April 9, 2020 — Great Egrets have arrived along the shore of Long Island Sound. Look for this large, long-legged wader foraging in wetlands, lakes, and marshes.
Blog – 2018
The Daily Bird: Great Egret
Thursday, April 9th, 2020Trail to Earth Day #8: Make your windows safe for birds
Wednesday, April 8th, 2020April 8, 2020 — Up to a billion (with a “b”) birds a year are killed when they crash into windows. It’s a problem where individual action can make a difference.
Daily Bird: Wood Duck
Wednesday, April 8th, 2020April 8, 2020 — This time of the year Wood Ducks are found in good nesting habitat. That includes almost all freshwater bodies and wetlands with nearby large trees and adequate cover.
I Spy: Coastal Connecticut
Monday, April 13th, 2020April 13, 2020 — Welcome to Mystery Monday! Let’s play a game of I Spy: Coastal Connecticut!
Trail to Earth Day #7: Changing Simple Habits Today Saves Water for Tomorrow
Tuesday, April 7th, 2020April 7, 2020 — There’s one situation where you definitely don’t want to worry about water use these days: washing your hands. Lather up and rinse well! But there are plenty of other ways to save water.
Daily Bird: Cedar Waxwing
Tuesday, April 7th, 2020April 7, 2020 — In late winter and early spring, look for Cedar Waxwings feasting on the blue berries of the Eastern Red Cedar.
The Daily Bird: Great Horned Owl
Monday, April 6th, 2020April 6, 2020 — Today’s Daily Bird consists of one great photo. Our friend Tomas Koeck took it in Fairfield, and we thank him for the chance to publish it here.
Trail to Earth Day #6: Make a Little Birdhouse
Monday, April 6th, 2020April 6, 2020 — Build a birdhouse (or buy one) and put it up.
Video (2 minutes, 30 seconds): Spring activity in the wooded wetlands
Sunday, April 5th, 2020April 5, 2020 — The noisiest places in the natural world right now, at least in Connecticut, might be vernal pools. Conservation biologist Jim Arrigoni explains what’s going on, in this video.
Trail to Earth Day #5: It’s Cool for Cats to be Indoors
Sunday, April 5th, 2020April 5, 2020 — Don’t let the cat out of the house. Outdoor cats kill an estimated 1.3 – 4 billion birds in North America every year (they also kill 6.3–22.3 billion mammals annually).
Trail to Earth Day #4: Lower Your Carbon Footprint During this Rite of Spring
Saturday, April 4th, 2020April 4, 2020 — We all have different tolerance levels for clutter, but no one can deny the good feeling of clearing out those unused items taking up space. Rather than making their ultimate destination a landfill or incinerator, consider the alternatives.
The Daily Bird: Canvasback
Friday, April 3rd, 2020April 3, 2020 — Of all the waterfowl found in North America, perhaps none are more deserving of the title King than the dramatic Canvasback.
Trail to Earth Day #3: Stay Conservatively Plugged In While Working at Home
Friday, April 3rd, 2020April 3, 2020 — With small changes to consume less power, we can be more energy efficient, environmentally friendly and save money.
Video (1 minute, 30 seconds): “A bluebird comes tenderly up to alight …”
Thursday, April 2nd, 2020April 2, 2020 — This is the time of year to put your Eastern Bluebird box up (and if you don’t get bluebirds, maybe you’ll get Tree Swallows). Deirdra Wallin and Stefan Martin were back in the field again at Deer Pond Farm recently to talk about it.
News: Osprey Nation 2019 Season Report
Thursday, April 2nd, 2020April 2, 2020 — The sixth season of the Osprey Nation citizen science project saw increases in the total number of Osprey nests in Connecticut.
The Daily Bird: Red-breasted Merganser
Thursday, April 2nd, 2020April 2, 2020 — The Red-breasted Merganser’s distinguishing characteristics are a long neck, a scarlet bill, and a double crest at the back of the heads of both males and females.
Trail to Earth Day #2: Make Your Property a Great Place for Birds and Insects — and For Yourself
Thursday, April 2nd, 2020April 2, 2020 — Landscape for birds. Lots of us can make the property we live on far more sustainable, in lots of ways. Reduce the size of your lawn. Let the clover take over.
The Daily Bird: Northern Gannet
Wednesday, April 1st, 2020April 1, 2020 — Some people associate spring migration with songbirds such as warblers or other delightfully petite and colorful passerines but there’s another bird that comes to my mind – the Northern Gannet.
Trail to Earth Day #1: Hike, Walk — Be Safe But Get Outdoors
Wednesday, April 1st, 2020April 1, 2020 — Idea number 1: Go for a walk. Governors and health officials are telling us to stay home but they’re also saying it’s fine to go for a safe walk. In fact, they say it might be essential.
The Trail to Earth Day
Tuesday, March 31st, 2020March 31, 2020 — The 50th Earth Day is April 22. How are you celebrating or marking the occasion? We have ideas, almost two dozen of them, and we’ll share them, one per day, over the next three weeks.
