Connecticut Ornithological Association | COA

CT Audubon, Pomfret: Trail Wood Bird Walk
2026-05-07 08:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Trail Wood Sanctuary, 93 Kenyon Rd, Hampton, CT, 06426, United States
Trail Wood Bird Walk
Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 8 a.m.

Hike the paths of this Connecticut Audubon Society preserve in Hampton to find an assortment of birds. Expect Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting, Blue-winged and Chestnut-sided Warblers, and Veery.

Limit: 8 people. Fee: $10 members, $20 non-members.

Please register by emailing Andy Rzeznikiewicz at arzeznikiewicz@ctaudubon.org or calling 860-928-4948.

Hartford Audubon: Town Forest, Simsbury - Bird Walk
2026-05-07 18:30 - 20:30 | Town Forest Road, 66 Town Forest Rd,, West Simsbury, CT, United States
Town Forest Road, West Simsbury Thursday, May 7, 6:30 PM
66 Town Forest Rd, West Simsbury
Off Stratton Brook Rd.- turn west at the bike path signal
Meet in the sand parking lot east of the pond
This early evening walk has level easy walking. We will cover a variety of habitats, pond, forest, and along the road past the town maintenance garage to the roadside marsh. Wear bug spray, and be aware of poison ivy along edge of road. Having Merlin on your phone is useful for picking up bird calls, and Ebird to enter your list. Good walk for beginning birders; we have extra binoculars.
Donna Summers donnasummers@hartfordaudubon.org 860-966-1642 T
Sarah Faulkner sffaulkner@comcast.net – 860-543-1280 T

CT Audubon, Pomfret: Freidman Forest Bird Walk
2026-05-08 08:00 - 10:00 | Friedman Memorial Forest, Friedman Memorial Forest, Ashford, CT, United States
Freidman Forest Bird Walk
Friday, May 8, 2026, at 8 a.m.

While exploring this fantastic Joshua’s Trust preserve, we will likely find Cerulean and Worm-eating Warblers! Limit: 8 people. Fee: $20 members; $30 non-members.

Please register by emailing Andy Rzeznikiewicz at arzeznikiewicz@ctaudubon.org or calling 860-928-4948.

Hartford Audubon: Simsbury River Bird Walk
2026-05-08 08:00 - 11:00 | Simsbury River Walk, 46 Drake Hill Rd., Simsbury, CT, United States
Simsbury River Walk – Friday – May 8 – am
46 Drake Hill Rd, Simsbury
Park at the Simsbury High School Crew Boathouse across from Drake Hill Rd from Flower Bridge. Do not park at Flower Bridge
The Simsbury River Walk provides beautiful and varied birding habitat along the Farmington River floodplain and can be great for
warblers and other passerines. Plan to walk approximately 2 miles over 2-3 hours. The trail is flat but may be wet in places, depending
on recent rainfall. Bring bug spray and appropriate footwear.
Jon Ward – jward88787@aol.com – 860-416-3958 T

New Canaan Nature Center: Area Open Space Bird and Natural History Walks
2026-05-08 08:30 - 10:00 | New Canaan NC and Bristow Bird Sanctuary, 144 Oenoke Ridge / 47 Old Stamford Rd, New Canaan, CT, 06840, United States
Friday, April 17 & 24, May 8 & 22
8:30am – 10:00am

Meet our Senior Naturalist and expert birder, Frank Gallo, for early morning bird walks at Bristow Sanctuary as well as the other sites below. We’ll be keeping track of the birds we see as we generate a database and new bird lists for Bristow Sanctuary and the New Canaan Nature Center.

Friday, April 17
Bristow Bird Sanctuary, New Canaan
Parking at Mead Park

Friday, April 24
Cove Island Park Wildlife Sanctuary, Stamford
Park at far southwest corner of the parking lot past the rink

Friday, May 8
Silvermine-Fowler Preserve, New Canaan
The parking lot is on Silvermine Road
This lovely preserve is a joy to explore. Join us as we search for signs of spring – salamanders, frogs, and early spring wildflowers.

