Fall Festivals

Audubon Center At Bent Of The River, Southbury

Saturday, September 20 ~ Rain or Shine

2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

The family-oriented BentFest 2014 will feature picnicking in the meadow, river and nature walks, hay rides, tie-dye T-shirt creations, food vendors, kids’ activities, bird watching, raffle prizes, plus live music. The Bent of the River is an Important Bird Area with a diversity of habitat and worth the drive from the New Haven area.

Lighthouse Point Park Migration Festival

Celebrating Birds, Butterflies, and Dragonflies

Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven

Sunday, September 21 ~ No Rain Date

8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven is an Important Bird Area on the Atlantic flyway, a major route for butterflies, hawks, and many other bird species in their annual migration south for the winter months. Festival events include bird watching walks, hawk displays, butterfly observations, bluegrass music, activities for children, and the annual hawk count.

Hawk Watch Festival & Green Bazaar

Audubon Greenwich, Greenwich

September 27 and 28  ~ Rain or Shine

11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Enjoy this exciting two-day nature festival at Audubon’s sanctuary in northern Greenwich - a celebration of the annual hawk migration passing overhead at Audubon Greenwich’s “Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch”. Enjoy live animal shows, nature-themed games, environmental exhibits, and visit and learn from a wide variety of eco-friendly vendors exhibiting on-site. Quaker Ridge is an Important Bird Area.

The 2014 Meigs Point Farm Festival

Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison

October 4 and 5 ~ Rain or Shine

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Celebrating New England’s Farming and Fishing History, there will be spinning, weaving, folk songs, New England crafters, bird watching walks at this Important Bird Area, and much more. The Kerry Boys will entertain the crowds with traditional songs on both Saturday and Sunday. Connecticut’s former State Troubadour, Tom Callinan, will share tradition and original songs and shanties.

There’s sure to something for everyone to enjoy!

(Reprinted from September 2014 Newsletter.)

Field Trips

Central Park Migrants and Audubon’s Aviary at the New York Historical Society

New York City

Saturday May 3, 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Join Menunkatuck, and Audubon Greenwich at Central Park for a morning walk with “Birding Bob” DeCandido looking for spring migrants. The Park is a major attraction for neotropical migrants, and our walk through the Rambles is sure to feature great views of many warblers as well as tanagers, orioles, and thrushes.

Following lunch, we will go to the New York Historical Society for a guided tour of Audubon watercolors. The trilogy Audubon’s Aviary: The Complete Flock is a once-in-a-lifetime series that will explore the evolution of Audubon’s dazzling watercolors in the order in which they were engraved. Over three years (2013–2015) Audubon’s Aviary will feature all 474 stunning avian watercolors by Audubon in the collection. Engaging state-of-the-art media installations will provide a deeper understanding of the connection between art and nature.

We will be taking the Metro North 6:46 a.m. train from New Haven, arrive at Grand Central at 8:41, and take a bus or the subway to Central Park, arriving around 9:30. We will bird for about three hours, have lunch at the Boathouse, and then go to the NYHS. The return time to New Haven is open. Cost for the bird walk is $10. Train fare, lunch, admission to the NYHS, and any other personal expenses are additional.

Pre-registration is required. To register for this trip, please email nina@menunkatuck.org, visit the Field Trips registration form on the calendar page of our website at menunkatuck.org/index.php/calendar1/.

Birdathon

Various Locations

Saturday, May 10,

6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Join us at Sandy Point in West Haven for beach nesting birds and gulls and terns, East Rock Park in New Haven and the Supply Ponds in Branford for migrating warblers and other neotropical birds, at Hammonasset Beach State Park for more migrants and water birds, and at other local birding spots for our annual all-day birding extravaganza.

The last few years we’ve averaged between 100 and 120 species during Birdathon. Join us for the entire day or at as many hot spots as suits your schedule.

Approximate Schedule

Sandy Point, 6:00 a.m.
East Rock Park, 8:00 a.m.
Supply Ponds, 11:00 a.m.
Shoreline drive, 2:00 p.m.
Hammonasset, 5:00 p.m.

