January 14, 2022—A large section of Connecticut’s southeastern coast, encompassing ecologically rich tidal marshes, and shallow coves, bays and rivers, has been designated as the country’s 30th National Estuarine Research Reserve. The new reserve is the first in Connecticut. It covers about 52,000 acres in and around the lower Connecticut and Thames Rivers.
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52,000 acres in Connecticut designated as Nation’s 30th National Estuarine Research Reserve
Friday, January 14th, 2022Brooke Bateman, Ph.D.: “Birds Are Telling Us It’s Time to Act on Climate Change”
Thursday, January 13th, 2022January 13, 2022 — This might be the most important presentation you see all year: Dr. Brooke Bateman, lead climate scientist for the National Audubon Society, will explain how Connecticut can protect bird habitat while also making huge strides toward its climate change goals. Dr. Bateman’s presentation — “Birds Are Telling Us It’s Time to Act on Climate Change” — will expand upon her article in the recent Connecticut State of the Birds Report, “Three Million Birds Are Gone. How Do We Bring Them Back?”
Young, Gifted & Wild About Birds 2022: The next generation has arrived, and you can catch them on Zoom
Thursday, January 6th, 2022January 6, 2022 — Connecticut Audubon’s online series, Young, Gifted, and Wild About Birds, starts this month with the first of five Zoom presentations — combining conservation science with the joy and fun of getting to know the bird world. Young, Gifted, and Wild About Birds 2022 presents compelling, cutting edge ideas and voices.
Action Alert: Speak out today to protect horseshoe crabs and shorebirds
Wednesday, December 15th, 2021December 15, 2021 — Connecticut Audubon needs you to speak out in favor of a proposed change to state regulations that are likely to benefit shorebirds. The change, proposed by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, would lower the number of horseshoe crabs that can be caught in the state. That is likely to help species such as Red Knot and Semipalmated Sandpiper, which rely on horseshoe crab eggs for food during their migration through Connecticut.
CT State of the Birds 2021: To recoup the loss of 3 billion birds, what is the most important thing to do now?
Monday, December 6th, 2021December 6, 2021 — Restoring a bird population that has fallen by 30 percent over 50 years will require a slate of conservation activities. There’s no time like the present. But which activities are paramount? For the 2021 Connecticut State of the Birds report, we asked experts around the country: What do you think is the most important thing to do now to stabilize and restore the bird population?
A bird-lover’s guide to the 2021 CT State of the Birds report
Wednesday, December 1st, 2021December 1, 2021 — The starting point for the report is a study published in Science in September 2019. Written by 11 top ornithologists from the U.S. and Canada, it shows that over the last 50 years, North America has lost about 30% of its birds. In other words, there are three billion fewer birds in North America today than there were in 1970.
Osprey Nation 2021 Report: Reasons to celebrate, including lots of Ospreys
Monday, November 22nd, 2021November 22, 2021 — We’re releasing the Osprey Nation report for the 2021 season today. It shows that this year, 342 volunteer stewards submitted data on 814 nests. Of those nests, 558 were active. The 558 pairs of Ospreys that occupied those nests produced 858 fledglings. Both numbers are by far the highest since the project began.
Connecticut Audubon welcomes four new members to the Board of Directors
Tuesday, October 19th, 2021October 21, 2021 — Members of the Connecticut Audubon Society elected four new members of the Board of Directors at the organization’s annual meeting today. They also elected a slate of officers to lead the organization.
Public hearing and comment period set for the National Estuarine Research Reserve
Tuesday, September 28th, 2021September 28, 2021 — The federal government has scheduled a public meeting and is taking formal comments on the new environmental impact statement for the proposed National Estuarine Research Reserve in southeastern Connecticut. The reserve would would encompass the Lord Cove and Great Island Wildlife Management Areas in Old Lyme, and Bluff Point and Haley Farm—some of the best wildlife habitat on the Connecticut River estuary and in southeastern Connecticut.
Annual Meeting 2021
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021September 22, 2021 — On Thursday, October 21, at 6 p.m, Connecticut Audubon members will gather on Zoom for the organization’s 2021 Annual Meeting. It promises to be a fascinating meeting, highlighted by a keynote presentation by CJ Goulding, titled “Jordans in the Great Outdoors: How You Can Gear Up to Create Change.”
Bird feeders can go back up among signs that the condition affecting birds is easing
Friday, August 20th, 2021Friday, August 20, 2021 — For those of you who have taken down your bird feeders this summer — a sincere thank you for caring about Connecticut’s birds. The good news: It’s OK to start feeding birds again. But if you decide to do so, there are still a few precautions you should heed.
Working to protect the shorebirds on the Milford Point sandbar — with your help.
Monday, August 16th, 2021In the Sanctuaries …
August 16, 2021 — For the good of the migrating shorebirds feeding and resting now at Milford Point, Connecticut Audubon has decided to schedule no group walks to the Milford Point sandbar for the rest of August. We are also asking for your help in giving the shorebirds plenty of room to feed and rest when you visit on your own.
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.
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 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.
The country’s most important bird protection law is safe, thanks to a vast grassroots advocacy effort
Thursday, May 27th, 2021May 27, 2021 — Thanks to a nationwide grassroots advocacy effort that included members of the Connecticut Audubon Society, the long-standing protections of the country’s most important bird protection law will remain intact. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced recently that it was revoking changes made in 2018 that weakened the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Seasonal Job: Osprey Nation Coordinator
Wednesday, January 27th, 2021January 27, 2021 — The Connecticut Audubon Society invites applicants for a seasonal position at 35 hours per week beginning March 1 through October 1, 2021 as coordinator for the Osprey Nation Project.
Habitat improvements in store at the Coastal Center thanks to a new Long Island Sound Futures Fund grant
Monday, December 7th, 2020December 7, 2020 — Federal and state environmental officials today announced 24 grants totaling $2.8 million to local governments, nongovernmental organizations and community groups in New England to improve Long Island Sound. Included in this year’s grants is more than $44,000 for the Connecticut Audubon Society to restore coastal beach, dune and forest habitat at the Milford Point Coastal Center.
