Connecticut Audbon Society

Bird of the Year

Natural Selections

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Birds Brave the Cold All Day and Night. How Do They Do it?

January 29, 2026—Ava Michelangelo and Maggie Watson, teacher-naturalists at the Milford Point Coastal Center, produced an Ask the Naturalist video recently about how birds keep warm in winter. A reporter emailed Ava last week asking the same question, plus a few others. It seemed like a good time to share the questions and the video again. Then keep scrolling for important tips about providing food and water (absolutely essential) for birds in cold weather.

Here Comes the Sun, with Author Bill McKibben, Tuesday, February 3

January 20, 2026—Starting with The End of Nature in 1989, author and environmentalist Bill McKibben has been on a quest to use the power of the pen to harness the power of the people to act on climate change. He’ll bring that crusade to Connecticut via Zoom on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. with a special presentation based on his latest book, Here Comes the Sun.

2026 Young, Gifted, and Wild About Birds: Dedicating Basic Research to Bird Conservation

January 26, 2026 — The 2026 Young, Gifted, and Wild About Birds series highlights the ways that conservation research is responding to the realities of bird population declines in the modern world. This year’s speakers demonstrate how data—from weather radar tracking bird movements around wind turbines to genetic mapping of disease resistance—can be used to identify which habitats are most critical to save.

Homegrown Habitat, January 2026: Virginia Rose

January 17, 2026 — On my way to the kitchen each morning, I stop to peer out a large window to see what’s new in the garden and which winged visitors have stopped by. This winter I’ve enjoyed the view of Virginia rose (Rosa virginiana), with its red hips and stems bringing a welcome dash of color into the surrounding frozen landscape.

Celebrate the Pileated Woodpecker, Connecticut Audubon’s 2026 Bird of the Year

January 19, 2026—We’re excited to announce that Connecticut Audubon’s first-ever Bird of the Year is the Pileated Woodpecker, and that we’re holding a special webinar on Tuesday, January 20, to introduce you to this loud and large bird.

A Favorite from the Past: On the First Day of Christmas, Don’t Expect a Partridge in a Connecticut Pear Tree

December 22, 2025 — A dozen years ago we took a light-hearted angle on a serious conservation problem — the long-term decline in Connecticut of Ruffed Grouse, also known colloquially as the partridge. Connecticut’s orchards are filled with pear trees but you’d have to hit the birding jackpot to find a partridge roosting in one. […]

Homegrown Habitat, December 2025: American Persimmon

December 18, 2025—American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), also known as possumwood, date plum, winter plum, and others, is a fascinating deciduous tree in the ebony family. It is native to much of eastern and central U.S. The Latin species name, Diospyros, translates to food of the gods. But to experience this heavenly treat you have to wait until long after you’d expect: the plum-sized, apricot-hued berry is palatable only after the leaves fall, after a hard frost or two, and when the fruit looks as if it’s starting to rot—soft and wrinkled. (If you try to eat persimmons before they are ripe, prepare for powerful puckering.)

40 Piping Plovers nested and 38 babies fledged at Milford Point in 2025. No beach in Connecticut has had more in at least four decades.

December 18, 2025—The sandspit at the Coastal Center at Milford Point has long hosted a thriving nesting population of Piping Plovers. But as productive as it has been in the past, this year was even better. A record number of Piping Plover chicks fledged there in 2025. In fact, more Piping Plovers hatched there — 38 — than on any beach anywhere in Connecticut in the four decades that records have been kept.

Osprey Nation 2025 Report: New Data Showing a Small but Concerning Drop in Connecticut’s Osprey Population Validate Need for Fish Prey Study

December 4, 2025 — New data from the Connecticut Audubon Society’s Osprey Nation program show the lowest number of young birds per nest in the program’s 12-year history, a small but worrying dip in the population that underscores the need for a study of Osprey food and feeding habits in the state. The 2025 […]

2025 Conservation News

Click HERE for Connecticut Audubon’s fall 2025 Conservation News. It includes: “Knowledge is power: Your support helps students turn lessons into action” Connecticut Audubon’s team of educators across the state is working with students and teachers to pick up trash near rivers and Long Island Sound. Even more important, school kids are learning how to […]

“The Little Things That Run The World” — free movie screening November 18 in Ridgefield

