August 3, 2021 — Taking down your feeder now won’t be a burden for birds because there’s plenty of wild food available. Even so, there are still small things you can do in your yard that can make life easier for birds. Native plants host native insects that are in turn food for birds and other wildlife. Hundreds of species of pollinators and birds live in Connecticut. Ninety six percent of all birds rear their young on insects, and it takes a lot: 4,000 to 9,000 caterpillars, for example, to raise just one nest of baby chickadees!
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Things you can do to help birds right now: landscaping
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021The latest news on the mystery condition that’s killing songbirds
Tuesday, August 3rd, 20217 Key Things Connecticut Residents Need to Know August 2, 2021 — The state of Connecticut reported that it has tested three dead birds, and that preliminary results suggest that the “cases match” what’s been seen in dead birds suffering from this condition elsewhere. In other words, there’s some evidence that the condition that is […]
3 dead birds in Connecticut show similar symptoms to dead birds elsewhere so “please don’t feed” recommendation remains
Monday, August 2nd, 2021August 2, 2021 — Please don’t put your bird feeders back up yet. The state of Connecticut reported that it has tested three dead birds, and that preliminary results suggest that the “cases match” what’s been seen in dead birds suffering from this condition elsewhere. In other words, there’s some evidence that the condition that is killing birds in southern, mid-Atlantic, and mid-western states has reached Connecticut.
Important Coastal Center law enacted in Hartford
Monday, August 2nd, 2021In the Sanctuaries…
August 2, 2021 — We are happy to be able to tell you about the success of a bill in Hartford that allows Connecticut Audubon to sign a new lease for the Milford Point Coastal Center and to continue operating that great nature sanctuary.
Here’s how to help birds while your feeders are down
Saturday, August 7th, 2021August 7, 2021 — One of the best things you can do for birds right now is to take down your bird feeder. Or if you’ve already taken it down, leave it down. Hummingbird feeders and bird baths included. The nature of the condition that has killed birds through many states, including Connecticut, is unknown but if it turns out to be infectious, minimizing the number of places where birds gather close together is prudent. There are other ways to help birds though. Here’s a list of actions we compiled in 2020. They’re even more relevant now.
Thank you for remaining vigilant about helping to halt the spread of the mystery bird-killing condition
Monday, July 26th, 2021July 26, 2021 — To everyone who has taken down their bird feeders over the last three weeks, let us offer a sincere thank you. We continue to think it is the best way to try to stop the spread of the condition that has been killing birds in southern, mid-Atlantic, and mid-western states. The condition remains unidentified. Most of the afflicted birds have been recent fledglings. Many are blinded and seem to suffer from neurological damage before they die. It’s unknown if the condition spreads from bird to bird, but if it does, this is an especially important time of year, with migration about to start.
Migration Magic Big Day 2024
Thursday, May 9th, 2024Four of Connecticut Audubon’s most energetic birders have thrown down a challenge. They’re banding together for a Migration Magic “Big Day” on Monday, May 13. Their goal is to see at least 150 species in 16 consecutive hours of birding. Their challenge is for you and all of us to support them by making a per-bird pledge!
Something is killing birds to the south, part 2. Here’s a Q&A explaining what you need to know.
Wednesday, July 7th, 2021July 7, 2021 — An unidentified disease has been killing songbirds in the southern, mid-Atlantic states, and mid-west states. Here’s what Connecticut residents need to know.
Something is killing birds to the south. Taking in your bird feeders now might help to keep it from spreading.
Tuesday, July 6th, 2021July 6, 2021 — An unknown affliction has been killing songbirds in southern, mid-Atlantic states, and mid-west states. Although it seems as if it hasn’t reached Connecticut yet, it’s time to take precautions. The Connecticut Audubon Society has been monitoring reports and consulting with other experts. They’ve all agreed on a few simple things to do.
To protect the beach-nesting birds, the Coastal Center parking lot will again be closed over the Fourth of July weekend
Monday, June 28th, 2021Correction: The Coastal Center gates will be locked at 4 p.m. Thursday, July 1, and reopened at sunrise on Tuesday, July 6.
In the Sanctuaries…
June 28, 2021 — Baby birds are trying to survive, fireworks will light the night sky, revelers will be looking toward the beach. At Milford Point, those three things are not compatible. And so once again the Connecticut Audubon Society will attempt to minimize the disturbance to beach-nesting birds by closing the Coastal Center parking lot for the Fourth if July weekend.
