The Connecticut Audubon Society

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The Connecticut Audubon Society

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Founded in 1898, The Connecticut Audubon Society protects Connecticut’s birds, other wildlife, and their habitats through conservation, education, and advocacy.

10/20/2026

Peak Fall Foliage to be enjoyed by all, near and far at Deer Pond Farm!

A big thank you to the team from SOAR Experiences Inc in providing track chairs for the adaptive hikers that joined us.

We covered about 1.5 miles, on the trails near the main campus. The colors of the trees were spectacular and should be for the next week or so!

Stay tuned for updates on our increasing adaptive hike offerings in 2027.
We are incredibly grateful for the anonymous donors supporting these impactful programs!
https://soarexperiences.org/

10/19/2026

Any cool nature sightings or experiences recently?

10/18/2026

As the summer landscape’s palette of greens morphs into its autumn hues, individual plants may stand out to us more than before. Pagoda dogwood, for instance, may seem to suddenly emerge from the crowd, dressed to impress in hoop skirts the color of chianti.

In her latest Homegrown Habitat column, Sarah W. Middeleer writes about a small native tree that is named for its unusual structure.

Read more: https://ctaudubon.org/news/pagoda-dogwood-a-year-round-gift-for-gardeners-and-birds/

10/16/2026

Migration is the most hazardous part of a birds life. We're making the Coastal Center marsh windows more bird-friendly! Treated windows help multitudes of birds annually, and you can do the same at home.

Did you know that placing bird feeders close to windows can save their lives? It sounds counter-intuitive, but research shows that feeders within 3 feet of a window reduce deadly collisions compared to feeders farther away.

10/15/2026

Check out our Connecticut Audubon’s Conservation Science Manager Matt Joyce recently spoke with NBC about the troubling decline in Osprey breeding success and what it could mean for the birds’ food supply.

With Osprey Nation recording its worst breeding season ever in 2026, Matt discussed why declining access to prey like Atlantic menhaden may be an important part of the story.

Watch the segment to learn more about what Connecticut’s Ospreys are telling us and why it matters.

Watch here: https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/video/news/local/experts-sound-alarm-over-record-low-osprey-breeding-rates-on-the-connecticut-coast/3784651/

10/14/2026

Helping Monarchs Make a Comeback!

Monarch butterflies are facing serious challenges as milkweed and other essential habitats disappear. But how can we give these incredible migrators a better chance at survival?

Join us for our next CT River Lecture Series with Dr. Kelsey Fisher of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station as she explores monarch butterfly biology, behavior, and conservation. Learn how understanding monarchs can help us create better habitats, support their populations, and protect them for future generations.

Thursday, October 29, 5–6 PM
Lyme Art Association; Old Lyme, CT
Free.
Registration required: https://ctaudubon.org/events/rtp-estuary-center/ct-river-lecture-series-kelsey-fisher/

📸Deb Eccleston, CT Audubon

10/10/2026

A record-breaking Purple Martin season at Deer Pond Farm!

2026 was another incredible breeding season for Purple Martins at CT Audubon’s Deer Pond Farm in Sherman! With the addition of a third nesting pole and 12 new gourds, the colony continues to grow, and this year’s numbers are worth celebrating!

Here’s a look at the season:
• 23 active nests
• 108 eggs
• 88 hatchlings
• 52 Purple Martins banded

With 36 nesting gourds now available, plus a decoy gourd, the colony has plenty of room to grow! Shade panels also helped protect nesting birds from summer heat and heavy rain.

And now for the fall cleanup! A huge thank-you to our six dedicated Deer Pond Farm volunteers who cleaned all 37 gourds in just 1.5 hours on a beautiful fall day. Thanks to their hard work, everything is ready to welcome the Purple Martins back next spring!

Here’s to a successful 2026 season and an even better 2027! Thank you to everyone who helps make this important conservation work possible.

📸1 &2 by Charles Lichtenauer

10/08/2026

What has white fur, pink eyes, and a love for acorns? An albino chipmunk!

This rare little visitor was recently spotted at one of our sanctuaries! Albinism is extremely uncommon in chipmunks, with estimates suggesting it occurs in just 1 out of every 200,000.

While its snowy white fur makes it stand out, it also comes with challenges. Without natural camouflage, albino animals are more vulnerable to predators, and their lack of pigment can affect their vision.

Luckily, there's no shortage of snacks! With a plentiful crop of white oak acorns this year, chipmunks, Blue Jays, crows, and other wildlife are busy stocking up for winter.

You never know what surprises nature has in store!

10/06/2026

Connecticut’s Ospreys are sending a warning.

CT Audubon's Osprey Nation program ended its 2026 season with its worst breeding success ever.

With 99% of the season’s data compiled, Osprey productivity stands at just 0.87 chicks per breeding pair, down sharply from the previous record low of 1.26 in 2025.

For the first time in Osprey Nation’s 13-year history, the majority of successful nests produced only one fledgling rather than two — a troubling sign that food shortages may be playing a major role.

“This is an unmistakable warning sign,” said Conservation Science Manager Matt Joyce. “This is probably the strongest evidence we have that there is an issue with prey provisioning.”

That’s why Connecticut Audubon is making one final push to protect Atlantic menhaden, an important food source for Ospreys.

We are urging the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to reduce the Chesapeake Bay menhaden fishery cap by 50% as a precautionary step to help ensure enough fish remain for Ospreys and other wildlife.

Public comments are open through Friday, Oct. 9.

Please join us in speaking up for Connecticut’s Ospreys before the deadline.

Read more and take action here: https://ctaudubon.org/news/an-unmistakable-warning-sign-osprey-nation-sees-worst-breeding-success-and-more-record-lows-in-2026/

📸Robert DeSanto, 2026 Migration Photo Contest entry

Address

314 Unquowa Road
Fairfield, CT
06824

Telephone

+12032596305

Website

http://www.ctaudubon.org/

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