Maps & Birding Locations

Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison

Type Of Tour: Explore On Your Own, NHBC Bird Walk

Enjoy a trip to Hammonasset Beach State Park, one of the state’s best birding locations in any season of the year. Hammonasset is a true gem as the varied habitat attracts shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, and songbirds. The walking is easy, all on level ground.

Upcoming NHBC Bird Walk – March 14, 2026

East Rock Park, New Haven

Type Of Tour: NHBC Bird Walk

This 425 acre park iis one of the best places in the state to see migrant warblers in the spring. Fifteen to twenty species are possible on a good day. Key birding locations include the Mill River Trail near the Eli Whitney Museum, and Trowbridge Drive which is located at higher elevations near the center of the park.

Upcoming NHBC Bird Walk – May 6, 2026

Milford Point Coastal Center, Milford

Type Of Tour: Explore On Your Own, NHBC Bird Walk

The Coastal Center at Milford Point is operated by the Connecticut Audubon Society and is a premier birding location for waterbirds and fowl including Long-tailed Ducks, scoters, and loons, as well as shorebirds, gulls, and raptors. There is a visitor center that is open daily.

Edgewood Park, New Haven

Type Of Tour: Explore On Your Own, NHBC Bird Walk

Edgewood Park is an important stop-over site for migrating birds in the fall, and a wide variety of song-birds, raptors, and land-birds are possible. River, woods, pond, and open field habitats are all available at this site. Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and Brown Creeper are all possible. Walking is easy and flat with one dirt path through a wooded area. This location also includes a New Haven Urban Oasis site.

Upcoming NHBC Bird Walk – March 28, 2026

Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven

Type Of Tour: Explore On Your Own, NHBC Bird Walk

Lighthouse Point Park on New Haven Harbor is a premier location in southern New England for observing migrating raptors and a wide variety of songbirds. The NHBC staffs a daily hawk watch to count migrating raptors from September to December. The watch starts daily at 7 a.m. and continues as long as the hawks keep flying. New birders are welcome; stop by anytime. If the weather conditions are favorable, you may see hundreds of hawks in flight over the park. This location also includes a New Haven Urban Oasis site.

White Memorial Foundation, Litchfield

Type Of Tour: NHBC Bird Walk

White Memorial Foundation is a 4,000-acre nature preserve. The diverse mixture of habitats includes mature deciduous and evergreen forests, as well as fields of tall grass, weeds, and shrubs that are managed for various stages of succession. One of the best birding sites in the state and an Important Bird Area, White Memorial Foundation has approximately 35 miles of woodland roads, trails, and boardwalks. Bird walks usually observe a variety of sparrows, woodpeckers, possibly winter finches, owls and more.

West Rock Ridge State Park – Lake Wintergreen, Hamden

Type Of Tour: NHBC Bird Walk

Explore the Lake Wintergreen area of West Rock Ridge State Park. The walk around the lake is on gravel or dirt paths and is mostly flat. The walk to the ridge is uphill. Bird walks can see a broad range of woodland birds, as well as some waterfowl on and around the lake. Possible birds are (among others) Golden-crowned Kinglet, Purple Finch, Pine Warbler, Bald Eagle, and Ring-necked Duck, as well as early migrants such as Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Towhee, and perhaps Brown Thrasher, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Palm Warbler.

Upcoming NHBC Bird Walk – April 12. 2026

Barn Island Wildlife Management Area, Stonington

Type Of Tour: NHBC Bird Walk

Barn Island WMA is a large expanse of varied habitat along the Connecticut shore near the Rhode Island border, including large tracts of salt marsh, deciduous woodlands and a large brushy field. Bird walks can see 60+ species of birds, with notable resident species including White-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireo, Saltmarsh Sparrow and Willow Flycatcher likely to be seen. This is a good spot to look for rare shorebirds such as Wilson’s Phalarope and Black-necked Stilt. The terrain is mostly flat on good trails, but wear comfortable shoes and bring bug spray and water.

Upcoming NHBC Bird Walk – May 24, 2026

West River Memorial Park, West Haven

Type Of Tour: Explore On Your Own

A New Haven Urban Oasis site that has been planted with native trees and shrubs. Located within West River Memorial Park, West Haven.

Van Epps Preserve, Bethany

Type Of Tour: NHBC Bird Walk

This is one of several properties owned by the Bethany Land Trust, and serves as a protected bridge of land between the Naugatuck State Forest to the north, and Bethany Land Trust’s Mendell’s Folly Complex to the south. The properties include a variety of habitats including wetland, field, upland deciduous and hemlock forest sections with rocky ledges, and streams. Expect some steep and rocky areas with rough terrain and uneven and wet footing. Wear appropriate footwear, and tick proof clothing.

Upcoming NHBC Bird Walk – June 14, 2026

Southern CT University, New Haven

Type Of Tour: Explore On Your Own

A New Haven Urban Oasis site that has been planted with native trees and shrubs. Located near Beaver Pond in New Haven.

Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden

Type Of Tour: NHBC Bird Walk

Sleeping Giant dominates the landscape north of New Haven. The park hosts diverse habitats: riparian woods, rivers and streams, stands of white pines, mature deciduous forests, and cliffs and meadow edge. Although it is famous for its ankle-twisting and heart-pumping terrain, bird walks commonly go along the uphill but (mostly) smooth-surfaced Tower Path. The walks expect to find a rich mix of migrant and resident warblers, thrushes, vireos, and woodpeckers. There are also nesting ravens and resident Peregrine Falcons.

