Menunkatuck Audubon Society is the local chapter of the National Audubon Society. The chapter serves the towns of Madison, Guilford, Branford, East Haven, New Haven, and West Haven, Connecticut.
Supporting measures to protect wildlife and the environment
Menunkatuck Audubon Society is committed to work locally to preserve our natural ecosystms for the benefit of people and the earth's biodiversity. Through education and conservation activities within our communities, we raise public awareness of environmental issues and connections to the natural world.
Gulf Oil Disaster
The tragic oil platform explosion off Louisiana’s Gulf Coast is rapidly becoming an environmental disaster.
The loss of 11 oil workers may be just the beginning of this tragedy as millions of gallons of oil head for land, putting birds, wildlife and the coastal environment in grave danger.
Balloons Kill
- More than twenty years ago Audubon magazine warned of the hazards of releasing helium balloons.
- In 1990 a Connecticut state law was enacted prohibiting the intentional release of ten or more helium balloons within a 24-hour period.
- Today, many people know of the dangers to wildlife that helium balloons cause and they cringe at the sight of even a single balloon, intentionally or accidentally, sailing upward into the sky.
What to Do with Injured Wildlife
First, be careful. A wild animal is, well, wild and may bite or scratch. In such a case, the animal might have to be killed and tested for rabies.
If you suspect that an animal is rabid, immediately call your local animal control officer or police department.
It is illegal for anyone who is not a state appointed rehabilitator to care for wildlife. One such rehabiltator is Bonnie Alexander. She can be reached at 203-453-5582 (H) or 203-934-3528 (W). For a list of other wildlife rahabilitators check the Connecticut DEP web site
CAMP
Join us for an evening monitoring the migration of amphibians to their breeding pools this spring.
E-mail John Picard at camp@menunkatuck.org for more information.
Menunkatuck Audubon is looking for volunteers. We have open positions and could use your help. Give us a hand in one of the following areas. Contact help@menunkatuck.org for more information.
- Manage a nest box. We have many locations where we would like to put in nest boxes for tree swallows, bluebirds, purple martins, kestrels, and other birds. We need someone to monitor these boxes for activity in the spring and clean them out in the fall. Some training is necessary and will be given.
- Contribute to the Menunkatuck blog. Are you a frequent birder at Hammonasset, the Supply Ponds, Sandy Point, East Rock, or any other area? Contribute your observations and photos on the Menunkatuck blog.
- Lead a field walk. Do you bird the Trolly Trail every week? Or visit Hammonasset or the Timberlands? Enjoy the company of other birders and increase Menunkatuck's presence in the community
- Become a Board member. We are always looking for new Board members. If you want to get a feel for what happens at Board meetings, join us at 7 p.m. at the Guilford Community Center on the fourth Tuesday of the month (except July).
- Help with fundraising and marketing. If you have talent of knowledge in either of there areas, we need to hear from you!
