework. Several new trail signs were also created and installed. Thank you Aaron and BSA Woodstock Troop 27 for the great work. Your efforts have made the Bafflin Sanctuary that much easier to traverse and enjoy.

There’s always more work to be done! If your Cub Scout den or pack or your Scout troop is interested in a community service project, or if you are considering an Eagle Scout project at the Center at Pomfret, the Center at Trail Wood or the Bafflin Sanctuary, please contact: Terry LaVoie, Administrative Assistant, at 860-928-4948 or tlavoie@ctaudubon.org.

Directions
From I-395:
Take Exit 93 and travel West on Route 101.
At the junction of Route 101 and Route 169, turn right onto Route 169 North. Travel 1 mile; our Center will be on your right.

From I-84:**
Take Exit 69. Travel East on Route 74 to Route 44 East.
Where Route 44 meets Route 169, continue East on Route 44 for another 1/4 mile; our Center will be on your right.

From I-91:
Take I-91 to I-84 East and follow directions above.**