Natural Selections

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Storm birds

August 5, 2020 — Storms often carry rare birds into the area and, even more frequently, they push birders out of doors to try their luck at finding the rarities. Yesterday two Connecticut Audubon birders lucked out.

Bird Walks With Stefan Martin at the Coastal Center

August 4, 2020 — Search for migrating shorebirds, terns and waterfowl, and other species, during a coastal bird walk along Milford Point with Stefan Martin, Connecticut Audubon’s land steward. Situated on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River, Milford Point is an enormously important IBA site (Important Bird Area) that provides essential habitat and includes sites for breeding, wintering and migrating birds.

Monday Bird Report

August 3, 2020 — Each week, Frank Mantlik, a member of the Coastal Center’s regional board, leads a team that checks each of the gourds at the Coastal Center’s Purple Martin colony. Here’s his latest report.

The public is invited to participate in an online meeting to discuss the National Estuarine Research Reserve

August 3, 2020 — Connecticut Audubon members and the public in general are invited to participate in an online meeting that will help plan the environmental review of the proposed Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve. The meeting is online and starts at 7 p.m., Tuesday, August 4.

Daily Bird: Stilt Sandpiper

August 1, 2020 — One of these uncommon birds recently appeared at Milford Point. In general it can be found in coastal wetlands, usually on mud flats with other shorebirds.

One Bird, One Place #4

July 31, 2020 — Sandy Point, Pomfret, and Stratford are the places to go for this week’s birds. And a birding trip to any of those will reward you with far more than our suggestions here.

Daily Bird: Whimbrel

A Whimbrel at Milford Point, photographed recently by Frank Mantlik. Size is hard to judge without another bird in the photo but the long, down-curved bill is unmistakable.

July 29, 2020 — This very large shorebird presents a spectacular contrast to the smaller sandpipers and plovers that it towers over on a sandbar or mudflat. There’s been at least one lately at at Sandy Point, in West Haven, one or two at the Milford Point Coastal Center; and 10 days ago an observer counted six on the Norwalk Islands.

Roger Tory Peterson

July 28, 2020 — When Roger Tory Peterson died — 22 years ago today, July 28, 1998, at his home in Old Lyme — I was on deadline and without an idea for a weekly “On Nature” column I wrote for the daily newspaper in northern Westchester County.

The Daily Bird/Monday Bird Report: Red Knot and a possible hat trick of listed species

July 27, 2020 — There are not many chances to observe a federally-listed bird species in Connecticut. If you’re lucky you might see three at Milford Point.

Eco-hour Zoom Presentation: Coves and Habitats of the Lower Connecticut River

July 27, 2020 — For four summers, young scientists from colleges in New England have been working with us to track how grasses and other plants in the coves of the lower Connecticut River are changing. Join them at 4 p.m., Thursday, July 30 for an Eco-hour Zoom presentation of their work.

One Bird, One Place #3

July 24, 2020 — This week’s birds: Black Vulture, Wood Duck, Winter Wren. Read on to see where to find them

Beautiful Animals that aren’t birds: Compton Tortoiseshell

August 2, 2020 — Stefan Martin, one of Connecticut Audubon’s top-notch naturalists, was making a check of the perimeter of Deer Pond Farm in Sherman last week when he saw a rare-for-Connecticut butterfly rise from the dirt road he was walking on.

Return of the Daily Bird: Ovenbird

July 22, 2020 — The Daily Bird is back after a month — with one big difference: we’ll continue to call it the Daily Bird, but the amount of material we have dictates that it will be more like the “two- or three-time-a-week Bird.” Same great authors, photographers, artists, and videographers.

Monday Bird Report

July 20, 2020 — Shorebirds have started their migration. Connecticut Audubon worked with the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds on a new sign, underwritten by the Long Island Sound Futures sign and soon to go up. It asks people to give the sandpipers and plovers plenty of room. It’s especially important at high tide when the beach and sandbars are at their narrowest.

This week’s webinar: Thrushes of Connecticut.

