Where
It All Began -- America's First-of-its-Kind Songbird Refuge
Connecticut Audubon Society received its first land
donation in 1914 through the generosity of philanthropist
Annie Burr Jennings of Fairfield. "Connecticut
must have a songbird sanctuary and you must build
it," she proclaimed to Mabel Osgood Wright,
Connecticut Audubon Society ’s founder. With Miss Jenning’s
gift of 10 acres (an abandoned calf pasture near
Fairfield’s current train station), Mrs. Wright created
Birdcraft Sanctuary, the first-of-its-kind songbird refuge in the nation, and literally laid the groundwork for Connecticut Audubon Society. |
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A true visionary, Mrs. Wright designed Birdcraft Sanctuary as a refuge for birds and people too, a welcoming place for all those who "crave a place to rest, watch and wait surrounded by the philosophy of nature." Her goal was to bring birds and people together -- not to separate people from nature in order to preserve and protect wildlife. The Sanctuary was also designed as an educational tool, enabling people to observe and experience birds in their natural habitats in order to better appreciate them.
Connecticut Audubon's Society's Sanctuaries -- Classrooms Without Walls
From these
wonderful beginnings in the early
20th century, Mrs. Wright set forth the framework and
philosophy that continues to guide Connecticut Audubon Society's entire Sanctuary
Program. Today, Connecticut Audubon Society operates 19 Sanctuaries
(click here for detailed CAS Sanctuary information) which are gently managed as outdoor classrooms and
not used intensively.
Most Connecticut Audubon Society Sanctuaries are open
to visitors from dawn to dusk, 365 days a year. Several
CAS Sanctuaries have modest trail systems and interpretive
signage that enhance visitors' educational experiences, while some CAS Sanctuaries have limited access and no mapped trails. (Click here for detailed CAS Sanctuary information.)
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Connecticut Audubon Society’s Sanctuary
Program is designed primarily for the benefit
of birds and other natural communities; through careful management CAS is helping nature to re-establish long-term diversity
and balance.
There are 6 major bird habitat types in Connecticut. Click here for our Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary Map, which indicates which of these
bird habitats can be found in each CAS Wildlife Sanctuary, using the following key:
Key Bird Habitats Found in CAS Sanctuaries:
FOR = Forest; GR = Grassland; SH = Shrubland;
CO = Coastal; IW = Inland Wetlands; TM = Tidal Marshes.
CAS Sanctuaries are made available to
people, as practical, for environmental study and
passive recreational uses (i.e. walking, cross-country
skiing). Unlike public institutions that are stewards
of open spaces, a private, non-profit organization
such as Connecticut Audubon Society can resist the
recreational and developmental demands of growing
populations once the land is donated for permanent
preservation. |
Under the
direction of CAS Board
of Director’s "Sanctuaries and Properties Committee," careful attention is paid to the physical,
natural and cultural features of each property, which is maintained by designated CAS staff. The management context for a particular
property is very often established at the time the decision
is made to accept proffered land. The wishes and intent
of the prospective donor, restrictions on use of the
land, cost to maintain the property, and programming
goals and objectives of Connecticut Audubon Society
are all key considerations in the decision-making process
when additions to our Sanctuary Program are contemplated.
One example is
the Jane and George Pratt Valley Preserve, a 150-acre
parcel located in Bridgewater that was donated in 1985 and
came with two important provisions: the land must be
protected as open space and it must continue to be used,
at least partially, for some agricultural purpose. These
restrictions reflect the commitment of the donor to
continue the tradition of land protection that began
with her late husband.
Several sanctuaries
benefit from close working relationships with local
groups and individuals interested in assisting Connecticut
Audubon Society formulate and implement management plans.
A perfect example of effective community cooperation
has been the supportive contributions of ideas, time
and interest by the neighbors and friends of Edwin and
Nellie Teale, who donated their beloved property, Trail
Wood (located in Hampton) to Connecticut Audubon Society
in the early 1980s. The Friends of Trail Wood help maintain
the property, volunteer in many capacities and assist
year-round to expand support for and use of
this unique, 156-acre sanctuary in northeastern Connecticut.
Many CAS Sanctuaries are the beneficiaries
of community service projects. Every spring a student project team from
Tomlinson Middle School in Fairfield makes improvements to the Disabled
Trail located at the Roy and Margot Larsen Sanctuary
in Fairfield. Several Eagle Scout candidates and other scout groups have taken
on rigorous volunteer projects to improve trails at
Birdcraft and other CAS Sanctuaries and Nature Centers.
