Programs & Events in the Greater Hartford Area
Welcome to the Connecticut Audubon Society of the Greater Hartford Area. Utilizing our unique location in central Connecticut, we work to promote awareness of the Connecticut River ecosystem and urban habitats to foster conservation through education and related activities.
Bird Watching By Kayak with L.L.Bean!
Bird Watching by Kayak on the CT River
Glastonbury, CT
Saturday, July 13, 2024 and Saturday September 7, 2024
JULY 13 TRIP CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER
Join us as we partner with L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery Programs for this unique birding experience. Beginning and ending at the Glastonbury Boat Launch, Connecticut Audubon staff will lead you in looking and listening for the birds that inhabit the CT River banks and coves while L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery staff provides kayaking instruction and guidance. All kayaks, paddles, PFD’s and binoculars will be provided!
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
What to Bring
- Weather- and activity-appropriate clothing (preferably synthetic*)
- Water shoes or shoes you don’t mind getting wet (closed-toe recommended)
- Personal prescriptions such as EpiPen or inhaler
- One quart of water (no glass bottles)
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
*Synthetic clothing dries quickly and is the best choice for outdoor pursuits. Please do not wear cotton clothing. When wet, cotton rapidly robs the heat from your body and takes a long time to dry. We also recommend you dress in multiple layers, allowing you more flexibility to comfortably respond to the weather conditions and your level of exertion.
Optional Items to Bring
- Waterproof camera
- Sunglasses with lanyard (polarized recommended)
- Hat with visor
- Extra change of clothes and shoes
- Towel
- Lip balm with sunscreen
What We Provide
- Use of all necessary paddling equipment: boats, paddles, PFD’s, etc.
- Binoculars
Cost: $75 members/$90 non-members
Minimum Age: 10 (all minors must be accompanied by an adult)
Click Here for September 7 Registration!
Migration Magic 2024
Migration Magic is a month-long family-friendly celebration of Connecticut’s birds—May 1-31, 2024.
It features more than three dozen bird walks at 28 preserves and parks in 20 communities around the state, plus an array of webinars, presentations, talks and even a concert.
One highlight is the month-long Birdathon, for people of all ages and all skill levels. Participate in this friendly competition at any time during May. The goal is to spot as many bird species as you can. The Birdathon is a fundraiser for bird conservation in the state. Great fun and great prizes for a great cause!
Click HERE to learn all about Migration Magic!
Upcoming Programs
Summer 2024
Stay tuned to this site for dates and locations of community programs being held in the Summer of 2024. Programs will be held throughout the Greater Hartford region. To book a program for your own community group/camp/troop, etc, see our offerings listed below!
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS:
We offer exciting and educational community programs for children and adults! These programs work very well as virtual programs, but can also be done in person at your location. Check out all of our Community and School Program offerings HERE
Contact Catie Resor, Education Program Manager at cresor@ctaudubon.org for more information or click on the program title to book your program online.
Birding 101- Adaptable to all ages
A good introduction to birds and birding. Learn about the variety of our local birds and how to go about identifying them. What equipment will you need? Where should you look? What resources can help you?
What’s going on with the Birds?-Suggested Ages: 12 to adult
Our birds face a variety of challenges from climate change to habitat loss. Learn about some of the stressors on our local birds. Explore some of the ways scientists study birds and the sorts of questions they attempt to answer with their research. Learn ways that you can get involved in collecting citizen science data that can be helpful to scientists worldwide.
Suggested Ages: 12 to adult
Landscaping for Birds–Suggested Ages: 12 to adult
Is your yard a good bird habitat? Learn about the needs of wild birds and how the landscaping choices you make affect bird populations.
Carbon Sinks and Sources- Adaptable to age 10 to adult
What’s your carbon footprint? Climate change can feel like a complicated issue, but mostly it just boils down to carbon. Gain a better understanding of the carbon cycle, our role in it, and what actions you can take that can have an impact on the balance of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere.
Re-dedication of Hartford Urban Bird Treaty set for Friday, May 19, at Keney Park
May 12, 2023 — Join us at Keney Park in Hartford on Friday, May 19, for the official 2023 rededication of Hartford’s Urban Bird Treaty — a multi-organization plan to improve bird habitat in the city and offer more opportunities for city residents to learn about and enjoy birds.
The rededicated plan updates the original 2011 Hartford Urban Bird Treaty with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It will help neighborhoods learn from, collaborate with, and care for the benefits of nature in city parks and along stream corridors.
The re-dedication ceremony is set for 10 a.m. at the Keney Park Pond House, 323 Edgewood Steet, Hartford.
Hartford Councilwoman Shirley Surgeon are scheduled to participate, along with officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Park Watershed, Friends of Keney Park, and the Connecticut Audubon Society.
Bird walks and other activities will follow, from 11 until noon. The day starts with an 8:30 a.m. bird walk led by the Hartford Audubon Society. Horizon Wings, a raptor rehabilitation center in Ashford, will be there with live birds starting around 10 a.m..
The ceremony and the activities are all free and the public is welcome.
Connecticut Public, the parent organization of WNPR Public Radio, is Connecticut Audubon’s official media sponsor of the Bird Treaty events on May 19 and later in the summer. The renewal ceremony kicks off Connecticut Audubon’s Annual Migration Madness weekend bird celebration and helps mark the organization’s 125th anniversary.
A program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Urban Bird Treaty is a national network whose goal is to improve bird habitat in urban areas, and help city residents experience and learn about birds and the natural world.
Federal, state, and municipal agencies, along with non-profit and educational organizations, work together to create bird-friendly habitats and connect people with nature through birding and conservation.
The program has since grown to include 30 cities.
To reach our Greater Hartford Area program staff, please call 860-633-8402 or email kreamer@ctaudubon.org.
