Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 733 Old Clinton Road Westbrook, CT 06498 860/399 2513 Stewart B. 860/399 2515 Fax

Federal Relay Service for the deaf and hard-of-hearing McKinney 1 800/877 8339 National Wildlife U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1 800/344 WILD http://www.fws.gov Refuge

September 2006

Roseate tern ©Paul Fusco Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge consists of ten separate units located along the coast of from Westbrook to Greenwich. Refuge lands include eight islands, barrier beaches tidal saltmarshes, shrublands, and upland habitats. Due to its location within the Atlantic Flyway, the refuge provides important resting, feeding, and nesting habitat for many species of wading birds, waterfowl, songbirds, shorebirds, and terns, including the endangered roseate tern and threatened piping plover. Salt Meadow Unit Marsh Photo by Ann Kilpatrick, USFWS Why a Wildlife In 1903, President Theodore The purposes Enhance the populations of herons, Refuge? Roosevelt established Pelican Island of the Stewart egrets, terns, and other shore and as the first national wildlife refuge to B. McKinney wading birds within the refuge. be “a preserve and breeding grounds National Wildlife for native birds.” His order protected Refuge are to: Encourage natural diversity of fish pelicans, egrets, herons, and other and wildlife species within the refuge. birds from plume hunters and egg collectors. Provide for the conservation and management of all fish and wildlife, The Stewart B. McKinney within the refuge. National Wildlife Refuge (refuge), administered by the U.S. Fish Fulfill the international treaty and Wildlife Service (Service), obligations of the was established by an Act of respecting fish and wildlife. Congress in October 1984, in part for the development, advancement, Provide opportunities for scientific

management, conservation, and ©Richard Asarisi research, environmental education, protection of fish and wildlife Blue-winged and fish and wildlife-dependent resources. warbler recreation.

Though many refuge units in Salt Meadow Unit The Salt Meadow Unit, Connecticut’s Connecticut are small in acreage, first National Wildlife Refuge, was their importance to wildlife, especially acquired in 1971 under authority of migratory birds, is enormous. These the Migratory Bird Act by private small blocks of undeveloped salt donation. Ester Lape donated marsh, grassland, and coastal her land to protect the wetlands, forest provide thousands of birds perpetuate the property as a wildlife with essential migratory and sanctuary, and provide opportunities nesting habitat along a highly for environmental awareness. developed coast. Consisting of 316 acres of salt marsh, forest, grassland, and shrubland in Westbrook, this unit serves as the headquarters and a visitor contact site. The interpretive trail offers people a chance to watch the amazing courtship flights of American woodcock, nesting Eastern bluebirds and tree swallows, and neotropical migratory birds as they rest and feed on their way to northern breeding grounds in spring and wintering areas in fall.

Menunketesuck Island, a 4-acre, rocky, shrub-covered upland island

©Richard Asarisi was added to the Salt Meadow Unit in 2005. Least terns, common terns, and American oystercatchers nest on . The intertidal area is a significant foraging spot for

©Paul J. Fusco ©Paul migrant shorebirds, which roost on Black-crowned night heron Eastern kingbird the island at higher tides. Both the Salt Bear Meadow Unit and Governor Island Menunketesuck Island

Island were North Davis Island Smith recognized as Island s nd Important Bird High a sl Wayland Island I Money Island Areas for their high le Island b im quality nesting and h T e h migratory habitats. T

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Outer Island is an Outer Island Unit important nesting Outer Island, located off of the coast habitat for long- of Branford, is the southernmost of legged wading the . It was privately birds such as this owned until 1995 when Elizabeth Hird Snowy egret.

©Paul Fusco ©Paul donated it to the Service to protect the Snowy Egret island’s natural resources and provide access for education and research. Directions: The easily accessible This five-acre island, composed of Salt Meadow Unit is located one-half granite outcroppings, boulder and mile south of Interstate Highway cobble beaches in the intertidal zone, 95 between exits 64 and 65 on Old and small salt marshes provides Clinton Road in Westbrook. This unit, habitat for both migrating and nesting excluding Menunketesuck Island, birds. Approximately half of the island is open to the public throughout is closed year-round to serve as a the year from one-half hour before sanctuary for birds. sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Access to Menunketesuck Island The refuge and Connecticut State may be restricted during the nesting University formed a partnership that season; please contact the refuge allows island access for education and office for more information. research via a special use permit. The public may visit the island on most summer 95 weekends Menunketesuck River when a docent Salt Meadow from the Friends of Outer Island is present and during special 0 1,000 2,000 Feet events. Menunketesuck 0 250 500 Meters ©Richard Asarisi Island Lesser yellowlegs Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge Hartford •

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Long Island SnowyFalkner egret Island Lighthouse© Paul J. Fusco is the second oldest North lighthouse in Connecticut. 0 1000 2000 Feet

