Connecticut Audbon Society
Center at Fairfield

Deer Pond Farm

Programs & Events at Deer Pond Farm

Members receive discounts on programs as well as many other benefits. For more information, click here.

Unless otherwise noted, guided program fees are:
Member: $5          Member Child: Free          Non-Member: $10        Non-Member Child: $5

Our trails are open to the public daily dawn to dusk.

Please call 860-799-4074 with any questions or to be put on a wait list for a program.

Feel free to pack a lunch and a thermos with your favorite warm beverage to enjoy on our terrace or pack a picnic to enjoy in our lawn after your hike.

Backyard Birds at Burnham Library

Eastern Bluebird photo by Linda Miller

March 21, 2024, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Burnham Library
Free
Birding is an activity that can be enjoyed in your backyard year-round. Join Deer Pond Farm Director, Cathy Hagadorn at Burnham Library for a presentation on Backyard Birds. In this program, you will learn how to attract, identify, and support many different species of birds that can be observed in Connecticut. The presentation will also cover the basics of birdfeeders, birdhouses, binoculars, and more!
Register here for the March 21 Backyard Birding program at Burnham Library, 62 Main Street South, Bridgewater, CT 06798.

Bears in Connecticut

Bear Cub Photo by Ginny Apple

Black Bear cub photo by Ginny Apple

March 30, 2024, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Deer Pond Farm
Free, $5 donation suggested

Join us in the classroom at Deer Pond Farm for a presentation on Black Bears in CT. Master Wildlife Conservationist Ginny Apple will share information on black bears, focusing on the natural history of black bears in Connecticut, an overview of black bear habitat, diet, behavior, reproduction, and current research efforts. She also provides practical recommendations for optimum co-existence with our black bear population. Black bear artifacts are shared with the audience.
Register here for the March 30 Bears in Connecticut presentation.
This program meets at Deer Pond Farm, 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT 06784.

April First Friday Hike

April 5, 2024, 10 a.m. to Noon at Deer Pond Farm
Free
Join us for a hike with Deer Pond Farm volunteers, Mary Ann and Allison, for fresh air, exercise & good company. Different trails and routes taken each month. The pace for this hike is more than a walk, less than a run! A great way to learn more about our conservation work and get familiar with the trail network here.
Register here for the April 5 hike.
This program meets at Deer Pond Farm, 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT 06784.

April Second Saturday Hike

April 13, 2024, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Deer Pond Farm
No Fee
Embrace the brisk spring air on a fast-paced, four-to-five-mile hike at Deer Pond Farm! The Second Saturday Hike is led by Peggy, one of our wonderful volunteers, who is an avid hiker.
Register here for the April 13 hike.
This program meets at Deer Pond Farm, 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT 06784.

Vernal Pool Walk

Eastern Newt Photo by Kyle Paist

Eastern Newt photo by Kyle Paist

April 13, 2024, 10 a.m. to Noon at Deer Pond Farm
Free
What a great way to celebrate the season of Spring by spending some time at Deer Pond Farm learning about vernal pools! Dutchess Land Conservancy Director of Education, Julie Hart, will be partnering with us to lead this guided hike. We’ll start off at one of the nearby ponds for an overview of how vernal pools are different than other waterways. Then we’ll head to one of many vernal pools to look, listen and learn about the amphibians and other wildlife that rely on them, and talk about how we can help to protect and conserve these special habitats.
Register here for the April 13 vernal pool walk.
This program meets at Deer Pond Farm, 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT 06784.

April Bird & Nature Walk

Yellow Warbler Photo by Brian Bennett

April 23, 2024, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Deer Pond Farm
$5 Members, $10 Non-Members
Come out and enjoy an afternoon bird and nature walk at Deer Pond Farm! This is a very exciting time of year when birds migrate up from the southern United States and beyond. On this guided program with CT Audubon’s conservation manager, Stefan Martin, we’ll share how you can help protect migrating birds and record sightings of spring migrants. Red-winged Blackbirds are busy belting out their songs, Eastern Bluebirds are picking their homes for the upcoming breeding season, and Eastern Phoebes are fly-catching along the edges of meadows.
Register here for the April 23 bird and nature walk.
This program meets at Deer Pond Farm, 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT 06784.

May First Friday Hike

May 3, 2024, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Deer Pond Farm
Free
Enjoy a casual-paced hike and explore the trails with our volunteer leaders Mary Ann and Allison. With new routes taken every month, it is a great way to learn about our trails and the conservation work happening at Deer Pond Farm.
Register here for the May 3 First Friday Hike.
This program meets at Deer Pond Farm, 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT 06784.

Migration Bird Walk

Yellow-rumped Warbler photo by Stefan Martin

May 4, 2024, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Deer Pond Farm
$10 for members, $20 for non-members
Spring migrants are returning, and the air is full of bird song, as males claim territory and try to attract mates for the breeding season. Join Stefan Martin, CT Audubon’s Conservation Manager at Deer Pond Farm for a guided bird walk to explore the trails in search of warblers, vireos, flycatchers and more!
Register here for the May 4 Migration Bird Walk.
This program meets at Deer Pond Farm, 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT 06784.

May Second Saturday Hike

May 11, 2024, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Deer Pond Farm
Free
Start your weekend with a faster-paced morning hike at Deer Pond Farm with volunteer Peggy! Enjoy some exercise and fresh air on this four-to-five-mile hike. This brisk, spring hike is a great way to become familiar with our 15-mile trail network.
Register here for the May 11 Second Saturday Hike.
This program meets at Deer Pond Farm, 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT 06784.

