Birdcraft Museum

The Connecticut Audubon Society President Alexander Brash with incoming Chairman Peter Kunkel

Peg North, Miley Bull and Landon Storrs

Event Co-chairs Eileen Riccardi and Judy Richardson with artist Kelly Radding.

Friends and supporters of The Connecticut Audubon Society flocked to Birdcraft  for the “Gathering of Feathered Friends” on Friday, October 2. The evening featured music by members of the Bridgeport Symphony, and artwork for sale including paintings by Kelly Radding, and carved feathers by Bill Rice. This end-of-season event raised critical funds to support Connecticut Audubon’s ongoing education and conservation work in the Fairfield area.

Newly cleared Teaching Terrace at Birdcraft

The Southport-based Sasqua Garden Club (a member of the Garden Club of America) committed to allocate funds for landscape restoration project at Connecticut Audubon Society’s Birdcraft Museum and Sanctuary in Fairfield.  Charged with the restoration, improvement and protection of the environment, Sasqua saw a unique opportunity at Birdcraft whose historic building is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation.  The Birdcraft needed sponsorship to create landscaping that demonstrated conservation principles which will be highlighted in its new exhibits.  Sasqua stepped in to fill this role.  Read more >>>

The Birdcraft Museum began interior renovation in the winter of 2012.  “This project has been in the planning stage for several years and we are now in a position to proceed with a phased approach to not only restoring the museum from a historical standpoint, but more importantly, bringing it into the 21st century of citizen science.” said Nelson North, Director, Fairfield Operations. “The completion of this project, over the next several years, will serve as a focal point for Connecticut Audubon Society’s mission of conserving Connecticut’s bird populations and habitat through science based education programs and advocacy.” The project will include new state of the art interactive exhibits focused on birds and their habitats. Restoration will also include the refurbishing of the museum’s dioramas which depict wildlife at the turn of the century. The exterior façade and footprint will remain unchanged.

While the Birdcraft Museum is currently closed, the Sanctuary will remain open during the renovation period. The Sanctuary is open from dawn to dusk.

nvironmental Education Programs for Pre-K through Grade 12.

Due to the construction at the Birdcraft Museum, all education programs all held at the Center at Fairfield, 2325 Burr Street.   For questions or to register for a program at the Center at Fairfield,  please contact our scheduler at 203-259-6305 ext. 118.

CANE Program for Grades K-2

The Connecticut Audubon Nature Explorers (CANE) Program is offered to students at the Fairfield Public Schools and St. Thomas Parochial School. We train Parent-Volunteers to present three science enrichment programs to their child’s class. Two units are presented in the classroom, leading up to one end-of-year field study activity. We provide some of the materials that will be needed in the classroom.

The Kindergarten fall and winter programs are puppet shows; the spring program is held on school grounds.

The Grade 1 fall program is a puppet show; the winter program is a hands-on activity about bird beak adaptations; the spring program is a trip to the Birdcraft Museum.

The Grade 2 programs include setting up a salt water tank in the classroom; a ‘Mystery in the Marsh’ activity to test students’ detective skills; and a trip to Southport Beach to investigate the variety of wildlife habitats found there.

For more information, contact the CANE Coordinator at each school; or Colleen Noyes, Teacher Naturalist, 203-259-6305, ext., 112 or cnoyes@ctaudubon.org .

TRAINING SCHEUDLE:  Click here for the 2016/2017 CANE  Training Schedule. 

PRESENTATION SCHEDULE: 
Kindergarten Presentation Schedule
Grade 1 Presentation Schedule
Grade 2 Presentation Schedule