Follow our progress and keep up with our sightings throughout the day by checking our Facebook page, facebook.com/menunkatuckaudubonsociety.

In the Works for July

There are several possible trips in the planning stages for July. One is a boat trip to Outer Island in the Thimble Islands off Stony Creek. Outer Island is a unit of the Stewart B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge. There are fabulous photographic opportunities on the island with wave-smoothed pink granite outcroppings and erratic boulders, numerous tidal pools, and common and roseate terns, nesting green herons, and other shorebirds. A picnic lunch is likely on the schedule.

Also being considered is a multi-Chapter kayak/canoe paddle at a lake or pond that is most convenient to the Chapters participating.

Topsmead State Forest in Litchfield is another possible destination. The trails at Topsmead pass through large meadows with nesting bobolinks and through small wooded areas with forest birds more common to northern Connecticut. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the patio of the Chase summer house before we tour the home.

Another trip being planned for September is a sunset cruise on the Connecticut River to view the tree swallows returning to Goose Island for their overnight roost. Each evening from late August through early October hundreds of thousands of tree swallows gather in a swirling cloud and in an instant they drop into the marsh for the night.

Details on summer trips will be in the July newsletter.

Late Fall Field Trips

Bird Walk at RWA Lake Saltonstall, Branford, CT

Saturday, November 2

8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.

Join birder Nina Levenduski on a walk through the Regional Water Authority’s Lake Saltonstall trail system to look for fall migrants and water birds and fall foliage. Beginning birders welcome! Please bring binoculars, sturdy footwear, and field guides. Bad weather or heavy rain the day of the trip cancels.

Meet at the parking area on Hosley Avenue (map) in Branford, CT.

Bird Watching at Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison, CT

Sunday, December 15

9:00 a.m.  –  11:00 a.m.

Hammonasset Beach State Park is one of Connecticut’s premier birding spots. After the breeding and migrating birds (and sunbathers) have moved on to warmer places, Hammonasset takes on a somewhat different character during the colder months.

Join Nina Levenduski and other Menunkatuck birders as we walk the park to look for wintering shorebirds, ducks, sparrows, raptors and others. Beginning birders welcome! Please bring binoculars and dress in layers for cold & windy conditions. Camera, hand lens, field guides, etc. are also suggested. Bad weather the day of the trip cancels.

Meet outside the Nature Center at Hammonasset at 9:00 a.m. (map). There is no park admission fee. 

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For directions, carpools or to register for either of these walks, visit the calendar page of the Menunkatuck website, or contact the leader at nina@menunkatuck.org.

(From the November, 2013 Newsletter)

Tree Swallow, Purple Martin Egg Laying Is Up at Hammonasset, Fledging Is Down

Top line - Number of eggs laid; bottom - Number fledged

Bad weather just as Hammonasset’s tree swallow and purple martin chicks were about to fledge resulted in the deaths of many of the young birds. As a result the number of nest box success rate was down for the summer.

Of 183 tree swallow eggs that were laid, 143 hatched and 114 young fledged.

The Bridgeport Wildlife Guards, a team of students learning and teaching about conservation in Bridgeport, CT, came to Hammonasset to learn about nest box monitoring. They were able to see the difference between the purple martins’ bayberry leaf-lined nest and the tree swallows’ feather-lined nest.

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The Bridgeport Wildlife Guards, a team of students learning and teaching about conservation in Bridgeport, CT, came to Hammonasset to learn about nest box monitoring. They were able to see the difference between the purple martins’ bayberry leaf-lined nest and the tree swallows’ feather-lined nest.

(From the November, 2013 Newsletter)

Purple Martin Banding at Hammonasset Beach State Park

Geoff Krukar, avian researcher with DEEP, was at Hammonasset Beach State Park banding this year's purple martin chicks. Each bird is banded with a Federal numbered band on one leg and with a colored State band on the other leg. Geoff explains the banding protocol in this video by Jim Murtagh.

