CAS Biologists to Speak in Southport and West Haven

Anthony Zemba, director of conservation services, surveying a wetland at Trout Brook Valley. Photo courtesy of Nancy Moon.

June 10, 2013 – Connecticut Audubon Society’s conservation biologists will be the keynote speakers at meetings of two Connecticut organizations on Wednesday, June 12, discussing the plight of vulnerable beach-nesting birds such as Piping Plovers and Least Terns, and the importance of conservation planning and habitat management.

At the Aspetuck Land Trust’s annual meeting, Anthony Zemba, our director of conservation services, will discuss the landmark comprehensive conservation and management plan Connecticut Audubon Society prepared for Aspetuck Land Trust’s Trout Brook Valley Preserve in 2012.

Trout Brook Valley is one of the region’s most important ecological features. TBV is host to over 100 species of conservation concern, including the Eastern Box Turtle and Jefferson Salamander, and encompasses more than 60 ephemeral wetlands/vernal pools.

The year-long study led to management decisions and policies by Aspetuck’s board of directors designed to provide a better balance on the preserve between conservation and recreation.

Anthony’s presentation will focus on the study and its recommendations. He will also discuss how Connecticut Audubon’s conservation services program is providing landowners around the state with science-based conservation management plans to protect and improve habitat.

The meeting is set for 7 p.m. at the Pequot Library in Southport. It is free and open to the public.

Also at 7 on Wednesday, Scott Kruitbosch, a conservation biologist who coordinates our work with the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, will make a presentation about the Alliance and its efforts to protect plovers, terns and other beach-nesting birds. The presentation is at Saint John Vianney Church Hall, 300 Captain Thomas Boulevard, West Haven.

Last week, Milan Bull, our senior director of science and conservation, discussed the mysterious population decline of 17 local bird species that eat only insects they catch on the wing, at the Friends of Sherwood Island Annual Meeting.

The decline was the topic of our Connecticut State of the Birds 2013 report, “The Seventh Habitat and the Decline of Aerial Insectivores,” released in February.

Miley’s spoke about things individuals can do to help aerial insectivores. He was joined by Phil Donahue, media personality, writer and producer, who has successfully provided nesting boxes for Purple Martins on his property in Westport (visit www.gazebophil.com for more information). You can read an account of the presentation here.