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 ecosystems 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.
Film Series
Menunkatuck is sponsoring a film series at the Blackstone Library in Branford, CT, on the fourth Sunday of each month at 2 pm. Co-sponsored by Audubon Connecticut, the series will feature independent films about environmental issues.
The film for January will be inGREEDients about what's in our food.
Improving Water Quality and Wildlife Habitat in the Quinnipiac River Watershed
Menunkatuck Audubon Society has partnered with Audubon Connecticut and Quinnipiac Valley Audubon Society on a project to raise awareness among legislators, homeowners, and the general public about ways to reduce both non-point and point sources of pollution and to improve habitat for birds and other wildlife within the Quinnipiac River Watershed. The project will promote legislative, municipal, corporate and personal actions to improve water quality and habitat for wildlife in the QRW through a combination of (1) legislative forums in New Haven and Wallingford, (2) a film series coupled with panel discussions to be held at the Yale Peabody Museum in New Haven, and at venues in Wallingford and Cheshire, and (3) outreach materials to be displayed and disseminated at a wide range of venues.
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.
Fishing Line Recycling
Menunkatuck has installed these cool fishing line recycling bins at several locations within our chapter area.
- Guilford Town Marina
- Lake Quonnipaug boat launch, Guilford
- Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison (five locations within the park)
- Madison/Guilford boat launch off Neck Road
The bins will be emptied and the fishing line collected to be recycled by volunteers and town/state staff.
Please deposit all fishing line you use (or find) into these bins to protect birds and other wildlife from entanglement. The bins will be emptied and the fishing line collected to be recycled by the following volunteers and town/state staff.
We plan to install several more recycling bins in the future at fishing sites in Branford and West Haven. If you know of an appropriate site and would like to volunteer to maintain a bin, please contact Cindi Kobak at program@menunkatuck.org.
Retrieve Your Fishing Line poster
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
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!
