Fall Field Trip

Swallow Cruise on the Connecticut River
Friday, September 19
5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Every year from the end of August through early October, hundreds of thousands of swallows, mostly Tree Swallows, roost in the reeds of Goose Island in the Connecticut River. As the sun heads toward the western horizon swallows appear by the ones and twos from all directions. Soon 40, 50, 100 birds fly in from their daytime foraging areas – up to 50 miles away – and join a growing flight as they fly around above the river. More and more swallows gather to form a flock so large that the sky becomes dark with the swirling birds. As the swallows circle above the river, they form a denser flock over Goose Island. Then as the sun sets and light fades, at some unknown signal one or two swallows drop into the marsh and the others follow forming a tornado-like funnel that races across the island as the birds go to roost. In a minute or less all of the hundreds of thousands of birds have disappeared and the sky is clear.

Tree Swallows above Goose Island, by Patrick Comins

This spectacular event, only discovered in the late 20th century, was described by Roger Tory Peterson as one of the wonders of the bird world. And Menunkatuck Audubon Society and Audubon Connecticut have chartered the RiverQuest for September 19 for a private cruise to watch this amazing extravaganza.

Leaving at 5:00 p.m. from Eagle Landing in Haddam, the RiverQuest will cruise down the Connecticut River while we look for other birds and wildlife as we draw closer to the Goose Island. With commentary by Patrick Comins we will wait as the swallows fly in and marvel at their ability to gather in such huge numbers without crashing into one another. Then in an instant it is over.

During the cruise light refreshments will be available.

Cost for this trip is $40 per person. Space is limited! For questions or to reserve a place email Dennis Riordan at  driordan@snet.net or call 203-387-2167. Upon confirmation of your reservation, please pay by check to Menunkatuck Audubon Society, Swallow Cruise, PO Box 214, Guilford, CT 06437.

The RiverQuest’s berth is at the first parking lot on the left as you enter Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam.

Take Route 9 to Exit 7 (Route 82 East). Follow Route 82 east through Tylerville Center. The park entrance is on your right just after the railroad tracks.. 

Remember! Space is limited! Book early.

(Reprinted from September 2014 Newsletter.)