A guide to keeping shorebirds on the Milford Point sandbar safe when you visit in August
Saturday, August 14th, 2021In the Sanctuaries
August 14, 2021 — Shorebirds gathering now on the sandbar at Milford Point need to rest without disturbance in order to have the energy to complete their migration from the far north to Central and South America. Visitors who get too close while walking, photographing, or viewing through scopes and binoculars will scattered the flocks and deprive them of that rest. But there’s a span of time each day during which you can visit the Milford Point sandbar without disturbing the shorebirds. That time span is from roughly four hours before low tide until three hours after.
Purple Martin count: 122 eggs, 64 chicks, squirming and growing on schedule
Monday, June 28th, 2021In the Sanctuaries
June 28, 2021 — The Purple Martin colony at the Milford Point Coastal Center is thriving this summer. The number of nests in the 71 gourds has increased by 19% over last year — 44 nests, compared to 37.
Not a Zabulon skipper or an American snout: a rare harvester at Birdcraft
Thursday, June 24th, 2021In the Sanctuaries …
June 24, 2021 — A visit to Birdcraft Sanctuary in Fairfield yesterday resulted in an an exciting rare butterfly sighting for Connecticut Audubon Executive Director Patrick Comins.
Anglers and bird lovers: your help needed to spread the word about fishing line recycling
Monday, June 21st, 2021June 21, 2021 — Your help is needed to get out the word about a serious hazard to local wildlife – especially if you love to fish. Discarded monofilament fishing line is dangerous to birds, fish and other wildlife, which can easily be injured, strangled or killed by line caught on piers, branches, and bushes. Fishing line also imperils swimmers and damages propellers and outboard motors.
Keeping in touch with the experts: Deveaux Bank and its Whimbrels, the White House, Capitol Hilll
Sunday, June 20th, 2021June 20, 2021 — If you attend our lectures and read our reports, you know the names Deborah Cramer, Desiree Narango, and Tykee James. Catch up on what they’ve been doing: Deborah wrote about one of the great ornithological discoveries of recent decades, Desiree wrote to urge the White House to transform its grounds into a biodiversity hub, and Tykee led a bird walk for staffers on Capitol Hill.
A redstart at Birdcraft and a long-shot coincidence lead to a “uniquely thrilling” experience
Wednesday, June 16th, 2021In the Sanctuaries …
June 16, 2021 — A visitor arrived last month at Birdcraft Sanctuary in Fairfield bearing a message from afar. That alone would have been amazing. But the message turned out to be personal, in a way — and an incredible coincidence that left the sender and the receivers with chills.
Volunteers and early adopters are helping Connecticut’s Purple Martins
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021In the Sanctuaries …
June 8, 2021 — Six weeks after they returned from their wintering grounds, Purple Martins are laying eggs in the cluster of nest gourds at the Milford Point Coastal Center. That’s right on schedule. The team of volunteers and staff that monitors and maintains the gourds conducted its weekly check on Friday, June 4, and found eggs in 19 of the 71 gourds — a total of 76 eggs in all. Martins were building nests in 39 gourds, so it’s likely that many more eggs will follow.
Daily Bird: Wood Warblers — Yellow Warbler
Saturday, June 5th, 2021June 5, 2021 — “Sweet, sweet, sweet, ain’t I sweet!” sings the Yellow Warbler, and indeed it is sweet to hear this most vocal of warblers warming up the early spring season with song. Also among the most common of warblers here in Connecticut, the Yellow Warbler is aptly named: it is yellow! While the male proudly displays bold chestnut stripes down his breast, the female is pure yellow tip to toe. No wingbars, no tail spots, just yellow, highlighted by a big black eye, like a round lump of coal.
Daily Bird: Wood Warblers — Black-throated Green Warbler
Thursday, June 3rd, 2021June 3, 2021 — One of the perils of birding is the affliction known as “warbler neck.” And Black-throated Green Warblers (Setophaga virens) are adept at causing it. From high in the pines or hemlocks of our Connecticut woodlands, the distinctive, buzzy “zee, zee, zee zoozee” (or “See, See, See Suzie”) song of the Black-throated Green advertises its presence and invites prolonged studies through binoculars until 1) the bird is spotted or 2) your neck gives out.
Daily Bird: Black-bellied Whistling Duck, a rarity
Tuesday, June 1st, 2021June 1, 2021 — The first state record of Black-bellied Whistling Duck was in mid August, 2018, when one showed up in Essex. Now six have been found in Watertown — the second state record. Back in August 2018, Andy Griswold, Connecticut Audubon’s EcoTravel director, wrote about the species for our old Bird Finder feature. We’ve revised it for today’s Daily Bird.
