Connecticut Audbon Society

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Summer’s here and the time is right for helping the shorebirds at Milford Point

In the Sanctuaries. May 26, 2022 — The shorebirds on the Milford Point sandbar need your help again. It’s early in the season but there are already 11 Piping Plover nests and two American Oystercatcher nests on the sandbar. Dozens of migratory shorebirds are feeding and resting there now too.

We’re trying to balance the birds’ needs with the understandable wish on the part of birders and others to visit and view the birds. So please be careful to avoid roped off nesting areas and nests protected by wire enclosures.

A great day for a celebration of the new National Estuarine Research Reserve

May 23, 2022 — Three decades of collaborative work culminated on Saturday, May 21, in an official celebration in Groton of Connecticut’s new National Estuarine Research Reserve.

The reserve encompasses 52,000 acres of the lower Connecticut River and the Connecticut waters of Long Island Sound east almost to the Rhode Island border. With the Sound sparkling in the bright sunshine, government officials and dozens of well-wishers gathered at the University of Connecticut’s Avery Point campus on Saturday to mark the official designation.

New horseshoe crab rules might help migrating shorebirds

May 20, 2022 — The state of Connecticut has set new rules in hopes of protecting horseshoe crabs. The shorebirds that eat the crabs’ eggs might benefit as well. The rules shorten the season for commercial fishing of horseshoe crabs and lower by 70% the number of crabs that can be caught.

Spring migratory birds: Hooded Warbler

Usually first noticed by a ringing “weeta, weeta, weeteeo” song, a Hooded Warbler sighting highlights almost any bird walk in the Connecticut woods. Hooded Warblers reach the northern edge of their breeding range here in Connecticut (although there is a breeding population in southern Ontario), generally arriving during the first week of May and setting up housekeeping almost immediately. Hooded Warbler would be a great bird to add to your list during the Migration Madness Birdathon, May 13-15.

Spring migratory birds: Black-throated Blue Warbler

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.

Spring migratory birds: Blackburnian Warbler

One of the most strikingly colored of our wood-warblers, this species’ flaming orange throat was responsible for its colloquial name of “Fire Throat.” With yellow and black on its neck and face, black wings with a large fused white wing bar, and black streaks on a yellow to white belly, the male is unique among our North American warblers. Females are a muted version of the male, showing two narrower wing bars.

Op-ed — The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act: an unprecedented opportunity that is good for wildlife and people

The time for the U.S. Congress to pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is now.

Spring migratory birds: Black-and-white Warbler

May 3, 2022 — Although every warbler species is unique, the Black-and-white Warbler stands out, and for a variety of reasons. Many warblers exhibit bright and flashy colors, but the aptly named Black-and-white Warbler is just that: black and white. Yet it is far from drab: the ornate and contrasting stripes conjures the exotic pattern of a zebra.

Spring migratory birds: Canada Warbler

When searching for Canada Warbler, it is important to become familiar with its unique song. One of my favorite ways of locating a Canada Warbler is by slowly driving along Greenwoods Road in Peoples State Forest, listening for its clear, loud chip note, followed by an abrupt, explosive series of short notes that regularly ends with a three-note phrase.

“Spring Migration: Global Ecology in Connecticut’s Treetops” — a Zoom presentation with Yale’s Scott Yanco

May 2, 2022 — When we watch songbirds migrate through Connecticut, we’re seeing more than just beautiful creatures flitting through the tree canopy — we’re witnessing a tiny part of an amazing global-scale ecological process. In conjunction with the 2022 Migration Madness Birdathon, you’re invited to a special Zoom program on the topic.

Spring migratory birds: Magnolia Warbler

The Magnolia Warbler is certainly one of the most beautiful and sought after migrants by birders throughout the state. Although during a good migration year it can be found in many habitat types ,it prefers flowering hardwoods, particularly oaks where it can be seen foraging among the flowers for tiny insects and caterpillars.