July 20, 2020 — Considered by many to be among the best singers in the bird world, thrushes often hold a special place in the hearts of birders. Teacher-naturalist Joe Attwater will lead you on an entertaining journey through the world of the thrushes that live in and pass through Connecticut, in a special webinar set for Tuesday, Jul 21, at 7 p.m.

Piping Plovers & Oystercatchers at Milford Point Help Themselves Survive

July 17, 2020 — The nesting season at the Milford Point Coastal Center was off to a rough start until early July. That’s when several things happened to turn it around, one of them quite amazing — three birds knew enough to protect their eggs from a tide that would have washed them away.

Action Alert: Key bird protection law is about to be gutted

July 15, 2020 — Essential parts of the nation’s most important bird protection law are about to be rolled back. Please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and tell them the rollbacks to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act are unacceptable. Deadline for comments is July 20.

One Bird, One Place #2

July 17, 2020 — Each Friday experts from Connecticut Audubon’s staff and boards make one suggestion for where to see one interesting bird in one specific place — “One Bird, One Place.” Today: Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Wood Thrush, Gray Catbird, and Louisiana Waterthrush.

Can you help watch Osprey nests?

July 13, 2020 — Connecticut’s Osprey nests are full with baby Ospreys getting ready to fly. You can help by finding a nest and letting the Osprey Nation project know what you see.

Birding Basics on Zoom, with Matt Bell

July 13, 2020 — Is it an exaggeration to say that Matt Bell lives for birds? Maybe, but not by much. Matt is marketing manager for our EcoTravel program. You’re invited to log on as he imparts his knowledge and his enthusiasm in this week’s Eco-Hour webinar, Backyard Birding Basics, 4 p.m. Thursday, July 16.

Monday Bird Report

July 13, 2020 — More evidence from the Coastal Center Purple Martin colony that loyal donors, dedicated volunteers and hard work pay off for bird conservation. Thursday’s check of the 71 gourds found chicks in 37 of them — 144 baby birds in all. Seven eggs remain unhatched.

One Bird, One Place

July 10, 2020 — The weekend is here and you might need fresh ideas about how to quickly satisfy your bird urge.We can help. We’re introducing a new feature: “One Bird, One Place.”

Bird Walks With Miley, Tuesday July 14; Thursday, July 16 (Center at Fairfield)

July 9, 2020 — Join Milan Bull, senior director of Science and Conservation, for an early morning bird walk. This walk and talk is an ideal opportunity to see an excellent variety of birds along the trails.

Gardening for People and Pollinators, Saturday, July 11; Saturday, July 18 (Coastal Center)

July 8, 2020 — Learn how to create an oasis for pollinators in your yard. Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, beetles and more, are looking for food and shelter and you can help them by making small changes in your yard.

EcoTravel E-Ventures: Checking the Osprey Nests in Old Saybrook

July 7, 2020 — Andy Griswold’s visit to the Old Saybrook Osprey nests turns up baby birds of different ages and sizes. Watch his 2-minute video for a close-up look.

Webinar: Barred, Great-horned, Screech and the Other Owls of Connecticut

July 6, 2020 — We invite you to join us on Tuesday, July 7, at 7 p.m., for an eye- and ear-catching webinar, All About Owls. Teacher-naturalist Joe Attwater will go over the adaptations that make these birds night hunters, and which owls you can see (and hear) in Connecticut.

Monday Bird Report

July 6, 2020 — A “Bird Names for Birds” campaign has started over the last couple of weeks to persuade the American Ornithologists Society to change the common names of birds named after people.

Naturalist-Guided Walks for Small Groups, July 17 (Coastal Center)

July 5, 2020 — Looking for private, outdoor, small group drop-off activities for your kids? Then join us to see what’s happening in the natural world on this small group, guided walk at the Coastal Center at Milford Point.

To Protect Beach Birds, the Coastal Center Parking Lot Will Be Closed for the Fourth of July Weekend

July 1, 2020 — Life for Connecticut’s beach-nesting birds gets a lot tougher over Fourth of July weekend. We’re going to try to minimize the harm where we can — by closing the parking lot at the Milford Point Coastal Center for the weekendThe gates will be locked from 4 p.m. Thursday, July 2, until 9 a.m. Monday, July 6.

