I found 76 species of birds including 21 species of warblers at the Trout Brook Valley Conservation Area of the Aspetuck Land Trust on May 8. It was another dark and dreary sort of day, far from a photographers dream amongst a sea of leaves, but here are some shots from the journey:

Many more birds to come as the conservation department accumulates loads of baseline data…

Scott Kruitbosch

Conservation Technician

via Connecticut Audubon Society: More spring migrants and breeders.

• Children’s Books, Toys, Puppets – HUGE SALE
• Nature Guide & Garden Books
• Bird Feeders, Poles & Seed
• Holiday Cards & Tree Decorations
• 2012 Calendars (Wall & Appointment)
• Kitchens Items & Window Thermometers
• Nature-inspired Jewelry and much more!

For more on this story, visit: The Day – Eastern Connecticut Conservation District seeks volunteers | News from southeastern Connecticut.

Razorbill. (wikipedia)

Why are they here this winter? Good question. Birdwatchers far smarter than I am are formulating theories. One theory, according to a blog posting on the Connecticut Audubon Society website, is an increase in fish species upon which the large, black-and-white birds prey.

For more on this story, visit: Razorbills invade Long Island Sound in Connecticut | birdcallsradio.

Trinity College owns a unique copy of the rarest book in the world.

The large book is in a protected display case at Trinity’s Watkinson Library, where its head curator will turn one page each week for viewing until the last one is displayed.

For more on this story, visit: Connecticut’s Trinity College starts display of rare Audubon book pages | The Republic.

For more on this story, visit: The Day – Volunteers build nesting boxes for terns | News from southeastern Connecticut.

Mountain Bluebird photo courtesy of Rollin Tebbetts. Click on the photo to read a story about a rare bluebird Tebbetts spotted at Bradley International Airport last year.

The lumber can be reserved on a “first come, first serve” basis beginning November 1, 2011.  Requesters must provide the following information: name, group name, mailing address, daytime phone number, e-mail address (if available), and number of bundles requested (each bundle of wood yields approximately 15-20 nest boxes).  For more information about the program or to reserve lumber for your group, call Wildlife Division avian researcher Geoffrey Krukar at 860-675-8130 (Mon.-Fri., 8:30AM-4:00 PM) or send an e-mail to Geoffrey.Krukar@ct.gov.  Only one request per group will be accepted.  Participants will be mailed information packets which contain box designs and instructions, directions to a pick up location, and claim tickets.

Please note:

1. The lumber consists of planks, and all groups will be responsible for cutting the wood to the proper dimensions.  Hardware for construction of the boxes is not provided.
2. When notified, groups will be responsible for picking up their wood at either the Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area, located at 341 Milford Street (Route 69) in Burlington, or at DEEP Eastern District Headquarters, located at 209 Hebron Road (Route 66) in Marlborough.
3. Participating groups are expected to construct, erect, and monitor bluebird boxes throughout the entire nesting season (March-July) and then report box usage to the Wildlife Division.

Although lumber is only available for groups, individuals interested in aiding Connecticut’s bluebird population may obtain an eastern bluebird fact sheet by visiting the Wildlife Publications section of the DEEP Web site (www.ct.gov/deep/wildlife).

Check it out here — NATURE CALENDAR- The New Haven Register – Serving New Haven, Connecticut.

Two American Avocets spotted in Guilford on Aug. 17, 2010 by Joan and Jim Clifford, of Southbury. (contributed photo)

Joan and Jim Clifford of Southbury sent us the following photographs of two American Avocets they spotted in Guilford on Aug. 17, 2010. I first saw the images on Greg Hanisek’s blog on the Waterbury Republican-American website and left a comment that I would love to share the photos with readers of CT Environmental Headlines. Greg was kind enough to forward me the Clifford’s e-mail and, oila! Enjoy.

The Cliffords also reported that two American Avocets were also seen in Rhode Island Tuesday Aug. 17, 2010, in the Ninigret Pond area of Charlestown Beach.

According to Wikipedia ::: The American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) is a large wader in the avocet and stilt family, Recurvirostridae.

The adult is about 45 cm (18 inches) tall.

The breeding habitat is marshes, beaches, prairie ponds, and shallow lakes in the mid-west and on the Pacific coast of North America. The American Avocet nests on open ground, often in small groups, sometimes with other waders. A pair will rear one brood per season, with both male and female providing parental care for the young.

This species is migratory, and mostly winters on the southern Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Mexico and the United States.

The American Avocet forages in shallow water or on mud flats, often sweeping its bill from side to side in water as it seeks its crustacean and insect prey.

The American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.[1]

Two American Avocets spotted in Guilford on Aug. 17, 2010 by Joan and Jim Clifford, of Southbury. (contributed photo)

via Talking Nature with Greg Hanisek » Avocets in Guilford.

For a related story with photos of these rare Connecticut wanderers, click here.

via Birdwatchers flock to Stratford to catch a glimpse of rare raptor – Connecticut Post.