Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Volunteers Needed for the 2010 Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey

The Wildlife Division of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection is looking for volunteers to assist with the 2010 Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey in Connecticut. The 2010 survey period target date is Saturday January 9, from 7:00 -11:00 AM.
Bald eagles migrate south from the northern states during winter to areas of open water where they are able to catch fish, their main food item. Cold weather conditions, which keep most waterways to the north covered with ice, mean that higher numbers of eagles will be counted in Connecticut.
If you would like to participate in the 2010 survey, please contact Wild- life Division biologist Julie Victoria by email only (julie.victoria@ct.gov) and provide your name and mailing address.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Pre-storm Hammonasset Bird Walk


A small group of hearty Menunkatuck members and friends braved the cold and wind ahead of the snow storm to bird Hammonasset Beach State Park on Saturday. The trip took us from the Nature Center parking lot to the jetty, the overlook and on to the moraine trail.
The list: Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Mallard, Common Eider, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, Northern Harrier, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, Ring-billed Gull, Mourning Dove, Northern Flicker, American Crow, Horned Lark, House Wren, European Starling, American Robin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Finch.



Dennis, Nina (trip leader), Kelvin, Ray from California
Brumby
Missing: John



Dennis, Nina, Ann, Ray
Brumby, Daisy