Menunkatuck Uses Solar-powered Sound Systems to Attract Purple Martins, Chimney Swifts

Menunkatuck Audubon Society installed a solar-powered sound system at the Guilford Salt Meadows Sanctuary to attract purple martins to establish a new colony. A second system was installed at Hammonasset Beach State Park to attract chimney swifts to nest in the artificial chimney at the shorebird pool bird blind.

At the Sanctuary the purple martin house has had fly-over martins every spring, but none have nested. Again, there have been fly-overs of chimney swifts, but no nesting.

Solar-powered sound system at the Guilford Salt Meadows Sanctuary.

According to the Purple Martin Conservation Association, “The Dawnsong has proven to be one of the most powerful tools used today to attract martins to a new site. It is the recording of ASY (after second year), or adult black male martins singing a song in the predawn hours that is used to lure subadult martins (those that were raised last year) to their colony site. Anyone that uses this tape can tell you that IT WORKS.” Research by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Department of Natural Resources in Minnesota shows that playing recordings of Chimney Swift vocalizations results in swifts investigating artificial chimneys. 

An ASY purple martin (left) perches next to a decoy as it investigated the apartment.

The challenge with using sound recording at both the Sanctuary and at Hammonasset is that there is no access to a source of electricity. The solution is to use a solar-powered sound system. A suitable sound system is used by Audubon’s Project Puffin in Maine and by other seabird restoration projects that are typically located on isolated islands with no electricity. Murremaid Music Boxes builds custom sound systems for attracting birds throughout the world.

The solar panel for the chimney swift tower sound system is mounted on the roof of the bird blind.

Funds for the two sound systems came from an Audubon Collaborative Grant, a mini-grant from the Connecticut Ornithological Society, and matching funds from our members’ donations.

The Sanctuary sound system has attracted purple martins to investigate the apartments, however as of June 26, there are none nesting. The system at Hammonasset was installed late in the migration season and has not attracted any swifts. It will be used again during fall migration when swifts roost communally. Research indicates that swifts will use fall roost sites for nesting.

Further developments will be reported in the newsletter.

(From the July 2013 newsletter)

Spring Field Trips

Central Park Migrants and Audubon’s Aviary at the New York Historical Society

New York City

Saturday May 4, 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Join Menunkatuck, Naugatuck Valley AS, and Audubon Greenwich at Central Park for a morning walk with “Birding Bob” DeCandido looking for spring migrants. The Park is a major attraction for neotropical migrants, and our walk through the Rambles is sure to feature great views of many warblers as well as tanagers, orioles, and thrushes.

Following lunch, we will go to the New York Historical Society for a guided tour of Audubon watercolors. The trilogy Audubon’s Aviary: The Complete Flock is a once-in-a-lifetime series that will explore the evolution of Audubon’s dazzling watercolors in the order in which they were engraved. Over three years (2013–2015) Audubon’s Aviary will feature all 474 stunning avian watercolors by Audubon in the collection. Engaging state-of-the-art media installations will provide a deeper understanding of the connection between art and nature.

We will be taking the Metro North 6:53 a.m. train from New Haven, arrive at Grand Central at 8:44, and take a bus or the subway to Central Park, arriving around 9:30. We will bird for about three hours, have lunch at the Boathouse, and then go to the NYHS. The return time to New Haven is open. Cost for the trip is $10 for the bird walk plus train fare, lunch, admission to the NYHS, and any other personal expenses.

Pre-registration is required. To register for this trip, please email nina@menunkatuck.org or visit the Field Trips registration form on the calendar page of our website at www.menunkatuck.org/index.php/calendar1/ 

Birdathon

Various Locations

Saturday, May 11,

6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Join us at Sandy Point in West Haven for beach nesting birds and gulls and terns, East Rock Park in New Haven and the Supply Ponds in Branford for migrating warblers and other neotropical birds, at Hammonasset Beach State Park for more migrants and water birds, and at other local birding spots for our annual all-day birding extravaganza.

