News & Visitor Information at the Coastal Center at Milford Point
Osprey Nation 2025 Report: New Data Showing a Small but Concerning Drop in Connecticut’s Osprey Population Validate Need for Fish Prey Study
The health of the Osprey population serves as a crucial bioindicator of the health and abundance of local fish populations. Photo by Scott Kruitbosch.
Click here for a PDF of the 2025 Osprey Nation Report!
December 4, 2025 — New data from the Connecticut Audubon Society’s Osprey Nation program show the lowest number of young birds per nest in the program’s 12-year history, a small but worrying dip in the population that underscores the need for a study of Osprey food and feeding habits in the state.
The 2025 Osprey Nation Report, released today, shows that the number of young birds fledged per nest fell to 1.26, a decline attributed in part to increased nest failures and to scattered reports of starvation.
This drop, though still above the minimum threshold to sustain the population, serves as an immediate warning signal when viewed alongside catastrophic 80 percent nest failures in the high-salinity areas of Chesapeake Bay and smaller losses in New Jersey.
Given that the decreases in both areas are strongly linked to a scarcity of the Osprey’s main food source, Atlantic menhaden, the report validates the need for the prey study, announced in November’s Connecticut State of the Birds report.
Ospreys eat only fish, and the health of the population serves as a crucial bioindicator of the health and abundance of local fish populations—or of underlying, often hidden, problems in Long Island Sound. The new study aims to fill a major data gap.
As filmmaker Jacob Steinberg, director of Season of the Osprey, wrote in the Connecticut State of the Birds report: “… outside of the Chesapeake, we have surprisingly little data on what Ospreys actually eat… A clearer picture of Osprey diets within specific regions could strengthen their role as bioindicators, allowing us to track the health of forage fish populations before ecological stress cascades into crisis.”
To determine if this food scarcity problem besetting the Chesapeake’s Ospreys has reached Long Island Sound, Connecticut Audubon will establish a baseline database of the fish species that Connecticut’s Ospreys depend on, including size and abundance.
The study will involve mounting cameras on nests near salt water, brackish water, and fresh water, and then analysing the photos. That will allow conservation biologists to track the number and kind of forage fish. Volunteers from the Osprey Nation program will also be recruited to participate.
Data and Causes
Today’s Osprey Nation report shows that Ospreys in the state continue to do relatively well, with 862 young birds having fledged—the fifth consecutive year the state has surpassed 800 fledglings. However, the drop to 1.26 fledglings per nest is enough to prompt serious concern in light of losses elsewhere along the Atlantic coast.
Chesapeake Bay, which is four times larger than Long Island Sound, harbors the biggest concentration of Osprey in the world. The recent drop-off there has been linked to a scarcity of Atlantic menhaden, a fish of coastal waters that is both the Osprey’s most important food source and a target for industrial commercial harvests.
As stated in the Osprey Nation report, “The staggering Chesapeake Bay losses continue to be worrisome, and the situation in New Jersey increases our uneasiness. There’s no reason to think that the lower 2025 numbers in Connecticut indicate that the problem will move further north. But there’s no reason to be complacent either.”
Factors Behind the Decline
Based on an analysis of data collected by the 399 Connecticut residents who volunteered for Osprey Nation this year, the drop in the 2025 productivity rate was the result of a combination of factors:
- Food Scarcity and Starvation: This was noted as the most common cause of nest failure, with an increase in one-chick broods perceived as a sign of food stress.
- Severe Weather: Events such as a heat wave in June during the peak hatching period and a severe July thunderstorm caused numerous direct losses.
- Low-Quality Nesting Sites: As the Osprey population nears carrying capacity (with 682 active nests in 2025), young birds are increasingly using unsuitable, low-quality sites—including heavy machinery, coastal buoys, boats, docks, rocks in waterways, and electrical lines—which consistently result in lower success rates.
- Human Interference and Predation: The population continues to suffer from intentional nest removals, disruptions from fishing and boating, and increased predation by other animals, often at less secure locations.
The 2026 Osprey study remains only partially funded. To learn how to contribute and help launch the study, contact Melissa Gallaher-Smith, Connecticut Audubon’s Director of Development. Email: mgallaher-smith@ctaudubon.org
The core strength of Osprey Nation is its dedicated volunteer stewards. The program however would benefit from additional volunteers to replace those who have discontinued their involvement, to handle the physical demands of monitoring hard-to-reach nests, and to reduce the workload on experienced stewards.