Monday Bird Report: Purple Martin Photo Essay & Live-stream

June 29, 2020 — Monday morning joy: the Purple Martin colony at the Milford Point Coastal Center is thriving. It’s no accident. Donations from dedicated members and supporters help fund it, and hard work by staff and volunteers gives these large swallows the best chance. Each week a team, led by Coastal Center Regional Board member Frank Mantlik, checks and maintains the nests.

Flycatchers of Connecticut: A special online program

June 28, 2020 — With summer in Connecticut comes pesky biting flying insects. But birds are here to help, including the category known as flycatchers. On Tuesday, June 30, at 7 p.m., teacher-naturalist Joe Attwater will lead you through a discussion of the myriad fascinating aspect of these aerial insectivores.

Naturalist-Guided Walks for Small Groups, July 9 (Center at Fairfield)

June 26, 2020 — Looking for private, outdoor, small group drop-off activities for your kids? Then “take a walk on the wild side” with us to see what’s happening in the natural world on this small group, guided walk in the Center at Fairfield’s Larsen Sanctuary.

Take a look at how support from members is leading to better bird habitat

June 25, 2020 — If you haven’t been to Deer Pond Farm in Sherman to see how birds, wildflowers, native shrubs, butterflies, and bees are benefiting from your support, plan a trip. Before you go, watch these two videos.

Baltimore Orioles for the Atlas

June 24, 2020 — If you’re still seeing and hearing Baltimore Orioles in your yard or neighborhood, the Connecticut Bird Atlas wants to know. Connecticut Audubon is a prime sponsor of the Atlas project, so your membership and donations are already supporting it, but this is another way you can help.

The seabirds of Long Island Sound: An online presentation, Thursday at 4 p.m.

June 23, 2020 — Join Connecticut-based seabird expert Allison Black on Thursday, June 25, 4 p.m., for a webinar on Connecticut’s sea-dwelling birds. Allison spent more than 60 days at sea in 2019 while working for NOAA as a seabird/marine mammal Observer.

Daily Bird: Hiatus

June 23, 2020 — The Daily Bird is taking a hiatus. It will return in Jlate uly, when shorebirds are populating the beaches on the southward migration, and it might be several times a week instead of daily.

Pollination

June 22, 2020 — Your donations have helped us plan, plant, and maintain pollinator gardens and meadows at our Smith Richardson Preserve in Westport, the Milford Point Coastal Center in Milford, the Center at Fairfield, Birdcraft, and Deer Pond Farm in Sherman, where the staff has done an incredible job.

Monday Bird Report: 4 Key Points about the Bird Atlas, Including How You Can Help

June 22, 2020 — The Connecticut Bird Atlas project, now in its third year of field work, is a remarkable collaborative effort. Here are four key takeaways: project status, new insights, what’s left to be done, how you can help.

Connecticut’s Swallows: A Special Online Presentation

June 22, 2020 — Connecticut’s half-dozen swallow species will come clearly into focus in Tuesday’s online presentations, the Swallows of Connecticut. Don’t miss is.

Diary of a Teenage Birder from New Canaan, circa 1910. Part 6.

June 21, 2020 — “If you want to discover what a medley is like, search out a flock of goldfinches on some nice spring morning. I found such a flock, to-day, and was surprised at the amount of melody which poured into my ear.”

Daily Bird: Alder Flycatcher

June 19, 2020 — There have been a good number of reports of Alder Flycatcher this year in Connecticut. Most reports come from west of the Connecticut River, including a report of a singing bird at our Deer Pond Farm preserve in Sherman. Further east there have been reports from the Goodwin Conservation Center in Hampton and Boston Hollow/Yale Forest in Ashford.

Permanent Conservation Fund Passes in Congress

July 23, 2020 — Conservationists throughout the country are celebrating yesterday’s passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of the Great American Outdoors Act, which creates a permanent annual fund of $900 million for land protection and outdoor recreation. The House vote followed passage in the Senate last month. The bill is expected to be signed into law.