The last few years we’ve averaged between 100 and 120 species during Birdathon. Join us for the entire day or at as many hot spots as suits your schedule.

Approximate Schedule

Sandy Point, 6:00 a.m.

East Rock Park, 8:00 a.m.

Supply Ponds, 11:00 a.m.

Shoreline drive, 2:00 p.m.

Hammonasset, 5:00 p.m.

Nature Walk at Lake Hammonasset

Killingworth

Saturday June 22, 10 a.m. - noon

John naturalist John Himmelman on a walk exploring a little-known RWA trail system on the border of Killingworth and Madison. We’ll pass through several habitats, including a small sand plain, as we search for birds, bugs, plants, herps, and other critters. Something interesting always pops up!

Please note that this walk is on Regional Water Authority property, and is accessible by permit only.  Menunkatuck Audubon Society has a permit for the walk.  Dogs are not allowed on RWA property.

Email jhimmel@comcast.net if you have any questions.

Pre-registration is required. To register for this trip, please email nina@menunkatuck.org, visit the Field Trips registration form on the calendar page of our website at www.menunkatuck.org/index.php/calendar1/. Directions to  the walk site will be provided when you register.

(From the May 2013 newsletter)

Rotary Roundup

On Sunday, January 6, arround 60 volunteers gathered at Hammonasset Beach State Park to remove invasive plants from the cedar grove near the rotary. Invasive plants that were removed included Japanese honeysuckle, oriental bittersweet, and autumn olive. The event was cosponsored by Menunkatuck, Friends of Hammonasset, and the Meigs Point Nature Center. Participants were as young as 11 years old and came from as far away as Ellington.
After two hours of cutting and hauling the vines and branches, a luncheon of clam chowder, chili, warm drinks, and dessert were served at the Nature Center.
Our thanks to the volunteers who helped and the following local businesses: Bishop's Orchards, Guilford; Cohen's Bagel Company, Madison; Culinary Concerts, Madison; Friends & Company, Madison; and Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale, Madison.

Jim Murtagh photos

Menunkatuck Audubon Society Annual Report 2012

Suzanne Botta Sullivan reports on the past year’s activities

I am pleased to report that 2012 was another outstanding year for Menunkatuck Audubon Society. With your financial support and the hard work of the Chapter Board members and many volunteers we have conducted a vast array of programs, field walks, and conservation studies, worked on habitat restoration, increased our schoolyard habitat programs, and much more. With great pride, we list here for your review the significant accomplishments achieved in 2012.

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“What struck me is that it is the individual people and the group as a whole that make what you are doing so extra special. The depth and enthusiasm of your Menunkatuck Audubon board is truly amazing. Your board has diversity of age and experience, strong ties to the community, and the expertise of professional educators.“

-Diane Lewis, Special Consultant to David Yarnold, President, National Audubon Society

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Conservation

The Hammonasset Beach State Park Purple Martin and Tree Swallow Project, begun in 2005, continues to produce outstanding results. Nesting attempts by European starlings and house sparrows have been reduced and astonishingly high success rates for both the purple martin colonies and the tree swallows has followed (180 purple martin fledged and 151 tree swallows fledged).

A fifth osprey platform was installed in the Park. Nesting ospreys used all of the new platforms. 

Two kestrel nest boxes were installed at the Guilford Salt Meadows Sanctuary with additional boxes planned for other sites in Guilford.

Terry Shaw completes the installation of a kestrel nest box at the Guilford Salt Meadows Sanctuary.

Grants from the Audubon Collaborative Grant and the Environmental Professionals’ Organization of Connecticut program provided funds for supporting our partner Northeast Connecticut Kestrel Project with nest box predator guards and radio tracking equipment.

In partnership with the Madison Conservation Commission Menunkatuck continued the Dune Restoration Project at West Wharf in Madison. Additional beach grass plugs were planted. 

Dune grass plugs are planted at the West Wharf dune in Madison.

