Photo of Common Mergansers by Liz Jaffin
Annual Meeting 2024
Board Chair Pamela Fraser opens the 2024 Annual Meeting. Photo by Board member Tomas Koeck.
Members of the Connecticut Audubon Society gathered in Old Lyme on Saturday, October 26, for the organization’s 2024 annual meeting, and heard an inspiring review of how their support led to numerous conservation achievements in the past year.
The meeting, presided over by Board Chair Pamela Fraser, was held at Connecticut Audubon’s Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center. It featured the first official look at the center’s new Kelsey Family Children’s Innovation and Discovery Center, which opened in July and is now home to many of the center’s education programs.
Members elected a new Board Vice Chair, Richard S. Perkin of Southport, and a new Board member, Eleazar Lanzot of New Haven.
Christina Clayton, a longtime Board member well-known for her love of birds and her intelligent, passionate advocacy on their behalf, received the annual Dave Engelman Volunteer Benchmark Award.
Members also approved changes to the organization’s by-laws including changes to the Mission Statement; revisions to the responsibilities of the organization’s Secretary; and revisions to the responsibilities and composition of the organization’s Standing Committees, including separating Sanctuaries and Conservation, and making Communications an advisory group which supports all committees.
Teacher-naturalists Morgan Allen of the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, and Connecticut Audubon Board members Liz and Kevin Ramsey, at the 2024 Annual Meeting. Photo by Tomas Koeck.
In her review of the year’s accomplishments, Executive Director Joyce Leiz emphasized statewide projects supported by members from all regions of Connecticut.
- Purple Martin Conservation Efforts: Volunteers and staff at multiple Connecticut Audubon locations helped Purple Martin colonies thrive, with around 140 pairs raising almost 500 hatchlings.
- Piping Plover Protection at Milford Point: Work to protect Piping Plovers at Milford Point led to a record 33 fledglings from 13 nesting pairs.
- Advocacy for Bird Protection Laws: Connecticut Audubon members engaged in advocacy efforts for legislation protecting birds from harmful pesticides and rodenticides. While the legislation did not pass in 2024, the strong grassroots involvement sets the stage for continued efforts.
- Habitat Restoration: A prime example of the habitat restoration work Connecticut Audubon members supported is Ice Pond, at the Larsen Sanctuary in Fairfield. The work included fixing a collapsed culvert and rebuilding spillways, leading to rising water levels and the return of Wood Ducks, Great Blue Herons, and various amphibians.
- Osprey Population Monitoring and Success: The Osprey Nation program, powered by 420 volunteers, tracked over 1,000 Osprey nests, with 726 active nests producing 1,077 fledglings. The program’s success reflects the health of Long Island Sound and Connecticut’s waterways.
She also reviewed EcoTravel’s successful year, as well Connecticut Audubon’s far-reaching childhood education programs. In the past year more than 21,000 students from 48 communities participated in Science in Nature, the foundation of Connecticut Audubon’s education programs for school-age students.
Science in Nature is designed for K-12 students and consists of hands-on, inquiry-based activities that relate to earth and life sciences, ecology, conservation, and civic engagement.