The Osprey Nation 2025 report was written by Scott Kruitbosch, the Osprey Nation coordinator for 2025. To learn more about volunteering for Osprey Nation, email: osprey@ctaudubon.org.
Purple Martin 2025 Report
Chicks have fledged, the nesting season has ended! So how did the nesting season go?
Purple Martin male, photographed by Frank Mantlik.
“Our” Purple Martins had an excellent nesting season, almost as good as last year.
Active nests: 44
Maximum number of eggs/chicks: 188
Presumed number of fledglings: 168
Average number fledglings per active nest: 3.8
In addition, our new video camera – with tack-sharp resolution – allowed many people to view the behind-the-scenes nesting activity inside gourd #25. Four eggs were laid, and three chicks grew quickly and eventually fledged by July 29.
Many thanks to our terrific team of staff and volunteers that monitors this important colony. And thank you to those who “adopted” one or more nest gourds with a contribution. A total of 65 gourds were adopted. These valuable funds allow us to maintain, improve, and monitor this important nest colony.
See you next spring!
Coastal Center Closing Notice
Attention: The Coastal Center building will be closed on 11/27/25 and 11/28/25 to celebrate Thanksgiving. The sanctuary grounds will remain open from sunrise to sunset.
Thank you, Harry Garafalo, for helping to make the Coastal Center a better place for visitors — avian and human!
Harry Garafalo, left, presents a donation to Coastal Center Director Ken Elkins, center, and regional board Chair George Amato.
June 21, 2024—We are delighted to share that CT Audubon’s Coastal Center has received a generous donation of over $26,000 from Harry Garafalo, the philanthropic owner and president of Garafalo Markets LLC.
This gift will be instrumental in making much-needed improvements to the center’s buildings and grounds, leading to an even better experience for you when you visit.
Harry’s commitment to conservation extends far beyond this donation. A member of the Coastal Center’s regional board until recently, he has consistently offered his encouragement, management advice, and efforts to organize work days on the sanctuary’s grounds involving ShopRite Market employees.
Their dedication has improved the sanctuary’s value to birds and the public’s enjoyment of Milford Point.
The Coastal Center is one of the most heavily visited birding spots in Connecticut, and we are deeply appreciative of Harry Garafalo’s and his ShopRite employees’ ongoing efforts on behalf of conservation and the public.
Monitoring air quality at the Coastal Center
We’ve installed a PurpleAir monitor at the Coastal Center as part of our ongoing commitment to environmental conservation. The monitor allows us to track local air quality and add to a community database, which can be used by weather tracking organizations, climate scientists, and the general public to learn more about the air around them.
PurpleAir monitors measure the concentration of air pollutants, providing real-time data on air quality conditions. By placing these monitors at our centers, we aim to educate about pollution and its impact on both human health and the environment.
Air quality is a critical component of environmental health, as poor air causes respiratory issues to people and wildlife. Birds are especially susceptible to poor air quality, but natural spaces like wildlife sanctuaries provide a pollution buffer and improve the overall health of the area. These monitors will allow us to better understand local air pollution levels and how green spaces impact them.
Volunteer for habitat improvement work at Milford Point
Northern Mockingbird, photographed by George Amato near the Coastal Center’s recirculating waterfall, is one of the native bird species that benefit from habitat improvements.
The last several years have seen great improvements at the Milford Point Coastal Center. But there’s more to be done — and you can help.
We are recruiting volunteers to help remove invasive plants and replace them with native plants, which have much higher conservation value.
It is the kind of hands-on work that makes an immediate difference not just for birds but for pollinators, small mammals, and other wildlife as well.
Our goal is to establish a corps of volunteers to help on an ongoing basis. The crew will work at the direction of habitat steward Stefan Martin, who is overseeing improvement projects at several Connecticut Audubon sanctuaries.
If you can help or you’re interested in learning more, please email Stefan Martin, smartin@ctaudubon.org.
Coastal Center Sanctuary Rules
Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules of our grounds before your visit:
If you have any questions, please contact the center.
More young Piping Plovers than ever fledged at Milford Point in 2024
The support of Connecticut Audubon members enables Johann Heupel, left, and Matt Joyce to protect Piping Plovers from April through August. Photo by Ken Elkins.