Additional fishing line recycling bins were installed at boat launches and fishing spots.

Citizen Science

Menunkatuck concluded its partnership with the Connecticut Amphibian Monitoring Project (C.A.M.P.) monitoring a 2.5 square mile area for amphibians. The statewide study sponsored by the Connecticut DEEP and Connecticut Science Center ended its 15-year data collection.

Our partnership with the Project Limulus horseshoe crab tagging surveys had more than 60 volunteers conduct 21 surveys.

Menunkatuck members participated in Audubon Connecticut’s spring and fall bird migration surveys to identify critical stopover habitat.

A partnership with the Seabird Ecological Assessment Network was initiated. SEANET recruits volunteers to survey beaches for sick and dead seabirds.

Advocacy

Menunkatuck partnered with Audubon Connecticut, Quinnipiac Valley Audubon Society, and other conservation organizations in Improving Water Quality and Wildlife Habitat in the Quinnipiac River Watershed. A series of films were shown at the Yale Peabody Museum and at venues in the Wallingford area. A public forum with area legislators was also held. The project is supported by a grant to Audubon Connecticut from the Quinnipiac River Fund.

Another new partnership is with Balloons Blow, an organization that publicizes the harmful effects of balloons on wildlife and the environment.

A rusty blackbird got entangled in balloon string.

Education and Outreach

The Birdathon was held in May. The day was a great success. Menunkatuck and The Audubon Shop participated together and a total of more than 100 species were counted. 

Menunkatuck continued to support King-Robinson Magnet School in New Haven. In June we sponsored two programs by A Place Called Hope live birds of prey program. 

The Audubon at Home Schoolyard Habitat Program included construction of a large courtyard planter for a hummingbird/butterfly garden at King-Robinson. Audubon Connecticut was awarded a grant by the Carolyn Foundation to partner with Menunkatuck on expanding the program by establishing a wildlife meadow, equipment purchases, and teacher training.

The planter at King-Robinson is constructed with Timbersil, a non-toxic treated wood, and cedar.

Melissa Jones Elementary School in Guilford was given an AAH Healthy Habitat award for its schoolyard gardens and environmentally friendly school culture. 

Melissa Jone Elementary School students pose with the Audubon at Home Healthy Habitat sign.

Abraham Baldwin Middle School in Guilford had an AAH habitat assessment in May and during the summer implemented many of its recommendations. Sue Kennedy obtained grants from the Guilford Fund for Education and the Guilford Foundation. With the assistance of students from the Guilford High School Environmental Club a courtyard was converted from an area overgrown with day lilies to a garden with diverse bird and butterfly attracting plants. Art and science teachers used the garden during the fall for curriculum-related studies. 

A Baldwin student sketches in the new school garden.

Film Series

Film screenings continued in partnership with Audubon Connecticut and the Blackstone Library. Eight independent documentaries on environmental issues were shown to excellent reviews.

Among the films shown was Mad City Chickens.

General Public Meeting

Public programs are held monthly on the second Wednesday of each month (except July and August). Last year the meetings featured a variety of topics and speakers, including programs on birding in Colombia, ticks, a trip to the Galapagos Islands, and the Connecticut River watershed. Our meetings are free and open to the public.

Field Programs

This year Menunkatuck provided four exciting field programs, including a woodcock search at Durham Meadows, a spring trip to the Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy in Litchfield, and a fall walk at Hammonasset.

Newsletter 

The newsletter is printed six times per year. In addition to informing our members and friends about Menunkatuck’s activities and events we include Cindi Kobak’s “Bio-bits” natural history essays. The Newsletter also includes tips on going green and information about upcoming events in our chapter area. Citizen Science highlighted six opportunities for helping scientists with their research.

Web Site

Menunkatuck maintains a web site that features a blog, a photo gallery, and a variety of educational information and links. We are also on Facebook with frequent posts with photos, event notices, and links to bird and environmental articles on the Internet. 

Volunteers

Menunkatuck volunteers contributed more than 700 man-hours to conservation, advocacy, education, and outreach activities.