Conservation Will Benefit Greatly from the Great American Outdoors Act & the Land and Water Conservation Fund

June 17, 2020 — The passage today by the U.S. Senate of the Great American Outdoors Act is a tremendous victory for conservation and for outdoor recreation in general.

Daily Bird: American Oystercatcher

June 17, 2020 — In addition to being one of the largest and stockiest shorebirds in Connecticut, American Oystercatcher is easy to distinguish by its unique coloring. Its brown back and wings, black head, and white breast and belly aid in concealing it on the mudflats and other coastal habitats. But what really distinguishes this bird from others and from its surroundings is the bright orange color of the bill and eye ring, and the yellow iris of the eyes.

Daily Bird: Chimney Swift

June 16, 2020 — Look and listen for Chimney Swifts in any town in Connecticut but especially in Willimantic, Farmington, and Woodbury, sections of which have been designated as Important Bird Areas because they host hundreds of roosting birds.

Daily Bird: Cuckoos

June 15, 2020 Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus Revised from a version published in June 2019. by Helena Ives Both the Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Black-billed Cuckoo breed in Connecticut and fill our woods and the edges of freshwater wetlands with their emphatic calls — ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-kow-kow-kowlp-kowlp-kowlp-kowlp for the Yellow-billed and cu-cu-cu-cu, cu-cu-cu-cu, cu-cu-cu-cu […]

Monday Bird Report

June 15, 2020 — Mid-June is prime nesting season and if you’re into birds, the Connecticut Bird Atlas could use your help.

Coalition forms to save the American Horseshoe Crab

June 11, 2020 — The Connecticut Audubon Society, which in February called for a ban on horseshoe crab fishing in Connecticut, recently joined the new nationwide Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition. Here’s the group’s inaugural news release including remarks from Connecticut Audubon Executive Director Patrick Comins.

Daily Bird: Wood Thrush

June 10, 2020 — Now is the perfect time to hear the beautiful, flute-like call of the Wood Thrush throughout – as its name would indicate – the woods of rural Connecticut. Listen in the early morning and evening along quiet roads or paths.

Daily Bird: Indigo Bunting

June 9, 2020 — Is the strikingly-plumaged Indigo Bunting up to the popularity challenge posed by the brilliant orange of the Baltimore Oriole or the brilliance of the Scarlet Tanager, both long-time favorites? You can find them throughout the state, along the edges of fields, power line rights-of-way, early successional habitats, and weedy fields.

Daily Bird: Western Sandpiper

June 8, 2020 — A Western Sandpiper has been feeding and resting on the mudflats at the Milford Point Coastal Center in recent days. Western Sandpiper is considered a vagrant in Connecticut, with about half a dozen sightings each year.

The Monday Bird Report

June 8, 2020 — Photographers, June is a crucial time of year for nesting birds. Getting too close to a nest or to just-hatched chicks puts vulnerable birds at greater risk.

Diary of a Teenage Birder from New Canaan, circa 1910. Part 5.

June 5, 2020 — “I unfolded my chair, seated myself and commenced to peruse Sabbath Reading, which I had brought along for the purpose. Hardly had I started to read when a Flicker flew over my head and alighted on a dead tree nearby.”

Daily Bird: Clapper Rail

June 5, 2020 — Despite its large size, Clapper Rail is not an easy bird to locate. These marsh birds are known for their elusive nature and are more often heard than seen. The grasses that make up salt marshes hide them well and provide crucial habitat for feeding and nesting.

We at the Connecticut Audubon Society add our voices to the rising calls for change in our country.

June 5, 2020 — We at the Connecticut Audubon Society add our voices to the rising calls for change in our country. Nature knows no racial boundaries. It is our vision that everyone in our diverse population appreciate the value of the natural world and have access to it. Any possibility that the birding community could feel isolated from racism was shattered last week when Christian Cooper, a birder who happened to be black, was subjected to overt racism while searching for a Mourning Warbler in Central Park.

