HAS SANCTUARIES:
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.
We have been awarded a grant from USDA to help us encourage
establishment of grassland birds.
Enter the residential driveway at 260 Niederwerfer Road and
park so as not to block the garage entrance.
Ken and Lee Elkins live in the house and oversee the
sanctuary
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 pla
in 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 217 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.
http://www.stopinvasives.org/CT.asp
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.
