10 Reasons 2013 Was a Good Year for Conservation

Bald Eagle photo courtesy of Anthony Donofrio

In 2013 we welcomed tens of thousands of hikers, improved hundreds of acres of key habitat, and provided outdoor science education to thousands of school children.

We also found time for plenty of birding, and to help make it easier for birders around the state to get out to see Snowy Owls, Piping Plovers, Purple Martins and dozens of other birds.

Here are 10 reasons 2013 was a good year for conservation. The 11th reason almost goes without saying: we enjoyed the support of thousands of conservation-minded residents of Connecticut – support that was essential to our mission and for which we are sincerely grateful.

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More than 60,000 visitors enjoyed the out of doors at our nature centers (and helped us celebrated when Yankee Magazine chose our Bafflin and Trail Wood sanctuaries as Best Nature Centers in Connecticut).

We brought much-needed attention to the plight of insect-eating birds such as swallows and swifts through our Connecticut State of the Birds 2013 report, “The Seventh Habitat and the Decline of Our Aerial Insectivores.”

We expanded our innovative Science in Nature program to include public schools in Bridgeport and Meriden, and were awarded grants to expand further to East Hartford and Manchester in 2014.

We began the next phase of our coastal habitat restoration at Stratford Point by working with Sacred Heart University to plan and win a major grant for a “living shoreline” project to improve habitat and protect against erosion.

We made significant progress on two comprehensive habitat management plans, for the Town of Orange (at the Turkey Hill Preserve) and for the Norwalk Land Trust (Hoyt’s Island).

We provided great viewing areas for birders to experience this winter’s influx of Snowy Owls.

Our EcoTravel program guided more than 1,000 people on Connecticut River cruises to see the spectacular displays of Bald Eagles and Tree Swallows.

We created the weekly Connecticut Audubon Bird Finder, to help birders of all levels locate great birds.

Working with the Audubon Alliance, we helped protect the breeding areas of vulnerable beach-nesting birds such as Piping Plovers and Least Terns.

We helped convince Governor Malloy to veto a bill that could have led to the use of all-terrain vehicles in state parks.

The one essential ingredient for all of these accomplishments was your support. Please consider helping conservation in Connecticut by making a year-end, tax-deductible gift to Connecticut Audubon Society.