Friday, May 22
NCLT’s Browne Preserve, New Canaan
Meet in the parking lot at their office
Join us as we search for signs of spring – birds and spring wildflowers.

All walks are free of charge but we do ask that you register

Register Here

CT Audubon, Deer Pond Farm: Birdwatching - Big Sit
2026-05-08 13:00 - 16:00 | CT Audubon Deer Pond Farm, 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT, 06784, United States
Birdwatching “Big Sit” Open House – Free

Friday, May 8, 2026
1:00pm – 4:00pm

Sitting in one area quietly can be a rewarding and low-effort way to observe birds. Join us at the Deer Pond Farm’s teaching terrace with avian biologist Lori Lichtenauer for this casual twist on the competitive “Big Day” of birding. We will observe birds soaring, in the meadows, and forest edges. Extra spotting scopes, binoculars, and lots of ID resources will be set up. All birding levels are welcome.
Register here: Birdwatching “Big Sit” Open House – The Connecticut Audubon Society

Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation: Bird Walk
2026-05-09 06:30 - 08:00 | Cedar Hill Cemetery, 453 Fairfield Avenue, Hartford, United States
Bird Walk
Saturday, May 9, 6:30 am
Free – Reservations Encouraged
Join Jay Kaplan from Roaring Brook Nature Center for his annual bird walk at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Jay will lead participants through the ornamental foreground in search of resident and migratory birds.
Appropriate hiking shoes and binoculars are strongly recommended.
Admission to the program is free. Advance reservations are recommended and may be made online at www.cedarhillfoundation.org.
Cedar Hill Cemetery is located at 453 Fairfield Avenue, Hartford. Meet near the bridge along the entrance drive.
No pets allowed, except for service animals.

Audubon CT Greenwich: Spring Migration Bird Tour
2026-05-09 07:00 - 08:30 | Greenwich Audubon, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, CT, 06831, United States
SATURDAYS APRIL 4-11-18-25, MAY 2-9 2026. 7 AM – 8:30 AM
Join Bird Education Specialist Ryan MacLean for a morning bird tour at the Greenwich Audubon Center! The center’s open fields, apple orchard, wetlands, and woodlands provide great habitat for migrating birds such as warblers, vireos, tanagers, thrushes, orioles, and others. Binoculars will be available for those who don’t have them. Meet in the Audubon Center in Greenwich parking Lot.
The program is FREE but participants must register in advance through our online ticket sales page with additional contributions optional. Please select the date from the registration page of the program you wish to attend. There will be no ticket sales at the door the day of the program. Please be prepared to show proof of your ticket registration, either as a printed copy of your registration receipt or your registration confirmation email on your phone.
Program Fee: Admission is FREE but donations are encouraged. Your contributions help support our conservation work, including advocating for the protection of birds and the habitats they depend on for survival.
RSVP is Required
Recommended for ages 6 and up.
Please register for the quantity of ALL members in your party. The rate for children and adults is the same.
We will meet you in our parking lot at the start of the program.
For questions, please contact Ryan MacLean at Ryan.MacLean@audubon.org or 203-930-1353.
ALL CHILDREN ATTENDING MUST BE SUPERVISED BY A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN FOR THE DURATION OF THE PROGRAM

Greenwich Audubon Bird Tours and Breakfast co-sponsored by COA
2026-05-09 07:00 - 22:00 | Greenwich Audubon Center, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, CT, 06831, United States
Saturday, May 9, 2026

Spring Bird Tours and Bird Breakfast
Bird Tours 7 AM.

Breakfast 9 AM, plus bird banding.
Greenwich Audubon Center
613 Riversville Rd, Greenwich, CT, 06831, CT
Details and registration info to come.
This event is co-sponsored by the Connecticut Ornithological Association and Greenwich Audubon Center.