You’re invited to join Connecticut Audubon and Pollinator Pathway in Ridgefield on Tuesday evening, November 18, for a free showing in the film “The Little Things That Run The World” at the Ridgefield Playhouse. The movie will be followed by a discussion of the problems that pesticides cause for insects and birds, with Louise Washer, […]

Join us for a special presentation of “Season of the Osprey,” November 15 in New Preston

The resurgence of the nation’s Osprey population is one of conservation’s great story’s, and filmmaker Jacob Steinberg tells it beautifully in his Emmy-nominated documentary “Season of the Osprey.” Connecticut Audubon is offering an exclusive showing of the film, along with a Q&A with Steinberg, from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, at Spring […]

Homegrown Habitat, October 2025: Sassafras

October 20, 2025 — The sassafras tree (Sassafras albidum) is not only fascinating for its place in cultural and culinary history, but it supports many types of wildlife and delights humans in every season.

High Alert: Protect Migrating Birds by Turning Out Lights

September 29, 2025—Autumn bird migration is going full throttle and as part of Connecticut Audubon’s Bird-Friendly Fall, we want to remind you to turn out your lights at night to protect migrating birds.

Homegrown Habitat, September 2025: Grasses

September 20, 2025—Landscape designer Sarah Middeleer discusses native grasses for the fall garden.

Bird-friendly yards for a Bird-Friendly Fall

Join Connecticut Audubon’s conservation manager, Stefan Martin, along with Jed Duguid of Oliver Nurseries in Fairfield, for a special Bird-Friendly Fall presentation, via Zoom, on Tuesday, October 14, at 7 p.m.

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

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.

Homegrown Habitat, August 2025: Great Lobelia

August 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)

August 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.

August 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

July 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

July 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.

Fall migration is here. We want to make it more fun for you, and better for birds.

September 2, 2025 — Fall is a great time to celebrate and enjoy birds by going birding. And it’s a great time to do a few simple things to help birds make their migratory journeys safely without, for example, smashing into windows or stopping to refuel in places with no food or cover. We’re celebrating this year with a full slate of migration programs and tips for how to help birds. We’re calling it the Bird-Friendly Fall.

Neonics ban heads list of 4 important environmental bills that become law in the state in 2025

July 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.

Homegrown Habitat, June 2025: Spiraeas — Meadowsweet and Steeplebush

June 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

June 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

June 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

Welcome 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.

May 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!

May 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

May 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

May 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

May 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

May 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

May 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

April 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.

For Earth Week, a team of volunteeers and staff help make sure Purple Martins thrive

April 25, 2025—Our seventh and final Earth Week story is about one of our own projects, submitted by Beverly Propen, peerless volunteer at the Milford Point Coastal Center. Bev is part of the team of volunteers and staff that make sure the Coastal Center’s Purple Martin colony thrives.

For Earth Week, trees — planting them along the road, managing them as part of a forest

April 24, 2025—Was it E.F. Schumacher, author of the influential 1970s-era book Small is Beautiful: A Study of Economics as If People Mattered, who, when asked what is the most important thing one person can do to make a difference, answered, “Plant a tree”? Tree planting and forest management are the subjects of the fourth day of our series of Earth Week stories about important local environmental initiatives in Connecticut.

For Earth Week, a conventional lawn in Madison is transformed into a family’s nature preserve

April 23, 2025—People love pollinator gardens, and with good reason — they’re colorful, full of life, ever-changing, and a delight to look at and listen to. On the third day of our Earth Week series, we’re featuring a tale of how one family in Madison transformed their typical lawn-dominated yard into a biodiversity showplace.

For Earth Week, tales of environmental projects that are making a difference: a pollinator garden in downtown Bridgeport; a close look at rising temperatures, globally and at home

April 22, 2025 — On the second day of our Earth Week series, we’re featuring a project in downtown Bridgeport and another from the atmosphere above Connecticut. The former started as a way to ease the heat island effect in a city; the other is based on a wish by two scientists to understand just how hot it has gotten, and how quickly it has happened.

Homegrown Habitat, April 2025: Wild Geranium

April 22, 2025—At this time of year copious flowers invite us outside, proclaiming a joyful end to the late-winter blues. Wild geranium is a valuable member of this spring bloomers club; it is easy to grow in the garden, a pleasure to behold, and offers many benefits to birds and pollinators.