Conclusion

Menunkatuck continues to be a leader in environmental education, conservation, and advocacy. Please join the Menunkatuck Board in making 2013 an even better year. If you can become more involved please e-mail me at president@menunkatuck.org or speak to any Board member at any event.

~Suzanne Botta Sullivan

Late Fall Field Trips

Bird Watching at Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison, CT

Sunday, November 25, 2010

8:30 a.m.  –  11:30 a.m. 

Horned larks at Hammonasset

Hammonasset Beach State Park is one of Connecticut’s premier birding spots. After the breeding and migrating birds (and sunbathers) have moved on to warmer places, Hammonasset takes on a somewhat different character during the colder months. Join Nina Levenduski and other Menunkatuck birders as we walk the park to look for wintering shorebirds, ducks, sparrows, raptors and others. Beginning birders welcome! Please bring binoculars and dress in layers for cold & windy conditions. Camera, hand lens, field guides, etc. are also suggested.

Meet outside the Nature Center at Hammonasset at 8:30 a.m.. There is no park admission fee. For questions or to register for this trip, e-mail nina@menunkatuck.org. Bad weather the day of the trip cancels.

Winter Birdwatching at Sandy Point and New Haven Harbor

Saturday, December 15

9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Greater scaup - USFWS

Sandy Point in West Haven is recognized by Audubon Connecticut as an Important Bird Area (IBA), and a great place to see wintering shorebirds, ducks and other waterfowl.  Join Nina Levenduski and other Menunkatuck birders for a walk on the beaches to look for wintering birds. Beginning birders welcome! Please bring binoculars and dress in layers for cold and windy conditions. Camera, hand lens, field guides, etc. are also suggested.

Optional lunch stop after the walk at a local burger/seafood joint.

Meet at the parking area at the junction of Beach Street and Second Avenue in West Haven.

To sign up for the trip, e-mail nina@menunkatuck.org. Bad weather the day of the trip cancels.

Purple martins and tree swallows have another year of successful breeding

Stringent monitoring of the purple martin and tree swallow nest boxes at Hammonasset Beach State Park continue to pay dividends with the number of young birds fledging increasing once again.

For the first year all 31 tree swallow boxes were occupied with swallow pairs producing eggs. After five years of increases the number of fledglings fell slightly last summer. This year there was a 27% increase over last, with 151 tree swallows fledging.

Top line - number of laid
Bottom line - number of fledglings

Purple martins were just as successful. For the fifth straight year, the number of nesting pairs, eggs laid, and fledglings increased. Forty-four of the 48 compartments in the four martin houses were occupied, an astonishing 230 eggs were laid, and the adult martins were able to successfully raise 180 fledglings.

Top line - number of laid
Bottom line - number of fledglings

Again this year DEEP wildlife biologists spent one July morning banding the young purple martins. Using silver Federal numbered bands and colony-specific colored bands, one hundred fifty-seven young were weighed, aged, and banded. Twenty other martins were either too young or too old for banding.

Derrick Hendy (third from left), Assistant Warden at the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize, participated in the DEEP banding. He spent two months at Audubon Sharon learning banding, bird census, and other monitoring techniques to be used in his staff position with Belize Audubon. The training program is part of Audubon’s International Alliances Program.
More photos of the banding.

John Picard, Menunkatuck Vice-president and Conservation Chair, is responsible for the increase in fledgling success rates. He keeps the nest boxes closed until a number of tree swallows and purple martins have arrived from their winter homes. Neither bird begins nesting when they arrive, sometimes waiting a week or longer. When the birds start to show nesting behavior John opens the nest boxes. He continues to monitor them during nest building and evicts any house sparrows that might try to compete with the swallows and martins. After the birds have laid eggs, John still monitors the boxes – house sparrows can continue to be a problem. The results of John’s persistent monitoring are evident.

With the increased number of purple martins nesting at Hammonasset, Menunkatuck plans to install a fifth purple martin house at the Chase (Swan) Pond colony in Spring, 2013, in time for next year’s breeding season.

