Connecticut Audubon’s Stratford Point Joins Elite Group of Birding Hotspots With 300 Species Recorded
The achievement places Stratford Point among Connecticut’s most celebrated birding destinations.
STRATFORD, CT — The Connecticut Audubon Society’s Stratford Point sanctuary has reached a remarkable milestone, becoming one of only five locations in Connecticut where more than 300 bird species have been recorded.
The 28-acre sanctuary overlooking Long Island Sound reached the milestone on Sunday, Sept. 27, when days of stormy weather brought Fairfield County’s first documented sighting of a Great Shearwater to the shoreline. Birdwatchers that weekend were also treated to a sighting of a rare Leach’s Storm-Petrel.
This Great Shearwater marked the 300th bird species recorded at Stratford Point. Photo by Frank Mantlik
The achievement places Stratford Point among Connecticut’s most celebrated birding destinations, alongside much larger properties. Hammonasset Beach State Park leads the state with more than 330 species recorded, followed by Connecticut Audubon’s Coastal Center at Milford Point with more than 320, according to eBird. Sherwood Island State Park and Greenwich Point Park round out the state’s top five.
What makes Stratford Point’s milestone especially impressive is its relatively small size. “Hammonasset is about 35 times larger than Stratford Point and 49 times larger than Milford Point,” said Stefan Martin, Connecticut Audubon’s Conservation Manager.
The Connecticut Audubon Society acquired Stratford Point in 2022 after managing the property for decades. The sanctuary is the newest addition to the organization’s statewide network of protected lands.
Situated where the Housatonic River estuary meets Long Island Sound, Stratford Point is surrounded by waters rich in fish, marine life, and extensive oyster beds.
Founded in 1898, the Connecticut Audubon Society protects Connecticut’s birds, other wildlife, and their habitats through conservation, education, and advocacy. Connecticut Audubon operates nature facilities in Fairfield, Milford, Pomfret, Hampton, Sherman, and Old Lyme, a program that focuses on education in the greater Hartford area, and an EcoTravel office in Essex. It manages 22 wildlife sanctuaries, encompassing more than 3,400 acres of open space, and educates over 100,000 children and adults annually.
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Media Contact:
Melissa Chan
mchan@ctaudubon.org
203-259-0416 ext. 408
