The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection's (CTDEP) Natural Diversity Data Base (NDDB) and COA are looking for help from COA members in documenting observations of State Listed endangered, threatened, and special concern avian species in Connecticut. Many COA members have already contributed valuable information to this project.

How to Document Observations

The three most important pieces of information that we need are:

1. Positive identification. Providing photographs can be helpful, if they are suitable for identification or evidence of breeding, but are not required.
   
2. Evidence of breeding. In order to focus our conservation efforts on important breeding areas and to avoid recording migrant birds, we ask you to look for breeding evidence. You may record behaviors using the Breeding Bird Atlas Breeding Codes>. Behavior that falls into the Probable or Confirmed categories offers the best evidence of breeding activity. To learn more about the seasonal variations in our bird populations, consult Greg Hanisek’s article in the January 2005 issue of The Connecticut Warbler (Vol. 25, No. 1). Care should be used to avoid disturbing nesting individuals, including limiting the use of call/response tapes.
   
3. Accurate maps. You must submit a topographic map with the observation clearly marked. The state database has a geographic information systems (GIS) component, which allows us to map the distribution of species across the state. Mapping these important locations is one of the core functions of the NDDB, which enables us to provide site specific conservation and mitigation recommendations to the state and to towns. Without a map we cannot include your observations in the database. There are examples of internet map sources where you can print or download topographic maps listed in the reporting instructions.

If you observe one of the state listed bird species> and wish to report it to the NDDB project you may download a reporting form> and submit it with a map to the coordinators listed below. The instructions> include the breeding behavior codes to use in categorizing the nature of your observation.

Once you have filled out the report form send it to the state coordinators.
That's all there is to it!

West of the CT River: Buzz Devine, 18 South Street, Plymouth, CT 06782.

East of the CT River: Dave Provencher, 171 Briar Lane, Norwich, CT 06360.

How is the information used?

NDDB is the central repository for information on the biology, population status and threats to Connecticut’s state listed species. The Data Base provides information to help improve the quality of the State’s land-use decisions. NDDB makes recommendations to protect sensitive avian species and their habitats to towns and private landowners through an environmental review process. Generalized maps> showing areas of concern, without showing species names, are available to towns for reviews and for planning purposes. Your information is crucial to our efforts to protect Connecticut’s declining bird species.

CTDEP Endangered, Threatened, and
Special Concern Species List

In 1989, the Connecticut Legislature passed Public Act 89-224  "An Act Establishing a Program for the Protection of Endangered and Threatened Species." The overall goal of the legislation is to conserve, protect, restore and enhance any endangered species and their essential habitat. The first State Endangered Species List became official in 1992. The CTDEP recently initiated the statutorily mandated five year review of the species list and changes were adopted in 2004. Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) was added to the list as a Special Concern species.