New Haven Bird Club: River Road in Kent Field Trip
2026-05-09 07:30 - 13:00 | Kent, Old Train Station, 43 Railroad St, Kent, CT, United States
Field Trip – River Road, Kent – Travels Along a Riparian Woodland Corridor – Allan Welby

May 9, 2026 @ 7:30 am – 1:00 pm

River Road in Kent along the Housatonic River provides a major north-south riparian corridor for spring migration. River Road has produced a nice variety of Northwestern Connecticut nesting species including Acadian and Least Flycatchers; Yellow-throated and Blue-headed Vireos; Winter Wren; and Cerulean, Golden-winged, and Worm-eating Warblers. The vast uninterrupted forest rising from the river is an ideal location for a moderate to strenuous walk on beautiful terrain.
Meet in Kent at the old train station, 3 Railroad Avenue, just north of the intersection of Routes 7 & 341. We carpool from there.
Leader: Allan Welby, 630-303-3411 or antpitta4@yahoo.com

Mattabeseck Audubon Society: Spring Birding at Cogichaug Greenway
2026-05-09 08:00 - 10:00 | Coginchaug Greenway, 86 Strickland Road, Middlefield, CT, 06455, United States
Meet MAS board member, Michael Good, at Strickland Road Trail Head for a delightful walk in Middlefield, CT. Plan to see field nesting species such as Bobolink.
Contact Michael to let him know you will be attending at michaeldg@aol.com

CT Audubon, Pomfret: Little River Preserve Bird Walk
2026-05-09 08:00 - 10:00 | Little River Preserve, Hampton, CT, United States
Little River Preserve Bird Walk
Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 8 a.m.

Owned by the town of Hampton, this new preserve has a diversity of habitats that should attract lots of interesting birds. Hooded Warbler, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, and several flycatcher species are just a few of the possibilities.

Limit: 10 people. Fee: $20 members; $30 non-members

Please register by emailing Andy Rzeznikiewicz at arzeznikiewicz@ctaudubon.org or calling 860-928-4948.

CT Audubon, Deer Pond Farm: Bird Hike
2026-05-09 08:00 - 10:00 | CT Audubon Deer Pond Farm, 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT, 06784, United States
Saturday, May 9, 2026 / 8:00am – 10:00am
During peak migration, millions of birds will be flying through CT, taking brief breaks at “stopover” sites. These sites provide important food and shelter for birds as they recover from their journeys. Join Lori Lichtenauer, Sanctuary Manager / Naturalist, at Deer Pond Farm to hike some of our birding “hotspots” in search of great bird diversity count

$5 – Members / $10 Non-members
Register here: Bird Hike – The Connecticut Audubon Society

Hartford Audubon Society: Mount Auburn/Plum Island, MA Field Trip
2026-05-09 08:00 - 17:00 | Mount Auburn, 580 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA, United States
May 9 Mount Auburn & Plum Island, MA – May 9 – Sat 8 am
580 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA
Mount Auburn Cemetery entrance inside front gate.
After cemetery we drive to Plum Island, Newburyport, MA
Mount Auburn Cemetery is famous as a Spring migration hotspot with many species of warblers present. From there we will drive (1 r) to Plum Island in Newburyport to see more warblers, waterfowl and shore birds. One of our most popular trips!
Jon Ward – JWard88787@aol.com – 860-416-3958 T

CT Audubon, RTP Estuary Center: Spring Bird Walk #2
2026-05-09 09:00 - 11:00 | Fenwick Grove, Old Saybrook, United States
Saturday, May 9, 2026
9:00am – 11:00am
Fenwick Grove
Old Saybrook, CT
Located at the mouth of the Connecticut River and on Long Island Sound, Old Saybrook is situated perfectly to attract a wide variety of species. We’ll search for songbirds, shorebirds, and lingering waterfowl in a small patch of coastal forest. The walk will be approximately .5 miles on level dirt trails. No restrooms on site.
Members: $13
Non-members: $18
Register here: Spring Bird Walk – The Connecticut Audubon Society

