American Oystercatcher
Haematopus palliatus
What it looks like: American Oystercatchers are large shorebirds with a long, narrow, orange bill which beautifully contrasts against their black head, brown back and tail and bright white underparts. You can see their white wing patches when they are in flight.
April 30, 2015 – Swainson’s Warbler, one of those “little brown jobs,” has been seen in the states around Connecticut but never here. As with the Prothonotary Warbler that has been visiting our Larsen Sanctuary in Fairfield, there is the possibility of an overshoot when birds move back to their breeding grounds, which reach as far north as Virginia.
Purple Martin
Progne subis
Purple Martins are the largest member of the swallow family nesting in the U.S. They are nearly European Starling-sized, but thinner, with long tapered wings and a forked tail. The males are completely iridescent blackish-purple, and the females are blackish-purple above, with a dark head, neck, and chest, and pale grayish-white bellies.
We cannot over-emphasize the devastating impact that the sweep of funds from the Community Investment Act account, both in the Deficiency Bill under consideration today and in the Governor’s proposed budget, will have on this state’s beauty, bio-diversity, and ultimately economic vitality.
Ruffed Grouse
Bonasa umbellus
Ruffed Grouse are chicken like, medium-sized game birds of mixed coniferous and deciduous forests. Although their numbers in Connecticut are greatly diminished, listen this month for the distinctive and unmistakable drumming sound the males make to attract a mate and ward off rivals.
Connecticut Audubon Society has been expressing its opposition to Governor Malloy’s proposal to sweep funds from the Community Investment Act in op-eds pubished throughout the state. We urge you to contact your state Senator and Representative.
Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s proposal to balance the state budget by removing all the funds from the Community Investment Act is not going over well with the editorial boards of newspapers in Connecticut.
Celebrating and conserving the natural environment through science, education, art, and community
Three spring lectures at Essex Meadows, Essex, Ct.
Bonaparte’s Gull is the subject of this week’s Bird Finder, written by Nick Bonomo. But how did it get its name?“Bonaparte, Charles Lucien Laurent, Prince of Canino and Musignano (1803-1857). Naturalist. He was one of eleven children of Lucien, a younger brother of Napolean. His wife Zenaida … was the daughter of Joseph, Napolean’s older […]
Attention Audubon aficionados! Join Connecticut Audubon Society for our May member event: a trip to the New York Historical Society for a final viewing of masterpieces by John James Audubon. Audubon’s Aviary: The Final Flight will showcase the New-York Historical Society collection of John James Audubon’s preparatory watercolors for the sumptuous double-elephant-folio print edition of […]
March 28, 2015 – Of all the waterfowl found in North America, perhaps none are more deserving of the title King than the dramatic Canvasback.
Connecticut Audubon Society mourns the passing of Roland Clement, the former chairman of its Board of Directors, on Saturday, March 21, at age 102. Mr. Clement died at his home in Hamden. Mr. Clement spent his life immersed in ornithology in New England and throughout North America, and his love of birds carried over to […]
Pine Warbler
Setophaga pinus
Of all the warblers that breed in Connecticut, the first to return in spring is the Pine Warbler, arriving just about now, in mid- to late March.
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligula
Connecticut birders have been flocking to Captain’s Cove in Bridgeport to see a rare Tufted Duck, a species not recorded in Connecticut for approximately 15 years.
March 2015 – Governor Malloy’s budget, unveiled last month, would be devastating to conservation efforts in Connecticut. The governor proposes to essentially empty the Community Investment Act fund and use the money to pay the state’s bills. What you can do … We invite you to read our testimony to the General Assembly, below, or […]
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritus
Horned Grebes are small, diving waterbirds that are currently presenting their black and white plumage in the cold, winter waters along Long Island Sound.
Thick-billed Murre
Uria lonvia
On a trip he led to Montauk this month, Andy Griswold, director of our EcoTravel program, found two Thick-billed Murres in waters less than 16 miles from Connecticut; and Frank Gallo, associate director of our Milford Point Coastal Center, saw one briefly at Hammonasset Beach State Park.
This amazing brief video, shot on a smart phone yesterday, shows an immature Red-tailed Hawk devouring a mature Sharp-shinned Hawk, in the backyard of CAS President Alex Brash’s house, in Riverside. Alex’s son, Ian, took the video. Red-tailed Hawks of course prey mostly on small mammals; Sharpies are designed to catch songbirds on the wing. […]
Redheads are often found with other diving ducks this time of year in Connecticut’s coastal embayments that are not frozen over. This month Redheads have been seen in Fairfield and New Haven counties.
February 7, 2015 – Evening Grosbeaks love sunflower seeds, and may most likely be found at stocked feeders in the northern corners of Connecticut.
