February 23, 2025—People throughout Connecticut are becoming more concerned with avian flu. The information here is what we’ve learned from government agencies and other organizations. It’s subject to change as the situation changes.
Blog – 2018
Avian Influenza in Connecticut: What we know, what you should do
Monday, February 3rd, 2025Practical solutions for preventing bird-window collisions at home and in your community: a webinar with Kaitlyn Parkins of American Bird Conservancy
Tuesday, January 28th, 2025Join us for a February 5 matinee presentation of Young, Gifted and Wild About Birds. Well over 1 billion birds die each year in the U.S. because of building collisions. That estimate comes from a study published in 2024 and it was eye-opening because it was much higher than previous estimates. One of the study’s authors, Kaitlyn Parkins of American Bird Conservancy, will show us which techniques actually work to reduce window crashes and which don’t. This is news you can use for those trying to make a difference for bird conservation.
CT Pesticide Reform News Release: Widely Used Insecticides Found in Connecticut Waters Pose a Deadly Threat to Aquatic Ecosystems and A Risk to Human Health
Monday, January 27th, 2025January 27, 2025—A University of Connecticut study combining two decades of data with recent tests reveals widespread contamination of the state’s surface and groundwater by an insecticide linked to falling populations of bees and birds. The study, by UConn’s Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, adds to the growing body of research and evidence that neonicotinoid insecticides are finding their way into streams and rivers from turf grass including lawns and golf courses as well as from agricultural uses. In addition to the connection to pollinator and bird declines, neonics also pose a health risk to humans. The study recommends that Connecticut enact stronger regulations to further restrict the use of neonics in the state.
Homegrown Habitat, January 2025: Eastern Hemlock
Friday, January 17th, 2025Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is perhaps the most iconic of the New England conifers. This graceful, elegant tree is incredibly valuable to wildlife, including many birds. Where it has formed large stands, the deeply shaded hemlock forest takes on an other-worldly quality, its floor spongy with years of dropped needles and its air fragrant and cool. Hemlock forests are unique, invaluable ecosystems.
Young, Gifted and Wild About Birds 2025 to start with UCLA Professor Morgan Tingley, formerly of UConn, discussing the Los Angeles wildfires
Thursday, January 16th, 2025January 16, 2025 — Connecticut Audubon’s Young, Gifted, and Wild About Birds series starts its 2025 season with a January 23 Zoom presentation by UCLA professor Morgan Tingley, Ph.D., about the Los Angeles fires and the effects of climate change-induced wildfire on bird populations. Tingley, a former University of Connecticut professor, lives and works in the heart of the area being devastated by wildfires. He’s been studying the effects of fire and smoke on birds and will also have an up-to-date report on the situation in the Los Angeles area.
Homegrown Habitat, December 2024: Inkberry
Monday, December 16th, 2024December 16, 2024 — Inkberry is one of my garden staples. Its glossy evergreen foliage and upright, vase-shaped form is welcome in many locations, from the foundation beds to a mixed shrub border, and areas where a bit of screening is needed. I love it in combination with other evergreens such as mountain laurel, rhododendron, and spruce or fir, where the subtle differences in the green hues of their foliage is featured delightfully.
Connecticut State of the Birds 2024: Video and key links
Tuesday, December 10th, 2024December 10, 2024—The 2024 Connecticut State of the Birds report warns that some of the state’s most common beloved bird species, including the state bird, the American Robin, are facing a growing threat from pesticides that are widely-used on lawns, golf courses, and farms. Here is a compilation of important links, as well as a video of our December 6 Zoom presentation about the report.
The use of insecticides recalls the specter of DDT for Connecticut’s most common birds: Connecticut State of the Birds 2024
Friday, December 6th, 2024December 6, 2024—A new Connecticut State of the Birds report, released today by the Connecticut Audubon Society, warns that some of Connecticut’s most beloved bird species, including the state bird, the American Robin, are facing a growing threat from a widely used pesticide.
Homegrown Habitat, November 2024: Red Bearberry
Wednesday, November 20th, 2024Red bearberry is an unusual evergreen ground cover that solves many garden problems with beauty and flair—if it’s in the right location. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is named for its gustatory appeal to bears, but other wildlife, including birds, also eat its red fruit in fall and winter. (Don’t worry about attracting bears with this plant, unless they are already regular visitors.) Other common names include kinnikinick, bear’s grape, hog craneberry, and sandberry.
