US-CT-Barn+Island+Wildlife+Management+Area


 * =Birding in Connecticut=

New London County
=Barn Island Wildlife Management Area= Pawcatuck, Connecticut 06379 Barn Island Wildlife Management Area web site

media type="custom" key="27044544"

Barn Island WMA
Coordinates: 41.3386129, -71.8766141 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Tips for birding Barn Island Wildlife Management Area
Barn Island Wildlife Management Area consists of approximately 1000 acres of land in the extreme southeast corner of the state, in a protected enclave sheltered by headlands. It is the largest coastal wildlife management area in the state. The habitat is dominated by 540 acres of deciduous forest and 290 acres of tidal marshes, but there are also significant areas of open salt water, four waterfowl impoundments, as well as coastal scrub woodlands and thickets. The Barn Island area is popular with birders, and in the fall, there are many hunters as well. In the Report on the Barn Island Marshes (1972), by Dr. William A. Niering, Barn Island is referred to as "the finest wild coastal area in Connecticut." Barn Island Wildlife Management Area supports at least nine State-listed avian species in the breeding season.

Barn Island Wildlife Management Area provides nesting, and/or feeding habitats for several state-listed species of birds, including Seaside and Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows, and King Rail. Barn Island also provides feeding habitats for Great and Snowy Egrets, Glossy Ibis, and Little Blue Heron, and Common and Least Terns, and supports wintering populations of Short-eared Owl and 'Ipswich' Savannah Sparrows. The National IBA Technical Committee, consisting of ornithological experts from throughout the country, approved Barn Island WMA as a globally significant IBA in June 2004. BirdLife International lists Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows as "Vulnerable", and as such, any site that supports 10 or more pairs or 30 or more individuals of this species meets the criteria of a globally significant site. Research conducted by the University of Connecticut has banded 65 individual Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows in five one-hectare plots within the 290 acres of tidal marsh habitat. There are historic breeding records for Northern Harrier, Black Rail, and Least (1986) and American Bittern (1970) and Yellow-breasted Chat. From Connecticut Audubon Society

About Barn Island Wildlife Management Area
The 1,013-acre Barn Island Wildlife Management Area is the State's single largest coastal property managed for wildlife conservation. The property provides a diversity of ecoysystem and habitats including hilly uplands, agricultural/open fields, mixed hardwood forests and salt, brackish and freshwater tidal wetlands. The site is a popular hiking, wildlife observation and hunting area. *Deer hunting is allowed in-season at this site. Nearly 4 miles of trails are available at this site. Hikers are reminded to exercise caution when using the site during hunting season. Interpretive signs describing the Barn Island Wildlife Management Area and a recently created native plant demonstration garden provide an excellent venue for beginning your exploration of Connecticut's premier coastal wildlife management area. Look for Marsh Viewing Area sign on the left side of Palmer Neck Road opposite a small parking area before the road descends to the State boat launch to enter this site's trail system. From Barn Island Wildlife Management Area web site



|| media type="custom" key="27044546"

media type="custom" key="27044562" || L2481466 US US-CT US-CT-011 41.3386129 -71.8766141 Barn Island WMA