Spring migratory birds: Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler
Setophaga virens

They haven’t arrived quite yet but you’ll be hearing them soon.

Spring migratory birds: Yellow Warbler

“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.

Spring Migratory Birds: Palm Warbler

Palm Warbler
Setophaga palmarum

Palm Warblers arrive earlier in April on their way to Canada. But some are still around so it’s not too late to look for them — and for their wagging tails.

Action alert: ask your state Senator to vote yes to ban horseshoe crab fishing

April 27, 2022 — Support for a ban on horseshoe crab fishing is growing in the Connecticut General Assembly. But for the proposal to become law, Connecticut’s State Senators need to hear from you now. Please ask your state Senator to vote yes on HB 5140, An Act Concerning the Hand-Harvesting of Horseshoe Crabs in the State.

Spring Migratory Birds: Northern Parula

April 26, 2022 — The Daily Bird is alive and well, brought back to celebrate spring migration and to prepare us all for the 2022 Migration Madness Birdathon. We start with Northern Parula, written by Connecticut Audubon Executive Director Patrick Comins. Videos by Gilles Carter, a member of Connecticut Audubon’s Board of Directors.

Action Alert: Speak Out In Favor Of This Pesticide Control Bill

April 26, 2022 — The Connecticut General Assembly is moving forward with a law to restrict the use of chlorpyrifos, a pesticide that can kill birds and beneficial insects. Please act now to tell your House member to vote yes.

As Ospreys continue to thrive, Osprey Nation needs more volunteers to monitor nests. Help if you can!

April 9, 2022 — Osprey nesting season is underway! 2022 marks the 9th year of the Osprey Nation monitoring project. The number of nests in Connecticut has grown to more than 900. Ospreys are an incredible conservation success story but their growth means we need volunteers to help monitor nests. About 300 remain unspoken for. Can you help by being a volunteer Osprey Nation steward?

Important progress in the U.S. Senate for the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act

April 8, 2022 — One of the most important environmental bills in a generation has cleared a hurdle in the U.S. Senate. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act on Thursday, April 7, and is sending the bill to the full Senate for consideration. The bill would bring almost $12 million a year to Connecticut for the protection of birds and other wildlife.

Celebrate Earth Day 2022 with Mountainfilm!

March 25, 2022 — Make sure your Earth Day 2022 activities include Mountainfilm! If you’ve participated in our Mountainfilm online screenings before, you know how great they are. A dozen or so short movies with themes connected to Mountainfilm’s mission of using the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world.

Join Connecticut Audubon’s Stefan Martin in an online discussion about how to deal with invasive plants on your property

March 24, 2022 — Connecticut Audubon’s Habitat Steward Stefan Martin joins a group of other experts in an online discussion designed to help you figure out which plants on your property are invasive and what to do about them. It’s set for noon on Thursday, March 31.

Video preview of Thursday’s grassland birds presentation: Young, Gifted & Wild About Birds, with Shannon Curley and Jose Ramirez-Garofalo

March 21, 2022 — The number of birds in North America has fallen by about 30 percent over the past 50 years, and grassland birds have suffered particularly large losses. But something of a miracle is happening to grassland species on a very small scale — and on Staten Island, of all places. At the 2,000-acre Freshkills Park, formerly the site of the world’s largest landfill, 1,000 acres have been restored to grasslands. And grasslands birds are thriving. In just a short time Freshkills has become the home of 300-plus pairs of nesting Savannah Sparrows, 82 pairs of Grasshopper Sparrows, and 8 pairs of Sedge Wrens, plus Bobolinks and Eastern Meadowlarks.

The story of Smith Richardson on Zoom, Tuesday, March 22

March 16, 2022 — Connecticut Audubon’s Smith Richardson preserve in Westport is one of the few places in Connecticut where visitors can see a significant habitat restoration project while it is in progress. It’s well worth a trip. But whether you go or not, you can learn about the project first-hand from the volunteer who spearheaded much of the work. On Tuesday, March 22, at noon Charles Stebbins will tell the Smith Richardson story, during a Lunch and Learn program on Zoom hosted by the Apsetuck Land Trust.

Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center presents Season of the Osprey filmmaker in live Zoom

March 15, 2022 — Connecticut Audubon’s Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center is presenting a free, interactive Zoom presentation on Thursday, April 7, at 6 p.m.: An evening with filmmaker Jacob Steinberg, producer and director of the PBS Nature program Season of the Osprey.

From garbage dump to grassland bird oasis: Young, Gifted & Wild About Birds with Shannon Curley and Jose Ramirez-Garofalo, March 24.

March 14, 2022 — Young, Gifted, and Wild About Birds returns on Thursday, March 24, with a presentation on one of the more amazing bird success stories of the 21st century — the transformation of the world’s largest garbage dump into a grassland oasis teeming with Sedge Wrens, Grasshopper Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, and Eastern Meadowlarks.

Action alert: Support a bill in Hartford that would help shorebirds by saving horseshoe crabs

March 2, 2020 — The shorebirds that pass through Connecticut during migration rely on horseshoe crab eggs for the energy to continue migrating. You can help them by supporting a bill in Hartford that might increase their numbers.

Action alert: Help pass a bill in Hartford that would restrict the use of two pesticides

March 1, 2022 — Connecticut Audubon is supporting a bill in Hartford that would restrict the use of two pesticides that kill beneficial insects and other small creatures, many of which birds rely on for food. You can help get them passed.

Young, Gifted, and Wild About Birds: Artist Jenny Kroik

February 25, 2022 — Young, Gifted, and Wild About Birds turns to the arts! Join the fun on Thursday, March 3, 7 p.m., when artist and illustrator Jenny Kroik talks about birds, painting — and painting birds. You might know Jenny’s work from The New Yorker and other magazines. She teaches painting at the New York Botanical Garden and elsewhere.

Action Alert: Help protect the natural resources of the Salmon River State Forest

February 11, 2022 — A proposal to create mountain biking trails in Salmon River State Forest could end up being a win-win for conservation and for responsible outdoor recreation. But for that to happen, we need you to please write to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and ask that provisions be made to protect the site’s natural resources.

52,000 acres in Connecticut designated as Nation’s 30th National Estuarine Research Reserve

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.

Brooke Bateman, Ph.D.: “Birds Are Telling Us It’s Time to Act on Climate Change”

January 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?”

Major victory for birds and wildlife as House committee in Washington passes the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act

January 20, 2022 — An environmental bill that would bring almost $12 million a year to Connecticut for the protection of birds and other wildlife was approved by the House Natural Resources Committee yesterday and now moves to the full House of Representatives for a vote.

Young, Gifted & Wild About Birds 2022: The next generation has arrived, and you can catch them on Zoom

January 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

December 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.

Birds of the Year 2021: Join us on Zoom for all the fun!

December 9, 2021 — It’s December, and at Connecticut Audubon that means it’s time for our annual Birds of the Year list. This year we’ll be taking to Zoom to present our picks for Birds of the Year. But there’s a new wrinkle. This year we want to include your picks as well!

W. Bradley Morehouse, former President of Connecticut Audubon

December 8, 2021 — Milan Bull, who has been a member of Connecticut Audubon’s staff for 50 years, sent word this week that an old friend, W. Bradley Morehouse, died on December 4 at his home in Southport. He was 98.

CT State of the Birds 2021: To recoup the loss of 3 billion birds, what is the most important thing to do now?

December 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

December 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

November 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.

Please join us for the release of Connecticut State of the Birds 2021. December 2, via Zoom.

November 16, 2021 — At noon on Thursday, December 2, we’ll bring together on Zoom a group of the nation’s top bird conservationists to talk about the Connecticut State of the Birds 2021 report. It’s free, and you’re invited.

