Adult Birding

General Information

Senior Naturalist, Frank Gallo, is a leading expert on where to find birds in Connecticut and has led birding expeditions all over the world. Prior to rejoining NCNC, he led tours for Sunrise Birding, LLC, an international birding tour company, and was the past Director and Senior Naturalist of the Connecticut Audubon Coastal Center. He is a member of the Connecticut Avian Records Committee and is a federally licensed master bird bander. Frank is also the author of two children’s nature books, Bird Calls and Night Sounds, and is a published freelance photographer. Frank’s newest book, Birding in Connecticut, a guide to where, when, and how to find birds in the state, came out May 1, 2018.

Timberdoodling! (Adult Only Program) 

Thursday, March 26

6:45pm – 8:00pm

Location will be sent upon registration

Come watch the love antics of the famed male Timberdoodle or American Woodcock as he “peents”, struts, and hurls himself into the sky, all to attract a mate. Bring binoculars, blankets, a picnic supper, and a tasty beverage, and we will travel to a nearby wet meadow with our Senior Naturalist, Frank Gallo to observe these would be Romeos strut their stuff!

Raindate March 27th

$15

Beginning Birding

Wednesday, April 1   Zoom Only

7:00pm – 9:00pm

If you are interested in birds but not sure where to begin? Join Senior Naturalist Frank Gallo, author of Birding in Connecticut, for an enjoyable hands-on course on how to identify birds.

Fee: $35.00

Birding By Ear

Tuesday, April 14   Zoom Only 

7:00pm – 9:00pm

Senior Naturalist, Frank Gallo is an ardent student of identifying birds by sound. If you’re struggling to learn bird songs and bird calls, this is the course for you.

Spring Early Morning Walks with Frank Gallo at NCNC

Wednesday, April 1, 8, 15, 22 May 13 & 20

8:30am – 10:00am

Meet Senior Naturalist Frank Gallo for bird walks on the beautiful grounds at the Nature Center Center. We’ll be keeping track of and learning about the birds we see as we generate a database and new bird lists for Bristow Sanctuary and NCNC. Binoculars are available if needed

All walks will meet in the lower parking lot at NCNC

All walks are free of charge but we do ask that you register

Spring Early Morning Walks at Bristow Sanctuary

Thursday, April 16, 23 May 14 & 21

8:30am – 10:00am

Meet Senior Naturalist Frank Gallo for bird walks on the beautiful grounds at the Bristow Sanctuary. We’ll be keeping track of and learning about the birds we see as we generate a database and new bird lists for  Bristow Sanctuary and NCNC. Binoculars are available if needed

All walks will meet in the Meade Park parking lot near the Ball Fields

All walks are free of charge but we do ask that you register

Area Open Space Bird & Natural History Walk Series

Friday, April 17 & 24, May 8 & 22

8:30am – 10:00am

Meet our Senior Naturalist and expert birder, Frank Gallo, for early morning bird walks at Bristow Sanctuary. We’ll be keeping track of the birds we see as we generate a database and new bird lists for Bristow Sanctuary and the New Canaan Nature Center.

All walks are free of charge but we do ask that you register

Friday, April 17
Bristow Bird Sanctuary, New Canaan
Parking at Mead Park

This is an easy walk for early signs of Spring, along the newly improved trails. It’s a wonderful way to kick off our spring Bird Walks/Natural History walks.

Friday, April 24

Cove Island Park Wildlife Sanctuary, Stamford
Park at far southwest corner of the parking lot past the rink

This beautifully restored sanctuary offers a wide variety of habitats and is good for early migrant birds.

Friday, May 8

Silvermine-Fowler Preserve, New Canaan
The parking lot is on Silvermine Road

This lovely preserve is a joy to explore. Join us as we search for signs of spring – salamanders, frogs, and early spring wildflowers.

Friday, May 22

NCLT’s Browne Preserve, New Canaan
Meet in the parking lot at their office

Join us as we search for signs of spring – birds and spring wildflowers.

New Canaan Nature Center’s Biodiversity Project

Our Senior Naturalist Frank Gallo is conducting an ongoing iNaturalist natural history survey project at New Canaan Nature Center (NCNC), and he needs your help.

You can contribute directly to our knowledge of biodiversity at NCNC by first simply downloading the iNaturalist app onto your phone. Then, whenever you see something interesting at NCNC, whether a slug, an ant, or a Great Blue Heron, open the app and use it to photograph and to help identify what you have found. Once saved, your sightings will be added directly to our Biodiversity Project. Nothing is too small or insignificant.
Thank you for adding to our knowledge!  Your contributions make a huge difference to our overall understanding of what’s living at NCNC.

Click Below to see our progress

An Important Note: Please only identify to the species level if you are certain of the identification. If uncertain, leave it in a more general category for others to review. If all you can say is that it’s a plant, then put plant. This tells plant reviewers to have a look. There’s no need to guess.