News and Visitor Information at Deer Pond Farm
We are currently offering small group in-person outdoor programming following all current COVID-19 safety procedures. Group size is limited to 15 attendees with a leader and a co-leader. Click here to view our monthly program calendar. Register early to secure your spot on our Programs and Events Page.
Please note, members do receive discounts on programs as well as many other benefits. More information is available on our Membership Page.
Our trails are open to the public daily dawn to dusk. Please keep a distance of at least 6 feet from other guests and have a mask available for use.
Red-tailed Hawk by Brian Bennett
Deer Pond Farm covers 850 acres of rugged hardwood forest, meadows, and wetlands straddling the border of Connecticut and New York.
Situated between elevations of 900 and 1200 feet, there are many vistas to enjoy along the trails.
About 650 of its 850 acres are upland forest; 125 acres are forested wetlands; and 59 acres are meadow.
Deer Pond Farm includes a network of 15 miles of trails. The sanctuary is open year-round, seven days a week, from dawn to dusk. All trails are accessible from the visitor parking lot at 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT.
About 100 species of birds have been reported on or near the property during breeding season, including forest birds such as Broad-winged Hawk and Scarlet Tanager, marsh birds such as Virginia Rail, and early successional specialists such as American Woodcock, Eastern Towhee, and Chestnut-sided Warbler. There are two eBird hotspot locations: Deer Pond Farm (CT Audubon) and Deer Pond Farm, CT Audubon (Dutchess Co.). Thank you for reporting your bird observations.
Click on each month to view birds that can be seen each month at Deer Pond Farm:
January February March April May June
July August September October November December
Mammals include bobcat, coyote, several bat species, fisher and long-tailed weasel, beaver, black bear and, of course, deer.
Numerous amphibian species breed in its 11 vernal pools, including Wood Frog, Spring Peepers, and Spotted Salamanders. To date, two turtle and four snake species have been confirmed.
Deer Pond Farm Staff:
Cathy Hagadorn, Director (chagadorn@ctaudubon.org)
Jim Arrigoni, Conservation Biologist (jarrigoni@ctaudubon.org)
Stefan Martin, Habitat Steward (smartin@ctaudubon.org)
Emily Reeves, Administrative Assistant (ereeves@ctaudubon.org)
Deer Pond Farm Bird Checklist – click here.
Deer Pond Farm Trail Map – click here.
Deer Pond Farm Suggested Hikes – click here.
Deer Pond Farm Nature Scavenger Hunt – for 8 and under, for 9 and up.
Deer Pond Farm Spring Themed Nature Scavenger Hunt – click here.
Deer Pond Farm Summer Themed Nature Scavenger Hunt – click here.
Deer Pond Farm Fall Themed Nature Scavenger Hunt – click here.
Deer Pond Farm Winter Themed Nature Scavenger Hunt – click here.
Deer Pond Farm Sanctuary Rules – click here.
Injured, “Abandoned” or “Orphaned” Wildlife – click here.
Directions – click here.
Please note: dogs, horses, fishing, swimming, camping, fires, hunting and collecting are not permitted.
Thank you for staying on the trails.
eBird Hotspots
Yellow-billed Cuckoo by Sharon Cuartero
At Deer Pond Farm, we have two hotspots: Deer Pond Farm, CT Audubon, (Fairfield County), Sherman and Deer Pond Farm, CT Audubon (Dutchess Co.). Please enter your observations into these hotspots while you are at Deer Pond Farm.
Connecticut and New York Bird Atlas
Deer Pond Farm participates in the Connecticut Bird Atlas and the New York Bird Atlas. Deer Pond Farm is located in Connecticut Bird Atlas block 60D, which we have adopted as the lead for collecting observations and submitting data, although anyone is welcome to submit their own observations. Deer Pond Farm is the principal atlaser for New York Atlas priority block Pawling-CE. For more information on eBird, Connecticut and New York Bird Atlas at Deer Pond Farm, click here.
Birds You Can See at Deer Pond Farm
Field Sparrow by Sharon Cuartero
Click on each month to view bird list:
Videos
Visit our YouTube channel, CTAudubonSociety to view videos from Deer Pond Farm and other centers.
Deer Pond Farm Habitat Enhancement
Deer Pond Farm Pollinator Garden
CT Trails Day 2020 Nature Walk
Deer Pond Farm Habitat Enhancement Food Plot
Aquatic Pond Life at Deer Pond Farm
Deer Pond Farm Bluebird Nest Box Program
Deer Pond Farm Winter Activities
Deer Pond Farm Purple Martin Conservation
Deer Pond Farm Data Collection & Citizen Science
Deer Pond Farm Staff Earth Day BioBlitz
Deer Pond Farm Volunteer Earth Day BioBlitz
Bird Habitat Enhancement: Autumn Migrant Songbird Planting
Building on other wildlife habitat enhancement projects at Deer Pond Farm sanctuary, we have dedicated a half-acre area to supporting autumn migrating songbirds. Invasive shrubs will be mechanically removed and replaced with a suite of native shrub species possessing autumn-ripening fruits that have complementary fat, carbohydrate, and energy contents to meet birds’ refueling needs during their autumn migration. In addition, we will expand an existing small patch of Eastern White Pine trees with plantings of Eastern Red Cedars to provide safe overnight cover for roosting birds in all seasons.
The following plants will be installed: nine Arrowwood Viburnums (Viburnum dentatum), six Silky Dogwoods (Swida amomum), six Red-Osier Dogwoods (Swida sericea), six Gray Dogwoods (Swida racemosa), and three Eastern Red Cedars (Juniperus virginiana).
The project site is easily accessible to sanctuary visitors and will serve as a demonstration site for specific habitat enhancement techniques as well as a popular stop for birdwatchers and a point of interest during our guided hikes and nature walk programs. This area will show visitors how they can also enhance their backyard habitats.
This project has been made possible through a Connecticut Ornithological Association grant awarded in 2020.
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.