A network to help protect birds expands at Connecticut Audubon

November 15, 2021 — Since 2018, Connecticut Audubon has been part of a growing communications network that lets conservation scientists (and everybody else) see which routes birds take when they are migrating and where their journeys lead. The network is called the Motus Wildlife Tracking System. It relies on tiny transmitters attached to individual birds, and a series of antennas erected throughout the U.S. and Canada. A few months ago, our third antenna array was erected, at the Center at Pomfret.

National Estuarine Research Reserve proposal progresses

October 21, 2021 — Progress toward establishment a new estuary reserve in southeastern Connecticut reached a milestone this week, when the official period for commenting on the project’s draft environmental impact statement ended. Connecticut Audubon is a strong supporter of the National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Dave Engelman Volunteer Benchmark Awards for 2021

October 21, 2021 — Four volunteers who have worked hard over the years to help improve Connecticut’s environment and help local people enjoy birds and the outdoors were the recipients of Connecticut Audubon’s annual Dave Enelman Volunteer Benchmark Awards.

Connecticut Audubon welcomes four new members to the Board of Directors

October 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

September 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

September 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 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.

In 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.

Video: Experts discuss “Dying Birds: What we know and what we don’t know”

August 14, 2021 — Watch the video of our Zoom discussion, “Dying Birds: What we know and what we don’t know,” recorded August 9, 2021. The discussion was designed to give you the latest information on the unidentified condition that has been killing birds in Connecticut and in many states to the south and west.

A special online presentation: “Dying Birds: What we know and what we don’t know”

August 9, 2021 — Join us Wednesday, August 11, for a special free lunchtime Zoom discussion called “Dying Birds: What we know and what we don’t know,” featuring top experts from the state of Connecticut, the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, and the Connecticut Audubon Society. The discussion is designed to give you the latest information on the unidentified condition that has been killing birds in Connecticut and in many states to the south and west of here. Register below!

Beautiful animals that aren’t birds: Cecropia moth caterpillar

In the Sanctuaries …
Sherman, August 9, 2021 — On a routine walk at Deer Pond Farm to check on a habitat improvement project, Jim Arrigoni found a creature he had never before seen in his many years as a conservation biologist: the caterpillar of a cecropia moth.

Things you can do to help birds right now: make your windows bird-safe

August 6, 2021 — A bird doesn’t see a window as a barrier. If the window reflects the sky and trees, a bird thinks it’s flying into the sky and trees. The result is often a dead bird — lots of them. The best estimates show that up to a billion birds a year are killed when they fly into windows, walls, and other structures.

Things you can do to help birds right now: Keep your cat indoors

August 5, 2021 — 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).

Things you can do to help birds right now: Nix the pesticides

August 4, 2021 — Pesticides are poison, plain and simple. If you apply pesticides to your property to kill insects, you’re killing the food that Connecticut’s birds rely on. And while you might think you’re targeting mosquitoes or ticks, you’re also killing butterflies and bees of all sorts.

Things you can do to help birds right now: landscaping

August 3, 2021 — Taking down your feeder now won’t be a burden for birds because there’s plenty of wild food available. Even so, there are still small things you can do in your yard that can make life easier for birds. Native plants host native insects that are in turn food for birds and other wildlife. Hundreds of species of pollinators and birds live in Connecticut. Ninety six percent of all birds rear their young on insects, and it takes a lot: 4,000 to 9,000 caterpillars, for example, to raise just one nest of baby chickadees!

3 dead birds in Connecticut show similar symptoms to dead birds elsewhere so “please don’t feed” recommendation remains

August 2, 2021 — Please don’t put your bird feeders back up yet. The state of Connecticut reported that it has tested three dead birds, and that preliminary results suggest that the “cases match” what’s been seen in dead birds suffering from this condition elsewhere. In other words, there’s some evidence that the condition that is killing birds in southern, mid-Atlantic, and mid-western states has reached Connecticut.

