July 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.
Blog – 2018
Something is killing birds to the south, part 2. Here’s a Q&A explaining what you need to know.
Wednesday, July 7th, 2021Something 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.
Vote for us – 2021 Top 20 Places to Take Kids Survey
Monday, June 28th, 2021June 28, 2021 — Connecticut Audubon is again in the running for the annual KidsOutAndAbout survey of the Top 20 Places to Take Fairfield County Kids. Your vote will help make more people aware of the education programs and great experiences offered for all ages at our centers around the state. The survey runs through July 1.
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.
A tough weekend for birds on the Milford Point sandbar means protection work must increase
Thursday, June 10th, 2021In the Sanctuaries
June 10, 2021 — A succession of high tides during the full-moon period combined with a days-long storms washed away more than a dozen coastal waterbird nests at Milford Point over Memorial Day weekend. There’s still time for some of the birds to try a second nest — with your help the nesting season won’t be a total loss.
2021 Birdathon Photo Contest Winners
Wednesday, May 26th, 2021May 26 — Congratulations to the winners of the 2021 Migration Madness Birdathon Photo Contest. They emerged as the top shots our of almost 100 photos entered, as chosen by this year’s judge, Mary Grace Leone.
Daily Bird: Wood Warblers — Black-throated Blue Warbler
Tuesday, May 25th, 2021Don’t miss the beautiful videos on this!
May 25, 2021 — The Black-throated Blue Warbler, stunningly unique in its adult male garb, is quite average in other ways. It’s never as rare or hard to find as a Mourning Warbler, and never as abundant at the height of migration as a Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler, or a Palm Warbler.
The Blue Plan passes and is now Connecticut’s official Long Island Sound planning policy
Monday, May 24th, 2021May 24, 2021 — Long a priority for Connecticut Audubon’s advocacy work, the Long Island Sound Blue Plan is now the official policy of Connecticut. The state General Assembly voted to adopt the Blue Plan on May 14. The plan is a guide to help decision-makers in their deliberations about which areas of the Sound are most valuable for conservation, the economy, recreation, etc.
Beaver rides the current and lumbers up onto the beach at Milford Point
Monday, May 24th, 2021May 24, 2021 — The beaver pictured here lumbered up onto the beach at the Milford Point Coastal Center over the weekend, presumably after floating or swimming down the Housatonic River. It undoubtedly wasn’t the first beaver to show up there but it was unusual nonetheless.
2021 Migration Madness Birdathon in Review: Exhaustion, Elation, Satisfaction — All in All, a Great Weekend
Sunday, May 23rd, 2021May 23, 2021 — Great weather, dozens of enthusiastic participants, and scores of bird species all made for an amazing 2021 Migration Madness Birdathon. Almost 100 people participated and 72 submitted checklists. Well over 200 people participated or made donations. They saw a total of 207 species of birds and raised $18,906 for bird conservation in Connecticut.