CT Audubon, Deer Pond Farm: Beginner Birding (class & walk)
2026-05-09 13:00 - 15:00 | CT Audubon Deer Pond Farm, 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT, 06784, United States
Saturday, May 9, 2026
1:00pm – 3:00pm

Join us at Deer Pond Farm with avian biologist Lori Lichtenauer on this beginner-friendly program. You’ll learn about binocular types and use, how to find and ID birds. Learn about useful apps such as Merlin & eBird to advance your skills, and how to bird on your “best” behavior! We’ll start in the classroom, and end outside.
$5 – Members / $10 Non-members
Register here: Beginner Birding (class & walk) – The Connecticut Audubon Society

New Haven Bird Club: Big Day Marathon
2026-05-10 06:00 - 17:00 | Eli Whitney Museum, 915 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT, United States
Big Day Marathon

May 10, 2026 @ 6:00 am – 5:00 pm

Take part in all or part of this event. We’ll focus on New Haven area hotspots, seeking 100–130 species. We start at East Rock and search several other local migrant traps, as well as the coast from Lordship to Hammonasset. The Big Day could potentially involve several miles of walking on more strenuous terrain.
Meet at the Eli Whitney Museum parking lot, 915 Whitney Avenue, Hamden.
Leader: John Oshlick, 203-584-1955 or john.oshlic@gmail.com

Hartford Audubon Society: Machimoodus Bird Walk
2026-05-10 07:30 - 10:30 | Machimoodus State Park, Lawn Ave & High St, Middletown, CT, United States
Machimoodus – State Park – May 10, Sun 7:30 am
128 Leesville Rd, Moodus
From Goodspeed Opera House, follow 149 north to Rt 151
Bear left on 151 and parking lot entrance is on left in 1 mile
This state park is an area new to most HAS members. It has woods, a hemlock ravine, grassy fields, and early successional habitat along the Salmon River. Indigo Bunting, Prairie, Blue-winged and B-T Green Warblers, and Orchard Oriole are expected (but we guarantee nothing)
Alberta & Rob Mirer – twomirers@comcast.net -860-891-8364
Ernie Harris – pdlqlt@mac.com -860-603-2655

Mattabeseck Audubon Society: Spring Birding at our Helen Carlson Sanctuary
2026-05-10 08:00 - 10:00 | Helen Carlson Sanctuary, 79 South Road, Portland, 06480, United States
Join Elena Coffey for a bird walk at Mattabeseck Audubon Society’s Helen Carlson Sanctuary. This birding hotspot was donated to MAS in 1976 by local resident Helen Carlson to preserve it forever. Shortly thereafter, with a grant from the Rockfall Foundation in Middletown, MAS worked with students from Long Lane School to create a nature trail and boardwalk through the wetland and adjacent forest. In 1978, the trail was opened to the public, and the site was dedicated to Mrs. Carlson. For about 20 years, MAS maintained the nature trail and boardwalk and followed a plan to nurture the cranberry plots in much the same way as was done during the days of commercial production. This included regular flooding and draining, mowing, and periodic sanding to rejuvenate plant production. A family of beavers moved into the sanctuary about the year 2000, raising the water level and completely changing the ecosystem. The continuous high water caused by the many dams constructed by the new residents virtually wiped out the cranberries and other acid-loving plants that colonized the site. The boardwalk rotted and had to be discontinued, and other parts of the trail became impassable. The site is now an open water marsh with emergent water plants and home to many different species of birds and animals.
Hard rain cancels. There is no rain date.
Parking available near the MAS sign in the open area under the evergreens.
Wear waterproof boots, bring bug spray. If you need a pair of binoculars to borrow, let Elena know ahead of time.
Call or text: Elena Coffey at 860-305-1965

