Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge
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| Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge | |
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| IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area) | |
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| Location: | Connecticut, USA |
| Nearest city: | Westbrook, Connecticut |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 825 acres |
| Established: | 1972 |
| Governing body: | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
The Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge is a 825 acre National Wildlife Refuge in eight units across Connecticut. Located in the Atlantic Flyway, the refuge spans 60 miles of Connecticut coastline and provides important resting, feeding, and nesting habitat for many species of wading birds, shorebirds, songbirds and terns, including the endangered roseate tern. Adjacent waters serve as wintering habitat for brant, scoters, American black duck and other waterfowl. Overall, the refuge encompasses over 800 acres of barrier beach, tidal wetland and fragile island habitats.
Originally named the Salt Meadow National Wildlife Refuge, the refuge was renamed in 1987 after Stewart B. McKinney a congressman from Connecticut.
Contents |
[edit] Units
The refuge consists of eight separate land units:
- Salt Meadow Unit - Oldest unit of the refuge, the Salt Meadow unit is the location of the refuge headquarters. Salt Meadow Unit is used by over 280 species of migrating neotropical birds during the spring and fall migrations. Thus, this unit has been designated an "Important Bird Area" by the National Audubon Society.
- Outer Island Unit - This unit is located in the Thimble Island Chain off the coast of Branford, Connecticut. It must be accessed by ferry from Stony Creek, Connecticut or by private vessel.
- Falkner Island Unit - Falkner Island is located three miles off the shore of Guilford, Connecticut. It must be accessed by private vessel and is closed to public visitation except during the open house. Falkner Island Unit is home to over 124 pairs of nesting Federally Endangered Roseate Terns and over 3000 nesting pairs of common terns. Thus, this unit has been designated an "Important Bird Area" by the National Audubon Society.
- Milford Point Unit - This unit is located near Milford, Connecticut and features an observation deck along the boardwalk.
- Great Meadows Unit - This unit is located in Stratford, Connecticut and is closed to public visitation until the educational trail is completed.
- Chimon Island Unit, Sheffield Island Unit, and Goose Island Unit - These islands are located off the shore of Norwalk, Connecticut, approximately 40 miles east of New York City. A ferry to Sheffield Island leaves from Hope Dock, located near the Maritime Aquarium. A private vessel must be used to reach Chimon Island Unit and Goose Island Unit.
[edit] Calf Island, Greenwich
Calf Island in Greenwich, a 29-acre island 3,000 feet from shore, has been a part of the McKinney wildlife refuge since 2003.
[edit] History
In 1972, Ester Lape donated over 150 acres of land in Westbrook, Connecticut to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. This donation became Salt Meadow National Wildlife Refuge. As neighbors donated or sold adjacent property to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Salt Meadow grew to be a 274 acre refuge.
As the state became more and more populated, coastal areas and islands were being developed at an alarming rate. Citizens began to worry that the long legged wading birds and other shorebirds that use Connecticut's Islands and Coast would soon be without important nesting and feeding habitat. With the help of non-profit groups like National Audubon Society, Saugatuck Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Lands, and the Westbrook Land Trust, Sheffield, Chimon, and Goose Islands near Norwalk and Milford were acquired by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
In 1984, these Islands were added to Salt Meadow National Wildlife Refuge and the name was changed to Connecticut's Coastal National Wildlife Refuge. In 1987, the name of the refuge was again changed to honor US Congressman Stewart B. McKinney, who had an integral role in the refuge's formation. Through generous donations and the help of many partners, Stewart B. McKinney NWR now consists of eight refuge units spread across 60 miles of Connecticut's coastline, from Westbrook to Norwalk.
[edit] Topography
The eight units of Stewart B. McKinney NWR include a variety of habitats from grassy upland, to tidal salt marsh. Native wildlife populations have diverse habitat requirements. Each species, from Roseate terns to American black ducks, has very different needs for food, water, shelter and space. The eight units along Connecticut's coast fill these needs by providing habitats that are forested, marshy, sandy and secluded island habitats.
[edit] Wildlife and Facilities
- Salt Meadow Unit - The 2.5 miles of trails at Salt Meadow Unit in Westbrook wind through grassland, forest, and marsh habitats. The 9 acres of fields support woodcock, bluebirds, tree swallows, wild turkeys and numerous species of butterflies and dragonflies. Birdwatchers can expect to see great egrets, glossy ibis, snowy egrets, belted kingfishers, osprey and many other species. Other species include red fox, coyote, and red tailed hawk.
- In partnership with Potopaug Audubon Society, the refuge hosts many wildlife events at Salt Meadow Unit throughout the year. These events have included owl walks, waterfowl walks, woodcock walks, bird banding demonstrations, and a presentation on live birds of prey.
- Sheffield Island Unit - The trail at Sheffield Island Unit allows visitors to view a tidal salt water pond which is utilized by egrets and belted kingfishers. The island is also heavily used by white-tailed deer. Adjacent to the refuge on Sheffield Island, the Norwalk Seaport Association maintains a historic stone lighthouse and keepers quarters. Tours are given of this lighthouse by the Norwalk Seaport Association for a nominal charge.
- Outer Island Unit - The pink granite (also known as schist) which dominates the geology of Outer Island Unit provides spectacular photography opportunities. While on the island, it is also likely that you will see common terns and roseate terns feeding off shore, green herons (these birds nest on the island), great egrets and snowy egrets feeding at below the shoreline.
- Great Meadows Unit - A new nature trail provides opportunities to see northern harriers, red breasted mergansers, black ducks, pied billed grebe, great blue herons, and numerous other bird species. This trail is fully accessible and even include voice recorded messages for the visually disabled.
- Milford Point Unit - The overlook at Milford Point Unit allows visitors the opportunity to view the 9 acre barrier beach. Shorebirds such as sandpipers, oystercatchers, least terns and even the Federally Threatened piping plover may be spied from the platform. To decrease disturbance to this fragile area, wildlife viewing must be accomplished from the observation deck or the very tip of the peninsula. Fishermen and visitors may walk to the tip of the peninsula by way of a marked fishing access, but are deterred from stopping along the way.
- Falkner Island Unit - The Falkner Island Unit is closed to public visitation throughout the year due the fragile status of the Federally Endangered roseate terns that nest there. However, the refuge does open the island for a two day open house each September. During the open house, visitors have an opportunity to visit an actual research camp and a historic lighthouse commissioned in 1803. The lighthouse, research facility and the natural beauty of the island allow for many photographic opportunities.
[edit] See also
- List of National Wildlife Refuges
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
