News & Visitor Information at the Coastal Center at Milford Point
Adopt a Purple Martin Gourd
Martins perching. Photo © Frank Mantlik
Play a direct role in conservation by adopting a Purple Martin gourd!
Your adoption will help maintain the structures and support the staff effort to monitor and clean the nests each week — essential tasks for protecting Purple Martins.
Supporting the colony also makes a great gift for members of your family or friends!
Here’s what supporters of the project are saying:
“CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE CARING FOR OUR PURPLE MARTIN COLONY! HOW EGGCITING!! AND HOW PRECIOUS ARE THOSE NEWLY HATCHED🐣BABIES!🐣🐦”
“THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS AND KEEPING US INFORMED ON THEIR PROGRESS!! NATURE IS THE BEST!!” – Bev.
“Thank you! It is wonderful to see the terrific report and photos. Really appreciate all your hard work!” – Carol D.
Purple Martins have declined in many areas nationwide, including Connecticut and New England. According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, competition with invasive House Sparrows and Starlings for nesting space, and pesticides poisoning their food supply, are contributors to their decline. They are considered a Threatened Species in Connecticut.
The team at work checking, cleaning and keeping records at the colony. Photo © Frank Mantlik
Purple Martins are completely dependent on human-made structures, either boxes or gourds, for their survival. Our colony is one of the largest in Connecticut, and last year we had 91 chicks fledge!
When you adopt a gourd, a numbered gourd will be assigned to you. A paper gourd with your name (or a name you indicate on the registration) will be hung in the windows at the Coastal Center.
Purple Martin supporters receive weekly updates about the gourds, the status of the nests being built in them and a copy of the end-of-season report.
More young Piping Plovers than ever fledged at Milford Point in 2024
The support of Connecticut Audubon members enables Johann Heupel, left, and Matt Joyce to protect Piping Plovers from April through August. Photo by Ken Elkins.
October 11, 2024—Good news to report from the Milford Point Coastal Center: For the second year in a row baby Piping Plovers were abundant, a testament to the support of Connecticut Audubon members and the diligence of the coastal rangers who watch over the nests.
Thirteen pairs of Piping Plovers raised young birds at Milford Point, and 33 of those hatchlings survived the hazardous weeks after hatching to successfully fledge—three more fledglings than the record 30 in 2023.
Piping Plovers are listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Milford Point’s 13 pairs make up a significant portion of the state’s breeding population, which has fluctuated over the last 15 years between 45 to almost 80 pairs on approximately 17 beaches
Because of your support and membership, Connecticut Audubon was able to hire two coastal rangers—Matt Joyce and Johann Heupel—to patrol the Milford Point beach and sandbar seven days a week, from dawn to dusk, April through August. Their job was to find and help protect the nests, keep track of the eggs and hatchlings, and let visitors know how to view the birds without putting the birds in danger.
They had some help. One ill-timed coastal storm can easily flood and destroy dozens of nests in one tidal cycle. That didn’t happen in the summer of 2024. And there were challenges. Foxes, crows and other predators were continually looking to raid nests.
But the results show the effectiveness of the patrols. We estimate that, from the time the parents nest to when a young bird fledges, it costs about $1,300 to protect one baby Piping Plover at Milford Point.
That might sound like a lot but the return on investment is significant: Conservation biologists estimate that for the population of Piping Plovers to increase across their range, they need to average 1.5 fledged birds per nest.
At Milford Point this year, the average was 2.53 fledglings per nest. And over the last two years, the average was 2.2.
Connecticut Audubon members should feel proud that their generosity has led to these results. Thank you!
Osprey Nation report shows 2024 was a good year in Connecticut but Ospreys had trouble elsewhere
Osprey Nation steward Joseph Szalay photographed these Ospreys on their nest in Ashford, one of the most northerly nesting sites in the state.
November 18, 2024—Ospreys in Connecticut flourished in 2024. The successful nesting season shows that the local revival of these previously imperiled hawks continues, although with concerns about a more difficult season to the south.
