Greenstone Hollow:

This East Granby property is 38 acres in size. A development road runs through the preserve. It has shrubby fields, a dense shrub layer, red cedars and white pine, hardwood forest, cattail marsh, two small farm ponds, and a perennial stream with a shrubby shore. The preserve is in the 100 year flood zone and is crossed by the South Tributary of Austin Brook. This is an abandoned farm field in forest succession. Much of the interior is unknown due to the dense shrubs. It is surrounded by residential development and farm fields.  Larry Lunden and Chris Fisher have been active in clearing trails and cleaning up the property over the last year and even leading birdwalk to determine the bird species inhabiting this area.   Here are some photos of the property:
If you have any questions regarding this sanctuary, please contact Larry Lunden.

Idlenot Farm:
Over 20 acres of  mostly open grassland with several hundred acres of open farmland to the North and East and a mixed conifer wood along the Southeast borders.  Situated at 350 ft elevation on a hilltop at the corner of Ellington and South Windsor.  DEP wildlife biologists consider this a potential nesting area for grasshopper sparrows as well as bobolink and meadowlark.  Enter the residential driveway at 260 Niederwerfer Road and park so as not to block the garage entrance. 

Photos courtesy of Jeff Feldmann

Lewis Farm:
Almost 90 acres of  former farmland that has been reverting to woodland for four or five decades.  Mostly wooded, traversed by a stream emerging from a wetland and with a small pond in another low area, it lies at about 150 ft elevation in central Suffield, CT.   The entrance roadway is at 1035 Hill Street, about 2 miles north of Route 168.  Watch for the sign beautifully restored by Sally Markey. (removed October 25 - to - April 30) Park on the east side of Hill Street, just off the roadway surface, and walk into the sanctuary.  There is a trail map on a signboard where the entrance road opens into a grassy area with benches.  We have a long-term forest management plan to guide our habitat improvement efforts.  Insect repellant is recommended in summer. 

Photos courtesy of Jeff Feldmann

Twice a year a Birding and Maintenance party is held to help the Sanctuaries Committee keep the property looking beautiful and clear of brush.  Please see the pictures below taken at one of those events!

Photos courtesy of Stephanie Lovell

Station 43:  
About 150 acres of shallow pond and marsh, bordered on the West by 400 acres of meadows and active farmland and on the East by 100 acres of wooded higher ground.  Located below the 20 ft elevation contour in the Connecticut River flood plain in South Windsor, this is one of the most productive inland bird watching sites in Connecticut and is a Special Focus Area of the Silvio Conte NFWR.  Ten Endangered,  nine Threatened and nine Special Concern bird species have been reported here, among 229 total  bird species. . We have been awarded a grant from USDA to help us restore the wetland and combat the spread of invasive plants.  The University of Connecticut is conducting an experiment here to test the effectiveness of beetles to control purple loosestrife.  We are beginning development of a long-term management plan.  

Park either at the State boat launch at the foot of Vibert Road and walk north, or park along Main Street near the corner of Newberry Road (please don’t block any mailboxes) and walk west along Newberry Road.  Many areas are wet and muddy, especially in the Spring, so rubber boots are helpful.

Photos courtesy of Jeff Feldmann