For Earth Day, tales of environmental projects that are making a difference, locally and beyond: West Virginia White Butterflies

April 21, 2025—We’re celebrating Earth Day 2025 by publishing stories from around Connecticut of important, small-scale environmental projects — and their creators — from around Connecticut. First up: restoring rare butterfly habitat in New Milford.

Protecting birds from building collisions during spring migration

April 17, 2025—Bird migration is underway and the forecast is for the first big night of spring, tomorrow, Friday, April 18. Birds migrate at night so please help them by turning out your outdoor lights.

News Release: Connecticut Audubon Society Welcomes Bird Enthusiasts to Migration Magic 2025

April 17, 2025—Connecticut Audubon invites people from across the state to participate in Migration Magic 2025, a month-long celebration of bird migration taking place throughout May. May is the peak month for spring bird migration. On some days, more than half a million birds migrate into and over Connecticut, many of them staying to rest, feed and look for places to nest. It is an ideal time to experience this amazing annual phenomenon, and Migration Magic is designed to help you enjoy it in dozens of ways.

Launch party! “The Naturalists’ Guide to Migration Magic 2025” — a free Zoom program

April 10, 2025—You’re invited to a special free Zoom presentation to help you get the most enjoyment out of spring migration and help us launch Migration Magic 2025. It’s called “The Naturalists’ Guide to Migration Magic 2025,” and it’s scheduled for Wednesday, April 16, 7 p.m.

Volunteer for Connecticut Audubon’s Osprey Nation project and help monitor and protect the state’s Osprey population! (We especially need people with boats.)

April 7, 2025—Volunteers choose or are assigned a nest, which they visit at least twice a month, from April until late in summer. They take and submit notes on their observations, especially the number of young Ospreys in the nest, the number who successfully leave the nest, and the dates on which that happens. It’s an enjoyable task, and many volunteers have continued on for several years or more.

Homegrown Habitat guide to the native plants that will help the birds in your yard this spring (and beyond)

April 8, 2025—It’s relatively easy to make your yard and surrounding property better for birds. Small changes over time add up to big improvements. And what’s good for birds tends to be good for bees, butterflies, moths and other kinds of insects. Now that it’s spring, Sarah Middeleer, who writes Connecticut Audubon’s Homegrown Habitat feature, has picked two trees, two shrubs, and two perennials for you to consider planting.

You know a good environmental project when you see one. We’d like you to tell us about it.

April 5, 2025—How much good, important environmental work is being done in Connecticut? The New York Times wants to know, and so do we. Send us your best example.

Early spring is a good time of year to not do too much in your yard. Birds will benefit.

Song Sparrow Photo by Linda Miller

March 26, 2025—To make your yard better for birds, start by doing nothing. At least for a while. That’s the advice from Connecticut Audubon and a University of Connecticut expert, summed up in this recent story from Connecticut Public Radio. “ … raking or mowing last year’s leaves too soon in the spring can kill a key group of creatures in Connecticut’s food web.

Action Alert: Send an email today to help get an important pesticide law passed

March 25, 2025—An important bird protection bill is on the brink of moving forward in Hartford. But it needs your help. A simple email will do it. The bill number is HB 6916. It’s called An Act Concerning the Use of Neonicotinoids — insecticides also known as neonics. Please email your State Senator and State House member. Ask them to speak to the co-chairs of the Environment Committee, Senator Rick Lopes and Rep. John-Michael Parker, and to urge the co-chairs to let the committee vote on the bill.

Homegrown Habitat: March 2025 — Pinxterbloom

March 21, 2025 — The rhododendron genus is large, its best-known plants the broad-leaf evergreens such as Rosebay (R. maximum) and countless non-native hybrids and cultivars. But there is a group of delightful native, deciduous azaleas that are also rhododendrons. Pinxterbloom azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides) is a member of this club and is well worth getting to know.

Young, Gifted and Wild About Birds: March 13 — Equity in Birdwatching

March 10, 2025 — For conservation to be truly effective, communities must feel a deep connection to their local environment. This connection often grows through partnerships between scientific institutions and underrepresented groups. The Equity in Birdwatching initiative emphasizes inclusivity, social justice, and community-driven conservation, demonstrating how diverse perspectives help us better understand challenges and find meaningful solutions.

Homegrown Habitat, February 2025: Little Bluestem

March 10, 2025—It may seem odd to write about a grass in winter. But the striking fall and winter beauty of little bluestem is actually why this highly ornamental native grass is featured this month. Also called prairie beardgrass, little bluestem is native to much of the United States, including Connecticut, and was once one of the dominant species in both the shortgrass and tallgrass prairies of the midwest. It has long been one of my favorite grasses both in the wild and in the garden, but of course it wouldn’t appear here unless it had high ecological value as well.