Each year, more than 200,000
children and adults participate in Connecticut
Audubon Society environmental education programs. An important component of many CAS programs
is a field trip to a CAS Sanctuary, where textbook learning suddenly comes alive. What better way to illustrate
the importance of habitat protection for 4th graders than having them observe the remarkable
sight of a female bluebird gathering nesting materials
to build a home for her youngsters!
We encourage you to visit one of Connecticut
Audubon Society's marvelous and magical Sanctuaries and take a refreshing pause from your fast-paced
world. Please follow all posted rules, do not disturb or remove any animals or plants, and leave no trace behind (like litter) of your visit. (Click here for detailed CAS Sanctuary information.)
"Connecticut State of the Birds" Initiative
In 2006, Connecticut Audubon Society launched a new annual initiative called “Connecticut State of the Birds.” This was a first-of-its-kind report for the state and it focused on the single greatest threat to our native birds: habitat loss. As a result, an estimated 50% of Connecticut’s native bird species are declining and 17% are on the CT DEP's list of "Endangered," "Threatened" and "Special Concern" species. This means that 50 out of 290 regularly or annually occurring bird species in Connecticut are State-listed. Our 2006 report also contains Connecticut Audubon Society's five specific, science-based recommendations for mitigating these threats and protecting Connecticut’s birds and habitats. In cooperation with the CT DEP, other State agencies and other conservation organizations, Connecticut Audubon Society is following through on all five recommendations and we are pleased to see that bird conservation in Connecticut is moving forward.
Our 2007 "Connecticut State of the Birds” Report described the next most serious set of threats to our native birds. These are specific factors, either man-made or within our control, that kill or injure millions of birds annually and destroy precious habitat. Just one of these, glass strikes, conservatively kills an estimated 100 million birds every year in the U.S. -- and some experts say 1 billion! Our just-released 2008 "Connecticut State of the Birds" Report describes possible conservation strategies for six bird species that are in serious trouble -- and for which their Connecticut habitat is critical to their global survival -- to illustrate how complex the problems and solutions are related to habitat protection and bird conservation. These include the Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow (a state-listed “species of Special Concern”), the Blue-winged Warbler (a state-listed “Endangered” species), the Golden-winged Warbler, the American Oystercatcher (a state-listed “species of Special Concern”), the Cerulean Warbler, and the Bobolink (a state-listed “species of Special Concern”).
Click here to learn more about our "Connecticut State of the Birds" Initiative.
Keeping environmental issues in front of state representatives is an important part of our work. Connecticut Audubon Society is first and foremost a champion of the state's birds and their habitats -- which means promoting all aspects of the natural environment.
For more information contact:
Milan Bull, Senior Director of Science and Conservation,
Editor-in-Chief, "Connecticut State of the Birds" and
Acting Director, Environmental Affairs
203-259-6305, ext. 111 or mbull@ctaudubon.org
Based on our "Connecticut State of the Birds" Initiative,
the following are Connecticut Audubon Society's
"Connecticut Bird & Habitat Conservation Priorities":
1. Preserve Grasslands
--Protect existing grasslands from development.
--Provide farmers with incentives to mow after the nesting season.
--Provide incentives to convert marginal cropland to grassland.
--Key Species: Meadowlark, Bobolink, Grasshopper Sparrow.
2. Manage Land to Create More Shrublands
--Actively manage public land to increase shrublands.
--Provide incentives to private landowners to create shrublands.
--Encourage utilities to maintain power line cuts as shrublands.
--Key Species: Blue-winged Warbler, Brown Thrasher, Towhee.
3. Protect Remaining Beach and Saltmarsh Habitats
--Actively prevent degradation of the limited existing habitat.
--Provide funds for policing during the nesting season.
--Use dredge spoil to create safe artificial nesting islands.
--Key Species: Oystercatcher, Least Tern, Sharp-tailed Sparrow.
4. Slow Forest Fragmentation and Stop Deer Overbrowsing
--Use land acquisition to preserve large blocks of unbroken forest.
--Reduce deer populations in impacted forests.
--Key Species: Scarlet Tanager, Ovenbird, Wood Thrush.
5. Limit Unnecessary Human Threats
--Eliminate feral cat colonies on public lands.
--Promote light awareness programs for major buildings.
--Establish guidelines for lighting on communications towers.
--Support controls on all invasive species.
--Key Species: All migratory and native species.
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