CT Audubon, Pomfret: Mother's Day Bird Walk
2026-05-10 08:00 - 10:00 | CT Audubon Center at Pomfret, 218 Day Road, Pomfret Center, CT, 06259, United States
Mother’s Day Bird Walk
Sunday, May 10, 2026, at 8 a.m.

r.Bring your mother or grandmother to see the colorful birds of spring. This is the peak of migration, and many species can be found, including Bobolink and Scarlet Tanager

Limit: 12 people. Fee: $10 members; $20 non-members; mothers free.

Please register by emailing Andy Rzeznikiewicz at arzeznikiewicz@ctaudubon.org or calling 860-928-4948.

Branford Land Trust: Mother's Day Bird Walks
2026-05-10 09:00 - 11:00, 2026-05-11 09:00 - 11:00 | Stony Creek Trolley Trail, West Point Road, Branford, CT, United States
BRANFORD LAND TRUST:

The Branford Land Trust is hosting two spring bird walks on Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Local birder Chris Woerner will lead these popular walks along the Stony Creek Trolley Trail and into the Land Trust’s Vedder property.

Chris, a long-time Stony Creek resident, has been birding for decades locally as well as in South America, Europe, and Asia. He enjoys sharing his extensive knowledge with young and old alike. He’ll help us identify the birds by sight and by call. It should be a fun and exciting walk for both adults and families.

We’ll meet in Stony Creek at the far end of West Point Rd. across from the Willoughby Wallace Library. You can choose the day that fits best into your schedule, or for birding enthusiasts, you can even come both days-since the birds we sight will vary on each day.

Bring binoculars if you have them; if not, a few will be available. Walking is partly flat, partly on a hill with rocky, irregular terrain. All ages welcome, but no dogs please. Rain or shine unless weather is dangerous; if in doubt, check our website or Facebook page: www.facebook.com/branfordlandtrustCT.

The event is free and open to the public. Please wear appropriate dress and comfortable, supportive walking shoes since some walking can be over uneven surfaces. Bring water. For more information: info@branfordlandtrust.org.

CT Audubon, Pomfret: Nightingale Forest Preserve Walk
2026-05-11 08:00 - 10:00 | Nightingale Forest Preserve North, Pomfret, United States
Nightingale Forest Preserve North Bird Walk
Monday, May 11, 2026, at 8 a.m.

Explore this newly preserved Wyndham Land Trust property. We will bird areas in the 220-acre expansion.

Limit: 8 people. Fee: $20 members; $30 non-members.

Please register by emailing Andy Rzeznikiewicz at arzeznikiewicz@ctaudubon.org or calling 860-928-4948.

CT Audubon, Pomfret: Early Morning Bird Walks
2026-05-12 08:00 - 10:30 | CT Audubon Center at Pomfret, 218 Day Road, Pomfret Center, CT, 06259, United States
Join Andy on a guided bird walk through the meadows and forests of Pomfret. As the landscape wakes up in April, these habitats come alive with birdsong, movement, and seasonal surprises. You’ll stroll at an easy pace, listening and looking for a variety of woodland and meadow species—and with luck, we may hear or even spot the iconic Pileated Woodpecker, a frequent presence along this route. Wear drab-colored clothing and sturdy footwear. Bring your binoculars.
$5 CAS members, $20 nonmembers
No registration required

New Haven Bird Club: Hartman Park Field Trip
2026-05-13 06:30 - 11:00 | Branford Commuter Parking Lot, Branford, CT, United States
Field Trip – Hartman Park, Lyme – John Oshlick