Young, Gifted and Wild About Birds: March 6, Hannah Clipp, Ph.D., on the effects of climate change on forest birds of eastern North America

Global climate change threatens biodiversity and bird populations, and predicting future impacts is challenging but necessary. Hannah Clipp, Ph.D., will describe three of her research projects in New England and the Appalachians. The projects are designed to improve understanding of how climate change affects forest bird populations, and how those birds are affected by other landscape changes and habitat associations. She’ll explain the role of land cover and tree species distributions and they relate to the forest bird communities of New England.

“Neonics: High Harm and Low Benefit,” a presentation at the Newtown library about the hazards of insecticides

February 14, 2024 — Community advocates interested in the problems caused by widely-used neonicotinoid pesticides and what can be done to reduce their use are invited to a special free presentation, “Neonics: High Harm and Low Benefit,” in Newtown on Sunday, February 23.

Connecticut Audubon strongly supports new bills in Hartford that will protect birds by limiting insecticides and rodenticides

February 13, 2025 — Two bills introduced in Hartford this month would lead to significant reductions in dangerous insecticides and rodent poisons in the state, protecting birds and other wildlife. Both have the strong support of the Connecticut Audubon Society.

The problems birds face during migration, and how to solve them: February 20, Young, Gifted & Wild About Birds

The availability and quality of migratory habitat can be make or break for songbirds. Dr. Fengyi (Freda) Guo is working to identify important stopover spots, understand the habitats birds rely on during migration, and see how they cope with obstacles when stopover sites are missing. It’s particularly important in a state like Connecticut, which has both well-documented migration habitat and widespread urban and suburban sprawl that has subsumed many natural areas.

Want to prevent birds from crashing into your windows? It’s all in the lines, dots, stencils and decals.

February 10, 2025—It’s always a shock and a little sickening to hear a bird smash into a window. But there are solutions. And because a least 400 million birds die each year in the U.S. when they crash into windows in houses and other small buildings, we can all make a difference in solving this big problem. Kaitlyn Parkins, the glass collisions program coordinator for American Bird Conservancy, discussed the problem and the solutions on Wednesday, February 5, as part of Connecticut Audubon’s Young, Gifted and Wild About Birds series.

Avian Influenza in Connecticut: What we know, what you should do

February 23, 2025—People throughout Connecticut are becoming more concerned with avian flu. The information here is what we’ve learned from government agencies and other organizations. It’s subject to change as the situation changes.

Practical solutions for preventing bird-window collisions at home and in your community: a webinar with Kaitlyn Parkins of American Bird Conservancy

Join us for a February 5 matinee presentation of Young, Gifted and Wild About Birds. Well over 1 billion birds die each year in the U.S. because of building collisions. That estimate comes from a study published in 2024 and it was eye-opening because it was much higher than previous estimates. One of the study’s authors, Kaitlyn Parkins of American Bird Conservancy, will show us which techniques actually work to reduce window crashes and which don’t. This is news you can use for those trying to make a difference for bird conservation.

CT Pesticide Reform News Release: Widely Used Insecticides Found in Connecticut Waters Pose a Deadly Threat to Aquatic Ecosystems and A Risk to Human Health

January 27, 2025—A University of Connecticut study combining two decades of data with recent tests reveals widespread contamination of the state’s surface and groundwater by an insecticide linked to falling populations of bees and birds. The study, by UConn’s Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, adds to the growing body of research and evidence that neonicotinoid insecticides are finding their way into streams and rivers from turf grass including lawns and golf courses as well as from agricultural uses. In addition to the connection to pollinator and bird declines, neonics also pose a health risk to humans. The study recommends that Connecticut enact stronger regulations to further restrict the use of neonics in the state.

Homegrown Habitat, January 2025: Eastern Hemlock

Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is perhaps the most iconic of the New England conifers. This graceful, elegant tree is incredibly valuable to wildlife, including many birds. Where it has formed large stands, the deeply shaded hemlock forest takes on an other-worldly quality, its floor spongy with years of dropped needles and its air fragrant and cool. Hemlock forests are unique, invaluable ecosystems.

