Vigilant volunteers on Connecticut beaches result in successful nesting season for threatened shorebirds.
Season recap reveals new details about where American Oystercatchers migrate, and historically low numbers for Least Terns. November 19, 2019– Thanks to the efforts of almost 100 volunteers on Connecticut’s beaches, two of the state’s most vulnerable shorebirds had highly successful breeding seasons in 2019, reflecting a generally safer shoreline locally for federally and state-threatened birds. The Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds announced that the 57 pairs of Piping Plovers that nested in the state fledged 1.72 chicks per pair, higher than the regional goal of 1.5 fledglings...
Read MoreWildLife Guards Crew Leader Job Opening
Related to RTPI’s work with Audubon Connecticut in the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds is our partnership on the Bridgeport WildLife Guards project: http://rtpi.org/education/wildlife-guards/ RTPI is once again teaming up with Audubon Connecticut to run the 2018 WildLife Guards program, which trains, mentors, and employs 16 local high schools students and four crew leaders who monitor nesting birds and engage visitors, families, and friends about two of Connecticut’s most important beaches and their wildlife. The WildLife Guards offer unique activities for children like...
Read MoreNational Bird Feeding Month
February 2nd is Groundhog’s Day – that time of year when those of us living in temperate climates turn our attention to a furry brown marmot awaiting its “prediction” as to whether or not winter weather will persist for another six weeks. But did you know that February is also National Wild Bird Feeding Month? Putting up a bird feeder in your backyard can be an entertaining and educational way to pass the time while winter persists, and it will help keep our feathered friends fed until their spring food resources emerge. Want to know what the most common feeder birds are and how to attract...
Read MoreGrasshopper Sparrow
Here’s another winter treat from earlier this week – a Grasshopper Sparrow! This bird should have been spending its holidays wintering in the southern U.S. or Central America. However, our friend Paul Fusco spotted this little one feeding in open grass along a trail. This was before the major snowfall on Thursday, and conditions have only worsened. We put some seed out for it that the bird was enjoying at the time. Hopefully it kept moving south before the latest storm and found refuge in other locations like this. Grasshopper Sparrows are another grasslands species with a...
Read MoreKeep Cozy and Warm
We hope that you’re keeping cozy and warm, much like Roger Tory Peterson appears to be doing in this photo from our archives! It was taken during a visit to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania ~ 1950.
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