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Lon d Falkner Island Lighthouse g Island Soun Falkner Island Unit Milford Point Unit Rocky shores, shrublands, and grasses The Milford Located at the mouth of the cover this five-acre island, located point unit is Housatonic River, Milford Point three miles off the coast of Guilford. an important is considered one of the best bird From early May through early August, staging area for watching areas in Connecticut. The Falkner Island is home to more than many species mudflats, sand bars, and marshes 95 percent of the nesting common of migrating provide waterfowl, shorebirds, and shorebirds. terns (over 2500 pairs) in Connecticut. wading birds with a safe haven for The island is also the site of one of the feeding and resting during their long most significant roseate tern colonies spring and fall migrations. in northeastern North America, and Over 50 species of shorebirds, is the only regular nesting location for wading birds, and waterfowl use this federally endangered species in this 23-acre refuge unit. The barrier the state. Due to these distinctions, beach, which protects the salt Falkner Island was designated an marsh from high tides and storms, Important Bird Area by Audubon provides essential nesting and Connecticut in 2001. Each year refuge feeding habitat for several protected staff and volunteers closely monitor species including piping plovers, least the number of breeding pairs and terns, and American oystercatchers. nesting success. Access to the island is Piping plover chick An observation deck at the refuge by permit and during the annual fall © Julie Zickefoose entrance offers visitors a year-round open house hosted in partnership with overview of this unit. Least tern the Faulkner’s Light Brigade friends with chick group. Directions: The Milford Point Unit is located 14 miles southwest of New Haven in Milford. Take exit 34 off Interstate 95; go left off the exit onto Route 1 north. Take a right onto Lansdale Avenue then right onto Milford Point Road to the Connecticut Audubon Coastal Center at Milford Point, where parking is available. The unit may be accessed by walking a short distance on a boardwalk, then turning west along the shoreline to the observation deck. Please do not use the private road. ©Paul J. Fusco ©Paul The Great Meadows Unit has an interpretive trail with audio signs, photography blind and two observation decks. This unit is located off of Lordship Boulevard (Route 113) in Stratford.

South Norwalk Peach Island Goose ©Paul J. Fusco Island Chimon Island

Shea Island Semipalmated sandpipers Sheffield Island Great Meadows Unit 0 1,000 2,000 Feet

This 421-acre unit consists of tidal 0 250 500 Meters wetlands and upland habitats. A

significant area for migratory birds, ©Richard Asarisi Great blue heron including waterfowl, shorebirds, Norwalk Islands Unit and wading birds, Great Meadows Located approximately 40 miles east contains the largest unditched of New York City, four islands off tidal high marsh in Connecticut. It the coast of Norwalk are in refuge provides feeding and nesting habitat ownership including: Chimon (68 for over 270 species of birds, and is acres), Goose (4 acres), Sheffield an important nesting and wintering (51 acres as part of the refuge), area for the American black duck and Peach (3 acres). The forest and northern harrier. Lewis Gut, and shrublands of the Norwalk which channels water into the marsh Islands are recognized as regionally from , formerly significant habitat for colonial nesting contained one of the most productive wading birds, vital nesting and shellfish beds in the state. It serves migratory habitat for neotropical as breeding and feeding grounds for birds, and high-quality wintering several fish species. grounds for waterfowl. The Chimon Island Unit has supported as many 95 Ho us M a a t i o n n as 1200 breeding pairs of herons, Fresh S t i k Pond re c Milford e e e t r C

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Stratford Road Stratford Lewis Gut Point excellent vantage point to observe or Long Beach photograph nesting herons and other Oak Bluff Ave. birds. Besides this trail, access to the

Point No Point Norwalk Islands is by special use permit and during tours to Sheffield Lo d ng Island Soun Island hosted by the Norwalk 0 2000 4000 Feet Seaport Association. 0 500 1000 Meters North Juvenile More than 90 For Your Information 0ystercatcher percent of the The refuge headquarters is located at ©Paul J. Fusco breeding roseate the Salt Meadow Unit in Westbrook, terns at the Falkner Connecticut. The office hours are Island Unit are Monday through Friday, 8:00am color banded by the to 4:30pm. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center The Milford Point, Salt Meadow for long term (except Menunketesuck Island), and Calf Island Unit cooperative At 33 acres, Calf Island is the largest research studies of Calf Island units are open to the offshore island in Greenwich. It is their ecology public, without charge, from one-half located south of Byram Harbor, and population hour before sunrise to one-half hour approximately 3,000 feet from the dynamics. after sunset. Visits to other units mainland, and is connected at low tide The McKinney require special use permits from to Shell Island. Refuge offers the refuge manager due to their unique small size, uniqueness, and seasonal Calf Island boasts a diverse coastal opportunities for use by migratory birds. Special habitat including tidal wetlands, integrating the events are periodically scheduled to results of numerous provide the general public access to intertidal flats, rocky intertidal individual studies. shore, sandy beach, mixed forest, It has been the environmentally sensitive units. and coastal shrubland. The island site of pioneering Wildlife observation and photography, provides excellent wading bird work in providing habitat and is located less than a mile artificial sites such environmental education, and trail from Great Captain’s Island, which as half-buried tires walking opportunities are encouraged. and nest boxes contains one of the largest heron To reduce disturbance to wildlife, and egret rookeries in Long Island to increase the productivity of and for public safety, the following Sound. Calf Island is recognized as are prohibited: entering closed areas; an Important Bird Area and also has these terns. These methods are now dogs, horses or other pets; removal of several significant geological features being tried at plants, animals, minerals, or artifacts; that offer a glimpse into the region’s several other sites recreational camping; fires; kites; ancient past. in the U.S. and and motorized vehicles and bicycles in Europe. outside parking areas. The Calf Island Unit is open to the public throughout the year from one- Insect pests peak during the warmer half hour before sunrise to one-half months. Use repellents and other hour after sunset for wildlife-dependent precautions against ticks and recreation such as wildlife observation, mosquitoes. wildlife photography and Partners for Wildlife NEW YORK environmental Staff at the Stewart B. McKinney CONNECTICUT 95 education. Portions National Wildlife Refuge are Field Point of the island have responsible for the administration Byram Harbor of the Partners for Wildlife program 0 1,000 2,000 Feet been designated as

0 250 500 Meters a wildlife sanctuary in Connecticut. This program is for migratory designed to protect and enhance fish birds. Overnight and wildlife habitat on private lands. environmental Through this voluntary program, Calf education the Service provides financial and Island programs can be technical assistance to landowners requested and interested in restoring degraded allowed by special or lost habitats on their property, Great Captain's Island use permit. including wetlands, riparian areas, and grasslands.