Young, Gifted and Wild About Birds 2025 to start with UCLA Professor Morgan Tingley, formerly of UConn, discussing the Los Angeles wildfires

January 16, 2025 — Connecticut Audubon’s Young, Gifted, and Wild About Birds series starts its 2025 season with a January 23 Zoom presentation by UCLA professor Morgan Tingley, Ph.D., about the Los Angeles fires and the effects of climate change-induced wildfire on bird populations. Tingley, a former University of Connecticut professor, lives and works in the heart of the area being devastated by wildfires. He’s been studying the effects of fire and smoke on birds and will also have an up-to-date report on the situation in the Los Angeles area.

Homegrown Habitat, December 2024: Inkberry

December 16, 2024 — Inkberry is one of my garden staples. Its glossy evergreen foliage and upright, vase-shaped form is welcome in many locations, from the foundation beds to a mixed shrub border, and areas where a bit of screening is needed. I love it in combination with other evergreens such as mountain laurel, rhododendron, and spruce or fir, where the subtle differences in the green hues of their foliage is featured delightfully.

Connecticut State of the Birds 2024: Video and key links

December 10, 2024—The 2024 Connecticut State of the Birds report warns that some of the state’s most common beloved bird species, including the state bird, the American Robin, are facing a growing threat from pesticides that are widely-used on lawns, golf courses, and farms. Here is a compilation of important links, as well as a video of our December 6 Zoom presentation about the report.

The use of insecticides recalls the specter of DDT for Connecticut’s most common birds: Connecticut State of the Birds 2024

December 6, 2024—A new Connecticut State of the Birds report, released today by the Connecticut Audubon Society, warns that some of Connecticut’s most beloved bird species, including the state bird, the American Robin, are facing a growing threat from a widely used pesticide.

Homegrown Habitat, November 2024: Red Bearberry

Red bearberry is an unusual evergreen ground cover that solves many garden problems with beauty and flair—if it’s in the right location. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is named for its gustatory appeal to bears, but other wildlife, including birds, also eat its red fruit in fall and winter. (Don’t worry about attracting bears with this plant, unless they are already regular visitors.) Other common names include kinnikinick, bear’s grape, hog craneberry, and sandberry.

News Release: Osprey Nation 2024—A Good Year for Ospreys In Connecticut but Trouble Looms to the South

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.

Connecticut Audubon members choose a new Vice Chair and a new Board member

October 28, 2024—At Connecticut Audubon’s 2024 Annual Meeting, held at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center in Old Lyme on Saturday, October 26, members elected a new Board member and four members of the Board’s Executive Committee, including a new Vice Chair.

The 2024 Dave Engelman Volunteer Benchmark Award Winner: Christina Clayton

October 27, 2024—The Connecticut Audubon Society recognized the long and effective work of Board member Christina Clayton by presenting her with the 2024 Dave Engelman Volunteer Benchmark Award, at the organization’s annual meeting on Saturday, October 26, at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center in Old Lyme.

Check your eBird: New names announced today for scores of species, including some you know

October 22, 2024—eBird announced changes this morning to the names and taxonomy of scores of bird species, including half a dozen that are familiar locally. Bye bye, House Wren. Hello, Northern House Wren. (House Wren photo by Richard Stone)

Homegrown Habitat, October 2024: Hornbeam

October 22, 2024—Hornbeam, also known as musclewood, ironwood, and blue beech, is a graceful, slow-growing tree with multiseason interest and suitability for almost any garden. This adaptable small tree is native across a large swath of Canada, the Eastern United States, and as far south as Central America. Its westward reach in the U.S. is to just west of the Mississippi River.

3.8 million birds will be passing through Connecticut. Help them make it safely by turning your lights out. Then enjoy them while they’re here!

October 16, 2024—The weather pattern that has brought cool, clear, breezy days and nights to Connecticut is also bringing birds—an estimated 3.8 million between now and Saturday morning..

That’s great news for the birding community. It also means the birds that migrate at night—the vast majority of fall migrants—are at risk of being attracted by lights and crashing into buildings and other structures. (Photo of female Blackpoll Warbler)

Millions of birds will be migrating all weekend. You can help them by turning out your lights

October 12, 2024—The bird migration predictions for the next three nights are an interesting mix: high, medium, low and none. But the bottom line is simple: 1.4 million birds will be migrating across Connecticut. Our advice is to keep it simple. Turn your lights out each night, from at least 11 p.m to 6 a.m. (Yellow-rumped Warbler photo by Gilles Carter.)

