Habitats at Sessions Woods The Future Is Now for Connecticut’s Upland hardwood forest - Most of the property Wildlife Heritage is composed of this habitat type. Oak, birch, and The biggest threat facing Connecticut’s wildlife is the loss of maple predominate, with an understory that includes habitat. As more land is developed across the state, there mountain laurel, huckleberry, and witch hazel. Look is less habitat that wildlife can call home. Because almost for migrant vireos, warblers, and tanagers. Nesting 90% of our state’s land is privately owned, all residents must species include whip-poor-will and broad-winged play a critical role in conserving wildlife and habitat. To meet hawk. this need now and into the future, the DEEP Wildlife Division Conifer stands - White pine and hemlock are established the Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area The Birds of scattered throughout the property. The trail map (WMA) and Conservation Education Center, located in indicates locations of dominant conifer stands. Birds Burlington, Connecticut. that may be encountered in this habitat include pine More than just a tract of natural land set aside for wildlife, warbler and great horned owl. Sessions Woods introduces visitors to wildlife and natural Riparian (streamside) areas - Negro Hill Brook resources conservation and management through various and its tributaries flow through Sessions Woods, educational programs, demonstration sites, self-guided hiking Sessions providing a rich diversity of streamside habitat. This trails, and exhibits. Visitors will gain an understanding about watercourse has been dammed by beavers, creating how Connecticut’s wildlife and habitats are conserved and a large marsh. The forested riparian areas have managed. They also will learn how to have a positive role in red maple, yellow birch, and black gum trees. Bird conservation efforts. Woods species to expect include Louisiana waterthrush and The land purchase and development of the facility were made eastern wood pewee. possible with the use of sportsmen-generated Federal Aid in Wildlife Management Area Open field - Small forest openings have been Wildlife Restoration (Pittman-Robertson) funds. Commitment created to provide field habitat for a variety of from the department, combined with active participation from animals. Red fox, coyote and wild turkey have the Friends of Sessions Woods volunteer organization, have been seen in these areas. Along field edges is a helped make Sessions Woods what it is today. good place to find Eastern towhee, great-crested flycatcher, and a variety of sparrows. Beaver marsh - Beavers have built many dams on the west end of the property, creating wetland habitat for wildlife, including river otter, muskrat, and mink. This is where the greatest diversity of bird species can be found at Sessions Woods. Look for wood duck, great blue heron, Virginia rail, flycatchers, migrating warblers, and possibly bald eagle. Standing dead trees (snags) - High water levels have killed a number of trees in the beaver marsh. Most are red maples. Holes created in dead trees by pileated, red-bellied, hairy, and downy woodpeckers are also used by tree swallows, chickadees, nuthatches, bluebirds, and wood ducks. Laurel thickets - Dense thickets of mountain laurel occur in a few locations, providing excellent nesting cover for a variety of birds, including black-throated The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program was initiated by sportsmen blue warbler and veery. and conservationists to provide states with funding for wildlife management and research programs, habitat acquisition, wildlife management area development, and hunter education programs. Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area is 777 Acres of Diverse Habitat Please Remember: funded in part with Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration (Pittman-Robertson) funds. ● Trails open at sunrise and close at sunset. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Including Forests, Fields, Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the ● Dogs must be leashed (7-foot max.) at all times. requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please contact us at 860-418-5910 ● Mountain bike use is restricted to the gravel trails. or [email protected] if you: have a disability and need a communication and Wetlands aid or service; have limited proficiency in English and may need information in another ● Poison ivy and ticks are found on the property. language; or if you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint. ● Carry out what you carry in. ● Fires and unauthorized camping are not allowed. Connecticut Department of Energy and ● Collecting of plants and/or wildlife is prohibited. Sessions Sessions Woods Environmental Protection ● Large animals, including black bears and coyotes, Wildlife Management Area Bureau of Natural Resources 341 Milford Street (Route 69) may be present. Woods Wildlife Division Wildlife Management Area Burlington, CT 06013 www.ct.gov/deep Rev. 7/15 - The Birds of Sessions Woods - - The Birds of Sessions Woods - - The Birds of Sessions Woods - - The Birds of Sessions Woods - Sp Su F W Sp Su F W Sp Su F W Sp Su F W — Common Loon R R R — Rock Pigeon U U U U — Eastern Bluebird N C C C U — Rose-breasted Grosbeak N C C U N N N — Pied-billed Grebe R R R — Mourning Dove C C C C — Veery C C C — Indigo Bunting C C U — Swainson’s Thrush U U N — Double-crested Cormorant U U U — Yellow-billed Cuckoo U U U — Eastern Towhee C C C R — Black-billed Cuckoo U U U — Gray-cheeked Thrush R R — American Tree Sparrow U U N — American Bittern R — Hermit Thrush U U U N N — Chipping Sparrow C C C R — Eastern Screech Owl U U U U N — Great Blue Heron N C C C — Wood Thrush C C U N — Great Horned Owl N C C C C — Field Sparrow C C U — Great Egret U U U — American Robin N A A A R — Barred Owl N C C C C — Fox Sparrow U U — Green Heron U U U N N — Northern Saw-whet Owl R R R R — Gray Catbird C C C — Song Sparrow C C C U — Mute Swan R R R — Northern Mockingbird U U U — Lincoln’s Sparrow U U — Common Nighthawk U U R — Canada Goose N C C C — Brown Thrasher R R R — Swamp Sparrow N C C U — Whip-poor-will N U U R — Wood Duck N C C C — Cedar Waxwing C C C R — White-throated Sparrow C C C — Green-winged Teal R R R — Chimney Swift C C R — Dark-eyed Junco C C A — European Starling N U U U U — American Black Duck U R U — Ruby-throated Hummingbird N C C R — Red-winged Blackbird N C C U N — White-eyed Vireo R R R — Mallard C C C — Belted Kingfisher U U U — Eastern Meadowlark U U — Yellow-throated Vireo N U U R — Northern Pintail R R R — Common Grackle N C C U — Red-bellied Woodpecker N C C C C — Blue-headed Vireo N U U U — Blue-winged Teal R R R — Brown-headed Cowbird N C C C U — Yellow-bellied Sapsucker N C C C N — Ring-necked Duck C U — Warbling Vireo C C U N — Downy Woodpecker N C C C C — Baltimore Oriole C C U — Bufflehead R R — Philadelphia Vireo R R R — Hairy Woodpecker N C C C C N — Purple Finch U U U U — Hooded Merganser N C C C — Red-eyed Vireo C C C — Northern Flicker N C C C U — House Finch N C C C U — Common Merganser U U U — Blue-winged Warbler N C C C — Pileated Woodpecker N U U U U — Common Redpoll R — Red-breasted Merganser R R R — Tennessee Warbler U U — Pine Siskin U U U — Eastern Wood-Pewee N C C U — Nashville Warbler U U — Black Vulture U U U — American Goldfinch N A A A A — Least Flycatcher N U U R — Northern Parula U U — Turkey Vulture C C C — Evening Grosbeak R R — Eastern Phoebe N C C C — Yellow Warbler N C C U — Osprey U U U N N — Great-crested Flycatcher C C U — Chestnut-sided Warbler N C C U — House Sparrow U U U U — Bald Eagle R R R N — Eastern Kingbird C C U — Magnolia Warbler U U — Sharp-shinned Hawk U U U U — Tree Swallow N A A U — Black-throated Blue Warbler. N C C U — Cooper's Hawk N U U U U — Northern Rough-winged Swallow U U U — Yellow-rumped Warbler C C C — Northern Goshawk N R R R R — Bank Swallow U U U — Black-throated Green Warbler N C C U — Red-shouldered Hawk N U U U R — Barn Swallow C C U — Blackburnian Warbler N C C U Other Species: Checklist Key — Broad-winged Hawk N C C C — Pine Warbler N C C U — Red-tailed Hawk N C C C U — Blue Jay N C C C C A abundant — Prairie Warbler N C C U — American Kestrel R R — American Crow N A A A A C common — Palm Warbler C U — Merlin R R — Fish Crow U U U U U uncommon — Bay-breasted Warbler U U — Common Raven U U U U — Ring-necked Pheasant R R R — Black-and-white Warbler N C C U R rare N — Ruffed Grouse N U U U U — Black-capped Chickadee A A A A — American Redstart N C C U N confirmed or N N — Tufted Titmouse A A A A N probable nesting — Wild Turkey C C C U — Worm-eating Warbler U U Please report any new bird N — Red-breasted Nuthatch U U U U — Blackpoll Warbler U U sightings or nestings to the — Virginia Rail R R R N — White-breasted Nuthatch C C C C — Ovenbird N C C C DEEP Wildlife Division's Sp Spring: Mar.