Upcoming NHBC Bird Walk – May 16, 2026

Sherwood Island State Park, Westport

Type Of Tour: NHBC Bird Walk

This 235 acre state park is an outstanding Long Island Sound birding spot. Bird walks check for loons, grebes, goldeneye, and other sea ducks. The fields are a good place to look for Snow Buntings, Horned Larks, and sparrows.

Peoples State Forest, Barkhamsted

Type Of Tour: NHBC Bird Walk

Peoples State Forest spans over 3,000 acres of diverse habitats and features 14 miles of trails, yet it has been infrequently birded over the years. Species you are likely to encounter include: Blackburnian, Canada, Black-throated Blue, and Black-throated Green Warblers, Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbirds, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Scarlet Tanagers, Least and Alder Flycatchers, Winter Wrens, and more. Great Horned and Barred Owls, along with Broad-winged Hawks, also nest within the forest. Please note: the forest can be quite buggy in summer. Mosquito nets and/or generous use of bug spray are highly recommended. Terrain includes boardwalks, rocky access roads, and forest trails with many stumps and roots — please plan footwear and mobility accordingly.

Upcoming NHBC Bird Walk – July 19, 2026

Old Woodbridge Country Club, Woodbridge

Type Of Tour: NHBC Bird Walk

The 155 acre Woodbridge Country Club is an abandoned golf course with a variety of habitats that are attractive to resident and fall migrant birds.

Naugatuck State Forest, Naugatuck

Type Of Tour: NHBC Bird Walk

Nagatuck State Forest is almost 5,000 acres of wild, undeveloped woodlands, grasslands, rivers, lakes, ravines, and swamp in the scenic Naugatuck River valley. Bird walks search for migrants and residents and often see more than 15 species of warblers during a trip. This includes resident Hooded, Chestnut-sided, Prairie, and Worm-eating Warblers. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and many other birds are residents here, too. Expect moderately strenuous trails and elevation changes.

Upcoming NHBC Bird Walk – May 17, 2026

Mohawk Mountain State Park, Cornwall

Type Of Tour: NHBC Bird Walk

Explore the birds in this 4000 acre scenic and spacious forest in the northern part of the state. Nesting species here include Blue-headed Vireo, Hermit Thrush, Canada Warbler, and Black-throated Blue Warbler.

Upcoming NHBC Bird Walk – June 3, 2026

Long Wharf Nature Preserve, New Haven

Type Of Tour: Explore On Your Own

A New Haven Urban Oasis site that has been planted with native trees and shrubs. Located on the New Haven harbor Southwest of Long Wharf Drive.

Lake Chamberlain, Bethany

Type Of Tour: NHBC Bird Walk

Lake Chamberlain, located in Bethany, is one of several Regional Water Authority properties. Pat Leahy of the NHBC has been maintaining a bluebird trail here for several years. Bluebirds, swallows, and spring migrants are plentiful. Walking is not strenuous and on well-maintained trails. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are exploring on your own, you need to have a recreation permit from RWA to walk in this area.

Upcoming NHBC Bird Walk – May 20, 2026

Kellogg Environmental Center and Osbornedale State Park, Derby

Type Of Tour: NHBC Bird Walk

Osbornedale State Park offers a variety of species in its fields and forest, and around its ponds. It is always a surprise which species will be discovered as one walks through the park. You may see a flyover Bald Eagle, nesting Bluebirds, early warbler migrants, Green Heron, and Orchard Oriole, as well as Indigo Bunting, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, and the various thrushes.

Upcoming NHBC Bird Walk – April 26, 2026

Kelley Memorial Preserve, Branford

Type Of Tour: NHBC Bird Walk

The Kelley Memorial Preserve in Branford surrounds the active Stony Creek quarry. Stony Creek granite is a building stone mined here since the late 19th century. In this locale, hikers can observe both the geological features and birds in woodland and riparian settings.

Upcoming NHBC Bird Walk – April 18, 2026

Julius M. Hansen Park, North Haven

Type Of Tour: NHBC Bird Walk

Rich meadows and fields, forested wetlands, trap rock ridge, and riparian woods host breeding populations of sparrows and warblers, woodpeckers, hawks, Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grossbeaks, Indigo Buntings, and other field and woodland birds. Other migrating species are possible.

Upcoming NHBC Bird Walk – May 23, 2026

Hartman Park, Lyme

Type Of Tour: NHBC Bird Walk

Hartman Park is known for its mix of forest and wetland that hosts many of Connecticut’s breeding birds, including Cerulean Warbler. There is also a power cut which may have Prairie, Blue-winged, Magnolia and other warblers. Both Cuckoos have been seen here as well. Terrain is varied in this 300 acre park.

Upcoming NHBC Bird Walk – May 13, 2026

Great Meadows Unit, Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, Stratford

Type Of Tour: NHBC Bird Walk

The salt marshes of Connecticut are especially active during early fall migration. This is one of the state’s largest salt marshes and birders can observe Palm Warblers, wading birds, shorebirds, migrating sparrows and swallows, Merlins, Northern Harriers, and more.