August 25, 2025 — Each year, American Oystercatchers return to Connecticut’s beaches to nest, but face constant threats from predators. At Milford Point, two banded birds — N29, once rescued as a chick, and 3T, a fiercely territorial female — have shown the resilience and struggles of their species. Their stories highlight both the challenges of mainland nesting and the importance of protecting coastal habitats so these remarkable shorebirds can thrive.
Blog – 2018
You CAN Go Home Again: Researchers have learned that American Oystercatchers return to the same locations. Two birds are loyal to the sandbar at Milford Point
Monday, August 25th, 2025Homegrown Habitat, August 2025: Great Lobelia
Monday, August 18th, 2025August 18, 2025—The deep blue, tubular flowers of great lobelia begin to bloom in August and continue into October, the bloom sequence proceeding from lower on the stalk upward. The flowers attract long-tongued bees, including bumblebees, as well as hummingbirds. Butterflies and hummingbird moths also visit great blue lobelia flowers, and the foliage is host to several species of moth larvae.
Splish Splash: Even Owls Love a Summer Bath (And All Birds Need Water in Hot Weather)
Monday, August 4th, 2025August 4, 2025 — You might never see a better reminder that birds need cool water on hot days than a photo of a Barred Owl visiting a birdbath. Here’s a reminder that birds need cool water on a hot day as much as you do.
Ospreys to the south are suffering. We’re keeping an eye on the situation in Connecticut.
Friday, August 1st, 2025August 1, 2025 — You may have heard the news that Ospreys south of Connecticut, in Virginia especially, are not doing well. We have not seen anything similar in Connecticut but concern is growing, so we like to share what we know.
News report: Piping Plover numbers at Milford Point are “inching up” over the years
Monday, July 21st, 2025July 21, 2025 — The continued success of federally-threatened Piping Plovers at Milford Point and elsewhere in Connecticut is good news for conservation. The thriving flock at Milford Point in particular shows that when Connecticut Audubon members and supporters like you make donations, those funds are put to work doing what you want them to do — protect birds.
Homegrown Habitat, July 2025: Buttonbush
Monday, July 21st, 2025July 21, 2025 — In New England, buttonbush can be found growing along swamp edges, often with alders. These thickets provide safe hiding places for wood ducks and green herons. Red-winged blackbirds and Virginia rails may nest in buttonbush. Songbirds also use it for nesting and shelter in addition to food.
Neonics ban heads list of 4 important environmental bills that become law in the state in 2025
Monday, July 14th, 2025July 14, 2025—The Connecticut Audubon Society and its members focused a lot of attention in the first half of 2025 on convincing lawmakers in Hartford to pass a law banning neonicotinoid pesticides.
Summer 2025 Conservation News
Thursday, July 10th, 2025Connecticut Audubon’s 2025 Summer Conservation News includes: A report on the new law that bans neonics on 300,000 acres in the state An article titled “Threatened and at-risk birds and butterflies are returning to preserves in Connecticut thanks to your donations.” News about how 7 members have issued a challenge to match their gifts this […]
Homegrown Habitat, June 2025: Spiraeas — Meadowsweet and Steeplebush
Monday, June 23rd, 2025June 23, 2023 — Meadowsweet and steeplebush typically grow in moist, acidic soils, they are adaptable to drier sites. They don’t get very large and have a long flowering period. They feed many caterpillars, pollinators, and birds.
2025 Migration Magic: A month of fun and friendly competition raises more than $41K to help Connecticut’s birds
Wednesday, June 25th, 2025June 25, 2025—More than 1,500 people helped the cause of bird conservation in Connecticut this May by participating in Migration Magic 2025 — birding, donating, and attending walks and programs throughout the state. Together they raised $41,650 for bird conservation — almost one third more than last year, making the 2025 Migration Magic Birdathon a great success.
10 great films slated for benefit showing of Mountainfilm on Tour in Hartford, Sunday, June 29
Monday, June 16th, 2025June 16, 2025—Mountainfilm on Tour comes to Cinestudio at Trinity College, Hartford, on Sunday, June 29, at 1 p.m. for a special 10-film showing to benefit the environmental education work of Connecticut Audubon’s Greater Hartford program. Cinestudio’s high quality, single-screen theater is ideal for the immersive Mountainfilm experience.
Watch the 2025 Purple Martins nest at Milford Point
Tuesday, June 10th, 2025Welcome to Connecticut Audubon’s Purple Martin Cam! Live from the Coastal Center at Milford point. Several dozen Purple Martins nest in a colony on the edge of the marsh at Milford Point. We are live-streaming from one of the nests to give you a close-up view as the incubate eggs and raise their young.
Connecticut moves closer to a law that bans neonics. Congratulations and thank you to the scores of advocates who spoke out on this important issue.
Thursday, May 29th, 2025May 29, 2025—Connecticut is just a step away from banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on 300,000 acres of lawns, golf courses, and other areas of turf grass. Yesterday, the State House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 9, an important climate change, pesticides and rodenticides bill. The Senate passed it two weeks ago. It will now go to Governor Ned Lamont.
8 Days Left to Join the Fun—Migration Magic Birdathon Is Still Going Strong!
Friday, May 23rd, 2025May 23, 2025 — Migration Magic, our month-long festival of birds and birding, runs through May 31, 2025—as of today, May 23, there are 8 more days to participate in the Birdathon and Birdathon Photo Contest to support bird conservation right here in Connecticut.
An important pesticides bill passes the State Senate and now moves to the House. Here’s what you need to know
Friday, May 23rd, 2025May 23, 2025 — Senate Bill 9 has passed the State Senate by a vote of 28–8 — a significant step forward, though not a complete victory. It now heads to the House. If passed there, it will move on to the Governor’s desk for final approval.
Resources for understanding the importance of Public Act 25-33/SB 9 and its neonics provisions
Friday, May 23rd, 2025May 23, 2025 — Here’s a summary of SB 9; links to the Senate vote and to the complete the text of the bill; links to the 2024 Connecticut State of the Birds report and to a summary of the report; and more.
Homegrown Habitat, May 2025: Chokecherry
Thursday, May 22nd, 2025May 22, 2025 — Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), a small tree with excellent garden potential, is also an ecological powerhouse. It is native to much of the United States except for a few Southeastern states.
Volunteer Opportunity for Birders: Help with Bird Research This June
Tuesday, May 20th, 2025May 20, 2025 —Attention, birders! Hartmut Doerwaldt, a master’s degree student at Wesleyan University, is conducting a summer field study on insect-eating birds and their predation on white oak caterpillars.
Bad news on neonics but it might not be too late
Thursday, May 15th, 2025May 15, 2025—Act today! Senate Bill 9, which includes a provision to restrict the use of neonics, has been amended, and not in a good way. Trees and shrubs were removed from the bill. That means that landscapers will be prohibited from using neonics on lawns but not on the trees and shrubs next to lawns. And the law would be delayed for a year and a half! It would go into effect in October 2027 rather than January 2026.
Neonics Bill Update: Time to Contact Your State Officials
Wednesday, April 30th, 2025April 30, 2025—There’s good news about the work being done to enact a stronger pesticide law in Hartford, but also a serious concern. It is important for you to contact your legislators as soon as you can.