I Spy: Coastal Connecticut

June 8– Welcome to Mystery Monday! Let’s play a game of I Spy: Coastal Connecticut! Every Monday we will post part of a picture of an organism found along the coast of Connecticut. Make your best guess–you can post your answer on The Coastal Center’s Facebook page: click here or on The Connecticut Audubon Society Facebook page: click here. […]

Andy & Sandy Visit the “Osprey Garden” in Old Saybrook

June 4, 2020 — EcoTravel Director Andy Griswold and volunteer Sandy Sanstrom regularly visit what Andy likes to call the Osprey Garden to check on the eggs (which will be hatching momentarily) and clear away debris. Watch this video for a great perspective on how your support is making a difference for Ospreys.

“Farming” a Rich Source of Food for Migrating Birds

June 4, 2020 — Where do your donations go? Some go right into the ground. Your support is being invested in new places to keep migrating birds well-supplied with high-energy seeds to fuel them on their long flights.

Daily Bird: Purple Martin

June 4, 2020 — After a tentative start this season, nesting activity in the Purple Martin gourds at the Coastal Center in Milford is underway.

Frank Mantlik, who leads the team of volunteers that monitors the colony, reported on May 26, that out of the total 71 gourds at the colony, 20 have nests.

Daily Bird: Black Skimmer

June 3, 2020 — Black Skimmers are amazing-looking birds that seem to quickly unzip the surface of the water as they feed. They are uncommon enough to be worth watching for. You have to pick the right spot. In Connecticut that’s often the Milford Point Coastal Center or Sandy Point in West Haven.

Connecticut Audubon’s Dr. Science: Using Binoculars for Birding (video: 4 minutes)

June 2, 2020 — Ever wonder how you could use your binoculars to get an “eagle-eye” view of some of your favorite birds?

Monday Bird Report

June 1, 2020 — By June, birds are on their breeding grounds, eggs are in the nest — some have hatched — and sumer is icumen in/Lhude sing cuccu, if you’re lucky enough to have a cuckoo nearby.

The Answer for the June 1 Mystery is……

If you guessed jingle shells, mermaid’s toenails, Neptune’s toenails, toenail shells, gold shells or saddle oysters, you are correct!! Jingle shells are shiny mollusks that got their name because they produce a bell-like sound when several shells are shaken together. The shells are thin and often translucent, they will grow following […]

Daily Bird: Scarlet Tanager

June 1, 2020 — A competitor of Baltimore Orioles for the title of most noticeable songbird in Connecticut, Scarlet Tanagers are a fairly common forest nesting bird in Connecticut. Most of the larger and many of the smaller forested areas of the state will have nesting pairs.

Daily Bird: Piping Plover

May 29, 2020 — Piping Plovers live out in the open but can be hard to find. They attract a lot of attention but can be found only on certain beaches. They nest from Greenwich to Stonington but are rare enough — only 57 pairs in Connecticut last year — to warrant listing as a federal and state-threatened species.

2020 Birdathon Photo Contest Winners

June 1, 2020 — We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2020 Birdathon Photo contest. Birders from across the state submitted approximately 100 photos, all taken in Connecticut from May 22 to 24. They included geese, ducks, herons, hawks, owls, warblers — even a box turtle. The winners were chosen by Julian Hough, an experienced bird photographer and graphic designer.

Daily Bird: Brown Thrasher

June 18, 2020 — The cinnamon-colored Brown Thrasher may more often be heard than seen as it spends much of its time hidden in its preferred shrub habitat. A little bigger than a robin, the Brown Thrasher is on the list of Connecticut’s “Birds of Special Concern,” mainly because of loss of the messy shrubby areas it favors.

Daily Bird: Little Blue Heron

May 28, 2020 — The first Little Blue Herons arrive in April and stay into October, sometimes later. It is strictly an inhabitant of coastal salt marshes. It nests on Duck Island in Westbrook and Charles Island in Milford.