Spring Tree ID Walk

May 14, 2024, 10 a.m. to Noon at Deer Pond Farm
Free
Spring is a beautiful time to learn how to identify trees, with many trees flowering and leafing out. Join John Ehrenreich, author of Native Trees of Connecticut, and naturalist Diane Nizlek for a spring tree walk. We’ll start with some of the basics of tree identification and then go out to identify some of the trees at Deer Pond Farm.
Register here for the May 14 tree identification walk.
This program meets at Deer Pond Farm, 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT 06784.

Forest Bird Walk

Woodpecker photo by Linda Miller

May 18, 2024, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Deer Pond Farm
$10 for members, $20 for non-members
The forest is filled with various feathered friends this time of year. Many birds are here for the nesting season and others are passing through on their way to more northern breeding grounds in New England and Canada. Join Angela Dimmitt Western CT Bird Club president and local bird expert on this guided forest bird walk. We hope to see warblers, sparrows, hawks, ravens and more.
Register here for the May 18 Forest Bird Walk.
This program meets at Deer Pond Farm, 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT 06784.

Beginner Birding

Birders at Deer Pond Farm

May 18, 2024, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Deer Pond Farm
$10 for members, $20 for non-members
Why do people love birding? Birds are works of art in nature with their beautiful plumage, songs, and calls. The science of their migration, flight and nest building is unique for each species. Learning more about birds and where they live connects people to nature. Birding is for everyone! It is multigenerational and can be great exercise. Join Deer Pond Farm’s Director, Cathy Hagadorn, for this beginner birding walk to learn more about how to observe birds in various habitats. We have binoculars to borrow, and we’ll have our spotting scope set up. We’ll also cover bird watching ethics and apps for learning about and tracking your bird and wildlife observations.
Register here for the May 18 Beginner Birding program.
This program meets at Deer Pond Farm, 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT 06784.

Birds in Your Garden

Not only is trumpet honeysuckle a hummingbird magnet, its nectar also attracts orioles and pollinating insects. Photo by Stefan Martin.

May 29, 2024, 10 a.m. to Noon at Deer Pond Farm
$10 for members, $20 for non-members
Join us at Deer Pond Farm for a presentation on Birds in Your Garden. Master gardener and Deer Pond Farm office manager, Barbara Wood, will begin this program in the classroom with an introduction to how you can support birds in your garden. Then we’ll head out for a walk through the pollinator garden to learn how diverse seasonal plantings can support birds and pollinators year-round!
Register here for the May 29 Birds in Your Garden program.
This program meets at Deer Pond Farm, 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT 06784.

Connecticut Trails Day Hike

June 1, 2024, 10 a.m. to Noon at Deer Pond Farm
Free
Celebrate Trails Day with us at Deer Pond Farm, by joining us on our volunteer-led hike. Each year on the first Saturday in June, Connecticut Forest & Park Association organizes CT Trails Day.
Register here for the June 1 hike.
This program meets at Deer Pond Farm, 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT 06784.

Create Your Own Nature Walk!

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker by Brian Bennett

Can’t make a guided program this month? Create your own nature walk! Use the resources below to make the most of your time exploring the 15 miles of trails spanning Deer Pond Farm. 

Deer Pond Farm Suggested Hikes – click here.

Deer Pond Farm Bird Checklist – click here.

Deer Pond Farm Nature Scavenger Huntfor 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.

Directions – click here.

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

Please note: dogs, horses, fishing, swimming, camping, fires, hunting and collecting are not permitted.

Thank you for staying on the trails.

 

Schedule Your Own Private, Expert-Led Walk

Baltimore Oriole photo by Tomas Koeck

(Available to purchase as a gift, too!)
During this two hour walk, a staff member will guide you through the diverse habitats of Deer Pond Farm. Participants will learn about the local flora and fauna, as well as the conservation work being done at Deer Pond Farm. Habitat enhancement and data collection projects utilizing eBird, Connecticut & New York Bird Atlas, and the Motus Wildlife Tracking System will also be shared.

Please call (860) 799-4074 to schedule.

Fee: $100 for a two hour walk. This includes up to eight pre-registered and pre-paid attendees.

 

 

 

Volunteer Opportunities

Photo by Deirdra Wallin

Join us for one workday or the whole season, your time and effort are welcome and appreciated!

Citizen Science: Support research through data collection! From monarchs, to birds and more, Deer Pond Farm supports a variety of citizen science initiatives. Opportunity to work independently or in a group.

Garden Gaggle: Join us in the pollinator garden for maintenance and monitoring! We work while we chat, observe and learn. Our native plants bring in a host of butterflies, bees, and birds. We take the time to enjoy these visitors and conversations with fellow gardeners while weeding and completing other seasonal tasks.

Habitat Helpers: Help us while learning! We’ll work while we talk, and enjoy the camaraderie of collective action to improve our sanctuary. Currently, our focus is invasive plant identification and management. You’ll learn by doing and leave knowing what you can do at home.

Photography: As you enjoy the trails during a guided walk or on your own, take pictures and share with us to utilize on the website, social media and flyers.

For more information and to complete a volunteer application, click here. Contact Center Director Cathy Hagadorn, chagadorn@ctaudubon.org to further discuss volunteer opportunities.

 

 

 

 

 

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