Osprey Nation report shows 2024 was a good year in Connecticut but Ospreys had trouble elsewhere

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.

Today’s Lights Out Alert includes tips for providing safe places for birds during migration

October 10, 2024—Tonight is shaping up to be the busiest songbird migration night of the fall. That means it’s a good night to make sure your outdoor lights are out. It might also mean that plenty of sparrows and warblers, as well as some interesting shorebirds, will be around on Friday morning as well.

Lights Out Alert for Saturday, October 5: 1.1 million birds predicted to migrate over Connecticut

October 4, 2024—One of the first big bird migration nights of the fall is coming. The Colorado State University Aeroeco lab predicts that 1.1 million birds will be flying over Connecticut on Saturday night, October 5. Turning out your outside lights at night is a small but effective action you can take to help protect birds. It’s worth doing every night but it’s especially important on nights of high migration.

They can’t help it: Connecticut’s black bears are just really hungry this time of year. Here are some ideas on what to do (and what not to do).

October 3, 2024—If black bears seem unusually hungry this time of year, it’s because they are. Blame hyperphagia.

Homegrown Habitat, September 2024: Sunflowers

September 26, 2024—Sunflowers are among the most valuable native plants for habitat-oriented gardening. This genus, Helianthus, part of the Asteracea family, originated in North and South America. Between 50 and 70 species sunflower are native to North America.

An October afternoon on the eastern Sound with EcoTravel: don’t miss it!

September 9, 2024—There are a thousand interesting things to see on the eastern end of Long Island Sound, but it’s difficult to experience them unless you happen to own a boat. Or unless you make a date to head out with our EcoTravel team. They’re leading an afternoon cruise on Sunday, October 13.

Autumn Lights Out Alerts — Do Your Part to Help Birds Migrate Safely

September 9, 2024—Songbirds are migrating south through Connecticut, so now is a good time for a reminder to turn out your lights at night. That simple action can help save birds from crashing into houses and dying.

CT Audubon in the news: “You can change your gardens” to help Monarch butterflies

August 20, 2024—Alisha Milardo, director of Connecticut Audubon’s Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center in Old Lyme, appeared on Fox61 TV to talk about disappearing monarch butterflies and about Connecticut Audubon’s work to reduce pesticides.

Homegrown Habitat, August 2024: Black and Red Elderberries

August 19, 2024—Whose garden can’t use a little zip by this time of the summer? These large shrubs are valuable additions to the native plant garden because they support so much wildlife. But their flowers and fruit are showy as well and, given the right locations, elderberries can add welcome interest to the mid-summer garden.

Homegrown Habitat, July 2024: Beebalms

July 22, 2024 — During these steamy summer days hummingbirds are especially hopeful for the nourishing nectar in flowers that are suitable for them. The Monarda genus, in the mint family, contains many such flowering perennials, all of which attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, hummingbird moths and other moths, and several specialized bees.

Piping Plovers need help to survive, and they’re getting it at Milford Point

July 18, 2024 — It’s starting to look like another outstanding season for the Piping Plovers that nest at Connecticut Audubon’s Milford Point Coastal Center. Thirteen pairs of Piping Plovers hatched babies at Milford Point, and 24 have fledged so far. A big part of the credit goes to the two coastal rangers, Matt Joyce and Johann Heupel.

In hot weather, fresh water for the birds in your backyard is essential

July 16, 2024 — Birds need cool water on hot days as much as you do. Do them a favor by giving them some in your backyard. Here’s why it’s important. and some Connecticut Audubon tips.

Purple Martins, thriving at 5 Connecticut Audubon locations, continue to make a comeback from the threatened list

July 11, 2024 — Purple Martins are thriving this summer at 5 Connecticut Audubon locations — approximately 140 pairs are raising as many as 500 hatchlings. Most of the young birds are still in their nests, so it’s too soon to declare the season a total success. But as of now, it looks like these large swallows are continuing to make a comeback several years after their removal from the state’s threatened species list.

Advocates dig in with an eye toward next year after the 2024 General Assembly session in Hartford

July 8, 2024 — It was a disappointing year for new conservation laws in the state. Connecticut Audubon members spoke out in big numbers in favor of a bill to strictly limit the use of pesticides, neonicotinoids in particular; and a bill to regulate rodenticides that can end up killing birds of prey.