Field Trip to Hammonasset

Nina Levenduski led a morning trip to Hammonasset Beach State Park this morning.

Sanderlings, ruddy turnstones, and dunlin were feeding along the beach below the east pavilion. Common and red-throated loons were numerous off-shore with a couple coming within 20 feet of the beach. Off the breakwater were four common goldeneye. Meigs Point gave good looks at a female common eider. Along the moraine trail more loons were sighted and two common mergansers were seen in Clinton Harbor. Four black-bellied plovers were on the rocks off the end of the moraine trail and a harbor seal was bobbing in the water. Back at the Nature Center parking lot was a flock of horned larks.

Bird list:

American Black Duck

Mallard

Common Eider

Common Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

Red-throated Loon

Common Loon

Black-bellied Plover

Ruddy Turnstone

Sanderling

Purple Sandpiper

Dunlin

Ring-billed Gull

Herring Gull

American Crow

Horned Lark

Black-capped Chickadee

Carolina Wren

Northern Mockingbird

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Song Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal

Hammonasset Fall Planting

Twelve volunteers spent the morning of November 6 planting 210 native trees and shrubs at Hammonasset Beach State Park. An Audubon Collaborative Grant supplemented with money from the Friends of Hammonasset Unilever Grant were used to purchase the plants and the mulch that was put around the plants.

Baby Willets Rescued

Menunkatuck member John Pfitzner was at the right place at the right time to rescue a pair of baby willets last week. Greg Hanisek chronicled the event:

The baby Willets were about to become a meal if they didn’t get squashed first. But John Pfitzner had other ideas. John was driving on Route 1 near Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison when he saw the small chicks out in the open, exposed and eyed up by some hungry crows. They were trying to cross Route 1, which presented its own perils, but John was able to collect them in a bucket, as shown in his photograph here. He saw their parents land in a field at the former Griswold Airport Property next to Hammo, so he deposited the little ones near the place where the adult birds landed.

Purple Martins at Hammonasset Beach State Park

Menunkatuck's Purple Martin Project at Hammonasset Beach State Park is the subject of John Picard's article in the Spring 2010 Edition of Purple Martin Update, the publication of the Purple Martin Conservation Association. The four-page lead article describes the progress made since the old wooden houses were replaced in 2005.

Well done, John.

Volunteers Needed for the Wood Duck Nest Box Cleaning

The Wildlife Division of the Connecticut DEP will be maintaining wood duck nest boxes during the next several weeks and would appreciate assistance with this project. Generally, the nest boxes are located on frozen water bodies. Assistants work with Division staff and hike through the woodlands to the wetland, walk on the ice to the box, and clean old nesting material from the box. The project needs to be completed in time for the return of the wood ducks and the new nesting season. If you are available during the workweek and would like to offer your assistance with this project, please contact Koert Riley at james.k.riley@ct.gov. or Stephanie at 860-675-8130 (Sessions Woods).

Free Willy 3

This morning, over 100 volunteers spent two chilly hours cutting invasive shrubs and vines from Willards Island at Hammonasset Beach State Park. 
When the work time was complete, volunteers went to the Meigs Point Nature Center for lunch and Christine and Todd Secki showed some of the raptors they rehabilitate at A Place Called Hope.
Thanks to the following local businesses for their supplying the food:

• Lenny and Joe's Fish Tale,  Madison - Clam Chowder
• Friends and Company, Madison - Vegetarian Chili and Fresh-baked Bread
• Grand Pizza, Clinton - Stuffed Italian Breads
• Cohen's Bagel Shop, Madison - Fresh-baked Bagels
• Coffee Break Restaurant, Clinton - Fresh-brewed Coffee
• Savvy Tea, Madison - Fresh-brewed Tea
• Bishop's Orchards, Guilford - Apple Cider
• Madison Chocolates, Madison - Assorted Desserts

Photos by Shannon and Kelley Scheisser.

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.

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