Volunteers for Connecticut Audubon’s Osprey Nation project kept track of 726 active Osprey nests this year. Those nests produced 1,077 fledglings.
That’s the highest number of nests and fledglings in the history of the project, which started in 2014. The average number of fledglings per nest was a strong 1.48.
The details and an analysis are contained in the just-released “Osprey Nation 2024 Season Report,” written by Scott Kruitbosch, Connecticut Audubon’s Osprey Nation coordinator.
Click THIS LINK to read the report and a full discussion, a summary of the report’s key takeaways, and an overview of the situation on Chesapeake Bay.
Purple Martin 2024 Final Report
A female Purple Martin feeds its chick a Red Admiral butterfly. Photo by Frank Mantlik.
We had conducted our last nest check on July 12. At that time, 46 active nests held 157 total chicks and 16 total eggs. Also, we presumed 21 chicks had already fledged from the colony. We made a decision to discontinue further nest checks. With so many chicks nearing fledgling age, we didn’t want to unduly cause nestlings to prematurely jump out of their nests before they were ready to make their first flight. We continued to visually monitor the colony from afar, and larger nestlings were observed fledging, while younger ones continued to be fed by their parents during the ensuing weeks.
As of this writing, all the chicks have fledged, the gourds appear all empty and inactive, and virtually all our Purple Martins have left the area. They are on their southbound migration to wintering grounds in the Amazon basin of South America!
So, how did our season go?
Of the 71 available gourds, we had 48 active nests.
Maximum number of eggs: 223
Presumed number of chicks that successfully fledged: 194
Date gourds installed: March 29
First Purple Martin arrived at colony: April 9
Date first eggs laid (approximately): May 26
Date first eggs hatched (approximate): June 11
Date last chick fledged (approximate): August 9
Average number eggs/active nest: 4.6
Average number fledglings per active nest: 4.0
This was the most successful and productive season we have had at Milford Point since I have been involved with monitoring the colony.
What’s next?
We will schedule a date in the fall to remove the gourds, empty the old nests, scrub, disinfect, and dry them. Then we’ll store them for the winter, so they are ready to install next spring.
Connecticut Audubon staff, board members, and volunteers help to conduct a routine nest check of the Purple Martin gourds. Photo by Frank Mantlik.
Our team: Frank Mantlik, Stefan Martin, George Amato, Tom & Katherine Murray, Lori Romick, Bev Propen, Gilles Carter, Johann Heupel, and Matt Joyce. Additional interns were James Leone, Toni Cepalia, Gian Garcia, and Matt Colberg.
Lastly, we wish to thank all the fine folks who donated to this project by adopting one or more gourds. Your generosity has allowed us to continue to monitor this important colony. We hope you’ve enjoyed these reports and photographs, as we documented the nesting season. We’ll see you next spring!
Frank Mantlik
Purple Martin Team Captain
Coastal Center Advisory Board member
Thank you, Harry Garafalo, for helping to make the Coastal Center a better place for visitors — avian and human!
Harry Garafalo, left, presents a donation to Coastal Center Director Ken Elkins, center, and regional board Chair George Amato.
June 21, 2024—We are delighted to share that CT Audubon’s Coastal Center has received a generous donation of over $26,000 from Harry Garafalo, the philanthropic owner and president of Garafalo Markets LLC.
This gift will be instrumental in making much-needed improvements to the center’s buildings and grounds, leading to an even better experience for you when you visit.
Harry’s commitment to conservation extends far beyond this donation. A member of the Coastal Center’s regional board until recently, he has consistently offered his encouragement, management advice, and efforts to organize work days on the sanctuary’s grounds involving ShopRite Market employees.
Their dedication has improved the sanctuary’s value to birds and the public’s enjoyment of Milford Point.
The Coastal Center is one of the most heavily visited birding spots in Connecticut, and we are deeply appreciative of Harry Garafalo’s and his ShopRite employees’ ongoing efforts on behalf of conservation and the public.
What to do with “abandoned” or “orphaned” birds
The CT DEEP has excellent advice for what to do if you find an “orphaned” bird. Click this link. Photo by Stephanie Galea/The Connecticut Audubon Society
Have you found an abandoned bird?