An Up-Close View of Sunbathing Snakes With Connecticut Audubon’s Dr. Science (video: 3 minutes)

May 28, 2020 — Why do northern water snakes leave ponds on warm spring days (and ignore social distancing rules)?

Daily Bird: Sanderling

May 27, 2020 — One of our most ubiquitous shorebirds is the Sanderling. Only the Ruddy Turnstone and the Whimbrel may have a wider distribution.

Daily Bird: Baltimore Oriole

May 26, 2020 — With its orange-flame plumage and loud, operatic song, the Baltimore Oriole attracts attention like almost no other songbird in Connecticut and is often a trophy-bird at backyard bird feeders.

Connecticut Audubon’s Dr. Science Explains the Misunderstood Dandelion (video: 4 minutes, 15 seconds)

May 26, 2020 — What “parachutes” into your backyard, eventually becoming a great source of nectar for bees, providing seeds for birds and having delicious leaves for salads?

Beach-nesting birds are hatching. Thank you for doing your part to protect them

May 26, 2020 — Piping Plover eggs are starting to hatch on Connecticut’s beaches — there are already three hatchlings from the 10 nests at the Milford Point Coastal Center, for example. And the two American Oystercatcher nests there already have one chick each.

I Spy: Coastal Connecticut

June 1– Welcome to Mystery Monday! Let’s play a game of I Spy: Coastal Connecticut! Every Monday we will post part of a picture of an organism found along the coast of Connecticut. Can you guess the creature in this picture? Make your best guess–you can post your answer on The Coastal Center’s Facebook page: click here or […]

2020 Birdathon Leaders

May 28, 2020 — The 2020 Migration Madness Birdathon was designed for everyone, and thanks to the dozens of people who participated and made pledges it was a terrific success! By the end of the three-day event, 67 birders submitted checklists with a total of 199 species, a tick behind last year’s total of 207.

Birdathon 2020: “What a wonderful activity, particularly during a spring with so many challenges!”

May 30, 2020 — “A couple favorite moments were hearing a loud bird singing by a river on Saturday morning, then looking up and seeing a Baltimore Oriole. Then on Sunday, having my first sighting of a pair of Barn Swallows, two beautiful blue gems stopping briefly on the riverbank.”

Meet Our Ambassador Birds Webinar on Friday, May 29

May 22, 2020 — Treat yourself to a special encounter with one or more raptors on a bird handler’s glove. You’ll learn about their natural history and discover the unique physical attributes of these magnificent birds. We’ll discuss different raptor species and their amazing behavioral and predatory adaptations, as well as their conservation status and critical role in our environment.

Daily Bird/Warbler Week: Prothonotary Warbler

May 21, 2020 — Prothonotary Warblers are relatively rare in Connecticut but one or two visit almost every year in May.

COVID-19: What’s on & what’s off

March 12, 2020 — Our sanctuaries and trails will remain open, and we encourage you to visit for a hike. Outdoor programs will be held as scheduled. Indoor programs are cancelled or postponed. The buildings at all our centers will be closed to the public.

Daily Bird/Warbler Week: Blackburnian Warbler

May 20, 2020 — This species has made a good showing in Connecticut. One of the most strikingly colored of our wood-warblers, the Blackburnian’s flaming orange throat was responsible for its colloquial name of “Fire Throat.” But who was it named after? Keep reading to find out.

Daily Bird/Warbler Week: Blue-winged Warbler

May 19, 2020 — Blue-winged Warblers arrive in Connecticut in May and quickly establish breeding territories that last through July. They are perhaps most visible during summer, when males are territorial and females can be seen tending to young.

An Intriguing Investigation of Owl Pellets with Dr. Science (video, 4 minutes)

May 19, 2020 — Why does Connecticut Audubon’s Dr. Science exclaim “WOW!” over her discovery in the Larsen Sanctuary? Find out by becoming a science detective and join her for an intriguing investigation of owl pellets.

Daily Bird/Warbler Week: Canada Warbler

May 18, 2020 — Spring is by far the best season for finding wood warblers in Connecticut, including Canada Warblers — eBird shows dozens if not scores of sightings within the last two weeks.