News Release: Osprey Nation 2024—A Good Year for Ospreys In Connecticut but Trouble Looms to the South
Tuesday, November 19th, 2024November 18, 2024—Ospreys in Connecticut flourished in 2024. The successful nesting season shows that the local revival of these previously imperiled hawks continues, although with concerns about a more difficult season to the south.
Connecticut Audubon members choose a new Vice Chair and a new Board member
Monday, October 28th, 2024October 28, 2024—At Connecticut Audubon’s 2024 Annual Meeting, held at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center in Old Lyme on Saturday, October 26, members elected a new Board member and four members of the Board’s Executive Committee, including a new Vice Chair.
The 2024 Dave Engelman Volunteer Benchmark Award Winner: Christina Clayton
Sunday, October 27th, 2024October 27, 2024—The Connecticut Audubon Society recognized the long and effective work of Board member Christina Clayton by presenting her with the 2024 Dave Engelman Volunteer Benchmark Award, at the organization’s annual meeting on Saturday, October 26, at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center in Old Lyme.
Check your eBird: New names announced today for scores of species, including some you know
Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024October 22, 2024—eBird announced changes this morning to the names and taxonomy of scores of bird species, including half a dozen that are familiar locally. Bye bye, House Wren. Hello, Northern House Wren. (House Wren photo by Richard Stone)
Homegrown Habitat, October 2024: Hornbeam
Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024October 22, 2024—Hornbeam, also known as musclewood, ironwood, and blue beech, is a graceful, slow-growing tree with multiseason interest and suitability for almost any garden. This adaptable small tree is native across a large swath of Canada, the Eastern United States, and as far south as Central America. Its westward reach in the U.S. is to just west of the Mississippi River.
3.8 million birds will be passing through Connecticut. Help them make it safely by turning your lights out. Then enjoy them while they’re here!
Wednesday, October 16th, 2024October 16, 2024—The weather pattern that has brought cool, clear, breezy days and nights to Connecticut is also bringing birds—an estimated 3.8 million between now and Saturday morning..
That’s great news for the birding community. It also means the birds that migrate at night—the vast majority of fall migrants—are at risk of being attracted by lights and crashing into buildings and other structures. (Photo of female Blackpoll Warbler)
Millions of birds will be migrating all weekend. You can help them by turning out your lights
Saturday, October 12th, 2024October 12, 2024—The bird migration predictions for the next three nights are an interesting mix: high, medium, low and none. But the bottom line is simple: 1.4 million birds will be migrating across Connecticut. Our advice is to keep it simple. Turn your lights out each night, from at least 11 p.m to 6 a.m. (Yellow-rumped Warbler photo by Gilles Carter.)
Osprey Nation report shows 2024 was a good year in Connecticut but Ospreys had trouble elsewhere
Monday, November 18th, 2024November 18, 2024—Ospreys in Connecticut flourished in 2024. The successful nesting season shows that the local revival of these previously imperiled hawks continues, although with concerns about a more difficult season to the south.
Today’s Lights Out Alert includes tips for providing safe places for birds during migration
Thursday, October 10th, 2024October 10, 2024—Tonight is shaping up to be the busiest songbird migration night of the fall. That means it’s a good night to make sure your outdoor lights are out. It might also mean that plenty of sparrows and warblers, as well as some interesting shorebirds, will be around on Friday morning as well.
Lights Out Alert for Saturday, October 5: 1.1 million birds predicted to migrate over Connecticut
Friday, October 4th, 2024October 4, 2024—One of the first big bird migration nights of the fall is coming. The Colorado State University Aeroeco lab predicts that 1.1 million birds will be flying over Connecticut on Saturday night, October 5. Turning out your outside lights at night is a small but effective action you can take to help protect birds. It’s worth doing every night but it’s especially important on nights of high migration.
They can’t help it: Connecticut’s black bears are just really hungry this time of year. Here are some ideas on what to do (and what not to do).
Thursday, October 3rd, 2024October 3, 2024—If black bears seem unusually hungry this time of year, it’s because they are. Blame hyperphagia.