To help protect a beach full of birds, the Coastal Center at Milford Point will be closed until July5

Baby Piping Plover

July 2, 2024—To keep the Piping Plovers and the nesting American Oystercatchers safe during Fourth of July, we will lock the Coastal Center gates at 10 a.m. today (Tuesday, July 2), and reopen them at sunrise on Friday, July 5. The Fourth of July draws far too many people than is safe for the Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers that nest on the beach and sandspit.

Homegrown Habitat, June 2024: Sweetbay Magnolia

June 24, 2024—Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) is a lovely addition to the garden, with its two-to-three-inch, fragrant, white blooms occurring in May and June, followed by red seeds that many birds eat.

Migration Magic 2024: A Gallery of Great Shots from the Birdathon Photo Contest

June 24, 2024—There were so many great photos submitted for the Migration Magic 2024 Birdathon Photo Contest that we decided to post at least one photo from every photographer. You can view the contest winners and honorable mentions on the Photo Contest page. Enjoy! And thank you to all the photographers!

Congratulations to Jason Scavotto and Steven Jacqmin, winners of the 2024 Migration Magic Photo Contest

Almost 60 Connecticut birders submitted 170 noteworthy entries in the 2024 Migration Magic Birdathon Photo Contest. Outstanding among them are the two winning photos: a Baltimore Oriole confronting a Blue Jay, taken by Jason Scavotto, and, in the Young Birder category, a Yellow-crowned Night Heron, by Steven Jacqmin.

Migration Magic 2024: A month of birding leads to great success for Connecticut’s birds. Announcing the Birdathon winners!

June 10, 2024—With almost 900 people participating and contributing $31,691 toward bird conservation in Connecticut, Migration Magic 2024 was a rousing success. Sixty Birdathon participants saw 239 species over the course of the month. During the Big Day alone, four Connecticut Audubon staffers saw 159 species. This year’s grand prize winner is 13-year-old Pavana Attonito of Darien.

Daily Bird 2024: Canada Warbler

May 24, 2024—The Canada Warbler, with its distinctive black necklace, is a sought-after bird for many birders. Listen for a clear “chip” note followed by an explosive series of short notes often ending in a three-note phrase—a key identifier when searching for this species.

Going birding this weekend? Help protect the shorebirds by giving them plenty of room.

May 23, 2024—There’s plenty of good birding left in Connecticut during spring migration, and of course the Migration Magic Birdathon runs through May 31. If you’re planning to look for birds at the Milford Point Coastal Center over Memorial Day weekend, please time your visit to avoid the sandbar at high tide.

Homegrown Habitat, May 2024: Eastern Red Columbine

May 21, 2024— What better way to celebrate this floriferous time of year than to plant the fascinating, bird-friendly Eastern red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)? You can join the welcome party that columbine throws for the beloved ruby-throated hummingbirds: just as the tiny migrants return from their winter sojourn in Central America, columbine unfurls its brilliant red and yellow tubular petals full of sweet nectar.

Lights Out Alert for May 21 and May 22

May 21, 2024—Connecticut is on High Alert again for the next two nights as an estimated 700,000 birds will be migrating through the state tonight and tomorrow night. A High Alert notice from the Colorado State University Aeroeco Lab means it’s a good idea to turn out your exterior lights at night. Birds migrate at night and they are often killed or injured when they crash into buildings after being drawn by outdoor lights.

Halfway through the 2024 Migration Magic Birdathon, here are the leaders

May 17, 2024 — Sixteen days of the month-long Migration Magic Birdathon have gone by. Numbers have started to add up and we’re happy to post the leaders, below.

Daily Bird 2024: Eastern Whip-poor-will

May 13, 2024 — The first bird of the Migration Magic Big Day was Eastern Whip-poor-will, which the Connecticut Audubon team heard calling at 4:12 a.m.in Meshomasic State Forest, just east of the Connecticut River. It was not a random observation. Whip-poor-wills have become scarce enough in Connecticut that hearing one requires some planning.

Lights Out Alert for Monday, May 13, and Tuesday, May 14

May 13, 2024—Two of the busiest nights of spring bird migration are upon us, so please make a point of turning out your exterior lights tonight and tomorrow — Monday, May 13, and Tuesday, May 14. Radar predictions from the Colorado State University AeroEco Lab show that about half a million migrating birds will be flying over and into the state each night.

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