Birds and other wildlife that seem to be abandoned or orphaned at this time of year often are not actually abandoned or orphaned.
The Connecticut DEEP has advice about what to do if you find a bird that you think is abandoned. There are several alternatives.
Click here to learn about them.
Please do not bring injured or orphaned animals to any Connecticut Audubon Society facility. Connecticut Audubon is not authorized to accept injured or abandoned animals.
But if it is obviously injured, it may need help. The CT DEEP has more information here about dealing with distressed wildlife.
Monitoring air quality at the Coastal Center
We’ve installed a PurpleAir monitor at the Coastal Center as part of our ongoing commitment to environmental conservation. The monitor allows us to track local air quality and add to a community database, which can be used by weather tracking organizations, climate scientists, and the general public to learn more about the air around them.
PurpleAir monitors measure the concentration of air pollutants, providing real-time data on air quality conditions. By placing these monitors at our centers, we aim to educate about pollution and its impact on both human health and the environment.
Air quality is a critical component of environmental health, as poor air causes respiratory issues to people and wildlife. Birds are especially susceptible to poor air quality, but natural spaces like wildlife sanctuaries provide a pollution buffer and improve the overall health of the area. These monitors will allow us to better understand local air pollution levels and how green spaces impact them.
Mobile App
Explore our centers and sanctuaries on your mobile device
Soar through our centers and sanctuaries with this free app, which highlights unique and interesting features at each stop. Take one of our tours while you’re onsite or plan ahead with detailed directions and maps to your nearest Connecticut Audubon location.
Features include:
- Tours of our Centers and Sanctuaries
- Bird IDs with photos and descriptions
- Tips on how to create a native garden for birds and pollinators
- Interactive maps
For Android and other non-Apple devices, visit the web-based app. Software platform © Cuseum, Inc.
This App was made possible by Planet Fuel Charitable Fund.
Volunteer for habitat improvement work at Milford Point
Northern Mockingbird, photographed by George Amato near the Coastal Center’s recirculating waterfall, is one of the native bird species that benefit from habitat improvements.
The last several years have seen great improvements at the Milford Point Coastal Center. But there’s more to be done — and you can help.
We are recruiting volunteers to help remove invasive plants and replace them with native plants, which have much higher conservation value.
It is the kind of hands-on work that makes an immediate difference not just for birds but for pollinators, small mammals, and other wildlife as well.
Our goal is to establish a corps of volunteers to help on an ongoing basis. The crew will work at the direction of habitat steward Stefan Martin, who is overseeing improvement projects at several Connecticut Audubon sanctuaries.
If you can help or you’re interested in learning more, please email Stefan Martin, smartin@ctaudubon.org.
Coastal Center Sanctuary Rules
Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules of our grounds before your visit:
If you have any questions, please contact the center.
General Information
The boardwalk leading to the Sound. Photo courtesy of Anthony Donofrio.
Connecticut Audubon Society’s Coastal Center at Milford Point is located on an 8.4-acre barrier beach, next to the 840-acre Charles Wheeler Salt Marsh and Wildlife Management Area at the mouth of the Housatonic River.
The Coastal Center promotes the awareness and preservation of Long Island Sound’s ecosystem, and the birds and habitats it supports. Visitors to the center have access to the Sound and to tidal salt marshes, barrier beaches, tide pools, and coastal dunes.
The Coastal Center is a bird-watcher’s paradise – 315 species have been seen here, including many rarities.
We offer a full range of educational programs and events for families, children, and adults.
The Coastal Center provides educational exhibits, a tide pool demonstration tank, a salt-marsh laboratory, and program and meeting rooms.
The Coastal Center’s grounds encompass the 8-acre Smith-Hubbell Wildlife Refuge and Bird Sanctuary, a boardwalk and three other observation platforms, including a 70-foot covered tower for panoramic vistas.
Viewers from around the world watch the Center’s seasonal Osprey Cam, operated from our 18-foot tall nesting platform.
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