May 13, 2026 @ 6:30 am – 11:00 am

Hartman Park is known for its mix of forest and wetland that hosts many of Connecticut’s breeding birds, including Cerulean Warbler. There is also a power cut which may have Prairie, Blue-winged, Magnolia and other warblers. Both Cuckoos have been seen here as well. The Hartman Park walk involves a moderate distance walk on moderately strenuous terrain.
Meet at the commuter parking lot, Exit 55 off I-95; we carpool from there.
Leader: John Oshlick, 203-584-1955 or john.oshlic@gmail.com

New Canaan Nature Center: Spring Early Morning Walks
2026-05-13 08:30 - 10:00 | New Canaan Nature Center, 144 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, CT, 06840, United States
Spring Early Morning Walks with Frank Gallo
Wednesday, April 1, 8, 15, 22 May 13 & 20

8:30am – 10:00am

Meet Senior Naturalist Frank Gallo for bird walks on the beautiful grounds at the Nature Center Center. We’ll be keeping track of and learning about the birds we see as we generate a database and new bird lists for Bristow Sanctuary and NCNC. Binoculars are available if needed

All walks will meet in the lower parking lot at NCNC

All walks are free of charge but we do ask that you register

Register Here

CT Audubon, RTP Estuary Center: Birding Tricks and Tips Webinar - Zoom Meeting
2026-05-13 18:00 - 19:00 | Online, CT, United States
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
6:00pm – 7:00pm
Spring is an exciting time to go birding in Connecticut, as many species are making their way through and into the state during migration. However, all the singing birds and bright plumages can feel overwhelming, especially if you are new to birding.
In this webinar, Conservation and Education Coordinator Joe Attwater will share tips to help you make the most of your time outside. He will cover birding equipment, strategies for finding birds during migration, and how to identify them by sight and sound, as well as species to watch for throughout the season.
Free to Attend
Suggested donation $10
Register here: Birding Tricks & Tips Webinar – The Connecticut Audubon Society

CT Audubon EcoTravel: Wood-Warblers of Cockaponset State Forest
2026-05-14 06:00 - 15:00 | Cockaponset State Forest, Haddam, CT, United States
Wood-Warblers of Cockaponset State Forest
Thursday, May 14 6 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Cockaponset State Forest, named after a Native American chief buried in the Ponset section of Haddam, is the second largest forest in the state forest system, encompassing over 16,000 acres. It offers a great habitat for migrating songbirds and provides for a busy morning of warblers, vireos, thrushes, and more. The focus will be species setting up breeding territories, and other species still continuing their journey northward to boreal breeding grounds.
Leader: Andy Griswold.
Fee: $90. Members: $75

Hartford Audubon Society: Tanager Hill Bird Walk
2026-05-14 07:30 - 10:00 | 133 East Weatogue Street, Simsbury, CT, 133 East Weatogue Street, Simsbury, CT, United States
Tanager Hill – May 14 – Thu 7:45 am
133 East Weatogue St, Simsbury
From north: parking lot on left 0.3 mi south of Terry’s Plain Rd
From south: parking lot on right 0.5 mi north of Riverside Rd
Tanager Hill and the adjacent Owen-Mortimer property provide over 100 acres of spectacular birding habitat on Talcott Mountain.
A highlight is the presence of nesting Hooded Warblers. This two mile walk ascends over 200 feet and lasts a little over 2 hours. Bring comfortable walking shoes & bug repellent. A few small muddy spots.
Jon Ward – jward88787@aol.com – 860-416-3958 T

CT Audubon, Pomfret: Gellert Preserve Bird Walk
2026-05-14 08:00 - 10:00 | Gellert Preserve, Pomfret Center, CT, United States
Gellert Preserve Bird Walk
Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 8 a.m.

This Wyndham Land Trust preserve has field, shrubland, and woodland habitats. We always seem to find exciting species here! Expect Prairie Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Blue-winged Warbler, and Scarlet Tanager.

Limit: 8 people. Fee: $20 members; $30 non-members.

Please register by emailing Andy Rzeznikiewicz at arzeznikiewicz@ctaudubon.org or calling 860-928-4948.