October 11, 2024—Good news to report from the Milford Point Coastal Center: For the second year in a row baby Piping Plovers were abundant, a testament to the support of Connecticut Audubon members and the diligence of the coastal rangers who watch over the nests.
Thirteen pairs of Piping Plovers raised young birds at Milford Point, and 33 of those hatchlings survived the hazardous weeks after hatching to successfully fledge—three more fledglings than the record 30 in 2023.
Piping Plovers are listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Milford Point’s 13 pairs make up a significant portion of the state’s breeding population, which has fluctuated over the last 15 years between 45 to almost 80 pairs on approximately 17 beaches
Because of your support and membership, Connecticut Audubon was able to hire two coastal rangers—Matt Joyce and Johann Heupel—to patrol the Milford Point beach and sandbar seven days a week, from dawn to dusk, April through August. Their job was to find and help protect the nests, keep track of the eggs and hatchlings, and let visitors know how to view the birds without putting the birds in danger.
They had some help. One ill-timed coastal storm can easily flood and destroy dozens of nests in one tidal cycle. That didn’t happen in the summer of 2024. And there were challenges. Foxes, crows and other predators were continually looking to raid nests.
But the results show the effectiveness of the patrols. We estimate that, from the time the parents nest to when a young bird fledges, it costs about $1,300 to protect one baby Piping Plover at Milford Point.
That might sound like a lot but the return on investment is significant: Conservation biologists estimate that for the population of Piping Plovers to increase across their range, they need to average 1.5 fledged birds per nest.
At Milford Point this year, the average was 2.53 fledglings per nest. And over the last two years, the average was 2.2.
Connecticut Audubon members should feel proud that their generosity has led to these results. Thank you!
What to do with “abandoned” or “orphaned” birds
The CT DEEP has excellent advice for what to do if you find an “orphaned” bird. Click this link. Photo by Stephanie Galea/The Connecticut Audubon Society
Have you found an abandoned bird?
Birds and other wildlife that seem to be abandoned or orphaned at this time of year often are not actually abandoned or orphaned.
The Connecticut DEEP has advice about what to do if you find a bird that you think is abandoned. There are several alternatives.
Click here to learn about them.
Please do not bring injured or orphaned animals to any Connecticut Audubon Society facility. Connecticut Audubon is not authorized to accept injured or abandoned animals.
But if it is obviously injured, it may need help. The CT DEEP has more information here about dealing with distressed wildlife.
Mobile App
Explore our centers and sanctuaries on your mobile device
Soar through our centers and sanctuaries with this free app, which highlights unique and interesting features at each stop. Take one of our tours while you’re onsite or plan ahead with detailed directions and maps to your nearest Connecticut Audubon location.
Features include:
- Tours of our Centers and Sanctuaries
- Bird IDs with photos and descriptions
- Tips on how to create a native garden for birds and pollinators
- Interactive maps
For Android and other non-Apple devices, visit the web-based app. Software platform © Cuseum, Inc.
This App was made possible by Planet Fuel Charitable Fund.
General Information
The boardwalk leading to the Sound. Photo courtesy of Anthony Donofrio.
Connecticut Audubon Society’s Coastal Center at Milford Point is located on an 8.4-acre barrier beach, next to the 840-acre Charles Wheeler Salt Marsh and Wildlife Management Area at the mouth of the Housatonic River.
The Coastal Center promotes the awareness and preservation of Long Island Sound’s ecosystem, and the birds and habitats it supports. Visitors to the center have access to the Sound and to tidal salt marshes, barrier beaches, tide pools, and coastal dunes.
The Coastal Center is a bird-watcher’s paradise – 315 species have been seen here, including many rarities.
We offer a full range of educational programs and events for families, children, and adults.
The Coastal Center provides educational exhibits, a tide pool demonstration tank, a salt-marsh laboratory, and program and meeting rooms.
The Coastal Center’s grounds encompass the 8-acre Smith-Hubbell Wildlife Refuge and Bird Sanctuary, a boardwalk and three other observation platforms, including a 70-foot covered tower for panoramic vistas.
Viewers from around the world watch the Center’s seasonal Osprey Cam, operated from our 18-foot tall nesting platform.
Directions
