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.)

Summer Field Trips

Topsmead State Forest (IBA)

Litchfield

Sunday July 13, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Back by popular demand! Formerly the summer estate of Miss Edith Chase of Waterbury, Topsmead State Forest consists of acres of meadows, wooded lanes, woodlands, wetlands, and maintained gardens. There are many walking trails, picnic areas and viewing blinds, and the park is a great place to see nesting Bobolinks, Meadowlarks, sparrows, hawks and other birds in summer. Beginning birders welcome!

We will spend the morning birding and walking the park’s trails, and will conclude with an optional picnic lunch and guided tour of Miss Chase’s summer house (now maintained by DEEP).

Please bring binoculars, at least 1 water bottle, and a picnic lunch/snack. Field guides, cameras and insect repellent are recommended. There are rustic bathroom facilities within the park, and bathrooms with running water/water fountains at the house. There are no admission fees for entry into the park or the mansion.

Meet the leader at 9:00 am at the commuter parking lot at exit 42 off Route 8 in Litchfield/Burlington, CT. 

Optional carpools can be set up by registering or contacting the trip leader.

For questions or to register for this trip, email nina@menunkatuck.org. You can also register online at menunkatuck.org/index.php/calendar1/registration_form/.

Bird Walk at

New Haven Land Trust’s Quinnipiac Meadows/Eugene B. Fargeorge Preserve

New Haven

Sunday July 27, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m

Menunkatuck, Audubon Connecticut, and the New Haven Land Trust are cosponsoring a one-hour bird walk through the Quinnipiac Meadows/Eugene B. Fargeorge Preserve.

Located on the Quinnipiac River, this 35-acre preserve includes tidal wetlands, coastal forest and coastal grasslands. There are two loop trails on the preserve and a bird blind overlooking the salt marsh and river.

Since the walk is during the start of fall shorebird migration, we have the potential for a good amount of bird activity.

The walk will be led by Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe, Audubon Connecticut’s IBA Coordinator and Katie Blake, Audubon Connecticut’s Bird Friendly Communities Coordinator.

Following the walk there will be live raptor show with birds from the Sharon Audubon Center.

Bring binoculars and water. Field guides, cameras and insect repellent are recommended. 

From Route 80 take Quinnipiac Avenue (Route 103) south and take a right on a dirt road just after going under the railroad bridge. 

For questions email Julia.Silberman@newhavenlandtrust.org

Bird Watching at Bent of River Sanctuary (IBA)

Southbury

Saturday August 16, 8:30 a.m.- Noon

Bent of River is an approximately 700-acre Audubon sanctuary which offers 15 miles of trails and a variety of habitats such as sandy riverbanks, meadows, wetlands, vernal pools, early successional scrublands and upland forests. The sanctuary is an excellent place to observe birds, butterflies, plants, and wildlife, and to simply enjoy nature. Join Nina Levenduski for a morning of birdwatching and walking to explore the variety of this preserve. Beginning birders and nature lovers welcome! Bring binoculars, hand lens, camera, and field guides (birds & whatever else interests you), and a picnic lunch and water bottle. Insect repellent is also recommended.

Meet at 8:30 am at the parking area just inside the entrance to the sanctuary. Directions to the sanctuary: Take I-84 to exit 14, then proceed north on Route 172 for 1 mile into the village of South Britain. At the General Store, make a left onto East Flat Hill Road. The entrance to the park is 0.4 miles along on the left at the green mailbox. 

Optional carpools can be set up by registering or contacting the trip leader. 

For questions or to register for this trip, email nina@menunkatuck.org. You can also register online at menunkatuck.org/index.php/calendar1/registration_form/.

From the July 2014 Newsletter.