Important Coastal Center law enacted in Hartford

In the Sanctuaries…
August 2, 2021 — We are happy to be able to tell you about the success of a bill in Hartford that allows Connecticut Audubon to sign a new lease for the Milford Point Coastal Center and to continue operating that great nature sanctuary.

Here’s how to help birds while your feeders are down

August 7, 2021 — One of the best things you can do for birds right now is to take down your bird feeder. Or if you’ve already taken it down, leave it down. Hummingbird feeders and bird baths included. The nature of the condition that has killed birds through many states, including Connecticut, is unknown but if it turns out to be infectious, minimizing the number of places where birds gather close together is prudent. There are other ways to help birds though. Here’s a list of actions we compiled in 2020. They’re even more relevant now.

Thank you for remaining vigilant about helping to halt the spread of the mystery bird-killing condition

July 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.

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.

Something is killing birds to the south. Taking in your bird feeders now might help to keep it from spreading.

July 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

Correction: 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

June 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

In 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

In 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

In 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

June 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

A Whimbrel at Milford Point, photographed recently by Frank Mantlik. Size is hard to judge without another bird in the photo but the long, down-curved bill is unmistakable.

June 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

In 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

In 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

June 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

June 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

June 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

In 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

May 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

Don’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

May 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

May 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

May 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.

Legislative committee unanimously passes Coastal Center lease bill

May 19, 2021 — Good news from Hartford: the bill authorizing a new lease for Coastal Center at Milford Point has made it out of committee. Following Friday’s hearing, the Government Administration and Elections Committee voted unanimously today to pass HB 6679, which was introduced by Representative Frank Smith of Milford. Thank you to Rep. Smith, to the committee, and to everyone who spoke or sent a message in favor of the bill!

Daily Bird: Wood Warblers — Blackpoll Warbler

May 19, 2021 — Though Blackpoll Warblers are fairly common in Connecticut, we are likely to see them only in spring and fall migrations, when they are among the last warblers to migrate. They don’t breed in the state or most of New England, and nest further north than any other warbler species.

Daily Bird: Wood Warblers — Worm-eating Warbler

May 12, 2021 — During migration Worm-eating Warblers may be seen at any of the typical warbler stopovers, such as Connecticut Audubon’s Birdcraft Sanctuary in Fairfield and East Rock Park in New Haven.

Daily Bird: Wood Warblers — Blackburnian Warbler

May 11, 2021 — One of the most strikingly colored of our wood-warblers, this species’ flaming orange throat was responsible for its colloquial name of “Fire Throat.”

Daily Bird: Wood Warblers — Magnolia Warbler

May 10, 2021 — The first time I really noticed a warbler was in my backyard in Milford when I was 10 years old with my dad’s binoculars. It was a Magnolia Warbler in a Flowering Dogwood at about eye level. For a 10 year old it seemed impossibly beautiful and I had no trouble looking it up in my field guide.

Daily Bird: Wood Warblers — Hooded Warbler

May 7, 2021 — Usually first noticed by a ringing “weeta, weeta, weeteeo” song, a Hooded Warbler sighting highlights almost any bird walk in the Connecticut woods. Hooded Warblers reach the northern edge of their breeding range here in Connecticut (although there is a breeding population in southern Ontario), generally arriving during the first week of May and setting up housekeeping almost immediately.

20 Warblers in 60 Seconds

May 7, 2021 — Got a minute? Connecticut Audubon Board member Gilles Carter put together this fun video: “20 warblers in 60 seconds” to celebrate the upcoming Migration Madness Birdathon.

Daily Bird: Wood Warblers — Black-and-White Warbler

May 6, 2021 — Although every warbler species is unique, the Black-and-white Warbler stands out, and for a variety of reasons. Many warblers exhibit bright and flashy colors, but the aptly named Black-and-white Warbler is just that: black and white. Yet it is far from drab: the ornate and contrasting striped pattern conjures the exotic pattern of a zebra.