I Spy: Coastal Connecticut

May 25, 2020 – Welcome to Mystery Monday! Let’s play a game of I Spy: Coastal Connecticut!

The Answer for the May 18 Mystery is…..

If you guessed Mussel , You are Correct!!! Did you know? The mussel’s external shell is composed of two hinged halves or “valves”. The valves are joined together on the outside by a ligament, and are closed when necessary by strong internal muscles (anterior and posterior adductor muscles) Mussels […]

I Spy: Coastal Connecticut

May 18– Welcome to Mystery Monday! Let’s play a game of I Spy: Coastal Connecticut! Every Monday we will post part of a picture of an organism found along the coast of Connecticut. Make your best guess–you can post your answer on The Coastal Center’s Facebook page: click here or on The Connecticut Audubon Society Facebook page: click here. […]

Monday Bird Report

May 18, 2020 — The Monday Bird Report is Birdathon-centric this week. Connecticut Audubon’s third annual Migration Madness Birdathon is coming up this weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 22-24. The weather forecast is looking OK, and 51 people have already signed up to participate.

Diary of a teenage birder from New Canaan, circa 1910. Part 4.

May 17, 2020 — “Seating myself on a pile of beanpoles I waited for the author of the note to appear. Soon who should pop up but a newly arrived White-throat, as handsome and jaunty as ever. He was silent, save for the note which had attracted me, but I trust to hear his merry whistling before many days.”

Daily Bird/Warbler Week: Worm-eating Warbler

May 15, 2020 — During migration Worm-eating Warblers may be seen at any of the typical warbler stopovers, such as Connecticut Audubon’s Birdcraft Sanctuary in Fairfield and East Rock Park in New Haven.

Join Dr. Science for the Wood Frog Story (video, 3 minutes, 31 seconds)

May 14, 2020 — If you come across a vernal pool in springtime, what rare event might you experience if your timing (and luck) are just right?

The Daily Bird/Warbler Week: Cerulean Warbler

May 14, 2020 — In May we birders celebrate the return of the warblers, “the butterflies of the bird world.” Connecticut is in the nesting range of the rare and beautiful Cerulean Warbler.

The Daily Bird/Warbler Week: Special Video Edition

May 14, 2020 — Uncountable numbers of tiny, winged perpetual-motion machines — cerulean, yellow, chestnut, golden, orange, black, blue, green — are arriving in Connecticut’s treetops these days. Warbler migration is upon us, bringing pleasure and stiff necks to eager birders.

In the north woods of Connecticut, a rare butterfly

May 14, 2020 — Wandering through the Croft Preserve in Goshen earlier this month, longtime Connecticut Audubon member Jim Dugan came upon an unusual find — two or three West Virginia white butterflies, feeding in a patch of spring-beauty wildflowers.

Daily Bird/Warbler Week: Swainson’s Warbler

May 13, 2020 — The discovery of a Townsend’s Warbler in Hartford last month — a record first for Connecticut — got birders thinking about which new species might show up next. Because it’s migration time, thoughts turn to Swainson’s Warbler. Note that the violet color that indicates a sighting is absent from Connecticut on […]

Eco-Hour with Conservation Biologist Jim Arrigoni

May 13, 2020 — Salamanders quietly live most of their lives out of sight and beyond our perception, yet they play outsized roles in many Connecticut ecosystems. Conservation biologist Jim Arrigoni explains in his Eco-hour Chat, Thursday, May 14.

The Daily Bird/Warbler Week: Hooded Warbler

May 12, 2020 — Usually first noticed by a ringing “weeta, weeta, weeteeo” song, a Hooded Warbler sighting highlights almost any bird walk in the Connecticut woods.

Diary of a teenage birder from New Canaan, circa 1910. Part 3.

May 12, 2020 — On a spring morning in New Canaan, meadowlarks are singing and flickers “salute each passerby” as a 15-year-old boy walks to the Tallmadge Hill station to take the train to high school in Stamford. It’s 1910 and Harold Jones is making notes in his diary.

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