Purple Martins are back and you can help them directly by adopting a nest gourd

In the Sanctuaries …
May 3, 2021 — Purple Martins have been gone from the Coastal Center since early September, probably wintering in the Amazon basin. But they’re back now, and you can help them thrive.

Daily Bird: Wood Warblers — Chestnut-sided Warbler

May 5, 2021 — This time of the year, Chestnut-sided Warblers are migrating through and can be found in numerous habitats. They nest in old field and scrubby habitat throughout Connecticut, a declining habitat type as forests mature and fields get developed and converted to lawns.

Daily Bird: Wood Warblers — Northern Parula

May 4, 2021 — Today marks the start of the Daily Bird’s warbler extravaganza. We have 19 warblers lined up for you, many with first-rate HD video by Connecticut Audubon Board member Gilles Carter. The first is Northern Parula, written by Connecticut Audubon Executive Director Patrick Comins.

The country’s most important bird protection law is safe, thanks to a vast grassroots advocacy effort

May 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.

Daily Bird: Common Raven

April 28, 2021 — Common Ravens are among the earliest birds to construct nests, sometimes even while snow still blankets the ground in early March. Listen for its throaty croak, an identification dead give-away that is unlikely to be confused with Common Crow or Fish Crow, Connecticut’s other two big, all-black birds.

Daily Bird: Noisy Spring Woodpeckers — Northern Flicker

April 27, 2021 — If Northern Flickers are breeding near where you live, you know it. Their calls pierce the woods in April, loud, long, and persistent. Take the time to look for the bird too because, as Andy Rzeznikiewicz says in today’s Daily Bird, “their various colors and markings are spectacular.”

Daily Bird: Noisy Spring Woodpeckers — Pileated Woodpecker

April 23, 2021 — Woodpeckers are noisy this time of year. If you happen to live near a pair of Pileateds, you’ll know it. Add their loud territorial call to that of Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Common Flicker, and Downy Woodpecker, and you have a woodpecker cacophony.

An injured Herring Gull at Milford Point: add face masks to fishing line, nets, and balloon strings on the list of litter that imperils birds

In the Sanctuaries
April 23, 2021 — They are the latest menace to wildlife — Covid protection masks that are lost or thrown on the ground and get tangled around birds’ wings, necks, and legs. On Monday, April 19, two members of Connecticut Audubon’s staff at the Milford Point Coastal Center found a young Herring Gull completely caught in a mask.

Ten Ways to Help Birds: Number 1 — Advocate!

April 22, 2021 — We’ve made a list of 10 things you can do to help birds, and we’re counting them down one day at a time until today, Earth Day! Thank you for all you do to make a difference for conservation!

10 Ways to Help Birds: Number 2 — Reverse the climate crisis

April 21, 2021 — The biggest threat to birds is climate change. Birds are already starting to feel the heat right here in Connecticut. It’s a global problem with local and regional implications, and with local and regional opportunities for meaningful action. The most effective action is collective but that doesn’t mean we should ignore individual action.

Daily Bird: Eastern Bluebird

April 21, 2021 — One of the most sought after birds to attract to one’s yard! Males are a brilliant bright blue year round with a rusty colored breast, females are more grayish blue with a rusty breast and flanks. Their song is a thrush-like gurgle, often soft but sometimes surprisingly loud and forceful.

10 Ways to Help Birds: Number 3 — Support open space preservation

April 20, 2021 — The bottom line for birds is habitat. They need suitable places to nest, spend the winter, and rest and feed during migration. It’s critical that you support the acquisition, preservation, and proper management of open space, including forest land, on the state and local level.

10 Ways to Help Birds: Number 4 — Landscape with native plants to attract insects and birds

April 19, 2021 — Even small yards can have a big impact on birds and insects. Earth Week is a good time to start revamping or enhancing your property. Native plants host native insects that are in turn food for birds and other wildlife. Hundreds of species of pollinators and birds live in Connecticut.

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